Suggestions on Bowrider Bow Drop?

Yeah, I don't want to deal with a submarining of the bow. It starts a nasty domino effect on a bow rider that I would never want to confront. I boat at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. Only time I had a moment was going out of middle river for a trip to the inner harbor. Going was easy. Conditions turned on the way back making it a white knuckle ride.

She's extremely reliable and as capable as can be. Not tempting Neptune with this comment. The size of the boat fits so well into our lives. Garage kept, no boat insurance or monthly payment, cheap maintenance and really no problems (on going or present). Runs 42mph wot. Tough for me to want to go with a bigger boat that will not work (in the garage, towable, adding a payment to monthly expenses and keeping her off site).

Although increased range, overnight stays and reduced risk of taking on water sure is TEMPTING...

"no boat insurance" Seriously?
 
Last edited:
Passengers sitting at the bow seating while underway is very dangerous. No different than riding at the bow on any boat.

Do you understand what I’m trying to say?

If not read this.
https://www.usps.org/localusps/hartford/Safety/SafetyCorner/BowRiding.html
That article is geared towards boats with a forward cabin and people riding on the top of the gunwales. My boat is a purpose built bow rider. It has deep seats and grab handles in the bow, the seats are as deep as any of the seats in the cockpit. If someone got thrown from the bow of my boat, everyone on the boat will be getting tossed in the water because it would mean the boat capsized. My 240 was built in the same fashion. There is nothing dangerous about it unless I were to allow someone to sit on top of the gunwale on my boat, which is never going to happen. I have driven past water patrol hundreds of times with people in the bow and never even got a second look. I can't speak to an 18' boat though.
 
That article is geared towards boats with a forward cabin and people riding on the top of the gunwales. My boat is a purpose built bow rider. It has deep seats and grab handles in the bow, the seats are as deep as any of the seats in the cockpit. If someone got thrown from the bow of my boat, everyone on the boat will be getting tossed in the water because it would mean the boat capsized. My 240 was built in the same fashion. There is nothing dangerous about it unless I were to allow someone to sit on top of the gunwale on my boat, which is never going to happen. I have driven past water patrol hundreds of times with people in the bow and never even got a second look. I can't speak to an 18' boat though.

You didn’t read the entire article.

Re bowriders:
“…Most of the people discussing the topic get hung up on the legality of specific circumstances, the "letter of the law" if you will. I think they're missing the point. The point should be safety, not just legality. The danger lies in the fact that you can be doing everything correctly, within the letter of the law, and still be putting you passengers and crew in danger.”
 
You didn’t read the entire article.

Re bowriders:
“…Most of the people discussing the topic get hung up on the legality of specific circumstances, the "letter of the law" if you will. I think they're missing the point. The point should be safety, not just legality. The danger lies in the fact that you can be doing everything correctly, within the letter of the law, and still be putting you passengers and crew in danger.”
I did read the whole article, including that passage. I just don't agree with his conclusion. It does not apply to the 2 bowriders I have owned, especially my 270. Sitting in the bow under way is perfectly safe on my boat. In 14 years not one passenger riding in the bow has bounced 1" much less the 2 1/2 feet it would take for them to even come close to exiting the boat. That was always our first consideration when looking for the boats we have owned. So while it may be dangerous to ride in the bow of SOME bowriders while under way, that does not apply to ALL bowriders. There's a reason I don't own a bayliner or rinker.
 
Do you have trim tabs installed on this boat, by chance? I'm researching if I want to add them to my 185BR, and your post just alerted me to the fact they may cause additional bow dip on hard deceleration since they would engage at this point, too (especially if they were "smart" tabs... which I would guess are more likely to be the type installed on this size boat).
 
A bigger bow rider would help out a lot. Mine is a 220SD, it’s a nice trailerable size but visibly way bigger than a 180 with much higher gunwales. A 240+ would probably be better on the Chesapeake, but you start having to look at a bigger tow vehicle.

Personally we use the boat with friends, and rarely have less than 10 on board, so the center channels don’t really make sense. Besides, nobody wants to go out in weather/water where we would need a self bailing design.
 
A larger back-up automatic bilge pump is a fairly easy installation and they do clog up.
 
If your bow nose dives you have too much weight in the bow.

If your bilge is full and water is an issue, then you must have water on the floor when you stop.

I have run bowriders for 37 years now. Only ONE single time did I ever nosedive. It was because a log came in view and I stopped too quick.

Knowing your boat and proper driving is paramount.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,948
Messages
1,422,804
Members
60,930
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top