how easy can a 268 searay weekender capsize?

lime4x4

Member
Jul 24, 2007
341
Palmerton,Pa
Boat Info
1986 268 searay weekender
Engines
5.7 vortec alpha
We were out on the chesapeake bay for a few days. On our 3rd day out as we were coming around a place called turkey point something left loose in my outdrive.So there i i'm with no way to move the boat. I threw out the bow anchor.We were getting tossed around pretty good from all the waves and wakes.I few times i thought she was going under. My boat sits pretty high out of the water and my bow on a few occassions was almost hitting the water. Here is a pic of our boat.
 
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It usually seems worse than it really is - especially when it's happening to you. It would take an awful lot of water to capsize it. Does your cockpit self-bail? Even if it isn't and you took a big wave over, the windshield would deflect a lot of it.

For argument's sake, let's just say a big one came all the way in. You and everyone around would be wet, and everybody would be looking around as if to say "What do we do?!" But you'd get over it and - other than being sopping wet, you'd be OK.

If this ever happens again, let out more anchor rode. That will help the bow ride over the waves, as opposed to the being pulled right back down.
 
Sounds like she was far from going under. I've dipped my platform in the water a few times, and thought it was no big deal. When blue water is coming onto the bow, that is a big deal. When it starts rolling over the windshield and on your lap, that's a really big deal, but that takes a pretty steep and tall wave. The biggest risk you face is rolling sideways, not taking waves head on. There are some mathematical equations for how big of waves you can take, but it all depends on the actual wave. I've heard that 1/3 the boat's length is the tallest wave you can take, so head on you could theoretically take 9 footers, but sideways you can take 3 footers. Some 8 foot rollers are not bad and some breaking steep 4's are horrible, so it really depends on the wave type more than just the height IMO. You should be concerned with not letting the boat get sideways to the waves. If you are anchored though, the waves will mostly come from the front.
 
Well with no power it's hard to get the bow into the waves. And esp in that area they seem to come at you from all sides.we were in about 25 feet of water. I had atleast 60 feet of anchor line out. the part i hated the most was when the bow was taking a wave and the side of the boat was taking a pretty nice size wake at the same time. Now that's a scary feeling.Yeah i have 2 1.5 inch drains on the rear floor of the deck
 
you'd have to be hit broadside by a breaking wave a lot higher than your boat
 
the part i hated the most was when the bow was taking a wave and the side of the boat was taking a pretty nice size wake at the same time. Now that's a scary feeling.

Yeah, I know what you mean. The bow is diving up and down and SLAM, you get hit broadside. Feels like the whole boat is coming apart. They're pretty tough, though. The boats, that is :smt001

25' of water plus 5' (for easy math) from water to bow cleat equals 30' of depth. In your situation, I would have let out about 175' or more. Here's some more "20/20 hindsight": Put up some kind of distress signal so other boaters know to stay clear. A t-shirt or towel tied onto your stern light would work. They might at least slow down if they're coming near you.
 
Well with no power it's hard to get the bow into the waves. And esp in that area they seem to come at you from all sides.we were in about 25 feet of water. I had atleast 60 feet of anchor line out.

In casual 'lunch' situations it's advised to have a 3:1 scope. That'd be 75' of line out for that 25' depth. For a storm situation it's advisable to have 6:1 or more. When you don't have enough line out the angle of it pulls upward on the anchor and that will keep it from digging into the bottom. The longer the scope the more shallow the angle will be and the better chance the anchor will have to grab. You'd have to put out a LOT more rode.
 
i guess i'll have to get more anchor rope then. I think mine is 150 feet plus 10 feet of chain. I didn't think about the distress flag. We only had to wait around 30 min till my friend got there and towed us back to the dock. The flag probably wouldn't have helped too much cause the closest boat that passed us was atleast 1/2 mile away.
 
Just as a side note, I have 50' of chain and 300' of 1/2". I also have an extra 300' and another anchor. Because "you just never know". Besides, when you have a problem, you can't just pull over to the side of the road, you know?

A little more weight up in your bow will help you plane out better, too.

Just some food for thought.
 
My anchor rope is 3/4. I don't have a windless yet (next upgrade) So pulling 50 feet of chain would get tiring real fast..LOL Plus i don't think my anchor locker in the bow could handle that much chain. But i do carry 2 extra anchors and i also have a stern anchor with about 100 feet of 1/2 rope
 
My anchor rope is 3/4. I don't have a windless yet (next upgrade) So pulling 50 feet of chain would get tiring real fast..LOL Plus i don't think my anchor locker in the bow could handle that much chain. But i do carry 2 extra anchors and i also have a stern anchor with about 100 feet of 1/2 rope

I'm not laughing. I don't have a windlass. :smt089

3/4 is fine - if you get more, 1/2" is plenty. You don't need to spend the extra loot on the 3/4". Just an FYI.

How deep is your locker? And what's the dimension from front-to-back (in the center) and side-to-side (along the aft locker wall). Measure those last two things at deck height. I'll compare it to mine and you'll know what you could fit.
 
Rule of thumb is... Min chain length same as boat length. That keeps the anchor laying flat. There's also a drift sock/parachute sea anchor. There used to keep the bow into the waves if you lose power. Some Fishermen use them to slow there boat down for drift fishing also. I have one on board but have never used it. Emergency only.
I thought everyone splashes there bow pulpit into the incoming waves at least once per trip :huh: :lol:

I scared myself once, Was testing the boats rough water ability's. Letting some good 6 to 8 fters come at the stern in the afternoon winds. All was good till I let them approach me at a 45 degree angle on the starboard side. Wind must have caught my bimini at the same time. Had to crank the wheel full port and nail the throttle to pull out of that situation:wow:
What can be dangerous is loosing power and turning sideways into some steep waves. A 268 SR will not capsize very easy.
 
lazy dave here are the measurements of my anchor locker
at the stern end it's 12 inches deep
at the front it's 15 inches deep.
the width of the whole compartment is 55 inches it's V shaped.At the sides it measures 5 inches high. Hope that helps
On another note do u by chance take your boat to Beltzville
I think i might've spoken to u last year when you were launching from preachers camp
 
OK, that sure sounds a lot smaller than my locker. From memory, I think my locker is about 3' deep, about 60" wide along the back and about 2 1/2 or 3' long along the top, center. The more chain you have, the more it will squash the rope down. If you back off to 1/2" rope, you can get more length in there. Also, the higher quality rope that you use, the better it will lay. "Premium" rope is good - usually has a colored tracer in it. "8-Plait" is the best as far as "laying down" and not knotting-up is concerned.

Beltzville? Yes - that's a heck of memory you've got! Umm... was I cordial?:smt001
 
yes you were cordial.I saw you were from pa. And your sig shows a 260 da and diesel sub plus you also have the peter's marine logo in your posts. I'm getting ready to replace my anchor rope.Had it for atleast 5 years now. I didn't think 1/2 would be strong enough plus i was looking at pulling the anchor back up. I think 3/4 is easier on the hands then 1/2. What size chain should i go with? Currently have 3/8
 
Don't be concerned about the strength of the 1/2". It's more than adequate. If you like the 3/4" for the "feel", that's fine, but don't buy it for strength. Much bigger boats than our general size use 1/2". It is true, that it is easier grasp, though.

I have some leftover 1/2" premium at the store that I can give you a good deal on, if you want.

1/4" chain is all you need. If you have any plans on installing a windlass in the future, buy chain for windlasses. BBB is OK, HT is best - much stronger. Do not buy Proof chain.
 

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