Looking for advice

M

mburke001

New Member
Apr 23, 2013
9
Citrus County Fl
Boat Info
2010 185 Sport
Engines
135 Merc
I'm a new boat owner (been boating since October 2012 in Raritan Bay) and purchased a 2010 Sea Ray 185 sport; recently I was traveling slow in Crystal River, about 15 mph, I was passed by three boats on my starboard (1 large boat with twin 250 at least) and two mediium sized boats. They were traveling faster than the posted limited. I attempted to cross the wakes, however, I seemed to get caught in a "track" which placed my boat on its starboard side. I was looking down into the water. I kept my speed until I felt it was safe to steer towards port. No water enterd the boat.

I would appreciate any advice or critque on my actions.
I am planning on taking a class on boat handling.
Thank you
Mike
 
I live in a tourist area with about 75 charter and dive boats operating out of the same lagoon our marina is located in. I am frequently overtaken by a boat late to the dock for his next trip and this same thing happens to me and I have a 45 ft boat. You have to manage your boat in a way that protects your passengers. Do that by being alert to conditions around you like larger overtaking vessels where your hull can get caught between the wakes. In that particular situation, the best course of action was probably to accelerate to a speed where you have good steering response then turn to take the wake as close to 90 degrees as possible. If you cannot turn toward the wake, then negotiate your way across the wake one wave at a time, but maintain enough speed that you are controlling the direction of the boat, not the wake.

It might have looked scary at the time, but Sea Ray builds a very safe boat. I doubt there was any real danger of swamping the boat in a passing wake.
 
Frank: I saw them coming up on the starboard side, I didn't think that the larger boat was going to produce large wakes especially in the channel marked 25 mph. I was prepared to take the wakes, however the last boat inline came up faster and I was not able to take the bigger waves until he passed. That's when I got caught in between wakes. I kept my speed and did not make any quick or sudden turns. Basically stayed on course until I felt it was safe to steer to port. The 185 handled really great and I had the confidence in the boat. Before bringing the boat to Fl, I practiced in Raritran Bay between NJ and NY in 3 to 4 foot waves.

I appreciate the advice.
 
I appreciate the advice, the larger boat went pass pretty quick and I was not able to get a descrption. You think a person in a twin outboard and seeing small flat type boats alongside the channel fishing and smaller boats in he channel that he would be more careful. But then again...

But the 185 handles great. After this, I'm thinking maybe going a little bit larger maybe to the 23.

thank you
 
Our lake is pretty narrow and negotiating all the waves that come at you from heavy boat traffic on a busy day can be harrowing in a small boat. I even have to go slow with my 260DA to negotiate the waves at times.

When I had my 210 Sun Deck and my 240 Sundeck, what I did was slow down, lower the outdrive all the way down, and speed up just enough to get the bow up in the air and I crossed the wake close to 90 degrees. Crossing wakes with the bow up in the air minimizes, to some extent, the chance of taking a wave across the bow and into the boat.

.
 
some things you can never count on are:

1. anybody else knowing the navigation rules ......get a copy of Chapmans or the Nav Rules if you don't know them
2. anybody caring about their wake
3. anybody being sober
4. anybody on the water giving a rat's a$$ about your safety

I know I sound like an old grumpy guy with a bad attitude, but if you operate under the above premise, you will be safe and will really enjoy Florida boating.



Since you appear to be fairly new to boating in Florida, I'll offer you a suggestion.......Florida did have an excellent safe boating course that is free. It was handled by the FWC and was a correspondence type of course. Even though I have a CG license, I took it with my kids several years ago and it is excellent.
 
We've also been in scary situations when we were in the smaller 17 1/2 ft boat.
The waves in Pensacola Bay easily get into a washing machine mode when the wind blows (especially from the east or south), add a tidal change, and we have huge waves with whitecaps that can come on quickly. We were being cautious while going under the Bay bridge to head back in, and were overtaken by a speeding wakeboard boat under the bridge. Even a quick 90 degree turn couldn't prevent waves washing over the bow. Still can't believe how thoughtless people can be in 30ft water!!!!
I know it's not the perfect solution for everyone, but now most of our boating is done late afternoon and evenings during the weekend, and on weekdays. That way we're out of the way of the "crazies". We relaxed on our boat at dock today and watched the FWC working the crowd at the boat ramp across from us. We'll go out Monday afternoon or evening when it's a lot calmer :).
Boat US offers the Florida state approved, USCG approved course @
http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/Florida.asp
It's easy to follow online, and when you're finished and passed, you can print out your certificate. They'll send you a state card by mail. Even though I didn't have to, I took the course and am glad I did.
There are definite rules in place to guard yours and others' safety. Don't hesitate to call FWC or the USCG when they're so blatantly disregarded.
 
I did take the BoatUS course for Florida and also took the one day course in NJ and received both boating certification cards. Normally taking the waves was not a problem, I had been turning into them at a decent angle approx. 45 degrees, this time since the boats were not that far away on my starboard side and that there were 3 boats passing me (I guess they had to get back to the dock for a late lunch?) I couldn't get to turn into the waves any quicker. Thanks
 
I have been reading the thread and responses. I don't know the area but is it a posted no wake zone? Is there a posted speed limit and were the boats overtaking you exceeding it? In our old marina there was a long 6mph zone and a very narrow channel no one ever passed each other as there was two way traffic. So the slowest boat lead and if you we're behind you waited.

If not then if you we're moving at 15mph then you would want me to pass you on plane I would be hard pressed to give you a slow pass at 15 mph I would be passing you at 15-16mph and my stern would be digging down and throwing a bigger wake then I or you would like.

I guess protocol would say I should contact you over the radio and negotiate a pass and we both slow down. But given there were three boats in the channel behind each other that might not have been the safest thing to do.

Not saying anyone is at fault and your boat caught 3 sets of wakes from the stern which is not a comfortable situation but not unsafe as Frank pointed out I would have made sure everyone was seated and warn them of the wakes.

Good discussion and thanks for asking the question as I always like to learn! Sorry about your experience.
 
To Algeria, I have been to Crystal River, there is a posted 25 MPH speed limit coming out from the spring head area, then No Wake zone where you either turn right for the channel out to the bay or go to the left where the marina is and you can go to the flats, if your boat like skinny water. It is a beautiful area.
 
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