Stability

[localdave]

Hi all!
I just moved from NJ to Miami with a 250 Sundancer and have a question about stability.
What I have noticed in the Miami waters because of the larger waves is the boat seems to rock more than I am used to in NJ. I don’t want to capsize the boat!
Questions:
1. Can the boat actually flip over from being broadsided? I was sitting still today (calm waters) and a small passenger ferry zipped by me and gave one heck of a wake. Pitched me to port fairly hard.
2. When going in the ocean, sometimes I feel the stern of the boat (when on plane at 17 knots) waddles left to right (small 3 – 4 foot swells). Can this boat capsize on such small waves?
Do I have too small a boat for this environment?
Thanks!
Dave

 

[Hampton]

Hi all!
I just moved from NJ to Miami with a 250 Sundancer and have a question about stability.
What I have noticed in the Miami waters because of the larger waves is the boat seems to rock more than I am used to in NJ. I don’t want to capsize the boat!
Questions:
1. Can the boat actually flip over from being broadsided? I was sitting still today (calm waters) and a small passenger ferry zipped by me and gave one heck of a wake. Pitched me to port fairly hard.
2. When going in the ocean, sometimes I feel the stern of the boat (when on plane at 17 knots) waddles left to right (small 3 – 4 foot swells). Can this boat capsize on such small waves?
Do I have too small a boat for this environment?
Thanks!
Dave

Don't know, but I would think it would take a breaking wave like in the surf.

No.

Yes.

 

[Four Suns]

Yes you can flip a boat over with a big enough wave... happens all the time around here with people fishing in December.

You may want to search CSR on the word "celery"....

Trust me...

 

[springer3]

,,,,,I was sitting still today (calm waters) and a small passenger ferry zipped by me and gave one heck of a wake.....

I have noticed that sitting at anchor the right wake can get my 215 pitching or rolling pretty badly. It seems to be more a matter of timing between the waves, and I get rocked only by waves that match the natural roll frequency or pitch frequency. I have never been rocked badly when moving.

Is your boat too small? Seems huge to me, but any boat is vulnerable. Avoid storms, stay out of the surf, and anchor only in no-wake areas, and you should be fine. It will help to carry full fuel and fill the fresh water tank. Those are below the center of bouyancy, and therefore tend to right the ship when it rolls. Keep heavy items below deck for sure.

 

[270win]

My 220cc does the exact same thing...i think it's a result of it having lots of deadrise...but underway the boat is very solid and smooth.

I wouldn't take mine offshore in anything more than 1-2' seas,,,

 

[rondds]

Dave
You don't have too small a boat. But your boat size will dictate where you can go and when. Be smart, be aware of weather and conditions and do not put yourself in a situation that a boat that size can't handle. There's gonna be an awful lot of days that it'd be just better to stay inside or stay at the dock.

 

[Sundancer]

It would have to be one HECK of a wave! If you could suspend your boat on it's side just barely floating and then drop it, it would naturally right itself. You would have to have one strange wave to flip it, but yes it could happen. Many times the boat can handle way more than the operator!