Handling questions

[keepondancin]

Just joined, not sure this is the right location for this question, but here it goes. Just came back from a boat show and was aboard a 31 Ranger tug. Very nice. We are considering going from sail to power. Cruised a 37' boat for 10 years in the Caribbean. Now own a 41' boat that we have had for 13 years. Wife has some mobility issues, and sailing is getting difficult. What do the tugs handle like in a different sea conditions, like 3-4' head seas, following seas. What about 2'-4' short chop? Is there much roll? I am used to losts of ballast hanging down low, so this would be a new experience. Would have to go used, and the 29 looks good. Thanks for any input.

 

[ragman]

Just joined, not sure this is the right location for this question, but here it goes. Just came back from a boat show and was aboard a 31 Ranger tug. Very nice. We are considering going from sail to power. Cruised a 37' boat for 10 years in the Caribbean. Now own a 41' boat that we have had for 13 years. Wife has some mobility issues, and sailing is getting difficult. What do the tugs handle like in a different sea conditions, like 3-4' head seas, following seas. What about 2'-4' short chop? Is there much roll? I am used to losts of ballast hanging down low, so this would be a new experience. Would have to go used, and the 29 looks good. Thanks for any input.

thanks for asking the question. It was also on my mind. Tugnuts, please share your knowledge and experience for those of us transitioning from heavy, full keel sailing vessels to shallow draft power yachts.

 

[workingdogs]

Hi all ,
I have 75 hrs and 6 weeks on my R25 . However , I have had many encounters with heavy seas including 8 foot following seas . The same hull that limits top speeds makes for a boat that does well in rough water . It behaves like a much larger boat and because of the keel stays remarkably upright while under way . On the hook , lacking the stabilizing effect of the keel moving through the water it rocks quite happily as boats pass by .
I would not choose to be in the above mentioned 8 foot following seas if I could avoid them . It required a lot of wheel work to keep straight and happy . Always felt safe and secure though .

 

[ragman]

Hi all ,
I have 75 hrs and 6 weeks on my R25 . However , I have had many encounters with heavy seas including 8 foot following seas . The same hull that limits top speeds makes for a boat that does well in rough water . It behaves like a much larger boat and because of the keel stays remarkably upright while under way . On the hook , lacking the stabilizing effect of the keel moving through the water it rocks quite happily as boats pass by .
I would not choose to be in the above mentioned 8 foot following seas if I could avoid them . It required a lot of wheel work to keep straight and happy . Always felt safe and secure though .

So, in a following sea, how does one manage it. Throttle up to try to stay just on the back side of the wave?

 

[workingdogs]

Good question !
Staying on the back side is somewhat stressful on the engine as cavitation can rear its ugly head . Also you can never really match the wave speed , so because you are close to the wave speed ,the downhill danger zone is prolonged . So...... Depending on wave frequency , you either go slower or faster than the waves . If they are far enough apart , you can go faster and concentrate on keeping the boat straight . It's quite situationally dependent .

 

[berniefiedler]

I agree. Have an R 27 and found the only really disconcerting part of high following seas was when you were on top of the wave. It seemed to lose steerage and the rudder didn't take hold until on the downhill run. All that said we arrived safe, sound and tired🙂

 

[Spinner]

My R29 handles conditions like you mention very well. I have also been out in 6 to 7 foot seas, tacking back and forth (headed north in west wind). The following seas were not an issue. I was able to tack very quickly and avoid being beam on. On a quartering sea, the boat would tend to fall off the wind on the back side of the wave, but that was just a matter of staying on top of steering.

Overall, the boat handled really well. Where would you be using the boat?

Sue
Spinner

 

[keepondancin]

Thanks for some input. If we make the switch from sail to power, our plans would be coastal cruising, ICW and the Bahamas. Right now our boat is in Long Island Sound, which can get pretty uncomfortable with the close, tall chop that can develop. We have cruised extensively, as far as Venezuela, so this would be a big change. Just getting started in seeing what the options are.

 

[ragman]

thanks.
we take delivery tomorrow. Looks like nice weather for next few days so we plan our shakedown cruise for Wednesday.
plan is to leave Essex, CT in the morning and cross over to Greenport on Long Island. It's about 25 nm each way so that seems like a good way to get to know our new boat. Forecast is winds 10 Kits or less and seas 1ft or less. clear skies and temps mid 60's to low 70's 😀