Heavy weather performance

[wood1940]

I am familiar with larger blue water boats 40' to 75' but am now interested in compact size of the R25. I expect to use the boat in large lakes, bays and offshore to maybe 50 or 75 miles. Any help or experiences out there piloting these Tugs in bad weather?

Please share stories/discriptions of your or others' experience with adverse sea conditions? 😳 -

For example:
A) Steep/short chop - perhaps on inland waters with a long fetch.
B) Heavy rolling seas in deeper water -- with or without 30+ knots wind.

Or:
C) Has anyone experienced loss of one of the main cabin windows and/or possible swamping? D) How about being "pooped" on the aft deck by a following sea.

What precautions or structural modifications would you suggest to prevent catastrophy? -- (Other than staying in a safe harbor or leaving the boat on the trailer) :lol: .


I realize these are not the conditions one would willingly be exposed to -- but sudden and unexpected adverse situation DOES happen. :mrgreen:

 

[Ram]

There was a previous discussion on this topic:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=372&start=0

Since that time I've had the opportunity to get out on an extended cruise, and have dealt with some uncomfortable but not really severe weather (3-5' waves, short period, steep walls; winds to 25 kts). The Ranger handled herself very nicely in these conditions, with spray frequently breaking over the cabin top and the windows awash. Frankly, I wouldn't want to be out in anything much worse than this (and we managed to avoid doing so). Lets face it, these are not bluewater cruising boats. They are semi-displacement hulls with fairly flat aft sections to enable getting up out of the water, and they don't carry a lot of weight down low for the amount of windage from the topsides and the cabin (compared to a full keel sailboat, for example). You have to be realistic and prudent. For a 25' powerboat they do extremely well.

 

[doke01]

I have to agree with Ram. We have been in 3-5' seas, some pretty steep stuff (probably 6' max) and the R25 has performed surprisingly well. I have researched a bit on hull design and the R25's is excellent and you can feel it on the water. Hull design, more then anything else, impacts ride on rough water. I was tempted to go out during the last tropical storm that passed us by. I think the boat would have survived but maybe not me so I backed off on that one 😀

Doug
Nauti Dream