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topwater.
Greetings,A couple of things: First, wanted to thank BCB for a great product. Bought my first BC, a new 2007 P2, earlier this year. Nothing but great things to say and BC customer service has been everything each one of you on this board said it would be. BC perhaps has not been as popular in my area as until recently there was not a dealer close, but hopefully that will begin to change. The JD Power awards and sweet styling initially led me to look closely at BCB, but then this board and the passion of the other owners really impressed me (and ultimately sold me). This is my first true bassboat and I am thrilled with it– what a quality product!Second, was on KY lake this past weekend and got a bit of a scare. Wind was only about 15pmh (it can get much worse) but it was blowing straight out of the north. KY Lake runs north/south so this allowed the waves to roll pretty good (I would estimate 3-4 footers) and they seemed to be pretty close together. In my previous boats (smaller hp) I would not have thought about trying to run in this, but I am still learning to drive the P2 and starting running south with the wind. Got just about up on plane or perhaps a bit more and then the nose of the boat plowed into the wave in front of me, taking on 20 gallons on water or so. Stunned, I kept on going and hit another one a few seconds later (same deal). This was quite eye-opening as I have not experienced this before (and thank you bildge pump). I have certainly gotten wet before, but this was a tidal wave. I am sure I made some rookie mistakes here and I know driving tips have been posted before, butCould someone post driving tips for running in rough water?I know seat time will solve at lot of this, but I really do not want to have a repeat of this- ever. Just lucky water temps were still close to 80 as was the air temp.Thanks, ap
ap, Welcome to the “family” ! Sounds like youve begun your education ! It also sounds like you were going straight into the rollers, which is a no no, hit them at an angle, and run the troughs when distance between waves allows. Many will be on to coach you through this, but rest assured you will learn quickly that your BassCat will get you home safely in nearly any condition you encounter once you master driving the P2. Good luck, D.
I know it is not funny but you had me laughing reading your post. First of all, welcome to the family and congrats on the new boat. I know you already like it but in time you will learn to LOVE it. I am guessing you were out this past Saturday when the little cold front came through along with the winds. Rough water, waves and rollers take a little time and above all patience to run in. You have to treat each wave and circuimstances a little different. The best advice I can give and feel sure others will come along with more and better advice. That is to get up on pad if at all possible, tweak the trim just a little bit to get the nose up but not to much trim either. In 2 and 3 foot waves you can pretty much take them head on going and coming but sounds like you were in a little bit bigger waves than that. In that case you need to zig and zag a little bit. Do not take waves that big head on. If at all possible try to go at them at an angle. Other than that, lots of patience, practice and time on the water is the best advice I think anybody can give you. Take Care, Be Safe and Congrats on the new ride !!!Joey
Yes, take the waves at an angle. Tacking back and forth. That effectively increases the distance between the waves. But at times, this is impossible. Lay is where I fish most of the time, and it is reasonably crooked. But there are straight stretches and when the Summertime storms blow up, the waves can get intense, and I cant tack back and forth when the channel is narrow. The only solution is to slow down.What you did is commonly referred to as a “beanpole”. Where you stick the bow into the middle of a wave rather than hitting it on top. This can be (a) embarassing; (b) will get you wet; (c) can cause serious injury. I have seen windshields ripped off. Drivers ripped out of the boat. Etc.If the trough to peak distance is really 3-4-5 feet, the distance between the waves has to be longer than your boat. Taking them head on is dangerous. If you run 50, jumping from wave to wave, you are going to beat your boat to death. And if there is a rogue wave that is a little farther from the wave in front than usual, when you hit a wave head-on and beanpole the boat, it is going to hurt.The best you can do, running with the wind, is to tack back and forth, keeping the speed down to the point that you are not leaving the water when you go up and over a wave. It is slow, but it is safe and drier. If you are running into the wind, you are traveling opposite to the wave movement, which effectively compresses them. This is where beanpoles happen, because now you can almost run on top of the waves, but you have to “run”. And a rogue is bad.Better slow than sorry if the waves are really up that high. Ive seen em on the TN river, on Ross Barnett, on the Bend, and other places. Slow down. Your kidneys will thank you. 2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
AP,Another KY angler here.We have all done what you did and experience will help over time.One bit of advice though is to keep your bow up and your speed down. Also, when you power up a wave, be sure to ease off the power as you top the wave so you dont power the bow DOWN into the next wave.KY Lake can be a real bear though when that north wind is howling right over the dam and blowing due south up the lake!Sure does make the fishing good at times, though!
Riding large waves is a constant throttle process. Power up going up, power off before you crest. Once you crest tack a little side angle, then approach the next wave. Having been on K Lake with 45 MPH winds and gusts of more we can tell you it can definitely get rough. Just having one set trim position and throttle position will not getr dun. Adjust both the throttle and the trim in the large waves. You get the boat on top, and put some trim into it for raising the bow. If you stick one in winds like that, then it is just a learning curve. You will not stuff the bow in those winds once you learn how to throttle, trim and tack. We will be glad to help more if you need to more answers. BCB
Thanks for all the advice. Makes sense. What is humbling is how quickly things can happen! I understand the power up and down concept, used this to get back the same day running about 20-25mph, but not so much adjustment to the trim in the process, just more or less trimmed down and riding them up and down.If you use some trim in crest of the wave, do you trim back down once you start up the next one? When you say “tack a little side angle”, what does this look like- slight angle or trying to obtain more 45?Thanks again.
You should be able to tack into the next wave with the trim set for the most part, having only to bump it occasionally as you find the need.The tacking is the real deal, crest the wave, and before you are over adjust for your angle of attack on the next wave.Always look 3 to 4 waves in front of the boat. That will keep you preparing for those “rogue” waves ot57 mentioned. The trim angle you will have to play with depending on into the wind or with it also.It is easier to “stuff” a wave if you are running with the wind, as you gain speed as timing changes, until you are running too fast for the height and length between the waves. Then you stuff the third or fourth waves in a series. The into the wind scenario is simplest. This is holding the bow up, so you will use less trim angle. The wind also creates so pressure on the hull which changes the angle of attack, and you may need much less trim going into the wind. Hope this helps! BCB
All great advice and the web site was cool to read written well. Seat time is the real answer but it not easy to get seat time in rough water.. You could come up here to Michigan and fish Erie.. It will only take you about 3 week then lol.. The water is always rough here. lol Stay safe and always look for the rouge wave. Going into the wind is best but not if you dont see the rouge it helps lift the bow then. I was running in the State Fish Off on St. Clair winds 30 plus into the wind and hit one this year didnt see it until the last few seconds didnt spear it but caught it on an angle going a bit too fast stood my 1998 PII straight in the air opened the livewell doors and emptied most of the water out . WOW .. We also have what we call Tuna boats here(big Cruiser that push lot of water and never seem to get on plain) when running the channels or the river you have to deal with them close they will put off 4 to 5 ft wakes not to mention the Freighters but they are not as bad as the Tuna boats seem like you have to cross about Five Rollers of 4 to 5 foot best way I found is to of course be going slow run up in on a slight angle power up just as you get to the top and kick the back end of boat into the swell then soon as it gently come down sitting in the low area same angle as the wake on either side a quick turn the opposite direction to put the bow back on angle and run up again same process several times till you are through them. trim down and off again. its actually pretty soft ride but a lot of quick turning of the wheel.
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