Boat sive vs. wave periods - The Hull Truth

ioneyes · 02-20-2007, 02:44 PM

I was telling the Commodore at my yacht club about my new boat (Aquasport 215 Explorer) and he told me I made a bad choice. He said anything between 19 & 23 feet sucked on the ocean due to wave period. He said I should have gotten a boat in the 27ft range. Can anyone tell me if this is true and why? Would that apply to the New England area or anywhere?

Thx ~ion

CRESTAPRE · 02-20-2007, 03:02 PM

Yeah, you bought a POS sive.

CRESTAPRE · 02-20-2007, 03:48 PM

Oh, just kidding.
Thats a great boat!

guns101 · 02-20-2007, 03:57 PM

Depends on if you are out in rollies or chop. Open water or bays. Different boats, different applications. I went froma a 19' mod. V hull to a 23' Novi. doubled the weight as well. Much sturdier and better suited for me and my fishing. Maybe not for others. That's why there are so many boat styles out there.

ant1 · 02-20-2007, 04:45 PM

it really depends how you are using this boat. Do you plan on fishing offshore(10-50miles)or do you stick to bays?I have been very very far out in 23 footers and come home in some bad weather,and kept on doing it.You need to pick your days carefully(offshore)and gain some experiance,and you would be surprised what you can do .That commodore probably never leaves the dock,so don't listen to him.He sounds old.

Fubar512 · 02-20-2007, 05:37 PM

LOL. There are so many factors that fall into play.

20+ years ago, when I was running a 25 foot Wellcraft Sportsman (Which is what the hull of your 215 is based on, BTW), I recall one instance where we were running into a big swell. A long-period, gentle swell of perhaps 8'.

I was humming along at just over 25 knots, and eventually found myself overtaking a 40+ Ocean Super Sport, that was on the same course. Just as I got alongside, the helmsman of said Ocean decided that he was not going to be outrun by a lowly, single outboard-powered Wellcraft, and proceeded to open her up. I did likewise.

At 31 knots, my boat was just barely getting "light" as it crested the gently rounded tops of the swells. That was not the case for the Ocean, as she was catching air and slamming back down, hard. Every time she did so, I cringed, imagining what was happening to the furniture (and occupants) of that boat. Eventually, the helmsman came to his senses and backed down.

The moral of the story? There's more than just a bit of truth to the old adage that "There is a sea for every boat".