BigGrin

I assume that a "wet" boat is one that sprays and tosses more than an average amount of water over the bow and onto it's occupants. My real question is why does this happen more on certain boats. Is it related to the deadrise and hull shape? That would be my guess. Thanks for the info, just trying to get educated.... BigGrin

BlueMarlin

Probably has more to do with bow flare... and chines than deadrise.

LI Sound Grunt

BlueMarlin is right on

next would be overall size and forward freeboard

Saltdog

This is actually really quite complicated because there are so many factors in design that come into play. There are the basics: how much freeboard (distance to water) is there at the bow and what is the shape of forward sections of the hull? Obviously, boats with more freeboard will often be drier since there is more hull to keep water away. But lots of other design elements come into play. Are the chines or strakes? These can deflect the spray and throw it out to the side and keep the ride drier.

Naval architects and boat builers have been playing with all the pieces for years. You can't look at a hull and necessarily say how dry it will be. You might get a hint at the extremes (go look at the picture of the bow of my Regulator 32 I posted under the "show us your vee thread". There you can see strakes, chines, very deep forefoot, and huge bow flare, all of which help keep that a very very dry boat. But big Contenders are pretty dry too, and they would not show nearly as much bow flare. Size helps, too, of course, primarily because big boats will usually have more freeboard at the bow.

TraderVic

You would think this would be a dry boat. At least until you let George Clooney take the helm.

CORALREEFER

WIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

catadromous

It is complicated and no one design feature will ensure a dry ride. Freeboard and flare(sp?) usually help, but without slogging to windward on a snotty day, you will never really know. Well designed chines and spray rails can guide spray down and aft so when it is caught by the wind and whipped back toward the boat it will generally come back aft of the drivers position. Features that reduce spray blowback may not be the same ones that prevent stuffing the bow and taking green water aboard.

The Cape Horn 21 has a reputation as a capable, but wet boat. I heard they redesigned this model to address this, but I haven't seen a newer model. Anyone have pictures that can illustrate the change? Could be instructive.

Jack
miserable in Minnesota

jt greene

With a cross wind their aint a dry boat

Jay A

BEER !!!!

Rocketman

One may also suggest that there is an element of operator ability with respect to running attitude/speed/bearing when it comes to determining if a boat is dry or not. Even the best designed boats can and do become "WET" at the hands of an inexperienced/incompetant (call it what you will) operator.

Those with poorly designed boats, or, caught in situations beyond the design ability of the vessel - wear your rain gear as it will not matter how good you are - you are going to get a bath.

RM

cat man

Two nice looking ladies,,,,,,,,,, oops

modunlavy

weight of a boat can also be a factor...if a boat pounds through the waves rathing that riding up them...makes a big spray, which with the wind in the face will make for a 'wet' ride!

Like said before, there are a lot of factors that can make a boat wet.

CORALREEFER

I FORGOT TO MENTION A 4 TO 6 FT SEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LI Sound Grunt

I think everything was covered and yes modunlavy my HS is definately wetter in high seas with a full tank of gas (that extra 2000 lbs does make a difference). I really think overall the HS runs better lighter than with a full load (defying all logic) and never much thought about why before reading this thread.

Mumblerone

Take a look at a Boston Whaler, not really a strake but a lip all around the bow to the transom. Knocks the spray down very well and keeps the bow from getting buried, too, in a head or following sea. Having said that, rain gear is OK, when it's rough. The bigger problem is salt water on the glasses...how do you guys handle that?

"Never enough time to do it right; ALWAYS enough time to do it over." Boston Whaler, "MUMBLER", 24' Outrage (1996), twin 175 HP Evinrude Ocean Pros.

[This message was edited by Mumblerone on 01-21-03 at 05:14 PM.]

loose_cannon

My classic 1967 Whaler. She would pound and water would sneeze out in a cloud in front of the bow. You would ride right through it.

A typical day in 3' waves:

bang-spalsh-bang-splash-bang-splash-bang..........

BlueMarlin

waves + cross wind = wet

LI Sound Grunt

Mumblerone, Great Question!

I use two pair of prescription sun glasses and have my partner clean the other with either freshwater or windex and paper towels - the keep rotating glasses. Once when by myself I just kept washing the salt off with bottled water. Beer is not a good substitute for this. This is not a great solution but haven't found anything better.

I will be interested in other reports on this.

I guess if you don't require corrective lenses you can just deal with the sun glare. I wonder of contacts work well with salt spray??

BigGrin

Great responses to my post. Thanks all. I do wonder if anyone has rigged up a "window washer" system like the type found on auto's. Salt can be a problem to see thru. I wonder why they don't offer this feature on most boats? Hmmmm, sounds like an opportunity to me... (Maybe some boats already offer this option). BigGrin

LI Sound Grunt

I was thinking Eyeglasses, but as for the windshield, I don't see why a retrofit washer kit for cars wouldn't work on a boat. They're quite simple systems ... anyone done it???