3 tips for boat handling in big waves
Understanding the likely handling characteristics of your boat in heavy seas is key to safely and speedily making progress, says Lenny Rudow.
Big waves can make or break your day out on the water. Uncomfortable seas can spring up in the calmest weather, when, for instance, the wind is blowing against a strong tidal flow, or when large swells fan out in advance of a weather system. So even if you have experienced your fair share of foamy ocean rollers, it may still pay to refresh the memory banks with this quick, easy-to-remember three-point guide from boats.com editor Lenny Rudow.
In a nutshell, for a stable, safe trip in big seas, it pays to slow down, adjust the trim and try to attack the waves at an angle rather than head on. For more great boating advice from Lenny, see: Boat stability: how to buy a stable boat or the amusing but informative: Marine electronics: the 10 commandments.
