Bow riders in the sea

[bananaman1]

My wife and i are thinking of buying a smallish boat for some summer ski ing on the solent(possible a bayliner 175 ).The thing is ,someone awhile ago said to my wife that bowrides can sink or snap if to much water ends up in the front ! anyone got a bowrider that they use in the sea,that can assure the wife that there safe for setting to sea in ?

Thanks B man

[hidetheelephants]

You have noted the obvious seaworthiness failing of the bowrider; it's funnel-shaped where it shouldn't be. They are fine in sheltered water, or calm days in exposed areas. Are you experienced with boats? If you are a beginner, I would advise getting an RYA qualification; Dayskipper for preference, but Powerboat2 would probably do. Also get OH (or offspring if any) to do a qualification as well, it's safer with 2 trained bodys on board who know what they're doing(in case of illness or accident).

[Denis O]

I would endorse the qualification. I, and my wife, just finished Power Boat 2. Although it is fairly basic it certainly gives a good grounding in many aspects and gave my wife a lot more confidence than before.

I do hope Bow Riders don't have a propensity to sink as I just bought a Chaparral SS180 which will mostly be used in coastal waters close to land. I'm not planning on using it if the waves are more than 6".

[maser_spyder]

You may want to watch this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwpQONFzpIo

Sorry!

Perfectly safe if you treat conditions with respect.

[hidetheelephants]

maser_spyder said:

You may want to watch this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwpQONFzpIo

Sorry!

Perfectly safe if you treat conditions with respect.

I agree; in common with all watercraft, they are safe when operated within the limits of their capability and that of the operator.

[Huntsman]

About ten years ago, my boss, a youngish fella and really pretentious tw@t too, bought himself a Bayliner bow rider, brand spanking new. Him and his mate launched from somewhere down near the entrance to Langstone Harbour and set off for Cowes, I dont recall we really knew what speed it was doing, but it hit the wake of the Portsmouth to Fishborne car ferry, the nose dug in and it was completely swamped, end up with only the tip of the bow sticking up.

The ferry stopped to help, GAFIRS turned up to help him out.

I'm a little wary of a bow riders in the Solent.

[phib]

Rescued several bow riders in the solent and chi harbour, they are fine in the US but pretty useless over hear. My best advice would be not to buy one for the uk but if you have one keep the front cover over at least if you submarine it you stand some chance of not sinking.

On a seperate note re the ferry when I was alot younger and rather stupid we decided to cut behing the gosport ferry whilst it was in open water at night in a scarab from the port side. We landed or rather submarined through the starboard side of its wake bl**dy scary !!

Phib

[MOTORVATOR]

Bowriders aren't really designed for sea use. Then on top of that the american hull designs (being most of them) have been designed for lake use and the deadrise would make them uncomfortable in any chop.

Some of them have positive buoyancy on board and can stand being swamped but the engine wouldn't like it too much. So you might end up afloat but not able to move.

Having said that we have taken bowriders with us on 100 mile plus passages on the east and south coasts and they have faired ok if running in the wake of one of the bigger cruisers.

Would I take one out without being in the company of another seaworthy craft? Not a chance.

[Rum Runner]

MOTORVATOR said:

Bowriders aren't really designed for sea use. Then on top of that the american hull designs (being most of them) have been designed for lake use and the deadrise would make them uncomfortable in any chop.

Some of them have positive buoyancy on board and can stand being swamped but the engine wouldn't like it too much. So you might end up afloat but not able to move.

Having said that we have taken bowriders with us on 100 mile plus passages on the east and south coasts and they have faired ok if running in the wake of one of the bigger cruisers.

Would I take one out without being in the company of another seaworthy craft? Not a chance.

I think your use is not that relevant to the main use of a bow rider. Most venture around 5 miles from the sure. In most cases if you are towing on a 200 ft line behind a large motor yacht you are generally towing a RIB.
Some have deeper V hulls than others. The dead-rise on the better boats is over 21 degrees and there are quite a number.
Yes they do not have seaworthiness of some other types of craft but that is not there intention of use. A bit like taking a TVR greenlaneing.
On a whole I teach a lot in RIB's Bowriders on the sea in open water and in what can be be quite interesting wind over tide overfalls. Its about common sense.
I also skippered large charter M/V's and towed regularly and a bow rider would be far from ideal way offshore.
They are however great for general inshore/ coastal water use.
I found a family member a 19ft Fletcher cuddy with outboard. It lives on a swinging mooring in Abersoch bay in open water. Last year in was one of the first boats in at Easter and last boat out in Oct.
A friends 21ft Chaparral bow rider was also on a swinger there all summer.
( Both deep V ). The boats where fine and weather some bad weather and took on no water, even with some weight of chain pulling the nose down from the mooring.
We have 1000's of things here in North Wales especially Pwllheli, and go knows how many park and launch services running tractors in convoy all day when the weather is good, 90% are 17-21ft bow-riders.

Biggest issue you have is breaking down from poor maintenance / servicing...

Edited by Rum Runner on Tuesday 27th April 23:25

[MOTORVATOR]

Rum Runner said:

MOTORVATOR said:

Bowriders aren't really designed for sea use. Then on top of that the american hull designs (being most of them) have been designed for lake use and the deadrise would make them uncomfortable in any chop.

Some of them have positive buoyancy on board and can stand being swamped but the engine wouldn't like it too much. So you might end up afloat but not able to move.

Having said that we have taken bowriders with us on 100 mile plus passages on the east and south coasts and they have faired ok if running in the wake of one of the bigger cruisers.

Would I take one out without being in the company of another seaworthy craft? Not a chance.

I think your use is not that relevant to the main use of a bow rider. Most venture around 5 miles from the sure. In most cases if you are towing on a 200 ft line behind a large motor yacht you are generally towing a RIB.
Some have deeper V hulls than others. The dead-rise on the better boats is over 21 degrees and there are quite a number.
Yes they do not have seaworthiness of some other types of craft but that is not there intention of use. A bit like taking a TVR greenlaneing.
On a whole I teach a lot in RIB's Bowriders on the sea in open water and in what can be be quite interesting wind over tide overfalls. Its about common sense.
I also skippered large charter M/V's and towed regularly and a bow rider would be far from ideal way offshore.
They are however great for general inshore/ coastal water use.
I found a family member a 19ft Fletcher cuddy with outboard. It lives on a swinging mooring in Abersoch bay in open water. Last year in was one of the first boats in at Easter and last boat out in Oct.
A friends 21ft Chaparral bow rider was also on a swinger there all summer.
( Both deep V ). The boats where fine and weather some bad weather and took on no water, even with some weight of chain pulling the nose down from the mooring.
Biggest issue you have is breaking down from poor maintenance / servicing...

I think you misunderstood. I wasn't talking about towing.

What I was saying is that in deep water where it is possible to meet a heavy wave at any time we run the bowriders behind the larger boats in transit to break those waves. Once in shallower sheltered waters where the likelyhood of high waves is minimal they are fine.

A bow rider in coastal waters on it's own I believe is foolish. My reasoning being that I have had cause to pull 5 persons from the water with the only evidence of a boat under them being the cushions floating about. And that was a matter of only 1/2 mile offshore in the Thames.

The op was talking about Solent which can experience some heavy seas and is transited by numerous heavy craft that will throw up swells more than capable of swamping your average bayliner bowrider.

Ribs obviously are a different story as they have a natural tendency for bowlift from the tubes.

[Rum Runner]

I Have towed in plenty of bow-riders over the year, seen many sunk and go on fire.
Sunk I nearly all case due to split boot on the stern drive, swamping from a stern tends to be more of a major issue than the front end in any small inboard sportsboats which leads to engine failure in some cases, especailly if the exhaust flaps are knackered.
Hurst narrows in a big wind over tide would not be nice but as said whatever you go out in its up to those responsible to now the crafts limits.and there own. We get big waves here on the mooring in Easterly winds
What I am saying they are not bad craft and are fine for sea use as long as you are sensible.....

Edited by Rum Runner on Wednesday 28th April 00:00

[hidetheelephants]

Rum Runner said:

Biggest issue you have is breaking down from poor maintenance / servicing...

Amen to that; whatever boat you buy, budget for around 20% of the purchase price in repair/ maintenance annually. The actual figure will usually be a good bit less, but if the manifolds need doing or suchlike the bills grow very quickly. Good maintenance prevents breakdowns; there are no hardshoulders out there on the briny.

[Marty63]

someone recently commented to me;

"If you don't like someone then buy them a boat",
"If you really don't like them, buy them a bigger boat"

Am starting to wonder why i have a boat now ??

Edited by Marty63 on Wednesday 28th April 09:55

[happygoron]

And if you really, really don't like them buy them a wooden boat.

[maser_spyder]

I notice the OP hasn't re-appeared here?....

Actually, I'm selling a RIB at the moment, 5m, brand new, with a trailer.

Drop me a pm if interested!

[bananaman1]

[quote=maser_spyder]I notice the OP hasn't re-appeared here?....

Still here,and reading with interest

I have done the rya`s pwc course,and have spent many an hour on the solent on jet skis.But have noted the need for a power boat level 2 course

Bottom line is that theres about 10k difference between a bowrider (which i think i would be happy with )and a boat the other half would like

Thanks for the replys so far

[maser_spyder]

bananaman1 said:

maser_spyder said:

I notice the OP hasn't re-appeared here?....

Still here,and reading with interest

I have done the rya`s pwc course,and have spent many an hour on the solent on jet skis.But have noted the need for a power boat level 2 course

Bottom line is that theres about 10k difference between a bowrider (which i think i would be happy with )and a boat the other half would like

Thanks for the replys so far

What's your budget? And what's your requirements?

You know the guys on here, somebody's bound to come up with something suitable! I'm sure you'll also get some silly comments too....

[bananaman1]

My budget,or the wifes

Well about 10k ish,ideally somethings that not to much of a handfull to tow (towing would be done by a honda crv or a movano van )to be used mainly for wakeboarding ringo and kneeboarding,with the occasional cruise over to the isle of wight.To carry about 6 ish people and have a killer sound system.i`m no fan of rough seas

Thanks Bman

[maser_spyder]

bananaman1 said:

My budget,or the wifes

Well about 10k ish,ideally somethings that not to much of a handfull to tow (towing would be done by a honda crv or a movano van )to be used mainly for wakeboarding ringo and kneeboarding,with the occasional cruise over to the isle of wight.To carry about 6 ish people and have a killer sound system.i`m no fan of rough seas

Thanks Bman

OK, sounds good. You can get a lot for your money!

Actually, I had the perfect boat for you that I sold last year. 8.2m RIB, brand new, which I sold for not much more than your budget, although you would have needed an outboard to go with it.

Have you thought about a RIB? Or not your sort of thing? They're not everybody's cup of tea, but a good boat for a 'beginner', very forgiving.

Prefer inboard/outboard/jet?

[bananaman1]

BBQ ?
Nah not really liking the idea of a rib,with regards engines probably an in board would be best for towing...but not a deal breaker