How does your boat handle rough seas

[zzzBarney]

Hi i am currently looking at purchase a 5.5m "Pride Albatros", i had a mate of mine have a look and he has some reservations about how it would handle should things start to turn ugly, he believes that it dosen't have a deep enough hull to perform well.
The boat has been modified with an added transom and powered by a 135 Mercury.
While i am looking specifically at the Pride boat, i may not end up with it, so please post how your boat handles as well.http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/images/icons/icon13.gifhttp://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/images/icons/icon14.gif

[blaze]

all boats will handle the rough only as good as the skipper is at the helm. Also same can apply to how the crew handle themselves when it all turns to sh*t. Most boats will handle over and above the ability of the skipper. Probable dosnt answer your question but its the way I see it. So how competent are you ?
cheers
blaze

[fishingrod]

all boats will handle the rough only as good as the skipper is at the helm.
cheers
blaze

I agree 100% with this ^^^^^^^^^^^^

I think its also important that the boat is still manourvable. The engine is running and has sufficient power.

Cabins are great wave breakers. Perspex windscreens and canopys help, but will not stop serious repeated green water. In all cases a good bilge pump/efficient self draining deck helps.

Ive had a previous 5m Cruise Craft out in some nasty weather. No so much that I got caught out, but maybe as im occasionally an addrenalin junkie and I deliberatly headed out to see what it could do. A certain level of experimentation is good practice for the day the poo hits the the fan in real life.

The Cruise Craft was a 1986 5.06m Regal half cabin. Ive now got a 2000 Allison 189' cuddy cabin. Each boat has its own merits. Just becuase the Allision is bigger its not better in every way. I think the smaller Cruise Craft had some better points and vice versa. Either way I think they can both handle rough seas and I feel comfortable at the helm. Yes, i guess im competent !

The Pride Albatros are getting a little old, so make sure it is still structurely sound. You have to hope the "added transom" was done properly and has not made the boat dangerous. Im not going to comment on the seaworthyness of the Albatros as I have never been in one. Ive been in some boats 5.5-5.8m that had some scary charactistics appear under certain conditions. They were a popular brand that "looked" very beefy & seaworthy.

cheers
Rod

[Grand_Marlin]

The pride albatross is actually a very nice, stable sea boat.

Remember, you are only in an 18ft boat, so it has its limitations.

In saying this about the Albatross, any of the new seafarers or cruisecrafts will be a better boat ... but if you are looking at an Albatross, obviously budget plays a big part.

Buying any old boat has its pitfalls ... the structural integrity of the boat is critical (ask Blaze) and the motor has to be running, no matter what - otherwise you are in big trouble in rough seas (trust me :( )

The best advice ... know your weather, know your boats limits, know your own limits through experience (as stated by blaze & rod) and stick well and truly inside them.

And to answer your question ... I have a 23ft Sharkcat with armour glass windows in the lockup cabin and a self draining deck...

Yeah, it handles the rough ok 8-)

Cheers

Pete

[kingtin]

I have a 23ft Sharkcat with armour glass windows in the lockup cabin and a self draining deck...

Yeah, it handles the rough ok 8-)

Cheers

Pete

Way to go.

This kind of rig nearly cost me my life.............too many windows not mounted securely enough. The front window was way too big and got punched out one day when we took one over the bow. A brilliant riding boat that was let down by poor cabin design.

kev

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b182/bidkev/Fishing%20Album/skate1.jpg