timjet
Guru
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2009
- Messages
- 1,920
Some of you folks probably recognize my avatar and know I'm a frequent visitor to Trawler forum. However I've actually never operated my motor boat.*
Just over a year ago I joined Trawler forum when my wife and I decided to sell our sailboat and move over to the dark side. For the six months or so it took to sell our sailboat I got lots of information and advice from you folks and our search for a boat started in earnest when we finally sold it in December.
We purchased our '98 Carver 35' ACMY in May after some very interesting mechanical issues were finally resolved. Since then I have spent most weekends on the boat upgrading and personalizing it to my specs. Just a few of the upgrades included adding a multi-stage filtration system for all 3 engines, flushing the raw water system of the genset, cleaning the engine after-coolers, adding a raw water overtemp alarm system, replacing a tie rod end on the port rudder, tighten the rudder shaft logs which incidentally required removing a cabinet in the aft cabin, relocating the fuel transfer switch and adding LED's to indicated pump operation, adding a digital voltmeter, adding fresh water flush for all 3 engines, and a bunch of other stuff I won't bore you with. Anyway we've filled up the aft holding tank and the fwd one is almost half full so time is running out on getting this thing going.
Since I have only operated the boat under the direction of my broker when we repositioned it from the PO's house to it's present location, about 45 minutes run time, I'm a little anxious about taking her out. But I've decided that in my present location which is perfect to learn close in*maneuvering, long dock with just a few boats along a 150 ft wide canal, I will give it a try. I did dock the boat here when we brought her over so I know I can do it. I fly twin engine aircraft for a living, so I understand the concept of assymetrical thrust.**A calm early morning day with no wind to practice will be what I'm looking for. Once I'm comfortable maneuvering along the dock we'll take her out and and try docking in a slip, preferably with no boats along side. A lot of practice and I know I'll get comfortable with it.
But what I can't really practice is operating the boat in heavy weather. I plan on doing most of our cruising in and around the intercoastal with occasional jaunts out in the gulf and someday the keys and Bahamas. My experience with sailboats could do me harm here as I routinely sailed in 4 to 6 ft seas and gave it little thought.
My Carver has a semi-displacement hull whose bow starts to rise at about 8 kts and will be fully on a plane by about 14 to 15 kts. This rather flat bottomed boat will probably not do well in seas that my sailboat could easily handle. So what do you guys do when you get caught or must go out in heaver weather? Sure you always try to avoid it, but inevitably if you use you're boat you're going to get caught out in some nasty weather with building seas. So please pass along some tips!!
Just over a year ago I joined Trawler forum when my wife and I decided to sell our sailboat and move over to the dark side. For the six months or so it took to sell our sailboat I got lots of information and advice from you folks and our search for a boat started in earnest when we finally sold it in December.
We purchased our '98 Carver 35' ACMY in May after some very interesting mechanical issues were finally resolved. Since then I have spent most weekends on the boat upgrading and personalizing it to my specs. Just a few of the upgrades included adding a multi-stage filtration system for all 3 engines, flushing the raw water system of the genset, cleaning the engine after-coolers, adding a raw water overtemp alarm system, replacing a tie rod end on the port rudder, tighten the rudder shaft logs which incidentally required removing a cabinet in the aft cabin, relocating the fuel transfer switch and adding LED's to indicated pump operation, adding a digital voltmeter, adding fresh water flush for all 3 engines, and a bunch of other stuff I won't bore you with. Anyway we've filled up the aft holding tank and the fwd one is almost half full so time is running out on getting this thing going.
Since I have only operated the boat under the direction of my broker when we repositioned it from the PO's house to it's present location, about 45 minutes run time, I'm a little anxious about taking her out. But I've decided that in my present location which is perfect to learn close in*maneuvering, long dock with just a few boats along a 150 ft wide canal, I will give it a try. I did dock the boat here when we brought her over so I know I can do it. I fly twin engine aircraft for a living, so I understand the concept of assymetrical thrust.**A calm early morning day with no wind to practice will be what I'm looking for. Once I'm comfortable maneuvering along the dock we'll take her out and and try docking in a slip, preferably with no boats along side. A lot of practice and I know I'll get comfortable with it.
But what I can't really practice is operating the boat in heavy weather. I plan on doing most of our cruising in and around the intercoastal with occasional jaunts out in the gulf and someday the keys and Bahamas. My experience with sailboats could do me harm here as I routinely sailed in 4 to 6 ft seas and gave it little thought.
My Carver has a semi-displacement hull whose bow starts to rise at about 8 kts and will be fully on a plane by about 14 to 15 kts. This rather flat bottomed boat will probably not do well in seas that my sailboat could easily handle. So what do you guys do when you get caught or must go out in heaver weather? Sure you always try to avoid it, but inevitably if you use you're boat you're going to get caught out in some nasty weather with building seas. So please pass along some tips!!