16' Sea Runner & Marine Forcasts

[Alaskan Fly Guy]

Just out of curiosity, from the NOAA marine forecasts what would be the maximum wind and sea height would you consider safe. Of course I am aware that a lot depends on the experience of the operator, but what would be “your rule of thumb”?

 

[spoiled one]

How much horsepower do you have hanging off the back? It is no fun being stuck in a trough and not being able to power over the top. Three-four footers, stacked tight would not be fun either. Whittier is notorious for tightly stacked waves. Personally I would follow the 10 and 2 forecast. Sure it will take more, but why? This is just my opinion and it was free.

 

[akdeweyj]

1 foot of wave for every 5 feet of boat is a fairly good rule of thumb for waves. Sustained wind speeds above 25 knots make for an uncomfortable day if you're trying to fish. You should be good for most decent weather days from Hive Island to Callisto Head and back to Seward and on a really good day you could go to the Cheval Narrows for fun. Good Luck!

 

[Snowwolfe]

Four foot seas would be the max for me in a 16 foot boat. The main problem is NOAA is rarely correct and four footers can turn into 6-8 with zero notice.

 

[AK2AZ]

How much horsepower do you have hanging off the back? It is no fun being stuck in a trough and not being able to power over the top. Three-four footers, stacked tight would not be fun either. Whittier is notorious for tightly stacked waves. Personally I would follow the 10 and 2 forecast. Sure it will take more, but why? This is just my opinion and it was free.

This good advice. I`ve run a 16 with a 4-stroke 40 and felt underpowered in 3` seas. I would never venture far from port in a 3` forecast. Look for winds variable at 10 knots and seas 2` for the best results. Leaving Ressurection Bay in a 16` aluminum is a tall risk...EVERY day it starts to blow 15+ knots and the return trip from the Agnes/Pony area will eventually put you in a bind. The waves will come from your starboard quarter and twist you up good...tough battle sometimes.

 

[Alaskan Fly Guy]

Thanks for the input. I have pretty much always gone with the 10 and 2 as max to leave the harbor and when I started to see it changeing to say 3'-5' I was on my way back in. With the smaller boat I'm never more than a few miles out (always inside the bay). I had a buddy trying to talk me into going out this weekend for a short "shake out ride" but the forcast is like 20+ and 5' and I haven't had the boat out for a couple years...

 

[Doug from Anchorage]

Another "rule of thumb" I've been told is, no winds higher than your boat is long. In your case 10 knot winds would pretty much max you out.

 

[Frostbitten]

This good advice. I`ve run a 16 with a 4-stroke 40 and felt underpowered in 3` seas. I would never venture far from port in a 3` forecast. Look for winds variable at 10 knots and seas 2` for the best results. Leaving Ressurection Bay in a 16` aluminum is a tall risk...EVERY day it starts to blow 15+ knots and the return trip from the Agnes/Pony area will eventually put you in a bind. The waves will come from your starboard quarter and twist you up good...tough battle sometimes.

True statement. Additionally, once inside of Caines Head / Derby Cove on the return trip to the harbor in the afternoon, expect 3 foot following seas, with narrow troughs all the way in. It's a bumpy ride.

 

[AKBoater]

The marine forecast is good, but the whole other side is tide related. The forecast might say 3' seas, but you find a tide rip and that stacks to 4-6+ really fast. So consider wind direction as well as tides into your consideration. I've seen sections of water go from flat calm to 6ft seas in the span of a tide change, or the opposite is also true.

 

[AKBighorn]

Typically if you go out early and plan to be back early afternoon you can avoid some of the rougher water. 5' seas in a 16' boat sounds like extreme boating to me. I had a Klamath that size but I personaly never ventured any further than the old army docks. In those days I prefered to time my trips for when the fish were in closer rather than risk getting caught in foul water and wished I hadn't.