Need some boat handling advise

[vulcan98]

In our 26X with rudders down and little center board down due to current and wind "no sails up" and motoring along under 5kts, when we were overtaken by another boat maybe running at 8 to 10 knts, their wake will turn us to starboard if they are passing off or starboard or if passing off to port will turn us to port. Their wake was coming from astern. Has this happen to anyone else or am I doing something wrong or is this the nature of these boats? When we had power boats this never happen that I can remember. We were in the ICW a few months ago, do not remember if we were with or against the currect, when a large trawler overtook us. No ballast in and all of a sudden up and over about 10 degrees, I turn the helm in the opposite direction and just as quick I over corrected in other direction. I know these boat are light and set on the water but is there something I could do to make this a little less survire? Maybe make smaller corrections at the helm, but when you do a hard turn out of control and a hard lean over you need to do something.
Derwin

[jschrade]

I have been beaten up on the ICW in powerboats also as a 4 foot wake coming on from the wrong direction is going to rock any boat. You will need to learn to predict what these idiots are doing at take their wake as parallel as possible - you will get the hang of it. Motor sailing with the main up will dampen it a LOT.

As for those passing from behind tossing 4-5 foot wakes - had one get me to 45 degrees about a month ago - tossed my daughter across the boat.

Jim

[Catigale]

Our boats are totally different with sails up. Last trip across Buzzards bay the Admiral told me no more motoring only

[robbarnes1965]

I have been beaten up on the ICW in powerboats also as a 4 foot wake coming on from the wrong direction is going to rock any boat. You will need to learn to predict what these idiots are doing at take their wake as parallel as possible - you will get the hang of it. Motor sailing with the main up will dampen it a LOT.

As for those passing from behind tossing 4-5 foot wakes - had one get me to 45 degrees about a month ago - tossed my daughter across the boat.

Jim

I agree with Jim about all of it. We are in an area with a lot of power boats. The big cruisers are the worst a low speed when they are not planing. We got used to predicting and attacking at and angle. The main up does make a difference but put in the ballast if you do it.

Rob

[Crikey]

Short of carrying a potato cannon for 'shock and awe' reprisal we've tried both turning into, and away from the passing boats wake with differing results, depending on the size of the offenders displacement. In every case where there is a small marked channel involved options usually decline to zero ability to alter course enough to avoid some level of rock 'n roll.
I'd like to hear more information concerning the benefits of having the mainsail in a raised power sailing condition for this kind of scenario. Wouldn't you have to totally rein in the boom just before being passed? The extreme rolling caused by the passing boat would put gybe - like forces to work on the hardware, with breakage likely to occur.
Also, would applying power at the point of intercept help out? I haven't tried this yet because of concerns about rudder and daggerboard stress exceeding design levels.

Ross

[Chinook]

I think a big key is running with water ballast in. I had an unnerving experience this spring while motoring up the ICW. We were on the final day of our cruise, and just a few miles from the take out point. I'd emptied the ballast tank and was up on the cabin roof, preparing to remove the mainsail. Sandy was at the helm when we were passed at close range by a large power boat. His hull was pushing out a very large wake. There wasn't enough time or room to cross it at right angles, and it heeled us over to an alarming degree. Lesson #1: don't go up on deck with the water ballast out; and Lesson #2: Run with the water ballast tank filled when motoring in narrow channels like the ICW, where being overtaken at close quarters is a regular occurance.

[vulcan98]

Interesting idea about main sail up, will try this next time. On boats like Macgregor's with rudders,(when in the down position), they still have a wide section above waterline. In this case the wake will push against the rudder at waterline causing the boat to be push side ways. If the rudder were below the waterline as in tradital sailboats the wake would mainly lift and push the boat less. If we killed the engine and turned the rudder parallel to the wake right before impact, you think this would help?