Hunter 36/356 motoring (only) in high wind/waves

[deacm]

This past weekend we were sailing home on Lake Erie for 36 miles and the wind went to 20-23 on the nose and the waves were 4-5 footers (this is Lake Erie so waves are short period and very 'square' usually). We realized soon that it would take us 12 hours or so to get home so we dropped sails and turned on the 'iron duke' and zig-zagged home trying to hit the waves at 45º as best we could. It was still a slow slog with each wave taking us back a knot or so if we didn't hit it right.

Which got me to thinking………in square chop like that, what are the practical limits to what the Hunter 36/356 can take when motoring into the wind/chop. Since it was a long trip, I kept the engine at around 2700 RPMs and our speed was 3.5 to 4.8 knots grinding to windward. So my questions would be:

1) For a long trip, what would be the max you would set your RPM's?
2) What wave/wind combination do you think would overpower the 30YM Yanmar heading to weather to the point you're just not making headway?
3) And I guess the follow on question would be how much pounding can the Hunter's deck stepped mast take before it starts getting a little….well…wobbly….. if I miss taking too many of those waves at 45º? ;-)

…and remember, Lake Erie is known for its short steep chop.


Thanks in advance

 

[Jackdaw]

I feel your pain. Lake Superior has the same square waves in the shallower areas. Reefed down, we make the same progress under sail that we would under the Volvo. And its easier on the teeth.

A little over 5 knots SOG after all the hammering. If you boat can't make as much progress, maybe motorsail to help the sailplan??

 

[Rick D]

Non-local Observation

That flat forefoot is great for some stuff but pounds when motoring in the conditions you describe. On my 40.5, I get that when going through (the few) shallow areas. While motoring is usually 7.5 to 8.0 knots when flat, in a steep short period chop, I will back off to 5+-ish and try to head off and induce some heel by motorsailing. The boat is a lot more pleasant with some heel on her and pushing harder under power just tests the hatch gaskets and our fillings.

 

[Bill Roosa]

reefing is key. I would note that lots of sailors never had a motor and they did fine with only sails.

 

[ice breaker]

reefing is key. I would note that lots of sailors never had a motor and they did fine with only sails.

Yep, but some of us still have schedules to keep and customers to meet with. My sailboat is also a trawler......and that is great.

 

[DougMc]

My h36 has a 3YM30 rated @3600 rpm. I sailed last week on Lake Erie but would motor at 3100 rpm's in those waves.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

This spring we motored for a whole day from Great Sale Cay to Crab Cay in the Bahamas with 27 Kts on the nose, gusts to 35 Kts. We were in about 12 to 18 ft water, 3 to 4 ft waves with bigger ones every few minutes.

We ran the engine about 3000 rpms, SOG was 4 to 5 Kts. but slowed with big gusts and waves down to 3 Kts at times then slowly climb back up. We had no concerns about the boat or the mast.

We were with a few other boats and we all had the same experience, they really complained about the pounding, we only got that with a really big wave about once every 20 minutes or so. I did not try to take the waves on an angle, I just headed straight ahead to our destination to get into the anchorage before dark.

We have a 3GM30F, 600 hrs, 3 blade feathering Autoprop.

Sherry shot a couple of minutes of video here, https://www.dropbox.com/s/7gqvmqgv5bfzwur/greatsale cay to crab cay.mov?dl=0

My experience, Bob

 

[Allan12210]

When presented with those conditions we always keep the main up (2 reefs) and crack off the waves as you did while motoring up into the wind and waves. We're not so far off that you would call it close hauled, but trying to keep some air filling the sail. It does tend to stabilize the boat because of the resistance through the air and there is a little bit of lift for a tad more speed. I've even brought the boom above the centerline and sheeted plus vanged really tight. It just helps make the ride more comfortable. Motoring directly into the waves and wind results in the boat coming to a complete halt when hit with a wave, then struggling to make 4.0 knots if lucky before the next one stops us again. Ave speed, 2.0 knots and too much pounding when the wave passes leaving the boat in mid air.

I remember learning to "head up the waves, fall off down the waves". You have to manually steer to do this and it is tiring but it eliminates the pounding and gains in ave speed made good.

You have to experiment and see what works.