How to drive a boat in rough water | Big sea throttle techniques explained | Motor Boat & Yachting

[@MotorBoatYachting]

Credit to our camera man, Richard Langdon of Ocean Images, for shooting this with handheld and drone in very challenging conditions. We hope you enjoy it!

[@repentuklondonwatchman1373]

BROTHER, THANK YOU.

[@DerenzoJohn]

Thanks much from Amylyn In NY, I found I was underutilizing my trim in heavy weather. Your video is much easier to absorb than the literature I've read on the subject Thank you!

[@serialseatsniffer5610]

Richard Langdon! Good job brother. All these folks take modern photography and editing for granted!

[@DeeneAlmvig]

@@repentuklondonwatchman1373😊

[@ChrisPlow]

The power up as the bow dips is a top tip, initially you naturally feel you should power down as the bow digs in. I did that once in some rough sea around Trinidad in a rib tender, it dug in proper and partially submerged boss and family and luggage went for a swim. learnt a valuable lesson that day, not least always wear a kill cord if I hadn’t I could have seriously propped them. Take care out their stay safe have fun ⛵💨

[@mev202]

The control and composure comes from being confident in your skills, but respecting the sea and conditions. A great lesson in how to stay safe whilst enjoying the experience. A brilliant video.

[@shingnosis]

Nice. Pro tip 1: On these throttle controls there is a button "1 lever", in rough sees I prefer that one and drive with the "palm support grip". More body support and better feel for the boat that way. Pro tip 2: Fill up your tanks, fuel and water and consider adding ballast up front. 90% of boats will be more stable overall in heavy sees. Pro tip 3: Get good ski googles and wax them with car wax. Visibility is much better in heavy spray conditions than sunglasses.

[@YourLocalEquestrian541]

A

[@rafaelhubbard66]

Great tips for sure

[@captainotto]

Trim high, power to control attitude, keep reserve power in case things go wrong, etc. With only a few changes you could just as well have been talking about a stabilised approach for landing an aircraft. It never ceases to amaze me how much crossover there is between Maritime and Airitime.

[@flybobbie1449]

But i use power for speed, elevator for attitude, keep on app.

[@The_Touring_Jedi]

Trimmed bow high worked always in rough sea with constant speed and searching path trough those waves.

[@quags7744]

Finally someone on some waves, most videos they are pretty weak. Thanks mate.

[@gaycha6589]

This guy knows his stuff and puts it across very methodically and with calm logic. Thanks for the video. I’ve been powerboat ing offshore for years in various craft, but there is still much to learn and tips t pick up. I was fortunate to have a fast rough ride with Steve Curtis in a Honda powerboat over a 5-6 in a choppy Solent. Throttle control and anticipation was very impressive. Thanks.

[@rykehuss3435]

Helps when youre in a high-power RIB like that which has lots of responsiveness at the throttle. In normal boats that kind of throttle control is much harder because you have to be like 10 seconds ahead of the game

[@Mahalo_83]

No such thing as a normal boat

[@kiwiwifi]

Did you want him to demonstrate with a seagull ?

[@ryder6070]

Good points

[@paws4thought449]

50 foot flybridge it’s hard but then those size waves bow steering won’t be an issue for a large mv

[@rykehuss3435]

@@Mahalo_83 Boats with much weaker HP to weight ratio then

[@DrCrabfingers]

Great video! There are endless videos on KZbin of boats entering and leaving Haulover Inlet in Florida where they have some quite severe swells at the entrance to the harbour. Not only is it fun to watch some beautiful boats, but one can clearly see the competence or complete lack of it of the skippers in trimming the boats and using throttle to ride waves in, or knowing when to keep the bow up. Very often boats nose dive into the water turning the cockpit into a jacuzzi, it's very funny to watch.

[@leffarix]

yes wavyboats, zipzap power are some of the good ones

[@billmarkelz]

Thank you for the lesson. This has been the best display of rough water boat handling I have seen.

[@graememckay9972]

I did the rya powerboat 2 course to drive our dive club 7.5m rhib. Hellish bumpy ride. A very experienced member took over and we barely felt a bump. I noticed how much he adjusted throttle compared to my Clarkson technique of "POWWWWER".

[@Markjt01]

Great video, thank you. Next time single engine 6m rib in similar conditions please 🙂 Have a 6m rib with 175 Hp outboard which is used in the med. Weather & sea conditions can change pretty quick, have had a few nervous returns from early morning fishing (flat and calm early morning then very lumpy as temp and wind increases). Have had small boats for years, but still not too confident in the rough stuff.

[@gordongunn9045]

Excellent video. I feel I did that naturally but great to hear the analysis so one could teach a newer boater the confidence of handling rough seas. Well done. Cheers.

[@antoniobragah8305]

WOW John, you really go at it and make it look so simple. A big shout out to you and cameraman for going the length to film how it is done just like a professional instructor, really awesome and thanks a million there. Loved this video and how you describe everything.

[@doverivermedia3937]

VERY helpful video. I'm a reasonably experienced powerboater but, I'm always looking out for tips. Never too old to learn. Great job & thank you ... 🇬🇧

[@Alex-gg8rt]

Always remember that driving like this will use significantly more fuel thus it is important to accout for this when calculating range.

[@billallen4793]

You should go with 1/3rds for a rule! 33% fuel going to the location, and 33% coming home! Super easy to calculate and remember...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠

[@dangurney8107]

@@billallen4793 That's true but fuel consumption changes that calculation significantly. Example: at a 30 knots cruise we're doing 1.2 nm per litre. A third of a tank = 60 litres = 72nm. In heavy weather we can easily drop to 0.8nm per litre so a third of a tank = 48nm. On an out and back trip that's your entire contingency gone (at 0.8 lpnm your 72nm will use 90 litres i.e. half a tank). I know that's why you leave a contingency of a third but it's an important thing to be aware of. 🙂

[@billallen4793]

@@dangurney8107 of course fuel burn will change for speed, or heavy sea's. I was just using averages! ...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠

[@billallen4793]

@@dangurney8107 I've been a race fan of D.G. my entire life! Great name...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠

[@crobbulan]

Absolutely brilliant video. I was out in 2+ meter seas this morning. 38’ power boat, twin Bravo 3’s. Experience got me through, but it was a bit dodgy at times. Appreciate your calm demeanour and great instruction. Thanks!

[@dcastro8492]

Brilliant video Jon - thank you. A public service.

[@CCScott500]

Thank you for this very useful video! I live on Cape Cod where the sea can turn rough at a moments notice. This was a fantastic reminder of the fundamentals. I make it a point of going out there and practicing whenever I can.

[@lenledwidge5367]

Good to see someone who knows what he's doing. Horse power is your friend to ride the waves which is fun if you know what your doing.

[@albertokusmic9239]

“When storms shut down entire ports, we go out..”, well done, Captain! 👍

[@chrish2996]

Hi Jon. A real time lesson to keep safe at sea. Great video thanks 😊

[@Renfildas]

One thing to point out. If you are in rough seas, you have to be careful with power up when you dropping down a wave. If you go too fast and start to surf and you may hit the next wave with a bow. At that moment stern is going to have a momentum and a rapid water flow will push it. This may result in capsize. For more check "ship broaching".

[@stephenmyers4319]

This happened to me about 18 nautical miles offshore in a 4.75 quintrex top ender side console running a 70 hp yamaha 4 stroke. There were 3 of us on board coming home after the weather blew up. We were that close to rolling the boat it wasn't funny

[@mcgrumpin4797]

@renfidas thank you! Any vid on rough seas should emphasize that (in a following sea) this as one of the scariest and most important points !!!

[@sc100ott]

Very helpful video. Thank you. I do my boating on large inland lakes, which are usually quite tame, but when the wind really kicks up, they can get surprisingly rough. On one such day, I learned some lessons the hard way: First, recognize when it’s getting dangerous for your boat. If your boat can handle 99% of the waves, that 100th wave can still swamp you. Next, get your passengers out of the bow. They push the bow down under waves, where you can take on a lot of water, and consider putting on a cover over the open bow (if you have that style of boat). Obviously, as you mentioned, wearing a properly fastened life jacket is important for everyone aboard. Your throttle suggestions were excellent.

[@erichemard7066]

Never ceases to amaze me how many people just put the stick in the corner and try to hammer through the waves only to bow dive into the head or tail wave. As I explained to my kids, following seas, you surf the rollers with your stick, head seas you climb the rollers with your stick. Seen many people thrown from the helm slamming into large rollers with the throttle at 100%.

[@arimaoutdoors8255]

Wow you explained it perfectly. I always did something similar with the head sea. I liked how you said you might miss a couple waves and then you’ll be wearing it. Cheers!

[@alexandruolteanu]

Always a pleasure watching you, Jon. Thanks for another great video.

[@jayhamiltonwild]

Was just out in a similar boat but ally, in filthy weather and wind over big incoming tide, in Torres straights , Australia, png, this arvo, I had to be on point, and throttle control and wave anticipation along with steering is paramount for safety in bad weather and wind over tide like this! Great video to reinforce it here, cheers mate, safe boating people.

[@stephenb7333]

great camera angles and of course your expertise.thanks for being out there.there are plenty of people need your teaching expertise.im not one of the but its been too long without going to sea on my own.i think ill treat myself to it for my 50th.take care.;)

[@fattrolls8094]

Love that this is taught through experience and practice

[@leolibre19]

It is like taking a navigation class with Mathew McConaughey!!! Great tips, thank you...

[@LScofield1]

Thanks for the lesson. Always good to see a pro work his boat.

[@stugoon]

We had a frightening time off of Old Harrys rock on a 60hp rib, got back ok, but wish i had seen this video first. Very informative thank you.

[@darthkek1953]

I love the drone shots... it's like Jon is about to single-handedly take Port Stanley. ;-0

[@tjapkosmits6947]

Never do this if you are not prepared. It’s way more difficult than taught in this video. I personally make trips on rough sea on a daily basis. Every day the sea is different. Current, wind speed and intervals that you have to adjust to. So bow up going downwind and throttle handling going upwind is true for the vessel shown in the video. Not for less experienced boaters in normal single engine boats. Some good basics but this video is way to simple. And compared to where we boat not even a rough sea. First times in rough seas get help from experienced boaters.

[@robertotto5811]

I learned all of this exactly, the hard way, in a 16 ft skiff 30 years ago. This video sure would have made things a lot easier.

[@jejoko]

Just here to say DO NOT TRY THIS IF YOUR SMALL BOAT IS NOT A RIB OR A STABICRAFT. And even so be cautious. I've own both. It is very fun to be out there in a proper boat, but you are always riding a thin edge and the edge gets narrower the smaller your boat is. Especially if your boat is not designed with positive buoyancy. Surfing waves and powering up and down into the sea is very dangerous in a small light weight boat. Digging in your bow or having it flipped over your head is a dangerous reality in a small tinny. Just look at minute 8:52 when he digs in the bow. If his boat were not a positive buoyancy boat, that mistake could have taken 1/3 of his boat or more under water and very much so capsized it or stranded him.

[@paterson00]

Best boat tutor on KZbin. Thanks so much for creating these videos. I'd love to come to the UK and sit your courses face to face. Nothing like that here in Western Australia that I'm aware of. This video in particular is such an essential one as everyone can do it on a nice day, keeping calm in rough seas, not so much

[@Adogsmate4267]

I'm pretty sure that if you dropped around to your local coast guard, they would point you in the right direction or maybe even have courses of their own, ours in NZ do. You might have to give over a few bucks, but if you need tuition what better place.

[@LarryPeteet]

Thank you, I have a high powered JetSki but don't have a lot of knowledge on boating.

[@easybigun7825]

Nice to see you back again Jon, really enjoy your "how to" videos. Thank you for that one, very useful information.

[@IbrahimHyderiGoth]

amazing techniques we use the same techniques

[@nickwebb9290]

Yet another excellent ‘how to’ 👍

[@busterevetts1864]

Excellent video again... Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge on boating..

[@vuhua3045]

Great tutorial, and great video production work. Thank you, I always seem to learn something new.

[@scottlittlewood4527]

I think the continual adjustment of throttles going into the wind introduces a risk of mechanical breakage in the cables / unions. I prefer to run beam on or downwind and end up where I end up. Easier to get a taxi home and pay visitor fees that snap a cable and end up with no power. Great video.

[@simulatedpilot3441]

seems like you were powering up when the bow was up to get over the wave, I thought when the bow was up you power down and as you're dropping over the wave you power up, I know it's simple enough but it just looked like that to me. I appreciate this video because I'm on my second boat my first one was only on a major river, My second one has been in restoration for 2 years but has been out in the bay and on the river and I'm working my way up to the big water for tuna fishing. so thank you for the video.

[@allsearpw3829]

OH , for the Solent chop and the waves over the Christchurch ledge where it changes from 70 feet to 25 approx . like to see the Cobra matched against a Scorpion of the same size , in that weather an see who came out on top. Ran two Scorpions for nearly 20 years and glad to say never got wet , a bit of spray off the sides in a cross wind , fun all the way , but a force 6 was enough for me and watch you get wet in a force 8, well done to the camera man as you had the steering wheel to hang on to . Bravo and thanks for the video .😉

[@DavidL5star]

Thems we’re the days Jon.

[@Everythingallthetime666]

Where is the rough water? That's normal calm sea up here in Maine.

[@SailPalarran]

I don't actually disagree with what he is saying but kind of laugh as there are those who go out (a lot) for fun in twice the sea size in a 1/3rd of the size of boat and have a real go at it. Safely I might add. But throttle, timing, and direction of attach is the key. Personally, I seldom go straight into a wave as 30 degrees off will allow a softer landing. But if it's breaking onto the boat, straight into it.

[@microsofttech9293]

Can you provide your video please.

[@SailPalarran]

@@microsofttech9293 You can follow my user and see plenty of videos of me in twice as bad of weather over a thousand miles off shore.

[@AttitudeCharter]

Exactly, no one here seems to talk about using a RIB to have serious fun leaping waves.

[@PaulThorpeOfficial]

Great video. Thing is, that's some boat you're using!

[@rkm237]

Thank you for suffering for our education!

[@AM-qt4ng]

Well I'm glad I watched this when I was younger as I went out in a 3.8 metre rib (that was very ass heavy) at work the other day in 4 foot seas

[@davidschofield9620]

Great piece of education 👏

[@cookiemonster2299]

Awesome video, thanks for doing this one and I love the way you use the English language (9:02) 👍❤️🇬🇧

[@PaulThorpeOfficial]

Good advice, but being in one of the best RIBS money can buy (and a biggie at that) helps eh!

[@j.f.greaney]

Well done video, just found it and watched it thanks. Kudos to your Captain and I like the boat, although if I owned it I'd install a windshield!

[@JackBahh]

Jon assessed me for Advanced powerboat CoC. Properly thorough but nice guy. (I passed, opinion may have differed had I not haha!).

[@timfellows8334]

Fantastic video, really felt the excitement but also the risks

[@johng2400]

Thanks Jon, excellent video and some good tips

[@thomasmanders255]

3:05 Hahahah classic couldn't have done it better myself satched!!😂

[@zookeyes]

good video, very good information but pls remember a rib boat, fibreglass boat and a tin boat all reacts different in going through waves. cheers!

[@PhilbyFavourites]

Is that The Sconce behind you in the opening shots? A few minutes in that’s a yes and the Yarmouth ferry looms into sight with Fawley Tower in the background. That’ll be before 31/10/21 then. I feel for your camera man, great work by both of you.

[@mickymadeyes3602]

The majority of this video was filmed off of Cowes and Gurnard..I think that the buoy in the opening shot is the Prince Consort buoy just off of Cowes..The ferry is the Red Funnel, Cowes to Southampton ferry, leaving Cowes..It is definately not the Wightlink Yarmouth/Lymington ferry.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

@@mickymadeyes3602yes you’re right, forgive me. I can see it’s the Shrape and Castle Point in the background. And funnily enough today is the 2nd of August ‘23 and the weather is even worse. I want my summer back. Can Mr Mendez magic that one for me please 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@davidsinclair47]

Felt the spray, not the soaking others get when navigating the waves.

[@fritsfiene4507]

Never go out in rough sea with a normal boat. RIB's are the best. Very instructive and it is fun if boat jumps if you take the waves. However it is a completely different story if waves are 10 to 15 mtr like on Waddenzee with stormy weather. Then ride the wave up very gentle to avoid crashing down over the top but not to slow also because at any time you must avoid that waves roll into the boat. I wish that there was a school for that.

[@sharonbraselton3135]

Wribg regular bites bot ribe

[@jimquantic]

Little Johnny one note here, but do have a plan if/when you lose your engine. Even a new engine can suck up a plastic bag--and shut down. Now, you immediately begin to wallow and turn broadside to the swell--what now? Do you know? If you are counting on the engine never letting you down, you have not planned. Same deal with water suddenly pouring in, and no, no, the "bilge pump" will not keep up--in a real crises, it is not designed to keep up. And--as an important side, both of these emergencies: engine loss and water pouring in is one of many reasons to not be out there, alone. Boats should have redundant systems, whenever possible--two of everything, including two people.

[@searaydrivingguy]

i find i hit the waves at eleven o clock angle works great

[@p.a.ch.3861]

Excellent instructions and good video. Enjoy it sir.

[@flybobbie1449]

No nothing much about boats but those big racing boats can they blow up engines if prop out of water on waves?

[@peterkelly3756]

Beautiful demonstration, well done thank you

[@kokujin5446]

Was searchung for a vid on how to handle rough weather because of a time I had to get home and it was rough as hell. Now I realised it was a full on storm in a tiny dingy.

[@mcgrumpin4797]

@motorboatyachting First video on rough seas where their boat is actually in Rough Seas ! Thank you for getting wet out there for us :)

[@coalitionperformance5901]

Superb as ever but may we request a ‘big Jon Mendez’ outtakes video?

[@MotorBoatYachting]

Jon Mendez doesn't make mistakes ;-)

[@coalitionperformance5901]

@@MotorBoatYachting haha you’re probably first! first class response and banter, you’ve gone up in my estimates!

[@jamesdeanboatrv]

Great video! Our lake doesn’t get these types of waves

[@altoids784]

Thank you sir, nice video.

[@openmind3699]

Been I these exact situations and in my experience going with the swell and wind is not safe or recommended this can lead to capsizes, plus unless that’s the direction you need to be heading why would you? best advice is to head straight into the swell maintaining a regular speed which matches the swell so your not breaching or landing in the middle of a trough , let your bow ride with the swell don’t try to speed up and slow down to try and maintain a even bow better off maintaining a steady speed.in this video they are not even rough seas barely any whitecaps !😂 rough seas you can’t do 20 knots in !!

[@raylopez99]

Depends on the size of the wave? My sailing instructor said some waves were so big they would appear in the radar as nearly 20 plus meter waves. You had to go transverse into them, and this was for a navy warship. Also trying to judge the speed of a wave (your advice) seems about the same as what this author is advocating.

[@sharonbraselton3135]

He giubg faster 20 knots

[@shobur]

That was very helpful

[@SubArcticAdventures]

Can we discussed the trim levels at each movement?

[@therealdoug1000]

Excellent tutorial!

[@davidwild66]

What's a "Beam Seat"? (in the timeline description)

[@JABINVA]

Watching this is really making me realize how bad of sea I was in when on my honeymoon in 1992. No offense but this seems like nothing compared to what we were in that day. I rented a 21’ boat, center console Bimini top. Maco Shark?? Maybe? I had very little boat experience and only on lakes. It was a stormy day and they never should have rented the boat. When I crossed between St Thomas and St John the waves got so big that they blocked out the sky and were above the vision of the Bimini top. Several times the waves crashed over the entire boat even on top of the Bimini. My new wife at the time ended up sitting on the floor with arms and legs wrapped around the Bimini pole. I had no idea what I was doing but obviously had to make it out. I realized turning sideways was going to kill us. I powered straight into the waves and then let off right before cresting, sometimes coming off the other side was a bit of initial free fall. And just before cresting it almost felt like the boat could have flipped over backwards. Almost straight vertical. It was one of the scariest times of my life. I have no idea if I was doing anything right? It took forever to get across and I then just stayed in a cove while a few thunderstorms passed. Going back was far easier and I returned the boat early but never saw the rental guy again. Had to dock it myself. We ended up completely exhausted and bruised and battered but luckily alive.

[@chackett99]

Can you tell me what could weather gear you are wearing? Do you recommend it?

[@WouterHavinga]

what microphone did you use - such a clear recording with no wind sound?!

[@AttitudeCharter]

It's INSIDE his hacket, hence the lack of wind noise.

[@ntomenicgiorgo3598]

Good work recording this. Next time take it out in something rougher please.

[@harryj1081]

Life saving instructions, saved! Thx sir.

[@TwoSock]

So this is a great video. Would this still hold up in my 28ft snekke motorboat with "inboard" (no idea if thats whats its called) engine. Max speed of about 8 knots. I have no trim. It's a straight through axle. It can raise the bow if i hit the throttle but i normally cruise at about 4-5 knots. Do i need much bigger engine to use this technique?

[@govbradford]

Great instruction!

[@anthonylesurf7885]

Great video. Remember your kill cord people. Rough sea could throw you out the chair. "Disaster" if you don't kill the engine at the same time.

[@captainjimolchs]

That way, the boat drifts away going only twice as fast as you can swim. You can enjoy the view for far longer. Perhaps a seatbelt, tether, or dragged line would help, if such is your concern..

[@davidcook3101]

With river boats I’d use half a tank out, half a tank back with 1/3 a tank in gas cans as a back up

[@sharonbraselton3135]

Wr I ng😅

[@Slappies007]

Masterclass in surfing with a boat 😄

[@michaelmurphy1127]

Don't go straight onto the waves take a slight angle and tack to your destination. Far more comfortable and less fuel.

[@sharonbraselton3135]

Yes

[@howardbrooks7959]

Any chance of a similar video for a displacement motor yacht?

[@12gauge1oz]

"it all gets a bit exciting" lolol

[@director471]

That’s a very educational video 👏👏👏

[@DJDblR]

Well done, mate!

[@kohsamuienglishclub6133]

Exellent descriptions, really good. Thanks for sharing.

[@kennethalbert4653]

8:48 should he have stayed on the throttle there ?

[@UrbanFisherman]

Great info 👍🏾

[@StudioProductionArt]

Nice Video John.

[@alexanderx33]

Staying just below plane helps alot too, the speed of lowest fuel economy is also the smoothest because your cutting waves instead of moving at their mercy.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

wroñg nàxoumr sabfe ib pkañe àirbisr leß frítióñ líkd àurlàñeß

[@sharonbraselton3135]

Wrobg plang pound efecy rsange

[@alexanderx33]

@@sharonbraselton3135 Lol, did you type that while in a boat pounding through wind-waves?

[@michaelborebratt198]

If u got the "power" its easier to deflect or must the waves, otherwise nice tricks and ticks good job