Safely Running a Jon Boat in the Waves

[The Sequel]

Ok, first let me say if I can avoid this in the future, I certainly will, but if not, I'd like to be a bit more prepared. We went out last night to a local lake (about 10,000 acres) and things were fine, water was calm. We got hit unexpectedly with a monsoon storm and just about lost the boat and everything. I'm learning that during this time of year, you really can get hit hard and fast.

Now to my question. When trying to make it to shore, I picked the nearest point of land and headed into the waves because I was sure that if we got sideways we would get swamped for sure. However, the crashing water over the bow started filling the boat pretty fast and by the time we hit land and beached it, the back end had almost entirely sank. Would I have been better riding with the current or against it as I did. Fortuanately we waited out the storm, bailed out the boat and life was good. I'm definitely going to install a bilge pump and try to get off the water sooner next time but just in case I'm ever stuck out there again, what do you all recommend as far as going against the waves or with them?

BTW, the boat is a 2036 with a 30 HP. Thanks.

 

[Captain Ahab]

You want to head into the waves or at leat quarter them. If you are taking water you are probably not trimmed right and going a little fast for conditions.

 

[Zum]

Thats a big boat,must have been quite a storm.
Sounds like you did all you could do,if your 30hp has auto tilt you could of tilted it a bit,to get the bow up and don't go to fast,kinda ride the waves.I always pick going into the wind first,if your following the wind(waves)and there that big,they might break over your stern and swamp ya and side to is just real scary(bad).

Opps just re-read..a 2036-- pretty narrow,probably low sides
Other than getting off the water before the winds,IMO you did all you could do,maybe a little slower?

 

[Waterwings]

Navigating chop like that can be tricky, and the tips above are good. Hope you guys put your pfd's on!

 

[bassboy1]

In a vee hit them head on, or just off of head on. But, in a jon, you don't have a vee nose to work with, so you have to in essence make one, by quartering the waves. Best option, even though jons aren't really suited for rough water. Weather report would be key (not familiar with monsoons, do they just spring up, or do they move in like a hurricane or thunderstorm?)

 

[The Sequel]

Monsoons are somewhat predictable but you never really know if they are just going to be a bit of rain and wind or a real mess. The monsoon season is a couple of months long and just about any evening can bring one in but most nights don't so it's hit and miss. In this case we could see it was raining several miles north of us and in retrospect, we should not have went out but we were there and dying to do some fishing. I guess I learned my lesson.