Bass boats are one of the best fishing boats out there. They allow you the pleasure of spending some quality time at sea, along with catching a handful of sea creatures. They are uniquely designed to be the optimum boats for fishing.
Thus, if you’re planning to get into fishing using these supreme boats, then you might be wondering how safe these boats are. Can bass boats handle rough water?
Well, let’s be clear. No boat is designed precisely for rough waters. After all, which structure of wood and aluminum can be sufficient enough to defeat the sea as it roars? Different kinds of boats perform differently in rough waters.
You can consider it a continuum, where some boats rank better on their performance with rough waters and some rank low. On that continuum, bass boats appear to lie somewhere in the middle.
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Are Bass Boats Safe for Rough Waters?
Ideally, you don’t want to be out in choppy waters with bass boats since they are most suitable for shallow waters. But, if rough waters happen to be your fate, then with some good experience and common sense, bass boats can take you back to the shore safely.
There is, of course, no one-for-all solution when it comes to the sea. Neither would I say that all hope is lost. What’s important to know, though, is that your experience of handling boats in rough water ensures your safety more than the boat’s design.
Through trial and error, you learn to handle your boat when the sea gets rough. Each boat has its unique hull that spears differently through the water. More so, every experience with choppy waters teaches you new things. Every experience enriches you.
Therefore, people who stay calm and courageous in the face of choppy waters and never forget their precautionary instructions are the ones with the richest experiential knowledge. They are also the ones who know their boat best!
Can Bass Boats Handle Rough Waters? Tips to be Safe
As you spend time on the sea and gain experience, it’s important and recommended to go ahead with some preliminary bass boat safety information in rough waters. I’ve learned these tips from experienced people, so take note of them carefully.
But before that, keep these things in mind:
- You would need to do a bit of testing. Not every tip works for every boat and every situation.
- Remember to pick the ones you feel are most appropriate and guide you quickly to safety.
Avoid When You Can
As starters or freshers, or even passionate people, we can sometimes let our fishing energy and water thrill take us in the wrong direction. If you know that a couple of hours or even minutes later, the waters are expected to turn nasty, turn around.
Do not let your emotions get the better of you. Avoid rough waters whenever you can.
Like I said earlier, none of these boats are crafted for you to enjoy rough waters. The most they can offer you is a predictable, safe landing if you decide to use common sense.
Thus, use your sound mind and choose safety over fun whenever danger rings.
Always Check the Forecast
Whenever you’re heading at sea, even if for a few hours, make sure to check the weather and marine forecast since the sea often takes no time to turn from pleasant to unpleasant. So, remember the odds and develop this wise habit.
Ensure Everything is Strapped
Hitting a wave at the wrong angle can have everything on your boat flying in various directions. If you’ve had a good day bass fishing, that’s the last thing you wanted.
Even though bass boats are pretty simplistic, having to manage your stuff while controlling your boat and sanity can be a bit too much.
Furthermore, although our boats have motorized like cars, they don’t come with shock absorbers, yet. So, as soon as you feel the waters getting rough, be quick to ensure everything is strapped, from your livewells and accessories to generally everything on the boat, including yourself and your partner.
Go Slow
This is perhaps the most critical tip to remember when dealing with choppy waters. Sometimes you are faced with water up to 2 to 4 feet, which I call bumpy water. Other times, the waves rise as high as 5 to 10 feet. This is what you can call the genuinely rough water.
Whether the waves are just bumpy or outright rough, slow speed can save you. You might lose out on time and maybe cover fewer miles per hour, but low speed goes a long way in ensuring safety. The waves are already too hyper; you don’t want to match them in that.
I can understand the panic that sets in when the sea gets difficult. But, the key lies in calming yourself and calming the boat. Slow and steady wins the race, remember?
Don’t Challenge the Water
When the sea loses its cool, remember not to lose yours. Do not try to fight the sea. What does that imply?
Well, stay parallel to the waves. Flow with them. Your reduced speed will help you with that.
You need to avoid crashing into waves the most you can. Because cruising through a wave or hitting it increases the chances of your boat losing balance. Furthermore, it can also leave you wet. Who wants to be shivering cold while tackling the disruptive waves?
Thus, instead of taking the waves head-on, it’s always better to ride with them or take them on a diagonal angle. Notice how both of these tasks are easier to do when you’re going slow.
Try to Tack the Waves
This one is tricky. If you’ve had a rough water experience ever in your life, you’d know what I’m talking about. You need to figure out when to throttle down and when to throttle up. A few trials and errors are okay. These will add to your experience.
What’s helpful when you’re approaching a crest is throttling down in a way that lifts the boat’s bow. This will help you ride the wave and not get water on your bow.
If you throttle up while approaching a high, you’re most likely to go airborne. This will result in you crashing down on the water seconds later. You want to avoid that sort of wilderness in the rough sea. If you’re ever thrown airborne, remember to cut back on the throttle immediately.
Dealing with waves during choppy waters can be a lot like dancing with the wind. It will take you some time to learn to tackle the waves appropriately, but this experience will count massively in the long run.
Wear Your Safety
This is as crucial as it is obvious. Always wear a life jacket or a life vest. Yes, your experience makes you stronger, but don’t underestimate the power of nature when it hits. You don’t want to be looking for life jackets at the eleventh hour. Make sure to wear them at all times.
Final Words
As you would now have seen, handling your bass boat through rough waters is doable. Yes, it is challenging and risky, but if you’re planning to engage in fishing for a long time, then acquiring this experience and skill is definitely worth the game!
Although rough waters are not the comfort zone for your bass boats, these durable and useful boats will not disappoint you when handled with the right tools and care. So, take good care of your loyal sea companions through the thick and thin!
