Can jetboat handle rough water in ocean?

[BGN123]

I have a Yamaha 275SD. I’ve taken it in the ocean several times when seas are <2 feet. It seems to handle chop and wakes and inlet pretty well. But I’m reluctant to take out in the ocean because people have told me the bow (and sides) are too low and a wave could enter the boat and then possibly sink.
What do you all think?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

You need to be able to tack the larger waves so you don't hit them head on. And yes I make steering for that!!!

 

[octavio3311]

If I was boating exclusively in the ocean - a Yamaha would not be my first choice.

 

[Dennis P]

Just watch Boats vs Haulover Inlet on youtube , the Yamahas do not fair well in the extreme conditions.

 

[14SX190]

Yes, at least my 19 footer works for me.
Guess I have ice running through my veins

I done 50 plus miles key largo to Islamorda or Haulover to Ft Lauderdale

Have friend with 19 footer that did Bimini run several times.

Yours should be a cake walk.

 

[marcham]

We're comfortable up to 10 kts of wind in the 19ft. 15 kts is doable at reduced speed and being careful. We have done 20 kts of wind with a short fetch and that was tricky, using a bow cover and keeping the glass pass through closed keeps waves from coming in but there's still a lot of spray.

 

[haknslash]

If boating in the ocean is your priority you’d be better off with a different boat made to take on larger waters. Sure even a kayak could technically traverse an ocean but it wouldn’t be ideal. These boats are primarily lake and bay boats IMO. The 275 sits pretty low so I could see stuffing the bow or constantly on the lookout for waves and have to seesaw your way through them.

 

[jocolo21]

rough is relative, whats rough for you? 6 footers? why go out in 6 footers even a center console of the same same will have a very rough time, yes ive seen it i grew un on an island around boats my whole life. just make sure nobody is sitting in the bow or you will be in trouble. Ive been to the Bahamas i 4 footer on a 242 and a 252 will it handle it no doubt is it ideal conditions? nope. in the same conditions while i stayed in bimini my friends continued to Staniel about 350 miles from Miami, 10 jetskis a 240 242 210 and a Seafox 22. nobody died no sinked boats. So yes it will you have to be smart about your decisions and like cobra jet said take the waves at an angle.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I think a lot depends on how you pilot your boat, in rougher water slow down to where the boat feels comfortable. Keep enough speed for good control and keep the bow up. The haulover inlet vids show this very well, the ones who get in the most trouble are going too slow and or have their boats trimmed with the bow of their boat too low allowing the bow to stuff into the waves.

A tale of two 210 FSH sports at Haulover inlet.
Too slow and poor weight distribution: You can’t see it in this pic, there were 4 women and a small child up front, the haul over rinse put them on the floor.



Correct speed and weight distribution. There are more people in this boat than the first.



There is a recent vid of a 27’ boat like yours going out through haulover, his boat fared well, but it appeared that he was going a bit too slow as his bow was a little low, but he cruised right on through with no dramas.

Here’s a thread on the self bailing nature of Yamaha Jet Boats, note post #5. I don’t boat in the ocean, but I di boat in some big lakes that can be treacherous to say the least.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/yamaha-boats-are-self-bailing-if-you-get-water-in-the-boat-do-not-panic.8062/

One of our members here @Liveto99 made a pretty long crossing from Islamorda to dry tortugas a couple of months ago with no issues. He watched the weather and sea reports and was smart about his trip in his 21’ FSH. Here’s the link to his thread on the trip he took. https://jetboaters.net/threads/dry-tortugas-first-week-in-may.32512/

Another member @fatboyroy routinely ventures offshore in his 195 FSH.


Have respect for the water you are boating on, be prepared (that means checking the weather in addition to equipment), and have a plan with contingencies built in. Then go have fun !

 

[BGN123]

Very helpful replies. Specifically wondering if I need to stick to when the marine forecast says 2 feet or if can go safely when 2-4? And how many seconds. Of course no interest in rough terrible ride but sometimes tough to tell.

 

[BGN123]

One more question. Is the FSH a different hull than the 275. Yamaha advertises the FSH as able to handle “big waves”

 

[haknslash]

Yes different hull. All of them are low freeboard but at least self-bailing.

 

[tdonoughue]

Generally, I would start calmer and work your way up. There are more factors than just the wave height and period, though those are important. Wind speed and direction, tidal action, any currents...

So it would be wise to start on nice days with the <2ft. seas and work your way up as you get to know your craft better. As others have said, these are better lake/bay boats regularly, but that does not mean they can't be taken out in the ocean. Kinda like a screwdriver. Can you use it as a pry bar? Sometimes--depends on the circumstances. But if I'm removing a 2x4x8 nailed 20 places in a header, I still want a pry bar.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Yes different hull. All of them are low freeboard but at least self-bailing.

Very respectfully sir, the 25’ FSH has a much higher freeboard than the 19 or 21 FSH. I wish boat test or boating would have illustrated that fact. The one way I can illustrate that to you is to look at the horizontal rod storage between the two..

255 FSH




210 FSH



Best I can do….

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

One more question. Is the FSH a different hull than the 275. Yamaha advertises the FSH as able to handle “big waves”

The 25’ FSH has a hull designed with off shore in mind. Some of the members here have said how well the 25’ FSH works off shore. The 19 and 21 FSH I believe have similar hulls to the bow rider models.

 

[haknslash]

When I say low freeboard I’m speaking specifically in comparison to more sea worthy vessels that would normally be out in the ocean. The ones that can fair well given varied conditions that arise in big open waters. True some Yamaha’s have higher freeboard than others but in general they are all fairly low slung IMO.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

When I say low freeboard I’m speaking specifically in comparison to more sea worthy vessels that would normally be out in the ocean. The ones that can fair well given varied conditions that arise in big open waters. True some Yamaha’s have higher freeboard than others but in general they are all fairly low slung IMO.

Agreed!

 

[Jim_in_Delaware]

Too slow and poor weight distribution: You can’t see it in this pic, there were 4 women and a small child up front, the haul over rinse put them on the floor.

View attachment 165404

Correct speed and weight distribution. There are more people in this boat than the first.

I yell into my screen whenever I watch the videos and see something like this! If the captain doesn't know what he is doing, at lease put pfd's on the passengers until you clear this slop!

Jim

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I yell into my screen whenever I watch the videos and see something like this! If the captain doesn't know what he is doing, at lease put pfd's on the passengers until you clear this slop!

Jim

We are probably yelling the same thing LOL!

This one is my favorite since it shows my boat, and the story of two different pilots… the first one a fail, and the second with proper ( and more people) speed a winner. The black scout owns it on this day, perfect form. To the point of this thread, the (second) little 210 FSH jet boat cruises right through with no problem.

 

[Liveto99]

The FSH19 and FSH21 are bay boats. You can use them in the ocean on calm days. You can get home in 4’ to 6’with common sense.
Have video on YouTube it is below. It is rougher that it looks. Also I could have slowed down and been much smoother.
I was testing the boat out a bit, I was close to shore and a mile from a coast guard station.