Spray rails on Chesapeake Bay Boat

[david quillin]

I have a Hooper Island Draketail, built in 1991 from lines taken off a 1930's boat. Anytime I get her up around 12 knots or more, the bow throws spray all over the place. I have sizable spray rails on the boat, but they seem to be too high- the problem is not the water rushing up along the side of the boat, it is that the bow throws water up from the waterline at an angle, then the wind blows it back and soaks the cabin. I have to use the windshield wipers all the time. Having the sprayrails down at the water line would work better, but then I would have through hull penetrations at the waterline. Any ideas?

[ssor]

Limit your speed to eleven knots? :D

[Mike Vogdes]

Perhaps your 1930's style hull is not designed to plane.

[david quillin]

Well, good points. These boats were originally designed to work with tiny gas engines, and the hull design reflects that. Once larger engines became available, however, the watermen would hot rod the boats just as fast as they could get them to go. The boat performs great at speeds 12 knots and over (I rarely go over 15-17 knots max), planes easily (it gets squirelly if I push it over 20 knots, unwise for lots of reasons) with the only problem being the spray. I typically run her at 12 knots, and I love cruising slow, but it is frustrating to be limited by such an inconsequential issue. Thus my quest for a solution- any other ideas out there?

[uncas]

David...Good morning...Didn't realize you were out there on these threads.
Welcome by the way...Have not seen a post from you before.
jamj

[ssor]

David, another thing to consider, was this boat built strongly enough to take the stresses involved with these speeds? I know ,so-far-so- good, but that poor boat takes quite a pounding in the chop on the bay at those speeds. As for cruising slowly, Jamj and I both sail and six kts is flying. :D

[ 03-18-2005, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: ssor ]

[uncas]

David...6 knots is great....The best I have ever done is 8.5..and I was in seventh heaven....So, I'll agree with the above statement.
Also David...something else to consider....I know you spend most of your time in the five coastal bays area...Very shallow which makes a big difference...The chop...the distance between two waves over a trough are shorter and therefore you have more spray because you are pounding through them.
Joe Fehrer and I have chattred about this...He designed and built his boat according to the typical conditions...wave height etc. on the five bays...I would suggest talking to him.
Give my best to Kim and the kids.
jamj

[ 03-18-2005, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: uncas ]

[Victor]

If she was built in 91 she'll take the higher speeds, even though that hull design was obviously for something slower. the only real solution is to bite the bullet and lower the rails.

[david quillin]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone, and nice to hear from you Jamie! If we get into appropriate speed, we will start a riot I'm sure. I have another wooden boat (a Chincoteague scow) for which 45 mph is not an issue! I know that is a much different, smaller lighter boat, designed with that speed in mind, just throwing it out to show all is relative, as my sailing friends ably did... One of the real joys of the draketail is the slow, smooth, easy motion through the water she gives, and I use her to take advantage of that. Thanks again... any more ideas always welcome. btw, can you add photos to these posts? Would be nice to show the problem not just describe it.

[AngWood]

Gee, what a warm welcome you've gotten! "...Slow down...wrong boat...tough beans...."

Let me say that your boat sounds way cool and I have little expertise but can imagine that additional spray rails (lower and/or bigger?) might help, though of course aesthetics must be a primary concern on such a boat.

[uncas]

Angwood... I was not criticizing David's boat... I know the boat and David and his family.
These are great boats...They were made for specific conditions...Hoopers Island does not have the same conditions as the five coastal bays...This was not a neg. but one has to look at the areas in which the boats were or are used.
so be it...David knows he has a great boat...To fit it to his region of operation may mean some changes...
Cheers all.
jamj

[AngWood]

No, I didn't think you were. Mainly those first two curt responses got me thinking we weren't being very convivial.

[uncas]

David...since you are reading these posts...Your brother-in-law and by relationship, you and Kim etc. have bought a trip on the Chesapeake for a day sometime this year.
I will be away on Uncas for close to 8 months with an occasional trip home to pay bills and pick up my mail.
Will check my e-mails so when you chat with the CA. crowd...let me know... Will have to schedule accordingly.
jamj

[Gary E]

David,

These actually work to elimanate your precise problem.

http://www.thesmartrail.com/

Good luck

[ssor]

Originally posted by AngWood:
No, I didn't think you were. Mainly those first two curt responses got me thinking we weren't being very convivial.the closest emoticon that we have to a tongue firmly in cheek is a big grin. There was no malice intended and I sincerely hope none was perceived. If I have offended I am genuinely sorry.