Calming the rocking liveaboard boat...

[Hudson Force]

Exposure to the swell seems to be the factor here that makes this an issue and much of this topic is related to where you are cruising. I spent some time along the California coast and was amazed at how many of the limited choices for anchoring required being subject to the swell.

The refraction of the waves around one point from open ocean exposure leaves you in a swell. Two points from the open ocean leaves you with little that remains unpleasant. Three points removed and what you have left is just a concern for current against the wind that might keep a pleasant breeze from flushing through the boat.

I know that shallow reefs or bars, in addition, will cut the effects of the ocean swell. Either way.... two points and a bar or two pints at the bar will settle you into a gentle night.

Location again, makes so much of a difference, Those of us cruising from Maine to the Bahamas and the eastern Gulf of Mexico have easy times finding enough points and barrier beaches with settled anchorages.

[De.windhoos]

Originally Posted by Sea Dreaming

You might be interested in "the swell bridle" . Keeps the boat pointed into the swell when the wind is contrary. Seems like a good idea to me.
Fortunes Afloat: The Swell Bridle

ohhh, that's smart! definitely going to try it!

[darylat8750]

I've used my normal anchor bridle like the "swell bridle" mentioned in post 14. It usually only needs to be cleated mid ship as often it only takes a point or two to settle things down.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Hoist a heavy anchor up the mast, using a guy line of course to steady it, & keep it away from the spar. It'll slow down your roll period significantly, thus making the ride much gentler.

Or guy out the boom or spinnaker pole perpendicular to the boat & hang the dinghy from it's end. But be sure that the dink's at a height where it won't be splashing on impact with each swell all night.

You might even try both if things are really bad, or just to see what it's like.

[Joel E Felt]

I obviously thought this thread was about some kind of entirely different "rockin" the boat!!

[thinwater]

Catamaran.

Actually, the motion can actually be sharper if exposed. Beam seas are awful.

The best solutions are a better harbor, and getting used to it.

[johnyhask]

Try a different position and go slower [emoji23][emoji23]

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by softdown

Common complaint is that the boat hardly ever stops moving. I think the greater stability of the catamaran helps with its occasional sales.

Seems that a lot of weight down by the keel would stabilize rocking significantly. How about four tightly drawn anchors?

You seem to have forgotten about the tide.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Sea Dreaming

You might be interested in "the swell bridle" . Keeps the boat pointed into the swell when the wind is contrary. Seems like a good idea to me.
Fortunes Afloat: The Swell Bridle

Tried it... never again. Chaff is a major issue and the need to constantly make adjustments. Much easier to find a better anchorage.

[akprb]

Did that off of St Kitts ages ago, worked but still the swell was so bad we ended up going ashore that night and left the next day.

Bought a cat later, no regrets :-)

[robbievardon]

One for Outlaw7. Many years ago I worked for a salvage company and a lot of the time the work required the use of the ships crane (set up much like yachts mast and boom) to tear wreckage off the sea bed after the casualty had been flattened down with explosives.With bow and stern anchors out, it was often a case of beam on to the swell for many roly poly days. the only respite was when the crane was hooked to a large piece of wreckage sufficiently locked into the wreck so as to heel the ship over and settle her down into the water some. So end of roll till something gave way through winch pressure or on occasion the effects of tide lift which could be quite dramatic. Only person to complain was the ships cook if it was baking day as the cakes would come out like cheese wedges and at the time of breakout pots could jump over the fiddles.

[sailing_gal]

A professional captain shared his method of dealing with rocky anchorages recently. Take a couple of gallon container- a jerry jug would do- fill with water. Attach to a halyard and to an aft line. Hoist a few feet off the boom.

The aft line is to keep it from hitting the mast. It will swing opposite to the motion of the boat and create a pendulum effect which will dampen the rocking substantially. You will have to experiment with weight and height, but it needn't be more than a few feet higher than the boom.

[Ivansgarage]

Stabilizers Are Amazing starts at 1:00 minute mark

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5xgM7Izu_0

[TrentePieds]

Quote: "In a pinch you can throw a five gallon bucket over the side and tie it to the end of the boom. Another way if it is because the wind and the tide are at odds, tying a spring line to the anchor rode and skewing the boat works well"

Yes - that's the ticket :-)!

Because TP is high forward and a PO put a roller furling jib on 'er, she can be unruly when anchored over the bows. The remedy? Anchor over the stern :-)
I do it all the time.

Again because she's high forrard, I don'[t ask MyBeloved to go forrard to get a line on a mooring can. I slide the can down my lee side till I can casually lean out an slip a line through the ring on the can. I smartly belay the line on a cleat or take a bollard hitch on the sheet winch, and there she lies - stern to wind, but quiet and docile.

As wind and tide change I can mess about with a bridle or whatever else will do what needs doing. That includes the bucket on the wung out boom trick :-)

Tp

[epiic]

I decided to give the swell bridle technique a try today and it works amazing!

I made a quick little video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBqXtpDXclM