Chilling read and boat shopping

LIforrelaxin · 06-06-2012, 12:06 PM

The bottom line is you have to be comfortable in your boat. I myself only have a 18' boat. And very rarely to I feel unsafe. And normally when I do it is because a storm is coming on, and really has nothing to do with how the boat is handling the conditions, but rather the want and desire to get docked before the darn storm hits.

The biggest thing in the boating world as far as dealing with rough waters, however isn't boat size. It is knowing how to maneuver your boat. Through the rough water. And realizing that sometimes slower is better.

In my estimation the only thing a bigger boats gets you, on the lake, is the ability to be less cautious when the waves kick up.

As for taking water into the cockpit of a bowrider, well a good bow cover does indeed help in rough water. But once again understanding your boat, weight distribution, and how you chose to navigate through the chop has a lot to do with this......

06-06-2012, 12:06 PM	#9
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,918 Thanks: 1,049 Thanked 900 Times in 530 Posts	The bottom line is you have to be comfortable in your boat. I myself only have a 18' boat. And very rarely to I feel unsafe. And normally when I do it is because a storm is coming on, and really has nothing to do with how the boat is handling the conditions, but rather the want and desire to get docked before the darn storm hits. The biggest thing in the boating world as far as dealing with rough waters, however isn't boat size. It is knowing how to maneuver your boat. Through the rough water. And realizing that sometimes slower is better. In my estimation the only thing a bigger boats gets you, on the lake, is the ability to be less cautious when the waves kick up. As for taking water into the cockpit of a bowrider, well a good bow cover does indeed help in rough water. But once again understanding your boat, weight distribution, and how you chose to navigate through the chop has a lot to do with this...... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....