Chilling read and boat shopping

[Belmont Resident]

Originally Posted by SAB1

A 22ft is fine for the lake. How often do really venture out into the broads in 4+footers. Boating in that just isn't fun and you usually freeze your butt off.

I've been in 2-3 footers coupled with boat wakes that were darn treacherous.

[AC2717]

i think the key is having a deep-v hulled boat. I have a 23 footer 1988 Cobalt bow rider with a deep-v hull and although you might get tossed around in 4 footers, liek anything out there, even crusiers, it does a great job of handling the troff and roll, I feel very safe in this boat

also the type of boat that while standing and driving the top of the windshield is at my chest and i am 5'11"
also wehn sitting in the bow, the only thing above the top of the bow is your head unless you are in the absolute fron then half of your upper body is showing (again using me as a example)

a lot of the boats on the lake show and have very little free board and draw too little. even in the case of the newer model cobalts they left the big deep design on anything smaller than 28 feet and went to the sleek low to the water approach. Normally fine on our great lake I would agree but there are those days you have to watch out for

Also wanted to add, it is also the skipper at the helm as well and knowing how to handle those situations when they come up

[VitaBene]

I just did a sea trial (well Winni trial) of a 22' Crowline. I was very impressed with the ride and I took it through some good chop and wake. It was far superior to my 86 23' Chris Craft bowrider. I did think it was slightly underpowered with a 5.0 liter Mercruiser with Bravo 3 drive.

Just be sure you have or get a well secured bow cover so the boat does not scoop water in rough seas.

[jrc]

I go back and forth on this. My dad had a 19' cuddy and we really never felt unsafe. We took a few waves over the bow and we got wet but never had a second thought about swamping the boat.

I owned a 26' bow rider and in four years, only twice I was stressed crossing the broads in big waves. I steered around the biggest waves and avoided taking one in the boat. But I felt there wasn't a lot of margin for error. I didn't think that canvas cover would keep the water out.

I don't know if one boat was actually safer than the other, I don't know if a wave over the bow in the bow rider would have been bad or just wet. But I know I felt safer in the cuddy.

Now I have a cruiser so this is moot for me. But you want a boat the makes you comfortable.

[SAB1]

Originally Posted by Belmont Resident

I've been in 2-3 footers coupled with boat wakes that were darn treacherous.

Quite possible. As mentioned in subsequent posts it depends on what you are driving. To clarify, I have a 20ft Proline Deep V walkaround. Weighs in at 4500lbs. Never felt unsafe in it on Winni yet. You just have to pay attention when in the heavy chop, know how to drive in it and realize you not going to take it on at 30mph. But as I said above, every year I get older, I hate boating in the wind.

[LIforrelaxin]

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......

[gtxrider]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

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......

Exactly. There is a handle next to the driver that is used to change speed. Some use it as an on/off switch. I have found. Using the steering wheel to change the angle of attack also is helpful.

Back in the old days if someone had a 21 footer on the lake it was a big boat. Now it seems anything smaller than the Mount is unsafe.

[Belmont Resident]

Originally Posted by gtxrider

Exactly. There is a handle next to the driver that is used to change speed. Some use it as an on/off switch. I have found. Using the steering wheel to change the angle of attack also is helpful.

Back in the old days if someone had a 21 footer on the lake it was a big boat. Now it seems anything smaller than the Mount is unsafe.

Maybe not so much unsafe as comfortable, I’ve found the bigger the boat the less it is effected by the wind and the waves. But I agree a little common sense and knowing how to operate in the conditions you are in go a long way.
I believe many a boater doesn’t know how to actually read the water.
I started in a 17 and could safely navigate the lake in most conditions but would I ever want to go back down to a smaller boat, absolutely not.

[bajalongislander]

we boat in a 2002 baja islander 23 and have had no problems at all

[8gv]

At 18', mine is one of the smallest boats on the lake. Situational awareness comes into play when piloting any boat. Reading the wakes in a very confused sea can be daunting. The px sometimes wonder why I'll change direction or slow way down several times as we zigzag toward our destination. They are oblivious to the slamming and inundation that is avoided.

With a smaller boat, comfort dictates where and when you go. The two advantages of an 18 footer are:

I can dock for lunch in the smallest of spaces while others endlessly hover.

It fits in my garage for winter storage.

[ThePlut]

I'm on my third Cobalt Bowrider. The first was a 20, then a 24, now a 27. I've never felt unsafe in any of them, I've never taken more than spray over the bow. I've been out in all kinds of conditions, including the 24 in some of the heaviest ever, with a full load of adults and children on board. It was slow going that day, but again, nothing more than spray driving by wind, no substantial water. I think it largely has to do with the guy driving the boat, knowing how to do it properly and understanding the capabilities of the boat.

I upgraded from 20 - 24 as a result of opportunity, and the desire for more physical space onboard. 24 to 27 was the result of an unbelieveable deal. The 24 was a great size boat for the lake, I still miss it sometimes.

Good luck!