Chilling read and boat shopping

VitaBene · 06-05-2012, 01:01 PM

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 · 06-05-2012, 01:18 PM

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.

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06-05-2012, 01:01 PM	#1
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,612 Thanks: 1,660 Thanked 1,650 Times in 853 Posts	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.

The Following User Says Thank You to VitaBene For This Useful Post:
diprna (06-13-2012)

06-05-2012, 01:18 PM	#2
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	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.

The Following User Says Thank You to jrc For This Useful Post:
diprna (06-13-2012)