How big of water is too big?

[mulletwalleyes]

this may be a tough topic to discuss, but I am trying to figure out what my limitations are in terms of wave size, etc for a 17ft deep v with a 92" beam and a 90hp? i am thinking of doing a little boating in lake superior this summer and know that I need to check the marine forecast, but how do I know when it's telling me to stay clear? Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated. Thanks.

[trackerbrent]

You should be fine taking your boat out on Superior. My friends and I take a 17' Crestliner with a 90 H.P. out to Lake Michigan every year. Have only been blown off once and it was bad, not even charter boats were out. You should be fine running in 6-7 footers. The waves are different on big water, they are farther apart and usually rollers. Gun it up the wave, surf down the back side and make sure to gun it again to get the bow up before you hit the next wave, otherwise you will be wet. If the waves start breaking, you better get off the lake. We had some, I am guessing, 8-9 footers start breaking in to the boat. Ended up standing in shin deep water in the bottom of the boat. We had 2 bilge pumps running, could not keep up, so we just went in. Pulled the plug when we got to the landing and water ran from the bilge for 15 minutes at least.

Be cautious of weather conditions, have a marine radio, flare gun and have a backup bilge pump. The flare gun is required for boating on the Great Lakes and I know there are some other laws, but I can not think of them. Otherwise your boat should be fine, heck I saw a guy fishing out of a duck boat with downriggers out on Lake Michigan.

[mulletwalleyes]

thanks for the info. It doesn't sound like too fun of an experience.

[Valv]

Quote:

---

Y You should be fine running in 6-7 footers.

---

No way, you are fine in 7 footers. Please don't give suggestions that can harm people.

As by US Coast Guard 2 ft. to 3 ft rollers are pretty rough seas. I would say most of the summer days you should be fine, but always carry a GPS and especially marine band VHF radio where you can hear forecast.

I've been in situations where all th e 17ft/18/ft/19fr boats were getting out of the port, hit rough water and turn around, it is not a funny sight. Last year we were in range of a 17ft boat that sunk in distress calling Coast Guard.

Surface Tension, Northlander, and others will pitch in with replies soon, they fish Superior weekly and they can tell you the facts, and also post in the Duluth and Wisconsin forums to get more info.

[Surface Tension]

You can fish Superior in that boat. You won't want to be out in 6'ers though. As the earlier post said you'll be taking each wave one at a time if your in it and that will be at a limp. Pretty hard to fish under those conditions and it won't be fun.

Pick your days and don't push it. Conditions change out there fast and you don't know how bad it can get till its too late to get off. Hang close to the harbors till you get a feel for the lake.

In addition to like jackets and a throw device, flares are required and they can't be past their expiration date, an audible signal device and 150' of rope and anchor.

Some things you should also have is a Marine radio, Cell phone, Compass, and GPS.

Visit the Duluth forum for updates on the lake and techniques for Superior. Theres also a Lake Superior Trolling Seminar in the area this weekend that I highly recommend you go to.

[tearin' lips]

I agree with Surface Tension and Valv...It is way too dangerous for a boat of that size to be out in such conditions. I fish LOW alot in the summer as my uncle has a launch, and despite what trackerbrent said you SHOULD NOT be fishing on the big lake in those conditions. It is too dangerous, a few fish is not worth losing your life over. That is if you can even fish. In those conditions you are going to be spending more time worrying about staying afloat than fishing. NOT WORTH IT!!! Last year we were fishing up by Garden Island on LOW, a strong north wind came up and we were fine fishing in 4-5' over by Garden, but when we started heading back it wasn't more than a few miles before the waves hit 8-10'...Not a fun experience and that was in a 30' fiberglass launch boat. We were constantly taking them over the bow. Moral of the story, use common sense. For a boat that size anything over 3-4' is not worth fishing in, and hard to fish in on top of it all. You are going to be fine on most days, but keep that marine band runnin' on the weather channel and pay attention to the conditions when you are out there because we all want you safe!!

Take Care and Good Luck Fishing!

[mulletwalleyes]

thank you - you're posts make complete sense. You can bet I'll be looking for a marine forecast that calls for calm to 2ft waves. I'm not one to test my luck. As some of you put it - not worth it. I'm actually from Michigan and will be hitting the pictured rocks national lakeshore with the wife and dog in July - can't wait!!

[Mad Lake Bomber]

Keep in mind that experience plays a lot into what your boat can handle. Very capable boats have sank or nearly sank due to inexperienced operators. I have a 17' Crestliner TS and wouldn't think about going out in 3 footers (which are usually over-exaggereated as 6 footers by many people). Time on the water will tell you what you can handle.

[sachem longrifle]

I have a 16 1/2 footer Navigator with a 90" beam. I take it out to Lake Superior alot. But, I listen to the Marine forecasts and keep an eye on conditions. Is the horn on the navigator audible enough and will it be legal? Also, do all boats need a flare gun or just the bigger boats that go out further? In fact, my first time fishing Lake Superior was in a 14 foot Nortwoods boat with a 25 horse Merc!! You can fish Lake Superior in a canoe if conditions warrant. But, yes, no 6 footers

[trackerbrent]

I should not have told mulletwalleyes what his boat will do. I should have said I feel comfortable in that big of rollers in that small of boat and whatever mulletwalleyes feels comfortable with is what he should go out in. I apologize for that.

We are most likely pushing the limits of the boat, but we feel safe( I know, I know famous last words) and have been safe for 8 years of going out on Michigan with the same boat.

[mulletwalleyes]

Quote:

---

I have a 16 1/2 footer Navigator with a 90" beam. I take it out to Lake Superior alot. But, I listen to the Marine forecasts and keep an eye on conditions.

---

How would you interpret the following forecast:

Today

E wind 10 to 20 kt diminishing to 5 to 15 kt this afternoon...then veering se late. Mostly sunny. Waves 2 to 4 ft.

Tonight

Se wind 5 to 15 kt increasing to 10 to 20 kt after midnight...then to 15 to 25 kt late. Mostly clear. Waves subsiding to 1 to 3 ft...then building to 2 to 4 ft late.

Thu

Se wind 15 to 25 kt diminishing to 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Waves subsiding to calm to 2 ft.

Thu Night

Se wind 5 to 15 kt becoming variable less than 10 kt after midnight...then becoming NW late. Becoming mostly cloudy. Waves calm to 2 ft.

I am thinking stay away from 1-3 feet based on everyone's feedback and my lack of experience, but I would be excited about calm - 2 footers. Anyone know how much the wind plays a factor?

Thanks again for everyone's help. I am also going to see if our USCG course address topics like this. I didn't want to launch my boat in any of the great lakes without having some idea of what to expect, but how would I have known anything if not for finding this page? A person needs some insight to put on top of classic common sense.

BTW - the 10 million plus walleye have just started to make their run into the Detroit river. If any of you guys make the trip over for that extavagza let me know.

[LoonASea]

I believe all boats on Lake Superior need flares ,,not necessarily a flare gun but hand held flares will be acceptable ,,,the horn on my lund isnt real loud so I have a whistle as an audible device but Im thinking of getting a portable air horn

Randoid

[Northlander]

I have a 17' Explorer and fish lake superior often. I however watch the weather and get off the lake when it starts looking nasty. Weather changes fast on the big lake and when the wind starts changing its time to head for the river or landing. I have been in 20' Rangers on the big lake and we hit the road way before anything like 6'ers get going. Thats just plain old crazy and unsafe to say a boat should be out in that type conditions. That gets people hurt or killed on this lake!

Make sure you have all the safety materials needed for Lake Suoerior as well. Life vests, throwable, fire estinguisher, anchor and over 100' of line, horn, whistle or air horn, marine radio isnt a requirement but I believe you should have one.

Lake Superior is a beautiful lake when its calm but can get very ugly quick and she doesnt give up to many of her dead.

[eyepatrol]

3' waves are big enough for me. Beyond that, boat control and fishing effectively really becomes an issue (again, for me). Anything bigger than 3' and I'm headed for calmer waters. No need to be tossed around like a rag doll.

[Bearfan1963]

I've got a 16' Deep V and Fish Lake Erie all the time and Anything bigger than 3 foot is just too risky and scary and takes all the enjoyment out of the fishing. 2-3 foot pretty much tests your motion sickness and has you rocking and rolling for 2 to 3 hours after you put back on the trailer. If you attempt to do the 6 to 7 footers as the previous poster noted, please go alone.

[Surface Tension]

mulletwalleyes, I've gotten to the lake with forecasts like that and ended turning around and went home. They're iffy.

When ever you hear "NE winds switching to NW later on" don't ever count on that happening because it rarely does. In fact most times NOAA can't get the wind direction straight in Real Time.

One good thing to happen for the Western End trollers is the new Mcquade Safe Harbor.

[Ufatz]

I simply must say this: There is a woeful lack of knowledge regarding small boats, boat handling, State and C.Guard regulations and marine safety displayed in this Forum. There is too much WORRY about what the C.Guard might have to say about requirements and not enough worry about what YOU might need aboard your boat. There is too much emphasis on the SIZE of a vessel with little thought to what YOUR abilities are to handle ANY sized boat in even modest weather. I see lots of -I thinks- and -gosh maybe-and-from what I hear. Please, there are boating safety classes around the state and surely along the shores of the great lakes. Go to one of them. Buy a copy of Seamandhip and Small Boat Handling by Chapman. READ IT! Trust me, draggin' fish belly white,bloated little kids bodies and bug eaten old guy bodies out of the weed beds is no fun. Now, you can proceed to climb my tired ol' a-- if you want, but I had to say it.

[boatfixer]

Well said!!

[mulletwalleyes]

Quote:

---

Buy a copy of Seamandhip and Small Boat Handling by Chapman.

---

I will read this. This is the type of information that I have been looking for - how does someone who is new to boating learn as much as possible before having a bad or even fatal experience? This and other's suggestions for the boating class make absolute sense and I will take your advice.

However, it is also nice to hear about other's experience. A person just needs to use common sense as they read.

[Northlander]

Ufatz you are correct, a persons ability is the single most important thing. Both driving ability and the ability to know when its time to get the heck off the big lake.

It dont matter what you have in your boat for safety equipment if you get into bad conditions and dont have the ability to get back to shore. The lifevest, will just make it easier for them to find your body later.

[Ufatz]

I may have reccomended more book than most of you guys will need. The Chapmans is the bible of boating but its about $30 and more than most guys want to spend. And it gets into the REAL stuff about EVERYTHING related to boating. There are other books that will serve you as well I guess. And my remarks about the U.S.C.Guard equipment may not have been clear. What I meant was-there is too much WORRY about what the C.G requires. They require the minimum. Believe it or not there is no regulation that says you can't have MORE and BETTER gear than the regs. specify!! Ha! And the assumption is that you KNOW how to use what you have. Ever dived over the side into cold water with a PFD in your hands and THEN put it on? Every practiced a Man OverBoard maneuver? Oooopps...I meant Person Overboard! Have you ever seen the statistics on the number of bodies found wearing PFD's?

Okay. Thats it. No more.

[swamptiger]

The thing about Superior is that it just isn't a very forgiving lake - depending on your predicament, you may not even get a chance to use your safety equipment.

If there's any doubt - just stay off. Get a lawn chair and a 12 pack, and sit on shore and watch the show...