How does your boat handle rough water?

[skav]

I see all the adds on CL, boat trader and here where the seller states that the boat handles rough water like a dream. " perfect lake mead boat", " perfect Havasu boat", "perfect bla bla bla..."

Here's my question. How do you run your boat in rough water? Let's consider 2-3' chop as rough.

This is what I'd like to see in the answers.
1. What type of hull and size
2. Trim and tab settings
3. How many people usually
4. Speed and aggressiveness

Here are a couple examples from my experience.

During my late teens and up to my second kid, we would always boat w or use my parents boat. It was a Cheetah 23' open bow tunnel. Every year, we would spend at least a week at Powell. We would usually have 8-10 people on the boat, and without fail, we would get stuck in some pretty nasty stuff. When my dad was driving, he would always say "We have to get on top of it". My dad passed in 09 and I still can hear him saying that phrase every time I see chop on the lake. To my dad, "get on top" meant trimming it up at about 50-55. Needless to say, there were more than a few bumps and bruises on those trips. I don't entirely disagree with him though, because if we went slower,(30-40) the bow would slap so hard that riding in the bow was suicide. After I married and drove the boat w small kids, I would try to trim it down and run through the chop instead of "getting on top". Still, we would hit some big stuff pretty hard.

A couple years ago, we bought our first boat. My experiences with the Cheetah meant that we ended up with a Hallett 270 straight bottom, which I've been told I'd the baddest mofo on the water! I really haven't had a chance to experiment with the Vee in chop too much yet, but I will say that it handles completely different. It's a lot smoother in the rough. Last year was the first time we used it in rough water. We were at mead coming from Calville back to Hemmingway with 10-11 people late in the day w probably 3' white caps. I played a bit with the trim and tabs, but ended up trimming down, adding tab and powering through the chop. The wife, kids and friends seemed happiest that way. It was funny though, as soon as we started hitting the rough stuff, my wife turned to me ans mouthed "get on top". I had to laugh!

So, let's hear it. How do you deal with the chop?

 

[djunkie]

I use more right foot.


Sent from my iPhone paid for with Union money.

 

[milkmoney]

my boat is a 24' v with 496, no trim tabs. when i am in chop that you talk about on any lake, i run the boat about 50 to 55 mph trim it up alittle and get it on top of the rollers (chop) and jus skip right along the top with out missin a beat and dont get beat up. 28 eliminator were doing this comin back from the damm run last year and running side by side..goodtimes:thumbsup oh and usually 2 people in my boat cause i have ocd and dont like my things gettin messy.lol..

 

[RiverDave]

21' Schiada.. Tabs even when the bottom of the boat or just a hair past.. Outdrive trimmed very minimally (still negative).. I don't care how big the water is if it's consistent and you keep the boat "flat" it will run through it without slapping or beating anyone up.. Faster you got the smoother it gets, but also handles well at slower speeds. If more people in the back then just add a little more tab to help keep the boat flat.. (transom lift)

RD

 

[kilrtoy]

Its all relevent to what you own....

 

[spectras only]

Where I boat, even a 35' Nordic is called a lake boat by some.You just slow down and set the tabs/drives to deal with it.

My boat next to the Nordic

If you have a 40' boat ,just drive through like a locomotive

Cross chop is worse to deal with than huge rollers that span over 20'.

Ran about 30 mph with drives tucked in and tabs down -1 here >

 

[skav]

21' Schiada.. Tabs even when the bottom of the boat or just a hair past.. Outdrive trimmed very minimally (still negative).. I don't care how big the water is if it's consistent and you keep the boat "flat" it will run through it without slapping or beating anyone up.. Faster you got the smoother it gets, but also handles well at slower speeds. If more people in the back then just add a little more tab to help keep the boat flat.. (transom lift)

RD

That's pretty much my theory w a deep vee too.

I'd also like to hear from somebody w a tunnel or cat too.

 

[RUNNINHOTRACING163.1]

Where I boat, even a 35' Nordic is called a lake boat by some.You just slow down and set the tabs/drives to deal with it.

My boat next to the Nordic

If you have a 40' boat ,just drive through like a locomotive

Cross chop is worse to deal with than huge rollers that span over 20'.

Ran about 30 mph with drives tucked in and tabs down -1 here >

now thats some nice water :thumbsup:thumbsup looks like our Lake Michigan











ROCK ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190649028759
ITS A SKATER NATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:drnkfr

 

[HPBoats83]

When the wind kicks up at Havasu, I trim it slightly negative and stay in it to win it. In the ocean it just depends on if I can get on top of the swells or if they are spaced too far apart or what the water conditions are doing?

 

[skav]

now thats some nice water :thumbsup:thumbsup looks like our Lake Michigan











ROCK ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190649028759
ITS A SKATER NATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:drnkfr

That looks like Castaic on a good day. Obviously, you guys haven't boated in SoCal yet! I taught my 4 year old to ski in water like that

 

[spectras only]

now thats some nice water :thumbsup:thumbsup looks like our Lake Michigan

It can turn nasty from this on moment's notice, and I LOVE IT. .
It's boring to run a big boat in smooth water

 

[River911]

It rides great in rough water because its on the trailer when that shit gets ugly

 

[Just Ducky]

I have a 22 schiada whaler v-drive and use it mostly on havasu. most of the time it's not reallytoo rough to be uncomfortable but if there are some big chops I just bump the cav plate down and use the bow to cut right thru it.Speed has to be adjusted too for the conditions but I've never had conditions where i felt the boat couldn't handle it.The worst I've seen in it was at lake mead and i had to slow down and slog through some pacific ocean style swells.The boat is a solid heavy hull and I think that makes a big difference.

 

[Uncle Dave]

My boat handles the rough water like a scalpel.

Laveycraft 2750

Ive run this thing to Catalina 30+ times
San Diego 3 times from MArina Del ray. (300+ Miles)
Dozens of Ocean runs from MDR to Long Beach Etc.

In comparison and Ive been to Mead and Powell Havasu and the River constantly for 20 years and they present few if any threats to this machine compared to the Ocean.

Michigan and "the greats" hold my highest levels of respect.

Its ride is absolutely amazing.


Uncle Dave

 

[HPBoats83]

My boat handles the rough water like a scalpel.

Laveycraft 2750

Ive run this thing to Catalina 30+ times
San Diego 3 times from MArina Del ray. (300+ Miles)
Dozens of Ocean runs from MDR to Long Beach Etc.

In comparison and Ive been to Mead and Powell Havasu and the River constantly for 20 years and they present few if any threats to this machine compared to the Ocean.

Michigan and "the greats" hold my highest levels of respect.

Its ride is absolutely amazing.


Uncle Dave

I would agree with this. I had a chance to strap on some lifelines, helmets, intercoms, and go run one of the 2750 race boats in some shitty 4-6's and was amazed. If the 2750 handles like that, I would be really interested to see how the 39' handles.

 

[spectras only]

Uncle Dave, always loved the 2750's lines:thumbsup.With 8'6" beam, twin Ilmors could be fitted ,right? .That would be a bitchen setup.

 

[AZKC]

My boats handles rough water on the trailer. Us potato chips no likey chop. :grumble:

 

[Havasu Hangin']

If the boat starts getting air...tabs down/drives out.

 

[spectras only]

Cool video Jeff.Your S/C's are screaming for more:skull

 

[TCHB]

For one thing size matters alot.


I have come out of the Havasu Wildlife area onto the lake several times and have seen 3ft chop with white caps. No boats smaller than 25ft were going faster than 10 mph. They all had the nose way up trying to get back to the ramp in one piece.

My 22 Howard Offshore would do better trimmed down to cut through the chop but would no handle the 3ft mini waves or in the wakes of the first wave of the DS Poker Run boats.

Eliminator 28 much better in the rough water.

 

[Uncle Dave]

Uncle Dave, always loved the 2750's lines:thumbsup.With 8'6" beam, twin Ilmors could be fitted ,right? .That would be a bitchen setup.

Thanks HPBoats. Sounds like a fun day.

Spectra- They are pretty sure they can fit two in there. they built one with twin 600 Mercs once that was a monster.

Two of the new ilmor Mv-570's for sure would be cool.

In the meantime Ill have to live with one engine and drive.

Uncle Dave

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Here's my question. How do you run your boat in rough water? Let's consider 2-3' chop as rough.

I try not to. Anything over 2 feet is more work than pleasure.

This is what I'd like to see in the answers.
1. What type of hull and size
2. Trim and tab settings
3. How many people usually
4. Speed and aggressiveness

1. Hondo or Biesemeyer 18 foot flatbottoms
2. Cavitation plates set 5/8ths" up in the center and 3/8th's on corners. Setting changes continually depending on my pressure on the override pedal.
3. Usually 1 sometimes 2 people.
4. In rough water I travel bow up and very slow. Aggressiveness? huh?

 

[rivermobster]

28' tri-toon. rough water? what exactly is that??

i mostly boat the river mid week.

 

[77charger]

21ft eliminator does fine all around of course better in small chop(trimmmed up) than big chop(i trim down i nrough to about 1/4).It all comes down to common sense i cant take mine and pin it in the rough but back it down and go with the flow.Might be 20mph but hey i really dont care as long as i dont spill my drink i am good other boats can do 60 or 100 in the same stuff and get the same result too.

I didnt read all the pages but another thing is the way the boat is built.I have been in bigger boats that dont feel as solid as mine does at the same speed and chop as mine does they felt like they were going to rattle apart.

 

[TCHB]

28' tri-toon. rough water? what exactly is that??

i mostly boat the river mid week.

The tri toon will hold its own in heavy water. I keep the front end up as high as possible t make sure a wave does not cove over the front. We mostly boat in Havasu on Saturdays which can get rough with many boats and wind.

 

[TCHB]

This is the way it looked when you come out of the river area. Now what??

People that have never been in this think they drive right through it but quickly find out it is not what they thought.

Windy Lake Havasu - YouTube

 

[rivermobster]

This is the way it looked when you come out of the river area. Now what??

People that have never been in this think they drive right through it but quickly find out it is not what they thought.

Windy Lake Havasu - YouTube

Thats Stoker WOT water right there...

 

[Uncle Dave]

This is the way it looked when you come out of the river area. Now what??

People that have never been in this think they drive right through it but quickly find out it is not what they thought.

Windy Lake Havasu - YouTube

Having had a house in Parker for a decade Ive been on Havasu and Mojave when its like that and Ive had many east coasters comment that it does indeed get very nasty in the dessert. Usually these start out as nice mornings too.

great vid...

UD

 

[whiteworks]

With my old stoker 201 anything past 18" was not fun sorta, it will "fly" over that shit but it takes some serious balls and more than a handful of skill (its a white knuckle deal). 99% of the time those boats fly straight and land right, its the 1% of the time when wierd shit happened that spooked me. More than 2 people are your fucked because you could not air it out and go over it. freeboard challenged is not a good thing when it get nasty. I am done with air entrapment boats, next boat will have plenty of freeboard and a deep vee.

 

[Uncle Dave]

With my old stoker 201 anything past 18" was not fun sorta, it will "fly" over that shit but it takes some serious balls and more than a handful of skill (its a white knuckle deal). 99% of the time those boats fly straight and land right, its the 1% of the time when wierd shit happened that spooked me. More than 2 people are your fucked because you could not air it out and go over it. freeboard challenged is not a good thing when it get nasty. I am done with air entrapment boats, next boat will have plenty of freeboard and a deep vee.

tell me about it...

I went from a 20.8 Lavey Sebring tunnel to that 2750- Nothing like the tunnells in the calm, but you get a beating hard in the lakes at days end where the V is like a big old cadillac.

Like your best old girlfriend I never could quite let her go though so now she plays mistress to the bigger boat on when I go on the river or smaller lakes like Naci.

Uncle dave

UD

 

[RUNNINHOTRACING163.1]

This is the way it looked when you come out of the river area. Now what??

People that have never been in this think they drive right through it but quickly find out it is not what they thought.

Windy Lake Havasu - YouTube

some nice chop for airin the B!@tch out :thumbsup:thumbsup








ROCK ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190649028759
ITS A SKATER NATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:drnkfr

 

[mjc]

This is the way it looked when you come out of the river area. Now what??

People that have never been in this think they drive right through it but quickly find out it is not what they thought.

Windy Lake Havasu - YouTube

that water is why i bought my fountain. Pretty much nothing Havasu can throw at me that will stop me. trim it level and run 50-60

 

[02Essex]

23 FT Essex Monarch Step V .496 HO Bravo 3 ,No trim Tabs ,8-10 people
I love the way my boat handles the rough .... Its a heavy boat , But I'd like to think of it as solid ....

 

[Motor Boater]

I have a 288 Sunsation and I love it when it gets nasty out, thats my favorite time to run my boat. I have friends with Scarabs, Cigarettes, Sonics etc and always love running in the snotting weather in those boats. fun to really use these boats to their full potential. This is my second boat that was made in Michigan, I always figure Im safe with a michigan boat because the great lakes are no joke. If you can run there, you can run anywhere. As others have said, I trim the drive out and set a tiny bit of tab and go for it.

 

[milkmoney]

I guess mine is the crappy brand boat compared all the other sleds in here lol throttle said it was now I believe him lol

 

[28Eliminator]

my boat is a 24' v with 496, no trim tabs. when i am in chop that you talk about on any lake, i run the boat about 50 to 55 mph trim it up alittle and get it on top of the rollers (chop) and jus skip right along the top with out missin a beat and dont get beat up. 28 eliminator were doing this comin back from the damm run last year and running side by side..goodtimes:thumbsup oh and usually 2 people in my boat cause i have ocd and dont like my things gettin messy.lol..

I was really surprised to look over and see you running along like nothing. Your boat works really well in the rough stuff for only being 24'.

And yeah, that was a fun ride back :thumbsup even if you are a picky whiney bitch

I've had mine aired out more then once going across the basin. 2 people, tabs about half way down, and the drive up works the best. It's smoother with the bow cutting through the chop slightly, but not too much. Put 5 or 6 people in it and it becomes a lot worse. The lighter mine is, the better it works... like most I imagine. I've run 75 across the basin before in 2' chop :thumbsup

The mouth of the river at havasu can get pretty ugly, but I still haven't seen it as bad as the Mohave basin sometimes

 

[cave]

WTH you visited Saguaro lake ad cruised threw the channel with 6 wake boats going in circles and didnt even say Hi

 

[milkmoney]

I was really surprised to look over and see you running along like nothing. Your boat works really well in the rough stuff for only being 24'.

And yeah, that was a fun ride back :thumbsup even if you are a picky whiney bitch

I've had mine aired out more then once going across the basin. 2 people, tabs about half way down, and the drive up works the best. It's smoother with the bow cutting through the chop slightly, but not too much. Put 5 or 6 people in it and it becomes a lot worse. The lighter mine is, the better it works... like most I imagine. I've run 75 across the basin before in 2' chop :thumbsup

The mouth of the river at havasu can get pretty ugly, but I still haven't seen it as bad as the Mohave basin sometimes

Lol I know I am kinda of a complainer lol hey she rides good in the chop baby

 

[Uncle Dave]

I was really surprised to look over and see you running along like nothing. Your boat works really well in the rough stuff for only being 24'.

And yeah, that was a fun ride back :thumbsup even if you are a picky whiney bitch

I've had mine aired out more then once going across the basin. 2 people, tabs about half way down, and the drive up works the best. It's smoother with the bow cutting through the chop slightly, but not too much. Put 5 or 6 people in it and it becomes a lot worse. The lighter mine is, the better it works... like most I imagine. I've run 75 across the basin before in 2' chop :thumbsup

The mouth of the river at havasu can get pretty ugly, but I still haven't seen it as bad as the Mohave basin sometimes

Whats the degree of entry (v) on that boat?

Is it the same hull as the DCB 28?

UD

 

[28Eliminator]

Whats the degree of entry (v) on that boat?

Is it the same hull as the DCB 28?

UD

Truthfully I couldn't tell you. I can tell you that it's quite a bit shallower then a Nordic or lavey like yours.. it's about as close to a flat bottom as you can get in a big V. Rougher ride, but it sure likes to run on top.

Rumor has that yes, the hulls are the same. But if you look at the pics below, you can see that the basic dimensions, design and angles appear to be the same. But the location of the steps, and length of the strakes look to be a little different. I don't know....

You be the judge

 

[spectras only]

WTH you visited Saguaro lake ad cruised threw the channel with 6 wake boats going in circles and didnt even say Hi

Don't let this picture fool you. Buddy of mine has a 35 Fountain and beat himself up pretty good a few times.He took a 42 Fountain in same condition and said night and day difference.
SIZE MATTERS! This 47 is the right size for around here:thumbsup

And when he wants to boat in nastier water, he'll take this one

 

[Zaairman]

My boat is 16' long, with low freeboard, and not a very deep V. It handles rough water like my F-250 handles bumps unloaded, like shit.

 

[Wicky]

As I kid, I grew up boating in several Boston Whalers and as far as any small-med size boat, you just couldn't find a better hull for rough water. I've logged over 175 trips to San Clemente Island in a 22' Outrage BW in ALL kinds of water and generally 80% of the time in small craft warnings.

 

[plaster dave]

2000 26' Howard Cat
No Tabs, I trim between a little positive to a lot positive.
I can run 100 up to 1'-1 1/2'
I will run up to 75 in 2' and I have do it on Mohave many times.

 

[RLJ676]

My boat was built to race in the Ocean, so it does just fine in anything but the worst. I usually cruise about 45 though in the snotty stuff, no tabs but trimmed level, keeps the drive in the water.

I've been out in small craft advisory and it's pretty nuts. Running 35 taking water over the bow consistently can be fun. Feels weird being the only boat out running on a big lake except a few big fishing boats trolling by shore. :skull

 

[skav]

I was really surprised to look over and see you running along like nothing. Your boat works really well in the rough stuff for only being 24'.

And yeah, that was a fun ride back :thumbsup even if you are a picky whiney bitch

I've had mine aired out more then once going across the basin. 2 people, tabs about half way down, and the drive up works the best. It's smoother with the bow cutting through the chop slightly, but not too much. Put 5 or 6 people in it and it becomes a lot worse. The lighter mine is, the better it works... like most I imagine. I've run 75 across the basin before in 2' chop :thumbsup

The mouth of the river at havasu can get pretty ugly, but I still haven't seen it as bad as the Mohave basin sometimes

I missed the dam run last year, but I hope I can swing it this year. It sounds like a blast!

We just made reservations for mead between July 14-22, so hopefully the dam run gets pushed back a couple weeks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[skav]

Truthfully I couldn't tell you. I can tell you that it's quite a bit shallower then a Nordic or lavey like yours.. it's about as close to a flat bottom as you can get in a big V. Rougher ride, but it sure likes to run on top.

I'd be curious to know what mine is too. I know that 2FF said the 270 is a lot less than the Lavey. I imagine our hulls are similar in weight and handling characteristics. The big difference being that mine is a straight bottom vs the step on your Eagle. Mine feels super stabile up to the mid 80s where it hits a wall. What do you see up top? Hallett Boy has a stepped 270, and I thought he posted speeds around 95. Seems like the step would free up the bottom a bit. I would compare my 270 to riding a big dirt bike like a xr650r vs crf450r. It just kinda just goes thought everything.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[skav]

I've been out in small craft advisory and it's pretty nuts. Running 35 taking water over the bow consistently can be fun. Feels weird being the only boat out running on a big lake except a few big fishing boats trolling by shore. :skull

This reminds me of one year at lake Powell when we got stuck in the middle of a monsoon with a 20' open bow jet boat that we borrowed from a friend. We transferred all the kids to the bigger boat and we banzai'd back. The waves were breaking over the bow and slamming us all the way at the back of the boat. That's when I realized the bilge pump didn't work
Those are the trips you never forget. We had a blast!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RLJ676]

This reminds me of one year at lake Powell when we got stuck in the middle of a monsoon with a 20' open bow jet boat that we borrowed from a friend. We transferred all the kids to the bigger boat and we banzai'd back. The waves were breaking over the bow and slamming us all the way at the back of the boat. That's when I realized the bilge pump didn't work
Those are the trips you never forget. We had a blast!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When I need my bilge pump I know I'm in some shit haha.:thumbsup

I see some people out in the little 16 ft Sea Doo jets getting pounded in 2's plus at 15 mph trying to get to the sandbar to party.....not sure if they're retards or just dedicated drunks. I don't feel bad as I cruise by sipping a drink at 45......

 

[skav]

tell me about it...

I went from a 20.8 Lavey Sebring tunnel to that 2750- Nothing like the tunnells in the calm, but you get a beating hard in the lakes at days end where the V is like a big old cadillac.
UD

That's the way I remember the cheetah. We skied and tubed all day behind that thing. It would turn like it was on rails, and was a blast in calm to light chop. It ran 90-95 aired out with two people, but scared the crap out of me up there. My dad was the kinda guy that wouldn't where glasses-ever. I shouldn't have, because I'd look over and see him squinting so hard, I'd swear his eyes were closed! I don't know how he did it.

On a rough day with a full load, everybody would fight for the back seats, because you'd get beat to death in the front.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk