what can it handle

[ironexecutioner]

What level of rough water can a 185/195 sport handle? I live in York pa and am looking to make sure I get an appropriate vessel. Thinking the roughest I would explore would be lake Erie or parts of the chesepeake

 

[SevenTeas]

Can't attest to the chesapeake but lake erie can get rough. On a calm day you would be ok. Erie can get rough at times and unpredictable. Don't overestimate yourself or your craft and you should be ok...

 

[quailrunner]

I was visiting someone on Lake Ontario this weekend. Three-four-ft chop. He lives on a pond separated from the lake by a barrier island. He has a 22.5' boat and wouldn't even consider going out the channel to go fishing; we just went swimming in the surf with the boat anchored on the inland side of the barrier dune. The two of us took a walk down the beach Sun to see why a crowd was gathering about 1/2 mile away; two 18'-20' boats had been washed up by the surf and were stranded. I doubt very much that the 185 can handle Lake Erie on anything but a fairly calm day unless its not the same as Lake Ontario.

 

[hemi2nv]

I have a 185 SPORT and it's not fun out in anything over 2ft chop. The boat will handle 2' chop but you have to remember the speed you can travel in chop is reduced considerably and forget about any water sports.

 

[rusobr2]

welcome ! in all fairness --the boat itself can handle just about anything --just sitting-- once you put a operator behind the wheel,and some horsepower--it all changes--a good rule of thumb that i was taught--anything under 24',when you see white water on top of chop ---look for a docking spot--

my thoughts,steven

 

[MarkD]

I have this boat and I agree with Hemi. 2' chop is about all that is comfortable (if you could even call it that). This type of boat is meant for calmer inland waters, not heavy seas on rough days. I dont know what you call an "appropriate vessel" but I assume you mean smallish and trailerable. If you want to explore different lakes/waterways, this type of boat is wonderful. If you want to head out on mediocre days with wind and small craft warnings, you should look elsewhere. This is a fair weather day boat.

 

[Noland]

I have a 185 SPORT and it's not fun out in anything over 2ft chop. The boat will handle 2' chop but you have to remember the speed you can travel in chop is reduced considerably and forget about any water sports.

didnt you install Smart Tabs? did those help with the rougher waters?

Anyhting more than 2 foot chop isnt much fun. at least not for the passangers....:smt043

 

[sbw1]

Our local thinking is 23' is about the minimum size for boating on Lake Michigan. Erie would be similar. We do see lots of 23' fishing boats on the big lake but you still have to pick your days. Having said that, we see pontoon boats on Lake Michigan during the summer and they do just fine if the lake is completely flat. Any boat would be ok in those conditions. But you still have to watch the weather and I would never go out if there was the likelyhood of offshore winds developing. 18' is just not big enough to be safe if conditions change..