Boating in choppy water?

[RustyShackleford]

I have a 22' pontoon with a 60HP motor. In the recent weeks, the lake that we go to has been choppy due to the winds. I'd say the chop is about 1-1.5' and tosses us all around. We have been staying in the coves, but the coves close to the dock are crowded. I am wondering if I speed up and try to go through the chop so I can get to other coves if it's going to be really rough and wet. Trying to motor through them at about 5 knots was really rough. I don't really want to just try and find out because it takes me a while to get up to a good speed and I will be well out into the choppy area before I can tell if I just have to turn back.

What do you all think? Should I just stick to the coves close to the dock and not venture out into the choppy water?

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Boating in choppy water?

1' - 1.5' shouldn't be all that choppy for you guys, "Rusty". A little more speed, say 10 - 15 mph, along with transferring some weight to the rear of the barge should improve things for you. Good luck !!!

 

[JGator]

Re: Boating in choppy water?

We were on a lake with white caps a few weeks ago, wasn't too bad as long as we were well underway. And like The Rooster says keep up the speed headed into it.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Boating in choppy water?

Some times when I'm out in the bay we get 4 to 6 root rolling waves. just slow down and face into them. In other words stay on the top of them.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Boating in choppy water?

Thanks for the advice. Lots of wakes from fast boats today and wind picked up and got choppy and about 12MPH with a little trim up for the weight in the front and it was nothing.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Boating in choppy water?

When our lake gets too rough, I just don't go out.

We're fortunate to have our boat hanging in a boathouse, and we can just stay on the boat going nowhere.

Over the years, I've noticed our lake getting more wavey--with seawalls making lake water slosh like in a bathtub. Our problem now is 3 weeks of storms virtually every afternoon, which is keeping us from boating. I don't desire to be a 24' aluminum lightening rod in a thunderstorm.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Boating in choppy water?

I had never heard of a boathouse until I saw one at a marina yesterday. At least, that's what I think it was since you said "hanging". The boats looked like they were on a partial trailer, and I think, suspended from above. I could see it being kind of fun to hang out there, no pun intended. When I first got my boat we just parked on the street and had lunch on the boat.