Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

[Chaz7R]

I have been thinking of selling my current inboard tow boat to get A boat I can go out with my wife for a weekend on lake erie. I have never had a cuddy boat before and most destionations are a 6 mile trip down the detroit river then a 40-50 mile shot across lake erie. My musts are boat must be small enough for trailering 160 miles to cabin occasionally so less than 26' is realistic need power (speed) 454ci or above. I have been keeping my eye out for a 1997-2002 Baja 232 just a cuddy no kitchen or head (we dont need too much luxury lol). Im asking anyone who makes these sort of weekend trips what they have on thier boats that they cannot live without. Ive made the trip across lake erie a few times on the cruiser type boats 32'-35' and I know she can get rough 5' waves. So do you think a 23' cuddy is big enough to handle that kind of trip safely?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

Hey Chaz! So what's wrong with that boat you have pictured in your avatar there? I'd think you could string a hammock between those exhaust pipes eh?

It looks pretty fast too

Sorry, just being a punk

 

[oops!]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

Hey Chaz! So what's wrong with that boat you have pictured in your avatar there? I'd think you could string a hammock between those exhaust pipes eh?

It looks pretty fast too

Sorry, just being a punk

What a punk !

To the op.

I see several warning flags here.

But.... I would guess the waves can get a wee bit bigger than 5 feet on erie.

You could make the trip on a raft ....But I would like something a little more substantial....I would be looking at a 27 ish with twins.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

Sorry, let's see if I can be more helpful

I've spent some time on the big lakes and believe the boat in my signature would be as small as I'd go on a crossing like that (22', V6). Bigger is certainly safer and more comfortable (like the sizes you mention up above there). But, by far the biggest safety measure is experience on the big lakes and careful/diligent watch of weather patterns.

Have fun!

 

[Chaz7R]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

Yep the times ive gone across the weather was my biggest worry. Getting there is always trouble free but the trip back is usually the tricky part. If you head there in a monsoon thats your own stupidity. But come sunday when people have jobs and lives to get back to on monday you can feel a little pressure to head out into less than ideal boating conditions. P.s. the boat in my avatar is the boat from the movie The Great Outdoors the waterskiing scene is one of my favorites

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

 

[Chaz7R]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

HAHAHAHAHA!!! I love Akroyds reaction

 

[Chaz7R]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

My current boat. Not quite ideal for rough water had a lap full of water turning around to pick up a boarder a few times

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

I've had to turn back several times last season. It's not just the wave height, but the frequency and the fact that I only have 1 powerplant. Waves come in 3 second intervals. That gets old after about an hour of it. I've never felt that the waves were too much for my rig but knew I'd be totally screwed if I lost power. Erie is an unforgiving task master...gives the test first and then teaches the lesson.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

worst boating experience of my life was as a teenager nearly 20 years ago getting caught in erie in t-storms with fuel filter problems wit dad on his 23' john Almond flybridge sportfisher.... we left pelee point in canada at 8 pm and arrived in lorain ohio 60 miles off course (best course we could make due to fighting waves) at 6 am.... It was REALLY bad.... The kicker is we would have been home and sleeping before the storm hit but 5 miles into the return trip we started having the engine troubles and were limping along at a top speed of about 5 mph when the storm came across the water at us

for crossing the big water I STRONGLY recommend twin engines with separate fuel tanks AND a spare prop with a low enough pitch to plane on one engine.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

I've had to turn back several times last season. It's not just the wave height, but the frequency and the fact that I only have 1 powerplant. Waves come in 3 second intervals. That gets old after about an hour of it. I've never felt that the waves were too much for my rig but knew I'd be totally screwed if I lost power. Erie is an unforgiving task master...gives the test first and then teaches the lesson.

You forget to mention that they also come from different directions at the same time

 

[Mike Zee]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

Drift sock-a big one. Think bow flair, like an off shore type boat. My boats a 23'er but it lacks any real bow flair, likes to nose straight into the waves. Thank god its a cuddy and not an open bow, it would have been swamped many times. Its a inshore lake boat, not a Erie boat. But i still take it there. I just dont go all that far. Also the way my transom is shaped, the waves like to ramp right into the boat. Point is there is more than overall size to think of. You look at my boat and think its good to go, but it does have its issues.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

23 foot imo depends on the make of the boat. Deadrise, length, bow flair, open or closed transom. All these things play into the equation. I recall seeing alot more single screw boats in Lake Erie than twins, but having twins is nice to have. As long as the boat you choose is well constructed, is mechanically sound, and you watch the weather, a 23 footer can do the job.

Now that being said, if you are looking for a cuddy/ w/a then go as big as you can afford to and you will have a more enjoyable boat for sure. The cabins on the 23 cuddies are just not big enough imo. I use to have a grady 22 seafarer that was a great rough weather boat, but the cabin sucked. I am happy with the Chris Craft I have now but it measure 26" 7" of hull. I agree that a 26 to 28 footer would be ideal. Make sure you have all the safety equipment you wqould have if you went offshore. Good luck and be safe.

 

[Bluepike]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

You say that you're not that much in to luxury but...when looking in to spending the night onboard, I would strongly suggest you get a boat with air conditioning. I didn't used to care too much about it since I never slept on a boat before I bought my 24 footer, but after spending the first 85 degree night on it, I was glad to have air and will never get a boat that I plan to sleep on with out it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

You forget to mention that they also come from different directions at the same time

That's what happened to us.... 3 of em!

The John Allmand was a heck of a boat for it's size wide beam and flared bow .. they are kinda famous on the great lakes... but we still had LOTS of water over the bow....

A 26'er with small twins would have been 'gooder

 

[etracer68]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

You wouldnt see me crossing lake Michigan or Erie on anything less then an 30plus footer with twin screws, I grew up on Michigan. Mother Nature has a split personality. As soon as you get out, and no longer see land for hours, and the wind shifts, and nice and sunny, here come the big rollers. Pull back the hummer, and start riding up hill, then down hill, keep in mind this goes on for hours. I do go out in my 16ft, but I know and respect the lake, and wouldnt think of crossing unless I had something 30 or more, and has to have twins. I have crossed Lake Michigan many times in 30+ boats, sometimes it was only 2 footers this side, and over 8 other side.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

Sailed a bunch on Lake St. Claire in a 22 Oday - Little small for an overnight trip, and could get kinda' dicey in rough weather. Sailed Michigan once or twice on a 30' (S2, I think) - that was nice. Sailed Huron on a Sunfish ... fun, but I wouldn't stay overnight on it

I think the consensus is taking you 26' or bigger, and I'd probably agree (with limited experience).

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

I have been thinking of selling my current inboard tow boat to get A boat I can go out with my wife for a weekend on lake erie. I have never had a cuddy boat before and most destionations are a 6 mile trip down the detroit river then a 40-50 mile shot across lake erie. My musts are boat must be small enough for trailering 160 miles to cabin occasionally so less than 26' is realistic need power (speed) 454ci or above. I have been keeping my eye out for a 1997-2002 Baja 232 just a cuddy no kitchen or head (we dont need too much luxury lol). Im asking anyone who makes these sort of weekend trips what they have on thier boats that they cannot live without. Ive made the trip across lake erie a few times on the cruiser type boats 32'-35' and I know she can get rough 5' waves. So do you think a 23' cuddy is big enough to handle that kind of trip safely?

Last boat was a 240 SeaRay. It was ok for over night trips, but no speed demon. I used it on Lake Erie with due dillagence because of weather concerns but it was ok for over nighters. It had air and all the amnitys. How fast do you want to go and where on Lake Erie do you want to go? My limit was 15 miles so i could still see shore if the weather got bad i could gittyup and get back fast enough. As said in most of these posts, Lake Erie can get really bad quick. I wouldn't go to far out unless i had twins. Not sure if you are aware of required safety equipment on the lakes. They are diff. then being on a river. Now i am in a 30 ft

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

Size of the boat is only one of many concerns you should be thinking about. When boating on the great Lakes it is the equivalent to the Ocean, so ask yourself what size you would need for the same trip out there. In many cases it can be even more deadly than an ocean. But the question you asked, I wouldn't even consider it in less than 30 feet/twins/with every safety devise know to boating at my fingertips. Been stranded in Ohio before on Sunday returning, and it's no place for a 23 footer.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Size boat needed for overnight destinations on Geat Lakes

For what you are looking to do, 40-60 miles each way, a 23 foot cuddy would be just fine on most days. I used to run Lake Michigan in a 21ft Wellcraft Eclipse cuddy. My longest trip was Port Washington, WI to Racine, WI over a 4 day weekend.

It's just a matter of watching the weather closely and being flexible with your schedule. There will be days that you just will not be able to go and have to leave the boat on the trailer. Other times you may need to cut the trip short and head home early because that's what the weather says to do. And you might have to be willing to make that call on Monday and say "Sorry Boss, the lake turned nasty and I'm stuck in <fill in the blank>. I'll see you tomorrow."