How do you guys handle it. Power through it or take it super slow. I am new to bass boats and my new to me 94 Javelin is a really nice boat.

I was on Bport the other day with 20-25mph gust. Heading back to the ramp around noon it was like the Atlantic. I powered up and got on top of the white caps (going with the direction of the white caps) and running about 38mph. I was getting some pretty good air and a couple of times the lower unit came totally out of the water. I couldn't decide if I should speed up (58 max speed) or slow down to make it smoother. I didn't have the huevos to speed up so I slowed down. Problem was I had to slow way down. It seemed like it was all or nothing.

How do you guys approach rough water boating in these boats?

I drive a champion so I don't have this problem.

Know your limits for one. Honestly the best thing you can do is go with someone experienced in rough water and watch how they drive.

Here is a great video from Gerald Swindle.

How to run rough water with Gerald Swindle

https://youtu.be/0SFKBsFO2Vw

Meh, the guys in the Champion next to me had the same troubles .

I depends. But usually I find a sweet spot around 35-45 mph and grin and bare it.

Thanks, I was just about to head over to youtube.

Looks like he is doing what I was having to do.

Get on top of it if you can. Swindles video is really good. Also Matt Allen (youtube) has one that is pretty good on how to ride rough water.

Find the speed that works right for the waves...no two situations are the same.

I'm getting up and running until they're far enough apart that I might spear one. At that point I'm running them at ~45 degrees at whatever speed feels safe

Just drive where you are comfortable. I have been in 3-4 foot waves that I had basically idle in with the bow high, and I have been in 4-5 waves where I could bounce from one to next at about 30-35mph. I much prefer heading into the wave rather than with the waves, but the most important thing for me when going with the wave is to keep the bow high, whatever speed I can reach without planing out is where I tend to be.

Fire wall it and don't lift!!!

When younger on top of them. Now older and bad back. Slow and smooth

Every boat is different. Fast enough to control but slow enough not to beat everything to death. I don't have rod straps. If I am hitting hard enough to move the rods then I am going to fast. For me it's going to be around 30 MPH and working the throttle to match what the waves are doing. I paid money for a Champion just for the rough water. I plan on being comfortable on the ride. The fish will still be there when I get to where I am going and I'll be nice and dry and happy to fish.

In my dirtbike days, my old moto was "when in doubt gas it out"....I've somehow gotten wiser...maybe from learning experiences haha.

That's why we have a 221. To get there faster and smoother than anyone else

On waves large enough to jump your lower unit out of the water take it slow or end up with back problems later in life.

Running big swells with the wind fast can get you in a lot of trouble, or at least very wet, maybe knee deep wet. There is a lot of good info on you tube, one thing to remember, slow will always get you there safely, oh and one other tip, never boil meat unless it is beef tongue, lol.

Don't you have some cats to herd in Hochatown???

We have a saying at Rayburn. When the pine trees are swaying, I'm staying.

Unless its a tournament, I stay home.

Rough water doesn't bother my Champion 221 Elite.The Champion hull and the extra length make a BIG difference in rough water.

221 is quite an interesting boat.

The first time you sit down in one, you'll think you're in an aircraft carrier. The first time you run it in really nasty water, you'll know you are.

If you want the absolute best ride you've ever been in, you won't be dissapointed.

Pat Goff

The older you get the less chances you take; not only in rough water, but in life. You wonder where the stress cracks come from; this is it. Slow down protect your equipment and your body. Allow for the extra time and buckle everything down.

My
I am a rookie to not only my bass boat but any boat at all. Seems like I have had nothing but high winds since I bought my boat. So learning on my own I have been trying everything to see what works, I have always raced off road ad had the same mindset, when it doubt gas it out. Tried that in the boat with maybe 3 ft waves, I can see why people say faster the smoother. It did sit right up and cruise across top, so I went faster and faster. Problem was not the nice equal spaced waves, problem was when you catch an odd wake or something going that fast its too late. I hit a weird one hard and let off throttle too fast, kicked boat up and sideways 90 degrees slammed next wave sideways. Almost threw me out, if there would have been a passenger they would have been swimming. Never going that fast again in rough water!
Then I rode with a guide in roughest water ever on lake fork, I was thinking hold on kidneys this is going to be bad. Wow riding with someone that knows what they are doing makes these boats really seem like Cadillacs, he cruised through everything without ever bouncing off a wave hard. From what I gathered riding in the boat watching the driver, its not A speed or A trim height, it was a constant variation of both just finding that sweet spot every time the waves change. I think its just practice and knowing how your boat reacts at different speeds.

I been on Texoma in a 21 foot champion with 30 mph winds, i was wishing i was in a 50 foot Carver at the time, sometimes the boat just does not make that much of a difference.

This

I hate running with the waves and if time is an issue then I run at angles and read the water. Kind of like tacking when sailing. Going with the wind/waves you'll eventually hit that trough with too much space between waves and bury the nose. It can be unpleasant.

I drive a Champ too and on Rayburn. Respect the water and its power and practice your skills. I learned to drive Rayburn in a 17'10" Ranger with low sides and been in a lot of rough stuff.

I�m running FAST to get up on em. But, I WILL admit, there is a point where you have to slow down and just �roll� over them. But people would be surprised what this Bullet will get up on top of....

When it gets real bad there is nothing wrong with idling back or waiting it out if necessary. In that situation you can get a little anxious and feel like you gotta get on plane and get out of there ASAP. Best thing to do is take a deep breath, relax, and reassess the situation.