I agree. You really only "feel" safer in a larger boat. If you hit rough waters the difference in a 15 and 30 foot boat isn't all that much. Now there may be a difference in an 18 foot planer and an 800ft Ocean Cruiser, but even those sink. Haha.

Seriously though get to know your boat in average conditions and always tell yourself "IF" things were crazy, what would I be doing right now. Learn to quarter waves and anticipate problems. Don't get a crazy over or underpowered craft. Be confident. Learn your navigation aids etc Plan your trip around weather and have all safety equipment.

I've been stuck in well above average seas in a 12 ft kayak. Not saying my knuckles weren't white as a sheet, and I may or may not have needed a change of undies afterward but I used my practiced skills and common sense and did just fine. Good luck.

I have a 21 ft Deep V boat and it is horrible in high winds. Luv to Fish (Mike) has an awesome 22 ft Champion and it is the best rough water riding boat I have ever been on.

I agree, until you get to a certain size (really big) 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 foot boats aren't all that different - it is the design of the boat and the operator.

Whatever you do, if you want to go larger on HP, check the engine weight first. You can often get a more powerful engine in the same weight class, but adding another 100# to the transom to get a larger engine is going to make you more likely to take a wave over the transom, especially if you stall or have other problems during rough weather.
Many times a 50HP is the same block design (and weight) as 75HP which is "better tuned" (same often goes for a 200/225/250HP)... in those cases, there is no reason NOT to get the more power (except potential gas mileage, and "keep your foot out of it to avoid dangerous top-speed situations", but those won't affect the rough-water concerns). If your boat is rated 50HP because it's not stable at 40+MPH, get a higher-horse same-weight engine but don't go 40+ MPH, get a prop that has more bite at the safe operating speed range instead, which will keep you safer in rough stuff (and give you better holeshot, etc).
But I would not hang a heavier motor on the back of a small boat than one designed for it initially, just asking for trouble, horsepower only works when running and in gear, otherwise it's just more deadweight on the back.

Whatever you do, if you want to go larger on HP, check the engine weight first. You can often get a more powerful engine in the same weight class, but adding another 100# to the transom to get a larger engine is going to make you more likely to take a wave over the transom, especially if you stall or have other problems during rough weather.
Many times a 50HP is the same block design (and weight) as 75HP which is "better tuned" (same often goes for a 200/225/250HP)... in those cases, there is no reason NOT to get the more power (except potential gas mileage, and "keep your foot out of it to avoid dangerous top-speed situations", but those won't affect the rough-water concerns). If your boat is rated 50HP because it's not stable at 40+MPH, get a higher-horse same-weight engine but don't go 40+ MPH, get a prop that has more bite at the safe operating speed range instead, which will keep you safer in rough stuff (and give you better holeshot, etc).
But I would not hang a heavier motor on the back of a small boat than one designed for it initially, just asking for trouble, horsepower only works when running and in gear, otherwise it's just more deadweight on the back.

ChrisTexas is absolutely right. In my post I remarked my 50 HP Evinrude was matched to my 16 foot boat. A 75 hp is available in the same weight. The prop makes more difference than the extra horsepower. The 50 HP with a 13x15 prop gives 30 MPH with 2 big guys aboard. I would not want much more in a light trihull design. One lapse in steering at that speed will flip the boat. And the motor trim tab has to be set just right to keep the boat from pulling.

Are you sure you don't/didn't have a hook in your hull? My 16' Skeeter is a narrow-beam, lightweight, fiberglass tri-hull. I can't remember what size SS prop I put on it, but with the old 70HP, I'm readily able to hit ~35MPH with a full load capacity (close to 40 in perfect conditions with just myself on-board). When I take the kids cruising, I will whip the boat around in a break-neck fashion and never once have I felt the boat was about to flip, skid, or otherwise feel unsafe. Same story when pulling the kids on the tube and trying to fling them off. I do not have trim tabs or any other after-market stabilizer on the boat. The boat will also track straight enough just fine hands-off (the torque will always pull it, but it's fairly minor).

It's a moot point, though. What you stated in the second sentence is what is important. The motor needs to be matched to the boat (i.e. as per the USCG rating plate). You can power it less than it's rated, but you shouldn't power it over the rated HP. There's no law against doing it, but your insurance may drop you if they found out... in addition to the potential safety hazards you may face.

Learn your boat. Take it slow and keep the nose up and the prop in the water. Don't let the nose fall when topping the the wave. Stow unnecessary equipment when moving. Have good bilge pumps and wet weather gear. A long shaft trolling motor allows you to fish in it but a smaller but will ride up and down a lot more than a larger one. Use good judgement.

Not all small boats are created equally. Different brands due different things better or worse than others.

Sorry for the double-post above, not sure how that happened, and it won't let me delete either of them. If any mods can delete one that'd be appreciated.

Well I have a Lund Pro Angler 16 (16'6") with a 60 hp tiller. I have had smaller boats. I think it is a process of getting a boat that for me is (1) easy to fish out of, (2) Safe in rough water, (3) I can handle this boat by myself. So not too big not too small. Now I don't go very fast, that would be a problem for a tournament angler. Coming back to the ramp in "rough" water means getting wet in all boats except submarines. I think we all strive to get back as quickly as possible, in that it is stressful and wet. My boat is all I need. I think the go bigger thing is a male trait that I suffer from as well. But my smaller/big boat doesn't need a big truck to tow it and I can launch it in some small places. It also uses very little gas and is economical. It is bass boat envy that keeps us getting bigger better looking boats, IMHO. Really nothing wrong with mine, and I can back troll.

I think the safety of any small boat in big water can be summed up in a couple of words: Bow Lift

Some boats have awful bow lift and those boats are the ones to stay away in rough water.

I'm running a 16 ft. jon with a 40 hp motor and I've run all over Choke in 20+ and close to 25 mph winds. No denying things get really rough in my boat in those conditions and I was a little nervous the first time I did that, but my boat has really great bow lift and I'm very comfortable with what it can and can't do in rough water.

You really need to keep an eye out for the wind and be very familiar with the type of water your boat can handle. Knowing how rough certain lakes get under certain wind directions really helps, too.

You will be fine in a 16 ft boat. Just take it easy and learn to drive it on rough days.

If you like working on boats or engines, look for someone with a boat in their yard. Weeds growing around it or even in it. My first boat I bought in high school was sitting in a guys yard and hadn't been moved in awhile. I payed him $500 to basically hall it off. fixed it up and five years later, after hundreds of fishing trips, sold it for $3000. I will clarify though, I love working on my own stuff. When your short on cash, sometimes you have to look at things different.

Really think about what you want to do and where you want to do it. Small can be fine, alot has to do with the way you drive it.

Good luck.

http://fishcatchingtravel.com/a-beginning/daily-post-well-almost-10711/

I fished tournaments out of a 16 foot nitro with a 90 horse Optimax for 4 years - it was pretty rough out there sometimes but it always got me there and back and I cashed a few checks in the process - the weather can be pretty hard on the boat though - I was very happy to move into a larger boat recently.If I knew then what I know now I would have bought a bigger boat to begin with...

I have a 15'3" Boston Whaler and I LOVE it!! The length of the boat helps to deal with the waves more when anchored or at very slow speeds. This is due to the fact that the waves are coming in at a rate that matches or extends past the length of the boat(frequency). This will cause the the bow to dip down into the next oncoming wave and cause the brutal submarine effect. My boat actually does a little better in higher winds because the waves come more frequently than the 15 ft length. I hope that you were able to make some sense out of my jumbled thoughts. If you are moving at a decent speed it is all about how you operate the vessel.

Get a Whaler as you know it will not sink, and they last


Tight Lines
Travis

Got a 1985 Skeeter Wrangler, I believe it is 16-6? Would not trade it back for the 2006 Ranger and the 425.00 payments that went with it. This Skeeter has a 140 Johnson and will do 57 with my lard AZZ and my partner. Not the 75 that many of you are doing, but fast enough for me. It handles really well in rough water as well. Two weekends ago on Hubbard Creek in a tournament with 40 mile winds, we crossed the main lake and it was rough, but I did feel safe.

If you have a choice, buy a little longer, but do not be scared away from a boat if it is short, check out with others as well before buying, as said above, not all are made equal.

I have a 16 ft. Cajun with a Johnson 90 horse on it.I fish Lake Whitney,and it does real good on rough water.That is what a Cajun was famous for is the ride.Do yourself a favor,and ride in an old Cajun when the wind is blowing.

Get a big boat. You won't regret it trust me.

Anyone who tells you their 15 or 16 foot boat does better in rough water then a 20 or 21 foot boat is in serious denial. I've ridden in Rangers, Skeeters, Cajuns, Nitros, Bass Cats, Tritons, Bullets and even a Pheonix at one time or another and one thing they all have in common - The bigger the boat the smoother the ride, especially in rough water - the only time this doesn't hold true is if the boat is underpowered (doesn't have enough horespower to push the boat) - I made the mistake of buying a 16'-4" Nitro with a 90 HP Optimax and was stuck with it for a long time because I owed a lot of money to pay it off - I have a lot of good memories in that boat but it was like driving a bathtub in really rough water (I have been out in it in 35 to 40 MPH winds on Toledo Bend where I had to wait for my a$$ to let go of the seat before I couild get out of the boat) - My advice to anyone buying a boat is buy the biggest you can afford the first time - you won't regret it - also the resale value of a used small boat is less - just something else to think about...

Man I must have missed where someone said a smaller boat was "Better in rough water". You are correct in stating a wider / longer boat is better in rougher water (No doubt in that). I thought the kid said he could only afford a smaller boat and would this work OK for tournaments in rougher water?? The answer is yes, he may have to find coves to fish in that is out of the wind, and possible try not to cross the main lake in 40 MPH winds. I will assure you and have been there before as well, ANY boat on Toledo Bend with 40 MPH winds will be rough, the extra 3-5 Ft on that kind of wind would be hell on any bass boat, long or short. As I stated above, a few weeks ago fishing the Burleson Tournament on Hubbard Creek, the winds were 25-35 (I estimate)and my little boat did well enough. I will tell you I did not have any fear in this boat and we did cross the main water to get to the other side of the lake.

My advise to this young man would be to buy the best boat (Length, quality, price, horse power, etc) that his budget will let him into, as he stated this was his first boat and he will have a lot to learn when it comes to keeping a boat in quality shape. What ever you buy, please be safe in it.

Wow - did I hit a nerve? - Your's wasn't the only other post here you know - go back and check out the one before your previous post. Or the one after it for that matter - and keep in mind that when you are advising someone who might want to fish tournaments about a boat - they don't get to pick the weather they fish in. once you pay your entry you fish or forfeit the money and just because you have the stones for it doesn't mean anybody else wants to be out there in three footers in a 16 foot boat.

I am with Beegfoot on this one, dont make the mistake of buying a boat under 18ft if you intend to fish tournaments on the big reservoirs of Texas, you WILL regret it. If you were just planning on fishing smaller lakes for enjoyment and intend to be a fair weather fisherman then a smaller boat is the more economic route, but basically from Jan through April (when the majority of tournaments take place) those constant fronts blowing through with North winds will make life hell for you in a small boat, been there done that!

Really!!??
A 15 ft boat is just as safe as a 21 ft. boat in rough water???
What are you guys smokin!!

every foot makes a difference

I fish out of a 1997 16ft Pro Craft with a 90hp Force. It was my first boat and I have caught alot of fish out of it. You can get in some spots that bigger boats can not but you sacrafice when it come to rough water. You will be wet.