Hey everybody! I'm looking into buying my first boat right now, but unfortunately, I am strapped for cash as a college student and it seems like the majority of boats in my price range are 16'-17' boats. My main concern is getting into rough water during a tournament situation. Obviously if it gets way too rough, I'm going to park it, but I would like to know how guys with smaller boats handle rougher water and how much these shorter boats can actually handle both while running the outboard and while fishing. Thanks in advance!

Just a few years ago most bass boats were in the 15' to 18' range. Most of us all survived, although I cant remember the wind being this bad back in the 80's and 90's. I fished everywhere in my 18' fiberglass bass tracker, we never missed a tourney.

I'm a college student in a 17.5 ft boat... Ive gone through some big waves....Some that it would have been a lot smarter to just park the boat... like when it was rolling 5 footers on rayburn....

as for ur general <20mph winds, you should be fine on any lake around here for the most part

I did it for many years and you can also. Be smart, spend a little extra money on; good life jackets, extra bulge pump and a good rain suit for the rough ride in. Just take you time in rough water and learn to drive the waves.

A 16 foot boat is safe in all weather conditions that allow fishing. If it is too rough for the boat you will not be catching much anyway.

Another factor to consider is engine power. A 16 foot boat is matched with a 50HP outboard. Anything bigger is asking for problems.

The most important safety consideration is operator skill. Learn to drive the boat.

Adequate flotation, a good bilge pump system, and a good PFD are all musts.

My first bass boat was a 14 foot boat with a 25HP motor. I fished Ray Hubbard in weather I had no business being out in. But in 1970 at age 33 I thought I was immortal. Common sense will carry you a long way.

My 16' Skeeter is outfitted with a 70HP... and I'm thinking of looking for an 85HP to put on it instead. I couldn't imagine having ONLY a 50HP on it.

I got caught in the middle of Lake Palestine this past July 4th when a rogue storm blew threw. We tried to outrun it on our way to shore, but we weren't so lucky. It was WAY too rough for comfort and we were all being thrown around like ragdolls, but I was no worse off than my buddy that was with us in his 20', or anyone else that was also running to shore for that matter. I don't have too much more of a problem with rough conditions than any other 18-20' boat does. I'm not dumb enough to attempt to get out there in bad conditions, though, so I'm not fully qualified on my response.

Its really more a DESIGN of the hull on rough water handling - obviously you wouldn't want to take a 22" side, 16' flat bottom jon boat head on or cross chop in five foot breaking swells - running downwind no problems --

Also a boat handling rough water is a matter of EXPERIENCE -

Most boats I've seen swamped on lakes in my 35+ years of experience were due to OPERATOR error, and that included more than a few 20' bass rigs -- flipping in cross chops, or water over the transom in following seas would be the PRIMARY culprits

I've been caught out in Canadian Shield lakes in 40+ MPH winds in Lund 16 foot aluminum V. boats with 30 HP tiller steer and honest to God 10' freshwater swells - wasn't a fun ride but by using some common sense we made it in.

The boat SIZE is really immaterial, it good judgement, and knowing the capability of your equipment.

You can also fish some tournaments that allow trailering. I towed my 17.5 down that long bumpy dirt road that leads to the ramp at Rabbit on Tawak this past Spring in real windy conditions. Put in, caught some good fish, and trailered back to the weigh in. As I recall, there were several others in the same situation.

an xtra foot of boat can make a huge difference in rough waters

If you cant afford what you really want right now. Wait till you can. I fished with my 8 year old in a 17 foot bass tracker, when the water got rough it scared me with him in the boat. I sold that boat and bought a used 22 foot center console bay boat. Much safer in the rough water. JMO!

I started out in a 15'3" Javelin with a 50hp motor on it.. know your limits, and expect to get wet. I also recommend getting a much larger bilge pump than you would ever think you need. Its imperative that you learn to "tack" in a smaller boat.

I fish tournaments out of my 17.5 ft boat. If it's rough enough for me to be worried so are the 21 footers. Bigger is great but 99% of the time unnecessary. When you get a boat make sure you get some nasty weather seat-time before you get it in a tournament. A tournament is a bad time to learn. IMO it’s rarely the forecast winds/storms that catch you on the wrong side of the puddle.

I’ll be fishing a tournament on Texoma tomorrow in the forecasted 20mph winds. No worries other than finding fish and getting them in the boat.

Having the adequate horsepower on a boat is crucial in rough water , IMO. Also as others have said, learning to drive your boat in all conditions is equally as important, get out and get some seat time when its rough just for the experience...

the horsepower means nothing without the correct prop.

You've gotten some great replies. My recommendation is to ask folk here how their particular boat and hull configuration works in rough water and buy a good quality design. There are lots of boats out there from the 80's that perform well. I do not agree with the smaller outboard theory though. I drive an '85 Ranger 340V 16' 9" with a Mercury 150hp and a 23 pitch prop. I lose top end speed with that low a pitch, but in rough water I want low end torque I would not want to be on Falcon with any less motor. Falcon can get bad in a hurry and the 150 is a real advantage as to either getting on top or riding the waves with the bow up. You're most likely going to get wet in rough water so plan accordingly. I would personally stay away from the tri hull design and find a good V hull design. They typically ride waves better.

You can look at boats like this "if a seven foot surfboard will ride a twenty foot wave" its what happens meeting the wave "trough" that counts !!!

Being a tri-hull owner, I would agree with this 100%! While my hull is VERY stable in calm condition (probably more stable than a V), as soon as the chop gets to 1' you start to feel it. If you ride on some 3 footers, you better buckle up because it will beat you to death! Granted, it doesn't feel unsafe to ride the chop, but the ride is definitely not as comfortable as a V.

I definitely am planning on a v-hull fiberglass boat, given that I can find the right deal. Sounds to me like I need to get it out in the water and learn on some rough days with an experienced driver. I'm kind of taking all of these very excellent and helpful replies into consideration and really appreciate the help!

Don't know what your budjet is but this boat looks like it would ride good in rough water. http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...ass_Boat#UNREAD BTW I don't know the person selling this boat, I just like the design.

Diddo. Been caught in some storms that popped up quick. This was in a 14' flat bottom with a 7.5 horse. Common sense let us make it back to the boat ramp.

my first boat was a home made 18 ft. wooden boat with a 20 hp johnson. use to take it out in chesapeake bay 2 or three miles out alone. got in some nasty situations occasionally, but always seemed to make it back alive. ride out the swells head on with very low speed, just enough power to propel you up the next one. no more, no less.

i got my ducks in a row , no worries.. lol

I recently downsized to a 16 foot express with the hyperlift hull and a 50hp yamaha (two year plan to save money so i can pay cash for a big boat) This litttle boat is awesome and i will never sell it I can get back in the shallow stuff and it handles rough water great. I was out on palestine a couple weeks ago and ran 5 miles in 2 to 3 foot rollers. Your just gonna have to learn how to run it. I also love the fact that I can pu ten bucks in it and fish all day. with the fuel consumption really showing me i dont have to burn ten gallons every time out I have changed from wanting a eyra with a 250 to wanting a sabre with a 175.

My 16ft skeeter with a 90 handled rough water just fine. If you don't feel comfortable then don't go out its really that simple. Good luck on a boat!

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.