To me, waves that are 2-3 feet are big. I have a 19' BassCat, and it handles rough water pretty well. I was on Grapevine yesterday, wind was supposed to be 10-15 out of the NW. When I started back for the ramp, it was gusting to 27mph! I took 2 big waves, back to back, over the bow. Broke my windshield. I was soaked. Not fun!

I've read many things before about safe boating in big waves, but yesterday I must have forgotten. I was going with the waves, everything was cool, then bam!!! Then bam, again!!!

Last night I read more info, mainly about fishing the Great Lakes in rough water. You can imagine how big those waves get. Here is what I read about driving in these waves, not to mention the safety stuff like life jacket, cell phone, radio, flares, etc.:

1. Trim down
2. Take on the waves at a 45-degree angle, not perpendicular

Some said that they throttle up and down as they go over waves. Any advice on this? Anyone have any safety tips to add?

I went out to Cleburne saturday and the wind was blowing consistantly at 24 mph with gusts to 30 mph out of the NW. I have a Tracker PT 170 TX (16ft aluminum bass boat). I never go at the waves at a 45 degree angle because water gets in the boat and I get drenched and the boat rocks bad so i hit them head on. As long as i keep the motor trimmed down with the nose of my boat up in the air a little it will go through them just fine plowing through the water. Im not moving fast and im not on plane but it is the safest way to do it.

i trim up to help keep the bow lift, not too much though- as it will blow out. i either get perpendicular or parallel to the waves... other angles get you wet.

i do throttle up and down on every wave, its a "feel" that you get once you drive in enough of them. hotfoot is god's gift to bass boats!

you speared waves on grapevine? wow! you musta forget that big water driving from ray hubbard!

Big waves are tough. I have been out in at least 4 foot waves on tawakoni. There isn't really a good way to approach it. I sometimes even go out of my way a little bit to find a better path to follow. I usually just grin and bear it. Little spray hasn't killed me yet.

Nothing like the feel when you see the bow plow into the top of the wave in front of the boat. You know it's coming and not a thing you can do other than try to get your rear up out of the seat and turn the bilge pumps on.

22 ft champ. no problem...............

I don't go straight into the waves. I go just a little off angle, maybe 10-15 degrees and play with the throttle. I try to angle to the right so the spray gets my fishing buddy instead of me. Be patient, it's not a race.

45 degrees sounds dangerous to me, that'll flip a boat.

Hotfoot will help you, so you can keep both hands on the wheel. Definitely if you can cut them it is best.

I've been in some 4-6 ft waves at Amistad, if you can wait..fish some cove til the wind dies down, if its getting dark and you just have to go back to the ramp..take them head on and the key is to have your bow up and throttle up and down on every wave..don't matter what size or brand bass boat you have...and get ready for a beating on your boat, your back and your arms holding on to the steering wheel.

Ronnie hit it bout right. It's very much a "feel" thing. My new partner still freaks when i get in the rough stuff

Thanks. Ronnie, I used to spear waves on the Gulf of Hubbard, too. Only there, I was usually next to some big concrete pilings on I30! Add that to the mix of fun times.

So when your on the hot foot, you just give it enough gas to get over the first wave, but have your boat land in the middle of the next? I can't imagine having to drive more than a mile or two like that. Talk about needing a beer at the end of a long day...

yep

RayBob and Bassckwards2, thanks for the Champion infomercial, but I'm looking for real advice.

Ronnie got it right but one thing I'd add it is easier into the waves with the bow up. Going with or the same direction as the waves you are much more likely to spear one ... been there done that and have the windshield receipt to prove it. I was running one of the 360 Series Rangers at the time. I learned to drive big water in that boat on Rayburn. Rayburn has got to be one of the worst.

thanks. when going with the waves, any logic to going fast enough to skip over each wave, basically never hitting the bottom trough of any?