That's why I have a dual console boat. I would hate to have my partner get swept away on a rough day.

We were going with the wind and hit a trough, in front of us two waves merged and made a huge wave and our speed took us right through it at the wrong time, poof!! Spear City ....

been there, done that

I turn on my pumps before I venture out in big water - I want that water out of my hull as quick as I can get it out.

If you've never speared a wave then I believe you've never been in really nasty water. If the waves are 6 to 7 feet with an odd 8 to 9 mixed in good luck trying to "stay on top" of them. And try troughs of all differiant widths to make it a little more challanging. Seeing nothing but water when you're inbetween waves. Having the bow coming close to facing strait up in the air coming up and over a crest. Granted, you should not be out in water like that in a bassboat, but sometimes it happens.

Now there's a BIG differance spearing a wave driving 10 MPH vs 50. And you'd be realy nuts if you're on plane in really nasty water.

This says it pretty good. I speared one once about 20 yrs ago. I hope it never happens again. It was the greatest education I ever got in the shortest amount of time in my life.

Been running bassboats for nearly 40 years and only speared one. The reason I got that one was too much speed for the conditions in an old Skeeter Starfire. I fish Falcon and have run it in 35+ mph winds and never come close to spearing. Last year we were crossing from the state park to the Salinias my buddy passed me up in his Basscat running too fast for the conditions and as be pulled about 100 yards ahead I saw his kitty almost disappear into a big roller. As soon as I saw that he was alright I laughed my butt off. I am constantly amazed that folks think they can run fast in 4 foot+ waves and get by with it indefinitely. Speed on rough water will bite you in the butt sooner or later. Spearing a wave is an error in boat control that should be learned from. We all know the definition of repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting different results. When folks say they have speared several waves, it makes me wonder??????????????

My 16 ft. Skeeter has gone submersible four times. The first one was a careless mistake which I never made again. The following three were by being stuck in the wrong water at the wrong time in a boat shorter than the distance between 4-5 footers. Luckily, my boat is so slow that it doesn't cause damage to itself when a wave eats it and the Yamaha hasn't let me down in those situations. Had the engine quit on wave #3 I think I would have gone down, it was bad.

I speared some on Amistad in 2006. All I can say is that was my first time "truly spearing" a wave, and let me tell you I was scared to run in wind over 10mph for almost a year.

Wind was blowing 30+ with gusts up to 40 in Feb out of the north. Water was cold and wind was cold. We had to run from market 17 to diablo to get out - well when we hit the box area it got ugly. I swear there was 8+ footer on the middle of amistad. Took a hard wave and almost completely filled the boat.

Well made it back and got the fastest boating education session I ever recieved. That was one time I was glad I was running a 300hp on the back of my bumble bee - I think with any less of an engine, there would not have been enought ponies on the back to keep pushing us.

I can tell you my confidence is back and I have not speared a wave since. Take a small roller barely over the nose every once in a while, but have not speared a wave since. And yes I have been in very nasty stuff since then.

Patience is a virtue out there. Trim up, slow down and pay close attention to the water in front of you.

When I had my Ranger I speared one and broke the windsheild filled the boat , just kept going but scared the hec out of us. I dont ever want to do that again.

Burrrrrrrrr!

I was out in that mess on roberts yesterday too. I made the stupid run to indian from lick. on my way back as soon as i came from behind the island the great sea showed her self. I was doing fine till the dreaded "O, SHAT!" moment occured. I went up a wave so far all I could see was sky then boom,boom, two waves in a row completly over the entire boat. My motor shut down, and when I caught my breath I got moving again. the worst part was that I got hit so hard it bounced my starting battery off its braket killin my depth finder and BILGE! On top of that I was in a 93 19ft javelin. Lets just say lesson learned..

I speared one on Fayette County 2 months ago and lost 5 high end rods & reels and broke my windshield
NOT FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you said a key word watch the water in front of you when you send a lot of time on windy lakes you learn to read waves. once you jump in never stop and thank god for hot foot one of the best things for running big waves. are tournament on ute lake sat. wind 50+ eveyone made back save. we all hear the bs about the best boats but this shows you. we saw the speed demons with partner laying on front deck trying to get it down getting the [censored] beat out of them.

a spear at 10 mph doesnt rip equipment off the deck and knock windshields off...

I think the key here is to go slow, I have never speared a wave, I have had a little water come over the bow but my shoes did not get wet, I have been in a boat before that ate one, it was not fun.