So true about that we all feel is safe and what isn't. Just talk to ice fishermen that think they can walk on water, same as sledders on the ice . I have been caught while prepared here on Erie. Making the 20 mile run back from a local Bass Derby a mile off shore to the Marina at Nanticoke Ont. on glass water and come around the point we live on and get hit in the face with a 35 KPH wind and 5 footers. No way I'm going to shore my boat will be scrap from smashing on the rocky shoreline in hindsight I should have gone back to the Bay, but I didn't, what I really should have done is call home and ask what the water looked like there. The bilge was pumping steady keeping up with water from a few rogue waves coming over the bow gunnels. We hit one nice rouge wave after another and buddy went flying out of the seat that came off the post. I still can't believe he didn't go over. A few guys in a 25 foot Ohio registered Go Fast boat waved us over in distressed they hit a rock and the prop was gone. I couldn't help them but to call the Coast Guard station, they declined, I wonder till today what was up with that crew. Stopping and tying off in those conditions may have sunk me and killed us all. I never did see them pull into the closest Marina, the next Marina is 20 miles further.
We got back safely, wet but safe. I thought I knew how to handle rough water and knowing when to boat out here, there is rough water but then there's water where you see a funnel cloud go by. I really watch Windfinder.com now, like a Haldimand Hawk. I wonder how a 14 footer will handle a funnel cloud storm? About as well as 25 footer. I still say small boats don't belong out on this lake. There is provincial legislation here on the table in Toronto that will limit the size of a vessel in CDN water on the Great lakes as well as larger lakes like Nippising and Simcoe.
Like i've said previously, I'm in no way shape or form new to lake erie. I take the 28 footer if I know it might get nasty. However, The 15' little tri-hull is a hell of a lot better on gas than the twin v8 sundancer, and MUCH better for trolling. I've had that sundancer out in 9 footers all day. not fun, but dooable.
On a side note while we're all here, Is there any particular trick to keeping the boat pointed into the waves without a stern anchor? I always end up flippin swingin back and fourth and it'll eventually rip the damn anchor outta the bottom. Might have to get something other than a regualr danforth.
I do my homework on the weather and have only been taken off-guard once. coming back in 6 footers in an open bow boat is a genuine religious expericence when they're crashing over the bow and transom when you're caught in a crest.
Went out that day and installed a bilge pump. Never again will I have a boat without one.
(just another thing that eats at my batteries.)
After heeding the advice given on this post, I will make a sperate post about my generator issue, and I will invest in a small 3.5hp kicker. Found one in my area that the Woman O.K'd.
I appreciate the feedback gentelman.