Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

[vipertblck]

Been out to Lake Geneva past few years with a friends boat, ancient 1968 Sea Ray deep hull; 19' or 20'; that thing seemed to be comfortable enough for my liking most of the time. My question is what would be good now a days with a more modern boat? I'm looking at buying my first boat, at least mid to late 90's, if not into the 2000's. I figured 17'-18' would still be to small for Lake Geneva, wadda you guys all think though?

 

[MikDee]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

I'd say a 20'-24' I loved both my Searays, the 20' was a bowrider, and the 24' was a Cuddy cabin. Granted the bigger the boat the better, but being able to use it much because of the price of gas, is another story! I wouldn't go any bigger then 25' because then there's a whole lot more involved.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

I think 21' is the absolute MAXIMUM I would go; anything under 20' wouldn't be a very fun weekend out there though? Even a deep hull < 20'?

 

[MikDee]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

I think 21' is the absolute MAXIMUM I would go; anything under 20' wouldn't be a very fun weekend out there though? Even a deep hull < 20'?

The deeper the V, the more the side, to side rocking! Plus, it starts to scrub speed. my SeaRays were just the right V's. Wellcraft Nova's, & Four Winns boats are example of deeper Vee's

 

[vipertblck]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

Would the lil 3.0 4 cylinder be too small for Lake Geneva?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

If you're asking if a boat is too small for Geneva lake - I can't imagine there is one. That lake is only 8 SqMi. I boat on impounds that are triple that size in a 16 or 18 footer.

If you're more concerned about volleying against other traffic on the lake that's a different discussion altogether - and one that boat size only really gives you more brute force for ramming

Are ya' wanting the smaller boat or the bigger one?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

My buddy lived on Lake Geneva for a few years. he ran a 21' bow rider with a 5 liter VP.

if your looking at a 3.0, I would stick to 16 or 17'

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

Been out to Lake Geneva past few years with a friends boat, ancient 1968 Sea Ray deep hull; 19' or 20'; that thing seemed to be comfortable enough for my liking most of the time. My question is what would be good now a days with a more modern boat? I'm looking at buying my first boat, at least mid to late 90's, if not into the 2000's. I figured 17'-18' would still be to small for Lake Geneva, wadda you guys all think though?

20ft is my vote... disadvantages of a larger boat are few....... more room, more comfort, more stable... just my view...

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

Have you considered and inflatable boat
A Zodiac type boat
You can get console mounted or Tiller mounted
You could get a SIB or RIB that is 11 to 14 feet and run all weekend on very little gas.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

no I deffinetly wanna get a v hull type of boat. Just wondered how much slammin around a smaller one (18-19) would do compared to a bigger 20 or 21'

 

[MikDee]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

20ft is my vote... disadvantages of a larger boat are few....... more room, more comfort, more stable... just my view...

True, thinking about it, that would be fine if a bowrider, It's probably the "Best Bang For The Buck" because it's roomy, seaworthy, & trailerable, but if your looking for a Cuddy cabin boat with a decent size open cockpit behind, like I was at the time, then you probably would need to go bigger then 22ft. A modified vee would be a better (ride) choice then a semi-vee, or deep vee.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

hmmm, found a nice stingray that's gotta 4.3 in it; only 19' though. could a foot make that much difference in ride on the water? my concerns are how much slammin around the water is gonna do to ya

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

you are over thinking it. I have been on lake Geneva with everything from a 16' to a 21'. if you like the stingray, take it for a sea trial.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

^^^^ yuh huh.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

x3

That 19' Stingray would be plenty big. We're talking a pretty small lake.

I take my 16' regularly on a lake that's 40,000 acres, 365 islands and 1200 miles of shoreline and stretches 40 miles.

 

[AChotrod]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

Any boat will do ok on Geneva its not the great lakes. Really depends on what you can afford.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

I've been to lake Geneva. Not my cup of tea but if I had to be there full time I would buy a pontoon with a 25 HP outboard. A 14' tinny with a 9.9 would be adequate. Certainly, anything over a 3.0 liter on a 19 footer would be overkill.

In our neck of the woods we have a small lake like that and we often go there for a day trip because the fishing is good. We take the tinny that has a max speed of about 25 mph. Any faster than that gets boring when you can see the other end of the lake.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

The question that hasn't been asked or answered is what is going to be the main purpose of this boat? Joyriding? Fishing? Skiing/tubing?

30+ years ago if you went down to the Fox Chain you would see a lot of 24-30' pocket cruisers like ChrsCraft, Owens, Carviers, Trojons and they would be everywhere. Very comfortable boats that rode well. Of course they were also all wood! Today it's Searays, Cobalts, Bayliners and a host of others. Overall size hasn't changed but the amount of usable deck space sure has.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

Wow.

12 posts in before we get an idea of what type of boat you are looking at.
Still no idea of how many people in the boat, or what you intend to use it for.

True the lake is 8 miles long, but only 3/4 to 1.25 miles across.

If you were on Winnebago, or Castle Rock, or Petenwell, or ever plan on going anywhere else, I would say go bigger. 20-24'.
But for Geneva, 17-19 should be good. You're gonna get bounced around if you are on anything less than a barge.

Not real sure why you want to go to this lake, unless its to fish on weekdays, because on the weekends, its a zoo.

A real crazy unsafe zoo with the cage doors open. Just my opinion.

Last time I was there was about 8 years ago, never again.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Adequate boat size for Lake Geneva, WI

I'm only 20 minutes from there and there is no way I'd be out there on a weekend unless it was at sunrise and off the water by 9:00 am or at sunset when the "No Wake" takes effect!