Bowriders that handle waves well?

[SkaterRace]

I sold my Glastron GT 185 last fall thinking I was buying a house, however that has changed so I am considering buying a boat again but I want it to be better than my Glastron. My issues with my Glastron were it was a bit small when more than 4 people were onboard and that it didn't handle waves very well. I was limited to smaller lakes because the ride was too rough for most people I went out with.

I know the ride will be smoother with a bigger boat and that solves the crowded issue too though I don't want to just go to a bigger Glastron. What brands that make bowriders are good for rougher water - in bowrider terms?

 

[racerone]

I would not take a bow rider out where there are big waves.-----Bilge pumps are not big enuff.

 

[SkaterRace]

I would not take a bow rider out where there are big waves.-----Bilge pumps are not big enuff.

I'm not talking an ocean lol the lakes around me get up to 2-3 ft which is too rough in my old Glastron.

 

[Lou C]

A salt water DC like Key West

 

[racerone]

Post #1 did not mention Ocean-----It says rougher water !-----I would not own a bowrider myself !

 

[Lou C]

On my bow rider I keep the bow cover on anytime it gets rough and have a reinforced support for the bow cover just in case. I also have a spare emergency 2000 gph bilge pump.
The salt water DCs have several advantages:
Self bailing deck
Greater bow flare
Some have fully foamed construction so they have level flotation not just basic. This alone is a big plus.

 

[QBhoy]

Those glastrons aren’t known for their rough water ability. The v is very shallow. Most boats like that are, to be fair. Generally the better quality built boat will have a better hull for the rough. That comes at a cost, as you can imagine.

 

[ahicks]

Rough water handling is not just about the boat's interior layout. Actually, it has nothing to do with layout. It's about hull design. You've heard the term where the rubber hits the road? This is about where the hull hits the water!!

Then, there's this concept regarding compromise. There isn't a boat built without compromises.

If I were looking for a new boat, and had fond memories of a boat like your Glastron, I'd buy another one and just slow down in the choppy conditions....

 

[roscoe]

Questions like this really should give us a little info on your budget, and age of the boat you are looking to buy.

Got a friend that loves his $7000 20' 20 years old Bayliner.
And a co-worker that just spent $135g on a boat to pick up chicks.

 

[QBhoy]

Rough water handling is not just about the boat's interior layout. Actually, it has nothing to do with layout. It's about hull design. You've heard the term where the rubber hits the road? This is about where the hull hits the water!!

Then, there's this concept regarding compromise. There isn't a boat built without compromises.

If I were looking for a new boat, and had fond memories of a boat like your Glastron, I'd buy another one and just slow down in the choppy conditions....

Agree for sure. Always a compromise. I have a U.K. built narrow deep v 19ft cuddy with a well known rough water pedigree hull. But it’s that narrow it can be a little tippy and easily influenced by weight distribution across the boat.
I also have a wide bow rider that has performance in mind too. Stepped hull and a pad to sit on running at high speed. The dead rise at the bow is fairly deep for such a boat ( being Canadian) but most times the very design of the hull makes that irrelevant, with the thing always trying to lift the hull onto the rear and flattened section. Meaning a chop can be uncomfortable at cruising speed. Often I need to run a fair bit quicker than cruising speed and deliberately trim the bow down into the water. Like you say…a compromise with every boat !

 

[SkaterRace]

Rough water handling is not just about the boat's interior layout. Actually, it has nothing to do with layout. It's about hull design. You've heard the term where the rubber hits the road? This is about where the hull hits the water!!

Then, there's this concept regarding compromise. There isn't a boat built without compromises.

If I were looking for a new boat, and had fond memories of a boat like your Glastron, I'd buy another one and just slow down in the choppy conditions....

I'd like to move faster than idle speed so I'm good with a better boat that has a hull design that is better suited to 2-3ft waves compared to the glastron where 1ft was too rough

 

[QBhoy]

I'd like to move faster than idle speed so I'm good with a better boat that has a hull design that is better suited to 2-3ft waves compared to the glastron where 1ft was too rough

Look up the deadrise spec of the hull, you intend to consider. That will tell you all you need to know usually.

 

[tpenfield]

How much money do 'we' have to buy this boat?

I have a 33 foot bowrider . . . 3 footers are no problem

Maybe SeaRay SLX series 270, 310, 350
Chaparral SSX series 307, 337
Formula 270 BR, 310 BR, 330 CBR
Cruisers Yacht 338 Bowrider

 

[dingbat]

Rough water handling is not just about the boat's interior layout.

Interior layout (weight distribution) has a lot to do with rough water handling.

Take a ride in a DC, CC or WA built on the same hull… the ride quality of each is very different.

In the rough, I’ll take a CC any day….twice on Tuesday

 

[briangcc]

2-3' can be done in my current boat. It ain't pretty and it ain't quick in any regards. More than likely the front passengers ARE getting soaked. Not something I would want to do with any regularity.

I think you're looking at a much larger boat...say in the 23-25' class.

 

[Scott06]

Those glastrons aren’t known for their rough water ability. The v is very shallow. Most boats like that are, to be fair. Generally the better quality built boat will have a better hull for the rough. That comes at a cost, as you can imagine.

Agreed- by buddy has a early 2000's Glastron 185 or 195/4.3L - has very little deadrise and hence small wake for when we are skiing. When the lake is choppy we take out our 21 ft Searay throws a bigger wake due to deadrise and hull weight but has a much better ride, just sucks to ski behind...

Would think a heavier 21-24 ft bowrider would fit the OP's needs well.

 

[Lou C]

My '88 FW has pretty high gunnels and a 21* deadrise so it handles rough water well BUT, it is still a bow rider. So I keep that cover on, any time it gets rough.
I do not understand the fascination with bow riders, dual consoles and center consoles. This appears to be all the boat companies limited selection, but they are really impractical if you think about it. In the north east you are freezing for half the season in those style boats. And in big water, I don't think they are really that safe, unless totally foam filled. I used to like to fish Long Island Sound but only when conditions are dead calm & flat.
The only thing I'll buy in the future is a Walk Around, or a Pilot House. I want weather protection and more sea worthiness in a smaller boat.
Give me a Walk Around, 20-22' with a 175-200 hp outboard. No more bowriders and no more I/Os.

 

[QBhoy]

My '88 FW has pretty high gunnels and a 21* deadrise so it handles rough water well BUT, it is still a bow rider. So I keep that cover on, any time it gets rough.
I do not understand the fascination with bow riders, dual consoles and center consoles. This appears to be all the boat companies limited selection, but they are really impractical if you think about it. In the north east you are freezing for half the season in those style boats. And in big water, I don't think they are really that safe, unless totally foam filled. I used to like to fish Long Island Sound but only when conditions are dead calm & flat.
The only thing I'll buy in the future is a Walk Around, or a Pilot House. I want weather protection and more sea worthiness in a smaller boat.
Give me a Walk Around, 20-22' with a 175-200 hp outboard. No more bowriders and no more I/Os.

Could always have both Lou…I now own far too many boats, than I should. I have to hide one of them on an island at a friends place, haha.

 

[dingbat]

I do not understand the fascination with bow riders, dual consoles and center consoles.

Not a bow rider or DC fan but I’ll take a CC for ride comfort and accessibility for fighting fish over any other configuration.
If you’ve ever chased big fish on light tackle in a small boat you’d understand the fascination.

In the north east you are freezing for half the season in those style boats.

That’s what they make thermals and Grundens for…lol

Give me a Walk Around, 20-22' with a 175-200 hp outboard. No more bowriders and no more I/Os.

I like my walkaround inshore but it will beat you to death when push comes to shove.

Run my buddies Contender CC anytime we head offshore

 

[Chris1956]

A lot of opinions. I will add mine. Bowriders/DCs are great. They have more room for seating and moving around. The little kids love sitting in the bow and the driver can easily keep an eye on them.

On rough days, the bow is no place for riders. It doesn't matter if the boat is a cuddy, DC, bowrider or CC. Also, the same hull often comes in CC, cuddy and DC, so ride quality is not usually about bow style.

A 21 foot DC with a self bailing deck should work real well on your lakes. You would need a 150HP outboard or their abouts for power.

Oh yeah, contrary to popular belief, CCs are windy, wet and have little seating. On days with some chop, expect to get wet.

For hard-core fisherman who wear oilskins in the summer and don't care about such things, they have lots of room to fish. Take wifey and kids out on a choppy day in a CC and see how that goes.