Dead rise question

[timharper89]

I currently have a 1987 sundowner 195 4.3 merc with a self measured dead rise around 20 degrees. LOA is 18'8". Beam is 7'7".

Looking to upgrade to slightly bigger and slightly newer and faster. Looking at a 1994 sea ray overnighter 200 signature series with a 5.0 merc. Dead rise is only 15 degrees. LOA is 20'2", beam is the same at 7'7". My question : is this change in dead rise going to make a big difference in tide quality on the Great lakes. I typically go out in less than 2 foot waves, anything more, and I have to throttle back quite a bit in our sundowner, making it hard to keep on plane. I do use the boat to scuba dive a few times a year, and the last time we were out in 3-5 foot waves with 5-6 seconds between waves. It was rough for sure, but manageable. I don't really want to lose versatility for something like that. Any opinions? Thanks in advance

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Less dead rise, a rougher ride,.....

 

[timharper89]

Ayuh,..... Less dead rise, a rougher ride,.....

How does the extra 2 feet of length come into the equation? Any way to tell how much rougher the ride will be?

 

[dingbat]

How does the extra 2 feet of length come into the equation? Any way to tell how much rougher the ride will be?

The two biggest factors to a smooth ride in the rough is hull design (deadrise upfront where it counts) and dead weight, in the right places.

 

[mr 88]

Hardly worth it to move up a foot .The extra weight of the hull in this case might be equal to carrying 1 extra scuba tank.

 

[flashback]

I have a 220 signature and it is a tank. weighs 4000 lbs dry. I'm just getting used to it. (just got it running a month ago).. I don't get large waves on the lake I'm on unless it's wake from other boats but it handles the chop pretty well. It has a decent running 5.7 in it and in my opinion needs every bit of it.
That said, on a good day it rides like a Cadillac.
Go for a ride in the 200 and see how it feels to you..

 

[timharper89]

Hardly worth it to move up a foot .The extra weight of the hull in this case might be equal to carrying 1 extra scuba tank.

More than the size, the power is what we're after. My 4.3 REALLY struggles to plane when loaded up. Prop is correct for rpms at WOT. My current boat also developed a knocking sound I'm currently investigating and unsure if it needs a rebuild. Our sundowner had been great, but it was only ever meant to be an entry boat to see if we were boat people, and we are. Bought it for $2100 (not in great shape and needed some tlc) in 2018 and have used it 4 summers. I thin we would really like a 23 footer, but price goes up quite a bit to that size

 

[timharper89]

I have a 220 signature and it is a tank. weighs 4000 lbs dry. I'm just getting used to it. (just got it running a month ago).. I don't get large waves on the lake I'm on unless it's wake from other boats but it handles the chop pretty well. It has a decent running 5.7 in it and in my opinion needs every bit of it.
That said, on a good day it rides like a Cadillac.
Go for a ride in the 200 and see how it feels to you..

Going for a test run in choppy conditions will help some, but I also want to know how it does in smooth conditions and how well it pulls a skier out of the water. Maybe I could try to drive it in the big lake and am inlet lake on the same drive

 

[Horigan]

The 5.0 will be better for pulling a skier, plus the lower deadrise will create a smaller wake. As noted above, compare the weights of the boats. That will likely be the most notable factor for smoothness in rough water.