Did I make a mistake (hurricanes on the Great Lakes)?

[pbolden]

Hello Everyone,

As I mentioned earlier, I am very new to boating. While I did months of research its difficult to think of every possible question but I might have missed a big one.

While I read the basics of hull design I lacked the experience to fully appreciate it. I have come to understand that the tri-hull may not be the safest (or even down right dangerous) design for the Great Lakes, namely Lake Erie.

We've had the boat out 8-10 times this season and in one foot or so waves the boat handles like a dream, three foot waves you get beat up pretty badly.

Those of you familiar with the Great Lakes (technically considered seas) are aware of the varing and sometimes trecherous conditions.

I bought a 2004 sd217ob. An while I love this boat, my families safety is of the utmost importance.

Did I buy the wrong boat for where I'm at and should I consider selling it and buying something with a deep v hull for next season?

Thanks Again,
Paul Bolden

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Did I make a mistake (hurricanes on the Great Lakes)?

Hey Paul...

Hurricane's (excluding the traditional V-hull designs) are best in calmer water. I'd never take more than a few miles from shore... Stick to bays and sheltered inlets and you'll be fine. The hull is more a modified v than tri-hull, and are very stable, but tend to have a rough ride in big chop. My Smart Tabs also help my 202 handle in rough water, but my guests still get wet from spray... If I wanted to go offshore, more than 4-5 miles, I'd want a 20-30' deep V center con, with dual outboards, and a high dead rise...

This boat may be a perfect boat for you to get experience with, staying close to shore.. Then in a few years, buy a bigger deep v and venture further out... I also suggest taking a boaters safety class...

Post some pics of the beast!

 

[Ernest T]

Re: Did I make a mistake (hurricanes on the Great Lakes)?

Hey Paul,

I've got the same boat (Hurricane just changed the model number for 2010 from 217 to 2100). Its very stable and a great fishing platform, but you do get beat up when things get rough. I have a friend that owns one, and he takes his up to 20 miles off shore, but only when the weather is perfect. No way that I would try that at this stage, but I'm a new boater. I'd say the 217 is really designed for smaller lakes.

When I was boat shopping, I took a long look at a Hurricane 2200, which has more of a traditional deep V type of hull. I didn't like the bow rise and it would be a more difficult platform to fish off of, but it was much more stable in rough water.

There was a good post on an iboats forum that dealt with the best boats for the great lakes. You may be able to find it with a search.

Good news is that the 217 is pretty easy to sell (especially in my area), where they are scarce if you decide to get a different boat. I looked for a used one for over a year before I finally gave up and bought a new one.

Good Luck!

 

[pbolden]

Re: Did I make a mistake (hurricanes on the Great Lakes)?

Thanks Guys!

Paul Bolden

 

[summerboater]

Re: Did I make a mistake (hurricanes on the Great Lakes)?

Hello Everyone,

As I mentioned earlier, I am very new to boating. While I did months of research its difficult to think of every possible question but I might have missed a big one.

While I read the basics of hull design I lacked the experience to fully appreciate it. I have come to understand that the tri-hull may not be the safest (or even down right dangerous) design for the Great Lakes, namely Lake Erie.

We've had the boat out 8-10 times this season and in one foot or so waves the boat handles like a dream, three foot waves you get beat up pretty badly.

Those of you familiar with the Great Lakes (technically considered seas) are aware of the varing and sometimes trecherous conditions.

I bought a 2004 sd217ob. An while I love this boat, my families safety is of the utmost importance.

Did I buy the wrong boat for where I'm at and should I consider selling it and buying something with a deep v hull for next season?

Thanks Again,
Paul Bolden

Hello... i know your post is rather old, but I'm investigating the Hurricane Sundeck SC187. In Toronto here at the boat show and I had never seen the Hurricane boats before. I like the versatility.

However... we are on Lake Erie as well... at the east end on the Canadian shore. We would anchor the boat in front of our cottage... yes... in the water for the whole season.

my concern, as was yours, is the ability of this boat to deal with the big chop in our fine lake.

Obviously you decided to keep the boat. Would you recommend for the Lake Erie?... I do tend to prefer a calm day for boating anyway, but the lake can come up pretty quickly.

 

[pbolden]

Re: Did I make a mistake (hurricanes on the Great Lakes)?

I did keep the boat and have enjoyed it now for a couple of seasons. That said, it is not the greatest boat for the Great Lakes because of the shallow deadrise (12.5 degrees) and the relatively light weight of the vessel. In chop of 2' or less she performs like a champ but anything above 3' (1 meter) and you're going to get beat up. The question is, how many days on the Great Lakes do we have waves less than 2'?

I think I did read that Hurricane increased the deadrise on the newer models but I'm not sure so you might check. A 17 degree or better deadrise will give you a somewhat smoother ride through light chop but the trade off is stability. My wife and I prefer the stability provided by the category 5 hull design and the shallow deadrise. We boat for pleasure and seldom take her out in anything above 2'.

I hope this helps...If you have any further questions feel free to ask.

Paul Bolden

 

[Ernest T]

Re: Did I make a mistake (hurricanes on the Great Lakes)?

I think I did read that Hurricane increased the deadrise on the newer models but I'm not sure so you might check. A 17 degree or better deadrise will give you a somewhat smoother ride through light chop but the trade off is stability. My wife and I prefer the stability provided by the category 5 hull design and the shallow deadrise. We boat for pleasure and seldom take her out in anything above 2'.

According to my dealer Hurricane has 2 basic hull designs. The flater hull with 12.5 degrees of deadrise found on the Fundecks, and most of the odd numbered Sundecks like the SD 217 and 237, and a deeper hull with 16 degrees of deadrise on many of the even numbered boats like the SD 2000 and 2400 and the SD Sport 220. We looked at both, and in the end went with the shallow deadrise version like pbolden. The shallower deadrise boats are great for smaller to medium sized lakes, but if you are shopping for a rough water deckboat the even numbered sundecks with more deadrise will give a better ride.

After doing a little more research, it appears that all the Hurricane models with a zero "0" as the last digit in the model number (example: 2000, 2400, 200, 220) have the 16 degree deadrise, and all the other models have 12.5 degrees. If I'm wrong on this let me know.