Wet ride on Mille Lacs

OK guys. I need a little input here. Especially from the guys that were on Mille Lacs last Saturday (yesterday July, 10th).

Now I know that I own a Wetliner (Crestliner) but I never thought it would be this bad. Running from Garrison up to the NE flats (Phils flat specifically). Running perpendicular to 1/4ing the 15 MPH wind coming out of the SE.

I just didn’t get wet, I got soaked. We are talking so much volume coming over the gunwale, I had to slow down or stop because I couldn’t see through the windshield. I was running around 20 MPH to 30 MPH if I could.

Here’s the question. How wet did all you guys get fishing on Saturday? What brand of boat are you running.

The new Raptor may not make it until fall There may be that Ranger or Skeeter in the garage after

all. She may be replaced. My biggest concern is fishing a cold fall day. Getting soaked with 50 degree water on a 50 degree day would be a day ender.

I have found my Crestliners to keep me nice and dry since 1997 out on Lake Michigan. I took a Coast Guard class on big water, small boat operation and it was the best thing I ever did. Keep your nose up…find a speed that keeps you on plane… but dry. You may need to take a circuitous route(into the wind) to get where you are going, but you will be dry. Having to run perpendicular to rough quartering waves will get most boats pretty wet.

I was out in my 1750 SC in 3-4ft white caps and 4 foot swells the other day but kept dry. Had to stay at 3400 rpms into the waves for a long ways until I could quarter back to the landing. Back end of the boat got pretty wet though.

The only person to stay dry in a crestliner is the driver!

Only advice I can offer up is to trim to bow up high so the waves break at a different angle. Smashing with the bottom and splitting rather than shooting up the sides.

It does take a special hull design to run fast smothly and dry.

Trim up and throttle back is about all you can do. It does suck having 150 ponies and not being able to let em out.

I have a ranger 620 full windshield and stay almost completely dry. I have been very impressed with the speeds I can travel at on rough water with a very smooth ride. I would recommend this boat to anyone if you use it alot it helps justify the cost.

OK ok ok. Apparently I needed to include this. I’m a lifelong boater who has taken the classes and has the experience. I know all to well about how to navigate in wavy conditions. This was the boats 2nd test on rough water and I wanted to put it through the paces.

I also have all the rain gear for myself and my passengers. This topic is all about the boat and how well the boat pushes splash out and away. Or in my Wetliner’s case, straight up and into your face.

Oh and another thing I learned about how Wetliner built their hulls. That thing wants to come onto plane very easily. I struggled to keep the bow up, without tilting to motor to high.

Like I said before, it was throwing buckets of water in my face when I was perpendicular to the wind. I am curious if Ranger or Skeeter drivers got soaked vs. splashed on.

Give me any boat(minus a cabin cruiser or full topper) and 15-20mph sustained winds on the pond & I guarantee I can get ya soaked no matter where you sit

big G

If you make the change, make it glass, wheather its Ranger,skeeter, warrior you’ll be happy. Granted on a cross wind your going to get some splash back.
Wallster ><((((>

I have a skeeter 2050 walk throgh windshield and all,I have been in some rough water on mille lacs with it and managed to stay dry. The key word as you know is manage. Hit the waves right at the proper speed. I have tried to open it up out there just find out what it will take. Too fast I get wet, hit a three to four foot wave at 40-45 MPH and your bound to get wet in any boat.

Whats your Crestliner set up Wade?

Tom, it’s a 2009 Raptor 1850 TE with a 150 Verado on the back. It’s a dual counsel walk-thru.

I have a Tuffy 2060 DC that is a dry ride in waves like that.
You might get a little “blow over” but nothing from the waves crashing over the bow or gunwale. (It’s for sale, BTW).
WKW

I was out there on Saturday myself. Out to 9 mile and back from the public launch by the casino. I have a Lund Mr. Pike 18 with nut cups for windshields. I drove out there between 23-25mph (1/4 with the wind) and returned to the launch between 10-12 mph (1/4 against the wind) with my bow pointed just high enough to take the 3 foot wave and peel the water back and not get to wet. Both trips were wet rides… Going out, we got soaked… To the point of runinng the bilge every 5 minutes or so. Coming back, we got wet… But only bad enough to run the bilge every 10 minutes. I think even the Rangers got wet on Saturday… Higher freeboard fiberglass boats with the deep front end, like the Skeeter, looked like the ticket to me on Saturday. Not that I want one, I like my ride jist fine and she impressed me with how it handled the big water. Never felt unsafe, just a little wet.

Quote:

---

I have a Tuffy 2060 DC that is a dry ride in waves like that.
You might get a little “blow over” but nothing from the waves crashing over the bow or gunwale. (It’s for sale, BTW).
WKW

---

Spent a week on Green Bay and never put on a rain suit, couple of small sprays on my 1890 Tuffy

I have a 1800 Lund Fisherman with a full windshield. I got a little wet but for the most part was pretty dry ride. Those waves sucked out there!

For all who comment on this post – please understand that Mille Lacs is one of the toughest lakes to navigate a smooth, dry ride with any breeze. The waves are choppy and very short together. It’s harder to run Mille Lacs smooth/dryly in 2′-3′ than 4′-6′ on Erie, Green Bay, Saginaw Bay, Bays de Noc, etc. If you have never piloted your boat on Mille Lacs it’s definitely it’s own animal.

With that said, I have run a 1650 lund tiller, 1890 warrior tiller, 619-620-621 console rangers and currently have a 620T Ranger and have gotten wet in them all on Mille Lacs and have fished from Montana to New York and all the way south to Arkansas for walleyes and still think Mille Lacs is one of the toughest lakes to navigate in any sizeable wind…

I can offer you this advice, play with your trim such that you are not driving your bow down and through the next wave and try to ‘break’ the waves with the middle of your boat vs. the bow and that help keep the spray down. Also learn how to run the swells and roll over the tops of the waves and tack back and forth on the way to your destination vs. driving in a straight line. Make sense?

-ted

What an idea for an IDO video…

Honestly I don’t think I’m the best at rough water driving, then again I’m a bit of a fair weather fisherman I know we had a tough time on Mille Lacs when the 620’s seemed to have it much easier then us. We got around but that’s the limit for me and my boat wave were hitting around 5′ peak to dip (which IIRC makes the 2.5′ footers) I guess I’d really have to run with someone that know what they’re doing in my boat to really pass judgement.