WX1850 in some rough water.

I knew I’d like the Skeeter on big water but I didn’t realize this weekend was the weekend to test it out.

It was NASTY out there on Lake Michigan. We were approx 11 miles off shore in 5′-7′ seas. After 3 separate occasions of waves breaking over the gunwales and having all our gear floating in the boat we figured it was time to head in.

I was able to manage 15 MPH on the way in. Any slower and it was hard for the Skeeter to “climb” (yes I said climb) a couple or the large rouge waves (possibly 8′). Any faster and the Skeeter would launch off of the waves, which we did a couple times. The flying part was fun, the landing part was a tad rough.

We did get wet from spray, but I’m thinking that’s acceptable when we were running in a 20-25 MPH crosswind. I wanted in the harbor and wasn’t about to play that zig-zag game.

Overall though, I was impressed with how the boat handled the big and nasty. Oh and the dry storage is truly dry storage. I had throwable PFDs floating up in the bow and both dry storage compartments were 100% dry.

That’s crazy.

Glad you made it in safely.

I’ve been on that lake in a 16′ Starcraft. Haven’t been
back……………..

I think I got sea-sick just from reading that you were in 5-7 footers! OMG I’m glad your and all are ok…

So, where in the world on Lake Michigan were you and how the heck was fishing? What was working?

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I think I got sea-sick just from reading that you were in 5-7 footers! OMG I’m glad your and all are ok…

So, where in the world on Lake Michigan were you and how the heck was fishing? What was working?

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We were out of Algoma. I’ve been taking charters out of that harbor for year. The charter boats never left the dock both days we were there. There were two charters that we saw go out. They both came back with a couple fish. One group of guys did ok (10 fish) on Friday before 3PM. After that, the bite died. The fish were out in 400′-600′ of water. It was to rough for our boats to go out that far.

We were out as far as 330′ (about 11-12 miles off shore).

I currently have plans to head to Port Washington this coming weekend. Plan on fishing the very early sunrise Saturday morning, then hopefully getting out for the evening and sunset…..
Praying for a lot of better weather than you had…..hopefully a decent bite too…

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I currently have plans to head to Port Washington this coming weekend. Plan on fishing the very early sunrise Saturday morning, then hopefully getting out for the evening and sunset…..
Praying for a lot of better weather than you had…..hopefully a decent bite too…

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The lake may be settled down by next weekend. Unless there is a good west wind for the next few days, I’d plan on running way out there to find the fish. Surface temps were around 70* all the way out to 330′.

Glad you’re safe , sounds like you were able to master your trim and speed properly, I’ve been in some 6′-8′ water in Door County and there is always concern and respect for the water.seems mother nature always gets her way!!!

Holy Hormones Batman. That is scary.

Glad to know you got out of it OK

At least I tried to come in safely. Those Pros are nuts.

Wade: Make sure you check all your nuts, bolts, and screws this Fall before you put things away for the winter. You’d be surprised at what comes loose when riding waves like that (been there and done it in my 1880 too).
Get up under your dash and check the windshield nuts as well. Even the neoprene lock nuts for the windshield will come loose with all that flexing!
When I drove in water like that at a LOW MTT tourney a few years back, I saw a 620 loose its windsheild while we were both trying to get back to the river and off the lake. No boat can take that kind of beating very often without some kind of problem coming up.

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Wade: Make sure you check all your nuts, bolts, and screws this Fall before you put things away for the winter. You’d be surprised at what comes loose when riding waves like that (been there and done it in my 1880 too).
Get up under your dash and check the windshield nuts as well. Even the neoprene lock nuts for the windshield will come loose with all that flexing!
When I drove in water like that at a LOW MTT tourney a few years back, I saw a 620 loose its windsheild while we were both trying to get back to the river and off the lake. No boat can take that kind of beating very often without some kind of problem coming up.

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Thanks for the heads up. I already found the loose windshield.