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HK

Eisboch wrote:
"JimH" ask wrote in message
...
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:53:09 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Most boats will
stand up to normal and *appropriate* use fairly well.
Virtually all 21 foot boats however, especially Bayliners, are
designed for use in protected water, typically with waves and chop
less than 1 foot high, winds less than 12 kts.

What a bunch of total BS.

I have owned 3 boats at 21 feet and under that stood up well when needed
to operate in moderate seas on Lake Erie, including 3-5 footers (although
not recommended). My 20 foot Glastron can take on 2-4 foot seas.

I think there's a lot more to consider than just the "size" of waves. Sea
state varies dependent on many factors including period, chop, swells,
fetch, confused ..... etc.
3-5 "footers" in an easy, rolling swell is one thing. 3-5 in a confused,
breaking, close chop is quite another and can challenge boat stability and
the operator's piloting skills when operating much larger boats.

It's also been my experience over the years that the "size" of waves ...
particularly when the seas are a bit rough .... are usually exaggerated by
casual boaters. Those "3-5" footers are often more like 2-3 footers at
most. Navigating confused "3-5's" in a light, 21 foot boat is an
experience one will soon not forget.

Eisboch

Two seasons ago, coming out of the Patuxent River in Yo Ho, a 25-footer
with a huge bow. built like a battleship, and heavy as one, I ran into
five footers on the Bay. Real five footers, close and breaking. After 15
minutes of attempting to slog north for my home port, I made a wise
captain's decision, turned around, and headed back for the Pax River.