View Full Version : Lake Erie Boat
Hey guys - I am planning to start fishing lake Erie next year since I've recently moved within driving distance. I'll need to get a boat that will handle lake erie but not be so big I can't fish on some of the regional lakes. The boat will also need to be trailered and pulled without a big headache. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks for your help
bridgeman
12-13-2008, 01:09 PM
Biggers better on Erie, there will be days when you see 18' boats out 10 mi. but those days are few and far between at least for me. The lake can get nasty pretty quick if the wind blows with any velocity from anywhere but the SSE, even then if your 10 or 12 miles out its going to be a wet ride for a while. Better off with a deep vee 21-25' but then you need a truck to tow the rig up from Pittsburgh, about 3.5 hrs to Ashtabula for me and I'm a little south.
weedsnager
12-13-2008, 03:14 PM
i have a 17.5 ft deep V that i fish out of on lake michigan...it works fine for me....get the biggest you can afford.
Gilligan
12-13-2008, 04:03 PM
Hey guys - I am planning to start fishing lake Erie next year since I've recently moved within driving distance. I'll need to get a boat that will handle lake erie but not be so big I can't fish on some of the regional lakes. The boat will also need to be trailered and pulled without a big headache. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks for your help
BRB
I charter out of Barcelona NY on Erie just across the Pa border in NY. The last 2 years I have fished out of a 2150 Crestliner Sport Fish. (nearly 22', 102" beam and over 30" deep.) Most boats are setting on shore when I am still out. Weighs 2700# with a 250 Verado, I load and unload it myself over 100 times a year. It still fishes small water fine. I fish the shallows of Chautauqua and Kinzua with no trouble. The boat sits on a tandem Eagle trailer and trailer fine on my F-150. If you would like to have a ride give me a shout and we can do that in the spring.
Hombre Robusto
12-13-2008, 08:34 PM
I have an 18'er. Been fishing Lake Erie exclusively for the past three seasons from it. Last year I got out 64 times. This year I made it out 76 times in it.
Keep your eye on the weather, and adjust accordingly. Know your limitations. Most of the time it's not the size of the boat, but the size of the brain in the guy's head behind the wheel.
I fish lake erie alot, I have a 19ft starcraft super fisherman with a 115 mercury. I have found this to be plenty of boat for me. If it is that rough such as over 4 or 5 footers I don't want to be out anyway. There comes a point where being bounced around in high waves and strong winds just isn't fun, thats when I stay home or head back in.
Watch the weather, be alert to changing conditions and most important stay safe.
Boatnut
12-15-2008, 07:54 AM
It's not neccesarily the size of the boat that can "handle" Lake Erie, but often it is the operator. If you do not understand good "seamanship" and how to deal with varying wave/wind/weather conditions then it will not matter how big your boat is. I'd highly recommend either a good safe boating course that will address some of these issues or pick up a copy of Chapman's Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling and study it.
FreeByrd
12-16-2008, 10:45 AM
As some of the other posts have indicated, most boats CAN handle Lake Erie with an experienced driver and common sense / paying attention to weather, etc.
Some things you should consider in you evaluation:
Do you want / need to trailer the boat EVERY time you come to Erie? Even if you don't want to keep your boat slipped in the water, there are places you can store it close to the lake on the trailer. Also some places that you can rack store the boat indoors and they will take the boat in and out of the water whenever you want. Where are the other places you would take the boat to fish?
How many people will you have with you MOST of the time? Women / Kids on the boat?
Do you want an all open boat - or do you want / need a cuddy cabin?
Hardtop with full enclosure for some protection from the elements? Bimini top / T-Top?
How do you like / want to fish? Do you primarily troll / drift / both? Do you want to do the real slow worm harness fishing with speeds down below 1MPH or do you want to fish more like a traditional Great Lakes boat with big boards, etc. Some boats work for both kinds of fishing and if both types are important to you that needs to go into the evaluation up front. Bigger boats are available with trolling valves to get down below 1.5 MPH and still maintain steering control with the autopilots and of course trolling bags are available to bring speed down. Smaller boats have the options of kicker motors and / or electric motors (either engine mount / transom mount / bow mount) for slow speed trolling. If you are a troller you will most likely want some kind of autopilot which will be different based on the boat type and power.
Now is a good time to do some Internet research and then hit the winter boat shows or call some dealers now to go see some boats in person. The Mid America Boat & Waterfront Lifestyle Expo Jan 16 - 25 in Cleveland at the IX Center will have a lot of boats all in one place.
Answering some of these questions will allow people to give you better advice.
Good Luck and HAVE FUN Shopping.
Steve
Thanks guys, I appreciate your experience, advice, and recommendations.