Safe Bass Boat

[Sam]

I am having a debate with a fishing buddy about safe bass boats.

 

I say it is both the length and width of the boat that will make it safe in heavy seas and bad weather in addition to better handling and faster speeds.

 

He says it is the length of the boat and the longer the boat the safer and of course you can go faster as longer bass boats will allow higher horse power motors.

 

So what do you guys say? Am I on the right path or is his position correct?

[BrianinMD]

I agree with you Sam, while the length is important the width of a boat is what makes it safer. A bigger motor does nothing for safety, as long as the boat is powered enough to get on plane to get away from trouble that is all it can do. The wider the platform the more inherit stability it has which is truly safer especially in bigger seas.

[Mr_Scrogg]

Id say hull shape plays a tremendous role as well.

[J Francho]

It's the driver. No hull design can fix recklessness. I'm safer in my 22' Bullet than some guys I've seen in big Rangers and Skeeters.

[slonezp]

A long narrower hull with a pad will ride on top of and cut thru waves better. There are different definitions/types of waves. A 2ft chop on a small lake is much easier to navigate WOT than 2ft rollers on the Great Lakes. Difference being the width between waves. Experience behind the helm is more important than which boat goes faster.

[Under the Radar]

It's the driver. No hull design can fix recklessness. I'm safer in my 22' Bullet than some guys I've seen in big Rangers and Skeeters.

X2

Over 20 yrs moving boats from Boston to Argentina, Great Lakes, Mississippi River, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas & Virgin Islands power & sail, 26' - 126'. The vessel operator is the biggest safety factor.

[Catt]

It's the driver. No hull design can fix recklessness. I'm safer in my 22' Bullet than some guys I've seen in big Rangers and Skeeters.

I think it's first driver and then a combination of all three in the proper proportion; length, width, & horse power.

I have a friend who has a Champion Mean 16, it's only 16' in lenght but it's has a 90" beam & coupled with a 115 HP Merc you feel completely safe in any water.

[Mr_Scrogg]

I dont think OP was referring to operator variables. An idiot behind the wheel is still an idiot behind the wheel.

No matter if its a pontoon or speed boat.

[Sam]

Thanks guys. Sincerely appreciate the input.

[J Francho]

I think it's first driver and then a combination of all three in the proper proportion; length, width, & horse power.

I have a friend who has a Champion Mean 16, it's only 16' in lenght but it's has a 90" beam & coupled with a 115 HP Merc you feel completely safe in any water.

 

Oh, I agree totally, Catt.  I have an 18' Xpress with a Merc 115 that looks like a rowboat compared to my Bullet, but despite it's limitations, I am actually more confident in this boat on really rough days than the Bullet.  The bow lift on the Xpress is just a lot more responsive to throttle inputs, and it turns faster.  I can scoot over those 2-3' rollers like it's nothing, using the throttle.  When it turns to heavy chop, I'm not nearly as concerned about spearing a wave as I am in the Bullet.  It's not as smooth a ride as the bigger boat, but that is a trade off too.

[senile1]

We probably can all agree that the operator of the boat is the most important safety factor, but I think Sam's question is asking about the relative importance to stability of the length of a boat as opposed to the width.  If I am misinterpreting his question, I'm sure someone will let me know. 

 

Below is an interesting thread on this subject from boatdesign.net.  Read the post by Ad Hoc - Naval Architect. 

 

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/stability-length-vs-width-40556.html

[J Francho]

Stability on plane or at rest?  Or "bow plowing" in rough water?  Too many variables......every boat will have advantages and draw backs.

[Catt]

The kind of waves play a major roll

Rolling waves easy, chop no so much

[J Francho]

There is one type of roller that's deceptive.  After a big storm on Ontario, you'll get these 40' long maybe 3' tall rollers.  You can barely tell they're there, but man they can make a bass boat squirrely on plane. Deep V hulls are more suited to dealing with that type of water.  I call it "lumpy seas."  I never noticed it back when I ran a deep V walleye boat, but I notice now with pad hull bass boats.

[PotomacBassin]

Would you rather be on a 20 ft canoe 24 inches wide, or a 20 ft. boat 90 inches wide? 

[Dwight Hottle]

The typical trailerable boat maxs out at 100 " beam because of trailer restrictions over the road. Once you reach max width near the 96-100" range it is all about length. But the typical bass boat or modified deep V boat starts at 16' up to 22'! That is about the max. So to answer Sam's question length is more important once you reach max width. It is a combination of both width and length up to max beam and then it is all about length beyond that. Obviously the most safe boat is the modified deep V with the greater dead rise for water with big waves. Ocean going boats have a minimum of 19 - 22 degrees dead rise based on a deep V design. The typical bass boat is based upon a pad system for maximum speed with little consideration for dead rise or free board depth. The typical freshwater boat has a dead rise of 15 degrees or less. The typical bass boat is less than that. My Great Lakes bass boat has a 100" beam and is 20' 2" in length. It has a 19 degree dead rise and can hit 60 mph with a merc pro XS 250. This is a great bass boat for the Great Lakes but not a good choice for shallow lakes in the south because of the high freeboard and less than shallow draft. So it all boils down to match your boat with the predominate waters that you will fish.

[J Francho]

Great info, Dwight!

[Dwight Hottle]

Great info, Dwight!

 

Thanks J. When I upgraded from my previous 18' lund I spent a lot of time looking for the right boat for me & mother erie.