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How much wake/swell is too much
http://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=66419		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Nate201 [ Sat Apr 25, 2020 8:39 pm ]
Post subject:  How much wake/swell is too much
I am looking to buy a getaway and have lots of lakes around me (tulsa, ok). I have a lake house I go to more often in the main section on grand lake, but when the wind is up it creates fairly large waves where only larger boats seem to be out. The larger boats also aid in the larger waves. The main question is how much is too much. I guess height is what I am asking.
Author:  Nate201 [ Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How much wake/swell is too much
Disregard, found what I was looking for.

https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=7763
Author:  dorienc [ Mon Apr 27, 2020 11:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How much wake/swell is too much
It completely depends on your level of comfort. I used to sail a Hobie 17 in high winds and big chop and loved it. I was younger then.
My first year with the Getaway was on Lake Michigan. Sometimes there were big, steep waves, close together. Pound, pound, pound. That, I didn't love. The boat took it fine. Me, not so much.
Something to consider is that if the waves are big, it can be much more difficult to right the boat on a capsize. That made me uncomfortable on Lake Michigan in rough weather, since I was almost always alone. I now mostly sail on a 10,000 acre lake that has a rapid response rescue boat. I'll go out in anything, because Harvey will be there if I get in trouble! :lol:
Author:  Nate201 [ Mon Apr 27, 2020 7:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How much wake/swell is too much
Thanks for the reply. I used to live in northern PA and would occasionally get out on lake Erie with a cousin who had a bass boat. There were times I personally had no interest taking a bass boat out haha. Where I would like to sail is about 1/2 mile outside of the cove where the water stays fairly flat. Depth varies 6ft-30ft and the water does get worked up as much. Right outside the cove though it is around 75ft-100ft and is the main run for the larger boats trying to get to the good hang out spots. Early in the day I don't see an issue, but later in the day coming back it could be. I got out this past weekend on a motor boat to jog my memory some. I will likely start with the smaller lakes and build a comfort level. It sounds like the getaway will not have an issue and I know the lakes near me are nowhere near as bad as the great lakes.
Author:  tpdavis473 [ Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How much wake/swell is too much
Where I sail the getaway did very well in the 4 foot waves that are typical chop with high wind and a long fetch. Only time I "slammed" in troughs was when I had to go through a wake from one of those wake generating power boats since they design those hulls to make steep and deep waves for the enjoyment of the towed person on his wakeboard.
Author:  dorienc [ Thu Apr 30, 2020 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How much wake/swell is too much
So much depends on the lake and prevailing wind, and motor boat activity.
Lake Michigan is relatively shallow and narrow, and sometimes you get steep waves, close together (high frequency) that are very unpleasant. Other times, the lake is calm and fun, or even wavy and fun.
Where I sail on Lake Mendota, 10,000 acres by Madison, WI, it's usually pretty low chop, but occasionally wind action combined with lots of motor boat activity makes it unpleasant. Lake Geneva, WI is narrow with LOTS of motor boats. I avoid it on the weekends because of the random chop and the drunken motor boaters.
The boat will handle it. It's what you find tolerable is key.
Author:  Nate201 [ Fri May 01, 2020 7:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How much wake/swell is too much
Thanks for all the replies. Definitely makes me more comfortable with the purchase. I plan to start out on a smaller lake where boat traffic is minimal to play around and get comfortable with how everything works.
Author:  dksailor [ Tue May 05, 2020 9:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How much wake/swell is too much
I agree that the getaway can handle waves pretty well. It's definitely smoother dealing with large wake from other boats when you have decent wind. In light wind, you can rock back a forth a lot depending on the angle of the wake.

If you are sailing in high wind with large waves, you need to be cautious sailing down wind. As you surf down the front of one wave, the bows can dig into the back of the next wave and you can pitch pole. This method of flipping a catamaran can be very treacherous as the boat goes from max speed to zero instantly and everything (and everyone) will fly off the front of the boat.

Here's a fun picture I found (not me):

Image
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