Minimum practical boat length for Lake Michigan - The Hull Truth

fisherrv · 02-24-2008, 03:57 AM

I have a twenty foot boat that I have been hauling from Florida to Michigan and back for some time. I am thinking about leaving it in Florida and buying a boat to leave in Michigan. It will be used primarily for Perch fishing in Lake Michigan and some fishing in inland lakes. I would like your opinion on Manufactures, length, and engine size that would be most practical.

greylion · 02-24-2008, 08:06 AM

I used a 16' Sylvan Adventurer with a 50 HP Mercury 4 stroke tiller for years on Lake Michigan for salmon fishing and for perch with no problems. Good versatile type boat that I used everywhere else for inland lake fishing. It's nice to have a deep V hull for the big lake regardless of manufacturer, some others would be Lund, Crestliner, Starcraft etc.

Size of engine depends on how much you want to spend and boat length, but I wouldn't go smaller than 16' or less than 50 HP. Make sure it's a deep V.

mercedes · 02-24-2008, 08:39 AM

I also haul a 23' boat back and forth from Michigan to Florida. Sometimes I leave it in storage down there for a couple months. Like you I would like to leave it down there permanetly if I could find a reasonable in door storage facility. I don't want to leave it out in the weather even with a cover. Have you found any good storage places? I usually go to south Florida. In fact I'm leaving for the Keys Thursday night.

GhostShip · 02-24-2008, 10:02 AM

We fished Michigan for years in an16' Lund w/ a 50hp Merc 2 stroke. It was an older model, not nearly as beamy as the new ones and it was one hell of a sea worthy little craft.

Arima makes their line of near-shore capable fishing boats, designed for the PNW,starting @ 15' and although not sold in the Midwest you could pick one up in Florida.

Cousin Eddie · 02-28-2008, 01:01 PM

You've got to give the guy credit! Anyone who'd haul a boat from Florida to Michigan in the pursuit of Perch is one hell of a determined fisherman!

I like GhostShip's idea of getting a near-shore boat in FL and bringing that up. There's a whole lot more for choices in FL if you're looking for a smaller boat with big water capabilities.

If you're loooking at mainly fishing Lake Michigan, I'd go fiberglass with a high deadrise.