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Author Topic: flat bottom vs v hull  (Read 4173 times)

nhbassman

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flat bottom vs v hull
« on: Jun 16, 2019, 09:27 PM »
How would a 12ft flat bottom handle in bigger lakes vs a 12 vhull?

Seahunt

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #1 on: Jun 16, 2019, 10:33 PM »
It would blow around badly in the wind.
V hull's are the way to go on bigger lakes.
Even with the V hull, you have to pick your days and spots with a 12' boat.

taxid

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #2 on: Jun 16, 2019, 10:38 PM »
A cousin of mine nearly got swamped on a lake with a 12 foot boat. Water was coming into the transom. It wasn't the wind it was ski boats.
“The trouble with quotes on the Internet is you never know if they are genuine.” —Abraham Lincoln

Johnnh

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #3 on: Jun 17, 2019, 06:52 AM »
It's all about knowing your limits

A 12ft flat bottom on the big lakes is a disaster in the making. Boat wakes are one issue but your enemy is the wind. The flat bottom 12 ft usually has about 12 inches of freeboard / Grunwald (distance from water to top of boat rail) .

A 12 ft v hull has a a little more height but this adds to navigation issues in rougher water because the boat is light and the winds will turn you around in a heartbeat.

I have a 14 ft lund with a 25hp merc and this boat is extremely sturdy. I still would never use it on the big lakes


800stealth

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #4 on: Jun 17, 2019, 06:18 PM »
Agreed with all above, a 12 footer is a pond hopper not a lake boat...  The v-hull will handle a little more chop but only when under way, once you stop either one will be all done with a couple 18" rollers over the transom. Not trying to discourage but as said above, gotta know the limits.
 

mowbizz

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #5 on: Jun 17, 2019, 07:18 PM »
It's all about knowing your limits

A 12ft flat bottom on the big lakes is a disaster in the making. Boat wakes are one issue but your enemy is the wind. The flat bottom 12 ft usually has about 12 inches of freeboard / Grunwald (distance from water to top of boat rail) .

A 12 ft v hull has a a little more height but this adds to navigation issues in rougher water because the boat is light and the winds will turn you around in a heartbeat.

I have a 14 ft lund with a 25hp merc and this boat is extremely sturdy. I still would never use it on the big lakes

Lol...”grunwald”??

Mac Attack

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #6 on: Jun 17, 2019, 07:24 PM »
Lol...”grunwald”??

Ancient wizard.

taxid

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #7 on: Jun 17, 2019, 07:53 PM »
Autocorrect can be a b***h!
“The trouble with quotes on the Internet is you never know if they are genuine.” —Abraham Lincoln

nhbassman

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #8 on: Jun 17, 2019, 08:53 PM »
It's all about knowing your limits

A 12ft flat bottom on the big lakes is a disaster in the making. Boat wakes are one issue but your enemy is the wind. The flat bottom 12 ft usually has about 12 inches of freeboard / Grunwald (distance from water to top of boat rail) .

A 12 ft v hull has a a little more height but this adds to navigation issues in rougher water because the boat is light and the winds will turn you around in a heartbeat.

I have a 14 ft lund with a 25hp merc and this boat is extremely sturdy. I still would never use it on the big lakes

Thnaks for the info, what size lakes do you stick to? I'm mostly in lakes roughly 300-800 acres..

nhbassman

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #9 on: Jun 17, 2019, 09:18 PM »
Agreed with all above, a 12 footer is a pond hopper not a lake boat...  The v-hull will handle a little more chop but only when under way, once you stop either one will be all done with a couple 18" rollers over the transom. Not trying to discourage but as said above, gotta know the limits.

What size lakes would you recommend for a 12-14 ft boat?

Seahunt

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #10 on: Jun 17, 2019, 10:31 PM »
What size lakes would you recommend for a 12-14 ft boat?
Quote
a 12 footer is a pond hopper

Johnnh

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #11 on: Jun 18, 2019, 04:50 AM »
It's Gunwale
Yes spell checker is painful

Yes mowbiz, I may be approaching ancient but a bit short on wizard

mowbizz

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #12 on: Jun 18, 2019, 06:07 AM »
It's Gunwale
Yes spell checker is painful

Yes mowbiz, I may be approaching ancient but a bit short on wizard

 ;D

Jethro

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #13 on: Jun 18, 2019, 08:26 AM »
What size lakes would you recommend for a 12-14 ft boat?

This is not a one size fits all answer. For instance, these are both 14' V-hulls that I own:

This one is a 14' Grumman with no floor and probably weighs 120lbs hull only. It's a V-hull that I would consider a jon boat. It came with a 15 horse that on plane was so stupid fast and unsafe that don't even put it on there anymore. It's now only used with an electric trolling motor.


Here is my 14' Starcraft Superfisherman. Its 14' but has a factory flat floor and the hull weighs probably 600lbs bare. It's got a 25 horse and it's very stable even at full throttle. I've been on some of the biggest lakes in the Northeast in this thing but obviously have to pick and choose my days.


Then there are some lakes much nastier than others regardless of size. For example, I find Winnipesaukee fairly mild as long as there isn't a lot of recreational boat traffic. It's layout and the amount of islands seem to help. Umbagog on the other hand, even though a fraction of the size, scares the poop out of me. I have seen legitimate 8 footers out there. Not to say that Winni can't do the same thing, but it doesn't seem as bad.

So the equation is harder to nail down than you think. Some boats are different and some lakes are different.





Mac Attack

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Re: flat bottom vs v hull
« Reply #14 on: Jun 18, 2019, 10:09 AM »
Great post Geoff.

Yup!

Know your boat’s limits.....and your own limits.
Then stay within them.


 



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