lets size this up, the average height from floor to ceiling in a house is 8-9ft if that 46 was in 8-10ft waves would be crashing over the bow.

You guys all have the words from THE GUY DRIVING THE BOAT. I think he has some experience with trim, as well...these pics are from the Chicago Poker Run in 2006. Scott and Wyatt in a 38 Fountain in typical tossed Lake Michigan 4-6 footers. Trust me...if the waves were 8', there would not have been many boats out that day, as there's really not much fun in driving when the boat is acting like the 46 in the video. I have tried it in 5-7s(oh yeah I remember that marine forecast!) in my 35 Fountain....couldn't go over 25 mph (wife had called me a wimp and really wanted to get to the city for the Chicago Scene Boat Party...when we got there, she said maybe it wasn't the best idea...)

My vid coming back from Key West in 2012 in the AT got criticized all the hell on here saying the waves weren't 6 footers...but we could only run about 30 mph, and I couldn't see out of the troughs...the waves were well over Pat's head, and he's 6' tall. I'm just happy he was driving...

More fun from that day...

What a lot of people fail to realize is the wave spacing makes a big difference. For example read some of this link, and look at the chart regarding small craft advisory. For example, say you are in the pacific or Atlantic in open ocean swells at 9 feet with an 11 second wave period. That is not even considered a small craft advisory. Now say you are in the Long Island sound and they are stacked up but only at 6 feet with a 7 second spacing, now it is a small craft advisory. So, depending on spacing 9 foot waves may not constitute an advisory but 6 foot waves might. The chart is down the page a ways, but it is some interesting reading for those who want to claim the size of the seas they run: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/marine/faq.htm

Actually if anybody by Lake Michigan today it is a small craft warning inshore and a gail warning offshore. Somebody should snap some pics..........

I agree with others that say it's very difficult to judge water conditions in videos. So many times I've been in a boat that was really moving and through some decent size water. After reviewing the videos, the sense of speed is seldom there and the water always looks way calmer than it actually was.

I doubt those waves in this video were true 15's, but I have been in a 46 Cig before and I know it takes some decent size water to toss the bow around like that, 2'-4' waves wont do it. The only way to run hard through conditions like that is with a Sweet Sixteen! ;)

Scott, congrats on the sale! I hope to see the new owner posting here, Strip is a cool boat...

I was in 15 ft waves on a 65' viking sport fish and that was a rough day! I would not even think of attempting it in a go fast!

Those pics are awesome!

Doesn't matter how good the boat rides or how big it is, when its rough you are mother natures b!tch

Let me clarify. Waves, whether fresh or salt, can be closely spaced or widely spaced depending on the period of the waves. The NOAA calls TIDES very long period waves. We have both long and short period days down here like I am sure you have up there. In my post #25 above the waves in the Gulf had a short period that day and it was very rough and uncomfortable and a little scary at my level of experience. But iPhone or no phone, GoPro or digital camera, I don't buy 8, 12, or 15' waves. Just replay the original video and freeze it on the wake shots at the rear of the boat and look at the waves. 4' max.

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't the height of a wave measured on the back side. So if you are out in 8-10's you would be facing a 16-20' wall of water. I live on Lake Ontario and when NOAA calls for 3-4' we think long and hard if it is worth going out to beat the crap out of our selves and boat.