Coast guard cutters not even them some winters

Again though, how many go fast pleasure boats boat in Lake superior if at all (not talking fishing boats), 100 people? And do you do it during a november gale with 20+ foot waves? I been on all the great lakes, and most oceans, the oceans have MUCH bigger waves and more often than the great lakes, cruised in 20-25 foot waves for weeks on end, when the great lakes kick up to 20 footers people take pictures, when the ocean kicks up to 20 footers nobody gives two ****s because its common, wouldn't go boating in either one in those conditions

I know this is an old thread, but I'll comment anyway so future readers can see my. .. opinion. I fell the differences between lake Michigan and the gulf is that when wind/ weather conditions are similar, LM waves are shorter distance / timing than the gulfs potentially taller, rolling waves with a much longer time. 8 - 12 seconds. AND LM waves come from any direction. The gulf waves are much more easy to read, run slower if need be and just enjoy it. 4' to 6' ers + on LM is not going to be relaxing. LM is a confused body of water.

I've boated along the Eastern seaboard and the Gulf. I primarily boat in the Western Basin of Lake Erie around the Islands (chart 14844). There is no comparison between a 10 footer on Lake Erie and a 10 footer on the Ocean. It is all about the frequency and direction. Sure, the lakes don't get 90 foot swells, but an ocean wave typically is a giant roller, a Great Lakes wave is a wall, and you need a jock strap on a rough day. I not-so-fondly call the area around the Islands "the toilet bowl".

Great Lakes = Angry Waters

Could probably be summed up like this;
Rougher - sure!
Bigger - no way!

I've been fishing in 8-9 footers in the ocean, fly fishing off the back of the boat. No way in heck I would even attempt that on the Great Lakes!

No one is doubting that the ocean gets bigger water, but the water seems more dangerous in the lakes solely because of wave type.

Around here I want to go out when the ocean has those nice rollers all of you talk about. I never seem to get out those days, it always seems to be just a confused as lake MI used to be.

One time I got nice 2-3 foot rollers, ONE time. Maybe I need to pick my boating days better.

I do think lake MI seems to have more pointy peaks. Never been on the other lakes, but have seen FF videos and that looks like what we get here 90% of the time offshore.

It's not boating season yet so I'll chime in on this "my water is badder than your water " thread again

In my first post I admitted that I had very little ocean experience.

Last summer I managed to score a gig as "navigator" on a class winner in the Catalina Ski Race.

Disclaimer - I think "navigator" is Australian for "ballast"; my entire job was watch for stuff in the water (a dolphin would ruin a skiers day), stay out of the way, enjoy the ride, and drink a bunch of beer at the awards ceremony. It was an amazing experience & I can't thank the guys enough for the opportunity to ride along.

Lake MI gets "chop"; short time duration, steep, and "pointy" crests which can get very big, very fast.

What I witnessed standing behind our driver was a slightly less pointy version of our "chop" layered on top of the ocean swells.

Great Lakes guys: Picture a layer of an only slightly less gnarly version of our bumpy 2'-ish water ON TOP of another layer moving vertically and horizontally 5-6 ' at a time. Not uncomfortable, but enough movement you have to pay more attention than when in 2-3' in Lake MI.

Ocean Guys: Take that gnarly wind chop on top of your long swells, sharpen it, make it taller, speed it up, and lose 90% of the pattern and predictability. The moving swell is gone, but chop now is a series of brick walls that will rattle your fillings out and holes that appear out of nowhere and drop you like an elevator cable snapping.

That was my take...it's really tough to describe without a frame of reference for both environments.

When they're bad they both suck but it's like the difference between a hurricane and a tornado.

We can start that "which is worser" thread next winter....

Cheers

s

Any and all of them will kill you.

Just face the fact that nether of them have anything on LOTO. ...... mic drop bam......