If you're not sure......
 

don't do it! When that lake turns to crap, a 31' Formula is TINY!
Boating on the big lake late in year and early in year is way different than in season for several reasons.

#1. If you get in trouble there are way fewer boats to help you. Most tow boat companies are high and dry so their normal 15 min reaction time becomes a couple hrs. If it's bad enough the Coast Guard won't even risk their crew to come after you.

#2. When the water temperature drops you CANNOT get in the water. Hypothermia will have you before you can do anything. Been there, done that. It is nasty.

#3. The laws effecting placement of fishing nets up there change drastically after season. Only thing worse than fighting for control of your boat in horrid conditions is to see a fishing net come into view ahead and having no where to go. Also, been there, done that.

What you do have in a boat like yours is the speed to get over to the islands quickly in a break in the weather. The down side is a day or two later when you want to come home the weather may suck and then you're stuck and faced w/a decision.
A. You and everyone on board either stay another day or leave the boat and take the ferry home or....

B. You risk everyone's life on board and hope you don't end up on the front page of the local paper.

I've done so many of those trips thinking I needed to. Then end up over there wondering what the hell I was thinking.
Remember too that that lake is shallow enough that it is almost entirely controlled by the wind. If it's blowing, it's rough. Along w/that theory is they sky. If it looks nasty, the lake already is nasty or is about to be nasty.

Lastly, if you have a first mate that is a bit squeamish, or still unsure of that type of boating, especially in those conditions and you risk it and it turns to crap, it may be the last trip she does w/you. Seen it happen many times. Way smarter to get her used to it in good weather/conditions. As she becomes more comfortable the iffy weather and changing conditions will be less frightening to her. A huge on there too is how you handle yourself. If she see's fear or apprehension it will get ugly fast. I learned from the old many yrs ago that if you showed no fear then normally your crew would not either.

I may start a thread on war stories from up there. Have plenty and seen plenty.

I say go for it, what's the worst that can happen?? :D

Just kidding, the Noaa buoy is reading 5.2 feet this morning, that's the highest I've seen it read so far this year.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45005

I LOVE boting, but rain... 40 degrees.... NAH... I'm home and warm...

Surf's up. Over 7 foot.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45005

Open lake forecast for lake erie
national weather service cleveland oh
927 am edt sun oct 28 2012
for waters beyond five nautical miles of shore on lake erie
.synopsis...high pressure 30.40 inches will remain stationary over
the western great lakes and northern plains through early next week.
Hurricane sandy will move north along the east coast through monday.
The low 28.20 inches will move west across the new jersey coast early
tuesday and into central pennsylvania during the day while weakening
to 28.60 inches. The low will further weaken to 29.20 inches as it
moves into southern canada on wednesday and thursday.
Lez162>164-282030-
lake erie open waters from maumee bay to reno beach-
lake erie open waters from reno beach to the islands-
lake erie open waters from the islands to vermilion-
927 am edt sun oct 28 2012
...storm watch in effect from monday afternoon through tuesday
morning...
.this afternoon...north winds to 30 knots. A slight chance of rain
this afternoon. Waves 6 to 9 feet.
.tonight...north winds to 30 knots. A chance of rain through the
early overnight...then rain late. Waves 7 to 10 feet.
.monday...north winds to 30 knots increasing to gales to 35 knots
in the afternoon. Rain. Waves 9 to 12 feet.
.monday night...north gales to 40 knots becoming northwest and
increasing to storm force winds to 50 knots overnight. Rain.
Waves 12 to 16 feet.
.tuesday...northwest storm force winds to 50 knots diminishing to
30 knots in the afternoon. Rain. Waves 14 to 18 feet subsiding to 7
to 10 feet.
.wednesday...northwest winds 20 to 25 knots becoming west. Rain
likely...then a chance of rain. Waves 5 to 7 feet.
.thursday...west winds 15 to 25 knots becoming northwest 10 to
20 knots. A chance of showers. Waves 5 to 7 feet subsiding to
2 to 4 feet.

I was hoping for a break but mother nature won once again. Boat is winterized and put away for the season. Gotta go Cindy just brought me a nice warm bowl of chilli. Go Brown's just beat the Chargers!

Well we didn't go over and thank god. The wind here in Delaware is blowing hard and we would have def prob been stuck, plus it is freezing here. I was kicking myself in the butt yesterday cause I so wanted to go and the fact that it's been 2 months since we've been out, but turns out it was the smarter thing to do. We would have been wet and cold the majority of the trip and I just couldn't get past that.

Maybe in a few yrs with a 370SS I'd do it.

I'm with you mag we really wnated to make one last trip this year and held on till the last minute. Glad we passed this year, talked to bigboat28 and they stayed on the mainland also. I wonder what kind of crowd they had on the island?

Glad we got out Thursday cuz that may have been it for Ohio.

hell they are only calling for 18 footers lets go boatin lol