290 is a 21 degree hull. She be rough in the slop of the great lakes.

Personally having been on the great lakes all my life. The bigger the better. I grew up with my fathers 14' starcraft. Got to go out on the lake maybe three times a year. Just too rough most of the time. I bought a 20' for my first boat. Same problem just too rough most of the time. Being on the east side of Lake Michigan the winds are mostly out of the west and north. Basically means that lake is almost always 2 foot or better. The thing is it is slop, washing machine conditions, very rare that we get a rolling wave you can run in. Even when it is just 2' you can run along and there will be a 6'er you have to deal with.

We now have a Baja 280 and it is what I would consider a comfortable boat in the great lakes most of the time. You can run in 4' and not get beat up. Sorry I don't care what the guys say who have these little boats. 22' in four footers on Lake Michigan will not be fun. Mainly because even though it may be 4' half the time it will be 6-8' thrown in. You wont be running at any thing more than 10 mph and taking water over the bow as well. Even cruisers don't like going out in 4'ers on Lake Michigan.

The Z25 I liked was already sold. I didn't like the Z21 as it had an Alpha drive, would prefer something with a Bravo.
There is still the Formula 242SS with the 454 and Bravo Drive I might go look at. Everyone I talk to comments that they are nice boats but very heavy, therefore not very fast. I feel this may be a good starter boat with those conditions. I feel based on many of your experiences and locals I have chatted with, a Classic 22 would be fun but a little on the small side.

I am going to check out the 242SS Formula and also keep my eyes pealed for a nice Z25 Donzi, Baja Outlaw, Sunsation Aggressor, etc !

Just buy my Gun and be done with it, :champs: big water = big boat, good luck in your hunt

Some day... ;)

A 25 boat in LM is fine if you know how to drive your boat properly...

Funniest post in this thread!

Superman,
Two things :
1. Most of these guys cannot measure waves.
2. They will eventually talk you into a Skater catamaran.

I boated on Lake St. Clair, the river and Lake Huron from 1987 to 1998 in a 25'6" boat and then moved to a 32' until 2007. We moved then to Lake Michigan. Most of my bad days were on the Lake St. Clair washing machine. The lake is shallow and the majority of the boats run north/south along the shore line or out to the river in the marker channels. It is nice if you move out to the Canadian side of the freighter channel, you'll have the lake to yourself. Huron obviouly can kill you on a bad day. On those days don't go out. I personally love the big lakes but I listen to the NOAA weater before going and check in periodcally while out there. A 22'/24' boat will do fine if you pay attention to the weather.
ed

A 25FT anything isnt CRUSHING waves.....

Ok I have boated on the Great Lakes for 45 years, and I have seen boats capsize and fishermen float up on our beach when I was a very young boy. this made me fear/respect the lakes till this day. When I got my first "BIG BOAT" 25 ft I thought wow how nice! Until I got caught in the Manitou Passage and nearly sank with at the time my young family, then stepped up to another BIG BOAT 28 ft, NOT BIG ENOUGH for the great lakes most of the time, yes we could enjoy it and go places, but never sure if we would be able to return home on Sundays. then a 38 ft boat much better but still the lake will win every time.

So what I'm trying to say is a 25 FT may work on some select days, but please don't think that it is going to be safe if the weather changes quickly (and it does) Please respect the Great Lakes for what they can become.

Great info here, thanks guys! Keep it coming!