I think the answer is it depends ( ha ha) seriously I my opinion you can run a 24-26 about 60-65% of days , 30-34 80-85% and 38up 95 -98% of days ( the other days you wouldn't want to be out anyway) I am speaking about decently comfortable ride ,
Larry

Was in the bay yesterday 3/3 dialing in some new engines in my cafe, we were going about 75 in 3-4 was not a bad ride at all. It was cold however, a little wet but not bad considering. We were running by the bay bridge.

minimum - 35 to 38

Sorry guys, IMO it's not just length, it's weight and design of the boat. I may be crazy, but I'll take mine out in pretty much anything, anytime that halfway reasonable. I've had bigger, faster boats behind me before, so any buyer should also take that into account. Rounded, modified, or pad bottoms will not offer as smooth a ride. The boat can take it, it's the passengers that beg for mercy.

Plus, isn't my 31' about the same length as the 35 Fountain?

hollowpoint , my point was that the passengers won't be begging for mercy ( I like that) and unfortunatly in this case size does matter lol, you just can't beat length for a more comfortable ride. However I totally agree with you that a well designed hull and or a good driver/ throttleman can run with much bigger boats in the rough its just not for the faint of heart !

while of course this is all just my opinion its is based on 20 plus years running around the bay in boats ranging from 26 to 42 feet

Of course size does matter. Largest boat I've been on the ocean or bay with was a 38 (performance boat, not a cruiser). I didn't want to start a spirited debate, but this will probably set a few people off. Having recently ridden in a 38 Fountain in about the same water as my boat within days of each other, the fountain felt as if it was landing harder and not really spanning the waves much/any better than my 31.

So I guess I was trying to say a 30'-32' Cig, Formula, Apache, or AT would probably do as well as a 35'-38' Fountain, Velocity, or other pad type hull. At least, that's what my limited experience with poker runs seems like. I won't, however, mention the speed advantages of the laters hulls, because I would surely lose that arguement.

So, size does matter, but so does design and weight.

That'll probably have a few posting after reading this

I think your point is well taken , the hardest riding boat I was ever in was a 30 velocity , was fast for power but landed very hard,and the running surface of a 38 ( - 2feet for swim platform and -about 18 inches for beak would be less than a 35 cig) there are trade offs in everything and you are right hollowpoint about the speed vs ride of pad hulls and deep vees , I have raced in pretty big water and was wishing I was in a 41 apache ( the slug that they are) instead of SVL that I was in
Larry
PS I now have a42 fountain on the bay and figure it about 38-39 ( in real length)

Hey Bill and Patti, I remember hearing about your trip back to the Potomac in that 47 Fountain SC where you lost all three engines right at the mouth. That must have been pretty scary.

Run 'Em, welcome to the 'Dena. I'm out of the Bodkin.

Moved from Ohio to the Chesapeake Bay area with my Formula 29 FASTech and decided to upgrade to a 38 FASTech after a few weekends.

After this weekend, MORE than a 33 Baja, took some walls over the bow that about lifted me out the bolster, I could time most of the swells but unlike a river, there was no consistency at all.