We all know boat ride and handling in rough water is more driver than boat. BUT....the waters you mentioned specifically St Clair, would make me go for the biggest boat I could afford and I would be willing to go back a couple of model years to get the bigger boat. Carlos and I have been going to St Clair for 10 years together and we have seen some pretty nasty stuff. I have been in both of the boats he compares in his post. As a matter of fact, I was in the Skeeter on a day when the 3 other boats in our fishing party TRAILERED around the lake rather than run across. The Skeeter's owner had his trailer on the other side of the lake and we had no option other than to run across in conditions that were borderline "throw in the towel" and sit in the cottage!! We made it across just fine and only speared 1 but the driver is a St Clair native and does know how to drive. Likewise I took my 929 NITRO up there and ran it in the nasty stuff and it did fine. I also am in the boat market and you can take Carlos' word to the bank. I will be looking at a 20 footer minimum. I don't have the Ranger fever like so many but I have seen them perform and I know someone who has had 3 and does all of his own work. There is a level of consistency and durability that comes out of the Ranger factory that cannot be denied. That doesn't mean I won't look at Legend (another known for rough water) BassCat, Phoenix, et.al., I owe it to myself to find the boat that fits me and that may not be the same boat that fits others.

TOXIC