Offshore vs Lake Performance Boating: Which is more challenging?

[Cash68]

Hey guys, I have a work related presentation I'm working on that captures the general mindsets of different boaters, and we're using them to help understand the marine landscape. I myself live in the midwest and own a 60ish mph sleekcraft tunnel hull, but I've been on a lot of faster things on my local lakes. However, I've not really been exposed to true offshore performance much, other than photos and seeing them parked on lake winnebago.

I guess this is my question: Which type of boating is more competitive? I know both types have poker runs. Which type of boating is more engaging/interactive? With high speed inland boating, you're chine walking and trimming out and tightening your butthole as far as you can push teh pedal down without your fear of flipping over/dying a horribly dramatic death. With offshore, I am under the impressiont hat you just sort of mash the throttle and the $600k of marine technology in front of you just chops through whatever, you occasionally chop the throttle to avoid blowing up your drives, but that's about it.

Is it true? Are lake boats a lot more techhically challenging to drive than offshore boats? I guess with an offshore boat you have the added complexity of navigation/the dangers of the ocean, and if you break down you could die.

​​​​​​​What say you?

[TooStroked]

With high speed inland boating, you're chine walking and trimming out and tightening your butthole as far as you can push teh pedal down without your fear of flipping over/dying a horribly dramatic death. With offshore, I am under the impressiont hat you just sort of mash the throttle and the $600k of marine technology in front of you just chops through whatever, you occasionally chop the throttle to avoid blowing up your drives, but that's about it.

While your description of inland / lake / river high performance boating may be somewhat correct, your offshore boating description couldn't be further from the truth. Let's take a 35' high performance vee bottom capable of maybe 100 MPH on one of the Great Lakes or the ocean for example. I can personally attest to the fact that at even 50-60 MPH in relatively mild seas, one is constantly adjusting trim, tabs and throttles to keep the boat from kiting, stuffing or blowing a drive or two. Properly "flying" an offshore high performance boat in rough seas takes a ton of skill and concentration, not to mention practice.

And if you need a better reason to believe running an offshore boat is tough, how many high performance lake / river boats require a separate driver and throttleman because there's so much going on? I rest my case.

[Whaaaaat]

I started a thread on this. No boat needs 2 operators! Those that choose to run 2 operators have boats that aren't set up properly for a single operator, or the operators simply aren't up to the task.
That said I guess what the OP 's question might boil down to is calm water vs rough. I would think the answer is obvious

[TooStroked]

No boat needs 2 operators! Those that choose to run 2 operators have boats that aren't set up properly for a single operator, or the operators simply aren't up to the task.

I beg to differ. And I think just about every offshore racer out there will disagree with you too. To each his own though.

[eli]

Inland lake boating used to be fun pick your spot and let er eat ,now with all the toons and tower boats there is no spot ,off shore is way different bigger boats more money and going 100 + for hours till all your adrenaline is gone then you have to drink lol

[mrichartz]

Like comparing apples and oranges...both fruit but
Offshore is just as butt puckering and have seen enough of them flip too..

Size of the boat might give you a sense of confidence but .
And real offshore needs two for a bunch of reasons.
No matter what some people think...while sitting on their couch watching..lol.. just easy to watch and say hey not that hard till you try doing it.

[Capt.Insane-o]

I started a thread on this. No boat needs 2 operators! Those that choose to run 2 operators have boats that aren't set up properly for a single operator, or the operators simply aren't up to the task.
That said I guess what the OP 's question might boil down to is calm water vs rough. I would think the answer is obvious

Come up and race on the great lakes on an ugly day

[eli]

second that on great lakes ,i dont go out there anymore ,been there done that for years

[home made tunnel]

The Great Lakes with rough water is identical to off-shore. with rough water. Those are enormous bodies of water.

Rough water racing is much more intense than smooth water racing. Hands down.

It's like comparing Nascar to World Rally Championship. yes - Nascar goes faster... but it's controlled chaos. World Rally Championships... passenger: "LOOK OUT FOR THAT COW!" driver: "WHAT?"

Moo.


Off-Shore - 2 racers. World Rally Championship - 2 racers.
Smooth water racing - 1 racer. Nascar - 1 racer.

[Cash68]

The Great Lakes with rough water is identical to off-shore. with rough water. Those are enormous bodies of water.

Rough water racing is much more intense than smooth water racing. Hands down.

It's like comparing Nascar to World Rally Championship. yes - Nascar goes faster... but it's controlled chaos. World Rally Championships... passenger: "LOOK OUT FOR THAT COW!" driver: "WHAT?"

Moo.


Off-Shore - 2 racers. World Rally Championship - 2 racers.
Smooth water racing - 1 racer. Nascar - 1 racer.

Nascar cars don't just randomly flip over and distintegrate though.

I understand they can both be challenging, but I'm tasked with building a matrix of different boat personalities/generalizations. I have an inland lake performance boat guy, and an offshore performance boat guy. One of the axis on the framework/matrix is called 'engagement'. Low engagement would be something like a pontoon. So in terms of actual interaction, I see two things and I'm not sure which is more engaging to the driver/operator:

Offshore: More dangerous conditions (and more dangerous fish lol), and obviously a lot of throttle modulation in rough conditions, punishing on the boat and body

Lakes: More dangerous boats, period. The really fast ones are barely in the water, and a good gust of wind can cause them to flip. The drivers are chine walking keeping a tiny section of the hull on top of the water, and adjusting trim/throttle constantly to eek out that last MPH. In my experience that has been extremely engaging/terrifying (lolz).

But I don't have experience with both. As for the throttleman position of offshore stuff, I wasn't sure if that was still a thing, or more of a legacy thing. With today's tech is it still even necessary anymore? I have no idea, so I'm asking you guys.

[JPEROG]

Big water boating can be summed up as "more"-

More water-
More expensive boats-
More intense when its rough-
More fuel-
More broken parts-
More time to clean-
More time to prepare-
More time to maintain-

Often more fun, but not always. Its hard to beat good friends, small boats and a sandbar day.

Joe

[mrichartz]

[QUOTE=Cash68;3155510]*****Nascar cars don't just randomly flip over and distintegrate though.


Offshore: More dangerous conditions (and more dangerous fish lol), and obviously a lot of throttle modulation in rough conditions, punishing on the boat and body

Lakes: More dangerous boats, period. The really fast ones are barely in the water, and a good gust of wind can cause them to flip. The drivers are chine walking keeping a tiny section of the hull on top of the water, and adjusting trim/throttle constantly to eek out that last MPH. In my experience that has been extremely engaging/terrifying (lolz).



Just Google Nascar wreaks no shortage of them ..
Problem is trying to compare them(boat racing)
Being more specific which kind of racing too hydro plane at 213mph as a lake boat?

Hell a jet boat running a track!! that has two people..
looks as intense as hell just watching from drivers seat on camera is crazy try keeping up with the turns in that..

Offshore different size boats levels and the varying amount of money in them

It's hard to compare when you have so many different kinds and levels..
Hell just look at the different levels of offshore from class 7 20-22' boat
To class 1 40-50'
All running on the same course..
Now running a 50' boat in 5' conditions sounds fine but get in a 21' and do it
Guess the point is you can't generalize..
Especially saying lake boats are more dangerous period..

[KIRCHNER]

Lake v/s offshore? would you rather drive a motocross db or a top-fuel harley? hummm let me think, it aint the dirt bike.

[hydroo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaOEcJWL4-4

There is nothing like the ocean!
This was one of my favorite rides home.
Some of the biggest water I have been in.
Following Sea in a Skater 32 peeling the backs of the waves just barely on plane.

[mrichartz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaOEcJWL4-4

There is nothing like the ocean!
This was one of my favorite rides home.
Some of the biggest water I have been in.
Following Sea in a Skater 32 peeling the backs of the waves just barely on plane.

Only thing is that videos to short..