What is...

[TADTOOMUCH]

6 to7 footers with a 3' chop in between at a 45 degree angle out of the south across the pier heads. Had to run about 20 knots all the way in to the harbor just to maintain control. Boat handled it quite well but my crew was a little green. Only had to run in it for about 15 minutes but that was enough. I try not to go out knowing it will be above 4 feet.

[13footbeam]

6' to 7' with the occasional '8 to 9', Lake Michigan headed north the month of May. We were only able to go about 8 knots and were very concerned we would break the boat. We got up around the Manitou Islands and it was like a huge washing machine. We spent 7 hours in the stuff and had to call it a day. We could have pulled into port sooner but thought we would just tough it out. I will never do that by choice again because it is no fun and puts a lot of stress on the boat. The next day was a perfect day and we were only able to add 13 miles to our trip before we broke the prop shaft right behind the prop in the key way. I latter found out it was due to the stress placed on her during our 7 hour ordeal the day before, cost $3K to get back on the water.

[captainmaniac]

For me it's a tie...
- 6-8 footers, very close together, on Lake Ontario

or

- 4-5 foot overtaking sea on the starboard aft corner ... When you travel eastwards towards Kingston (Ontario) there is an 'inside' route where you are protected from the open lake by some islands - makes for nice flat water most of the time. BUT, when you get a few miles away from Kingston, there is a gap between the Amherst Island and Wolfe Island that lets seas running from the SW come through -- unfortunately the fetch is over 65 miles (all the way from Sodus Bay NY). In the span of a couple of minutes you go from completely flat water to whatever is running on the open lake hitting on your aft quarter - and you are stuck in it for the next 3-5 miles. Oh yeah - you also have the shoals to watch out for at the same time.