I THINK THE PREVIOUS POSTS BY RAY AND GRAY ARE SPOT ON. WHILE NOT A BLACK JACK, MY PRIMARY IS A DEVLIN BLUEBILL, (12'). I ALSO HAVE A 16' POLAR KRAFT WITH SEMI-V.
I ROUTINELY CROSS THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AT A POINT WHERE IT IS ABOUT A MILE WIDE. I KNOW THAT DOESNT SOUND LIKE MUCH TO SOME OF YOU, BUT OUR PREVAILING NORTHWEST WINTER WIND BLOWS STRAIGTH DOWN RIVER. I WAS VERY CAUTIOUS, IN THE BLUEBILL, AT FIRST, JUST FROM LACK OF EXPERIENCE. THIS IS THE END OF MY THIRD SEASON WITH THIS BOAT, AND I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT A DOUBT I FEEL VERY SAFE IN THIS BOAT. NOW DONT GET ME WRONG, I DONT MEAN ITS BULLET PROOF, LIKE ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR, AND YOUR VESSELS, LIMITS. FOR ME THAT ABOUT 17 MPH STEADY WIND. I HAVE RUN IT IN A GOOD 20-22 MPH AND THAT CREATED A LITTLE MORE "PUCKER FACTOR" THAN I AM COMFORTABLE WITH. NICE TO KNOW I COULD DO IT, JUST DO NOT WANT TO DO IT EVERY DAY.
THE BOAT HANDLED ADMIRABLY, I WAS MORE NERVOUS ABOUT MY ABILITY. I HAVE ALSO SEEN SOME GUYS RUNNING A 16 JON NEARLY KILL THEMSELVES IN 20 MPH WIND JUST BECAUSE OF A LACK OF BOAT HANDLING SKILLS, OR JUST GENERAL STUPIDITY.