215 E.C. on Lake Erie

[flybub]

Hey all. The wife and I are looking for our first boat. We are keeping our budget pretty low for the first boat, we can always trade up to something bigger or something different down the road. We looked at a 1999 215 Express Cruiser and the wife loved the layout and seating. Haven't had a chance for a sea trial yet but that is soon to come. Anyway this boat will be exclusively on Lake Erie and I'm wondering how this boat will handle small chop (1-2ft). I have been on dozens of boats on Erie and know it can get pretty crappy rather quick. Are any of you running the 215 on Erie and have you run into any concerns? I know that a bigger boat would be better but like I said, this is our first and we can always get bigger later. I want to fish, the wife wants to layout, the kids want to tube and swim, unfortunately boating is a compromise so I need to take care of the wife and kids first. If they find they don't care for it, I can go to a fishing boat down the road. I'm in N. Central Ohio (Ashland Co.) and will be trailering for now. Thanks for any help.

 

[Her Diamond 2]

I had a 20 ft cuddy we used on Georgian Bay. While its a little more protected that Lake Erie, certain areas can be similar to Lake Erie as waves are short and wind swept vs Lake Ontario where I find waves are larger and roll more. In the end, bigger is better but if you pick your days it should be fine. What part of Erie will you be boating and how far from shore do you plan on going?

 

[flybub]

I will be launching out of Port Clinton. Only plan on going a couple miles off shore. I know my limitations so nothing too far that will get me in trouble. Thanks for your input.

 

[Buckeye Boater]

Flybub,

We do quite a bit of boating on western Lake Erie in our 215WE. We have been out in 2-4 footers and never felt like the boat couldn't handle it. Obviuosly, it makes for a much nicer day when the lake is smoother. The only reason we ran in the rougher water was to get to the islands. Also, I've been boating in the area for nearly 40 years and that adds to the comfort level.

One thing you do need to be aware of is the dry weight of the 215EC that you are looking at. Our 215WE (2006) is listed at 4,770 lbs. Although the boats are essentially the same, the EC's are somewhat lighter (almost 1,000 #'s). This will make a difference in rougher water.

Running a 215 on Lake Erie in 1-2 footers shouldn't be a problem.

We are over in Wayne Co. Let us know if we can be of any help.

Good luck in your search and hope to see you on the water this summer.

 

[Pilot]

Our first boat was a 215 EC on Chesapeake Bay. We took it all over the place and for the size and money, it was a blast.

Now, looking back if I had to do it all over again, I would have gone with a 280. The reason is that the 215 really is a "fair weather" boat. And, you will get caught in some bad weather and while the boat can take it, it's not very safe when big swells start coming at you. The low profile meant we got wet a lot when it got rough as the waves came over the windshield and sides. We had some close calls.

Another issue we had was that the bilge pump, at least on the 2000 we owned, was battery operated. There was no ship to shore power. We kept it in a slip it and after a couple weeks during the rainy season of just sitting, the battery had run down from pumping so much and the boat almost sank. The engine compartment was half filled with water and the engine required a lot of repair. They are designed very badly as all of the water drains into the engine compartment, then gets pumped out by the bilge.

The cuddy room on the 215 is tight and cramped. It has a tiny little compartment for the Porta pottie. Those things are not very popular with girls, believe me, you will hear about it!!

Finally, it was not very well made. We bought it new, but noticed many defects in carpet, latches, lights rusting, fading of the gel coat, etc,. We even had a leak along one of the rub wells when it rained and it would come inside.

So, we had fun with ours and eventually jumped up to a 260 SD which was a huge leap up, but the 8'6" beam on the 260 made for a wobbly ride. That's why I'd say the 280 is good for solving all those problems and it will last much longer than the 215. I'm on my 3rd boat and I've learned one thing, always always always buy bigger than you think you need. Trust me!!

good luck

 

[springer3]

I am nowhere close to Lake Erie, but I can say I am starting my second season on a 215 EC and went through my first storm last weekend. It handled the chop quite well, at least on Lanier, which is about 40 miles in each direction. I have not seen any of the quality issues mentioned. It is a 1996, and it still can pass for a new boat. The cabin is more a shelter from the storm than a living space, but I camped in it all last season, and it is a very comfortable and safe boat. I do trailer it each use, and I agree if you are on a dock, I would worry about sinking as the battery does not power the bilge pump for long.