Name:	70Tons -	Reply
Subject:	Best Boat type for Lake Pontchartrain
Date:	4/12/2016 7:39:18 PM

Evening all,

My bride and I will be moving into the NOLA area from Coastal Carolina.  We are a military couple and rely heavily upon advice from those who have been or currently are in the area.

This backfired when we bought our first boat in Jacksonville NC and they told us that a V-Hull bayliner would be perfect for the Intercoastal waterway...It isn't but we still made the most of it. 

A Carolina Skiff with outboard would have been best choice for the intercoastal area but some people just want to make easy money off of people. And that is the kind of advice we are looking for.

Question for the group is:

Whats the best boat type for the lake?  Is there one?

Our Bayliner is a '99 19.5 ft Capri with an inboard/outboard - will this be ok out on the water?  We just like to cruise, relax, and every once in awhile put a line in.

Thoughts on best boat or should we just bring our bayliner with us?

Thanks!

Semper Fi

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Best Boat type for Lake Pontchartrain
Date:	4/12/2016 8:19:34 PM

Personally, I would not recommend a small boat with low freeboard on your Lake.  Summer storms will catch you offshore and you could see a 4' to 6' chop when you least expect it.  The lake is 24 miles across and quite a chop can develop when fronts cross, or, as mentioned, when you get caught during a summer storm.  Look for a 24' center console if you plan to fish and you'll be safer on the lake.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Best Boat type for Lake Pontchartrain
Date:	4/13/2016 3:32:12 PM

Considering the average depth is 12-14ft with much of being only 12-14 INCHES I would go shallow draft for sure.