Lake Erie Boat

[Kenboat]

Currently have a CS 22 that we boat on Torch Lake in NW MI.
Live only 10 miles from Lake Erie near Sandusky and have decided to get a boat for next season. Looking at different styles but still keep thing the R-4 or R-6 would be a great boat. Not into fishing or water sports like to cruise and anchor to swim with dogs.
I have a great indoor storage so will trailer the boat and will use my F-350 as a tow rig.

Question would the R-4 be a good boat for most days on the lake with 2-3 ft waves?
Currently thinking ordering the boat with the Volvo 430hp set up with a folding Bimini to avoid the height and weight of an arch.

Kicking around the outboard version but really enjoy the large swim plat form.

[jhnmdahl]

Cobalt's bowriders have a lot of freeboard (gunwale height above the water) relative to similar boats, but if you're looking at Lake Erie I'd prioritize size and weight and maybe look at a used R5 or R7 over a new R4 at a given price point. The added stability on choppy days is almost a necessity in my mind.

Aslan and others have Lake Erie boating experience, and I'm sure will chime in as well.

[stifflkd]

Go with the R5 or R6. No one regrets going larger. And if concerned about the chop I would go with the deep V R5 over the much flatter R6.

[Kenboat]

Still boat shopping and wanting to get in a R-4 and R-6 outboard. The boat will be kept at a dock and want to have a outboard to keep the motor out of the water when docked.
Interesting when you look at a R-6 with 350 hp single vs a R-8 with 400 hp via two 200hp twins the price get close.
The R-8 would be really nice with twins for docking.
Any feedback on either from current owners?

[painkiller]

Stick with the 430 hp Volvo and folding Bimini, keeps weight down and deck clear. Outboard loses your big swim platform; inboard keeps stability and space for dogs.

[Kenboat]

Good advice, looking at a 2017 Chris Craft launch with 350 mag this week. Has 187 hours and it is a 100K.
Thinking a new R-6 with 430 set up how I want will be 175K.
May stick with The Cobalt if the older boat is not really nice.