I have a 16 footer and I agree that it is a bit small for the lake. That is why I only fish in ice cream conditions. If NOAA does not say 2 feet or less I stay home. That being said, I would never go out there in anything smaller. Also, when I'm going out on the lake, I make sure my motors are running well, pumps are in good shape, and all of my safety equipment is loaded and in good working order. I also brief any fishing partner on what to do and how to talk to the Coast Guard if need be. Erie is no joke and I have a lot of respect for it.

More than once I've made the 2 hour drive, only to sit in the parking lot and watch boats launch, get out of the channel and turn around and load. Last year one day we sat in the lot for 3 hours waiting for the predicted laying down of the lake that never came. Had a good time BS'n though. Just not worth taking chances...

Couple of decades back we had a stormy boating season getting blown off every weekend. So we trailered to the marina on P.I. Wind was out of the west at Biblical knots . We planned to go out in front of hammermill and troll for eyes in the shelter of the peninsula. Fished about four hours and came back through channel, The wind was so strong the waves between the north and south piers were to the top of the walls. In front of the coast guard dock the sediments in the gas tank stirred enough to kill the supply. With out power the waves came over the bow and wind screen and I had to go out on the bow to keep from ramming north wall by pushing off with my legs . The coast guard was on the scene in minutes. The fellow throwing us the tow line had a hard time getting it to us because the wind was so strong,kept missing . Finally we were in tow one hour to reach marina dock . Thank God for His protection and the coast guard.    

Me and my dad spent four days in port clinton 2 weeks ago fishin for eyes. we waited out a storm in the morning and headed out about 11.30. we only have a 17ft sylvan back troller. about 3:30 she kicked up 8 footers easy. we knew it was time to head in when davis besse dissappered behind a wave. we ended taking an hour to get in and were surfing waves for most of that hour. Yea it was a bad idea but the weather report said it was only 2 to 3 footers. but as i think we all know that dont me S###. we got 8 or 9 lost 4 or 5 more and made it home in one peice. and we where the smallest boat their.

My one buddy had an 18 ft v haul with a 60 hp outboard.  He never boated anything but tiny lakes.  He said ah lets go up to erie and troll for steelhead,  I said you know that lake can get rough real quick, and he never boated erie in his life.  I politely declined his offer.  I can't swim that good and almost drowned myself fishing in elk creek one winter. I sure as heck am not going out with someone who has no boating experience on erie