I got into some bad north winds at Lake Guerrero in Mexico. The guide is driving an 18foot tiller steer boat. We were making the trip across the mid lake area into a tough cold front. I'm sitting in the front seat, my buddy is in the back seat and the guide is standing next to the engine. I cannot see the water, from my position of white knuckling the sides of the boat, when we crest the waves. He's cutting the waves at a 45 degree angle, and can then basically "surfing" down the front face. That guy could drive a boat, never been happier to get back to camp. Con't know how tall the waves were, but didn't care to measure them. :-)