I wouldn't worry about the water I was out 32 miles off Lapush (Pacific Ocean), 20 ft seas in a 18 ft Silverstreak and your reading this. One boat met the bottom that day one guy dead but we made it so I think Chelan would be a walk in the park on the roughest of days.
What a stupid statement. Obviously this guy has never been there. Pretty irresponsible to give advice or opinions on safety.
This lake is nothing to fool around with. In the Wapato basin, between Chelan and Wapato point, can get rough but not usually dangerous. In the Lucerne basin, between about 25 mile creek and Stehekin, think of it as an inland sea with no shoreline or safe harbors for miles. The dangerous part is that it can turn in minutes from minor wind chop to nasty, depending on how the wind whips down the canyons. Comparing it to the Pacific Ocean is not even close as the wave/swell frequency is much closer together than the open ocean. Just what you don't want in a small boat.
Last summer I had to turn back around 25 mile creek in a 23 foot Larson after taking a few waves over the bow. Not fun with your family on board.
As far as hunting up there, there are better places to go in Washington that require much less logistics.
