1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

[Big Wig]

Hello all,

Great forum you have here! I grew up on boats. My Dad started with a little fiberglass tri-hull with a 9.5 hp Johnson and went through a few from there... on up to a sweet Grady White bowrider with a 115 hp Johnson. We never left the lake.

I got my own first boat in 1994 - a 1979 Galaxy 20' cuddy. I went to the ocean for the first time in my life. I had it in a slip 9 miles up the river and I learned the river and fished out in the ocean all the time... close to shore. A year later I started my business and sold the boat.

I'm ready to get back into boating and fishing now that my kids are at a good age. I will definitely be heading for the ocean. I will again stick to the river or stay close to shore in the ocean. As I gain experience I would like to head further out. I live in NH and we have a place called "Jeffery's Ledge" - I believe it's like 20 miles out. What sort of boat will I need to do this? How is a boat classified as an "offshore" boat?

At this time, the style of boat I'm thinking of is a 17 or 18 foot center console with a 60 - 90 hp four stroke. I'm thinking this would be more of a "close to shore" boat. How much bigger do I have to go?

Thanks in advance
Jay

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

a 17-18 is definately a close to shore. and be very aware of weather conditions. in some conditions no boat is big enough. just recently a 30' Center Console went belly up 30 miles off shore from here. i have a 23 foot Chris Craft deckboat, with the front cover, and am very careful how far i good. and the weather conditions. we do go about 7 miles off shore in the Fl Key. to the reefs for diving.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

20 miles out, is out of site of land. It allows storms to sneak up on you, and puts you out of cell phone and VHF Radio range, which are Line of site communication devices. I have been out that far in my 19' Bowrider a couple of times, and lived to tell. However these trips were on extremely nice days, and luckily no storms showed up. There were also some Head Boats within radio range.

You likely need about a 23' walkaround as a minimum. A kicker would be a very good idea (or dual engines). If there were other fisherman out there, that would be a plus.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

Size, in my opinion, is related to safety, including safety in being able to carry enough fuel.

Safety primarily means being able to maintain headway, having an adequate bilge pump for heavy squalls or in the unlikely event that you take a wave. A self draining deck, however would take care of this.

Usually going off shore means large waves. You need to be able to attack large waves (head on....preferred method) and come out of it. That translates to a high bow with a good flare.

Protection from squalls means a cover of some sort, be it cuddy or soft top. Cuddys are hot here. Since you had one you know about them.

Finally is personal safety devices and other amenities like GPS, marine radio, RADAR (WOW) etc.

One more thing. Get your boat out there when it is not so bad and get used to it, what it can and can't do. Take a boating course and know what not to do in a storm.

I used to fish 10 miles offshore islands (often) from a 13' boat with a 22 hp Scott Atwater. Never had a problem, but I knew my limitations and watched the weather. If things really got bad, I could get in behind the island for protection, which I did on numerous occasions. That boat would not have worked on open seas. The only scary thing was lightening associated with the squalls and any boat would need to heed safety with that.

Good luck.

Mark

 

[KCook]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

Here is another thread on small CC selection -

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=2526

Kelly Cook

 

[bassboy1]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

Length has nothing to due with it. I would rather be in a storm with my 15 foot Lund than a 30 foot Jonboat. My Lund is a deep Vee with a lot of freeboard, and should handle waves well. (Well when finished - with a nonrunning motor, and no interior, it is a sitting duck right now)
I have been out in 4 foot waves in my 12 foot Grumman vee. Never took on water. I felt completely safe. The 16 foot jon that was near me, was having
quite a bit of trouble, and couldn't cut through the waves. Also had trouble staying in one direction due to lack of keel.
It is more than length that has to due with it. I would also count reliability a lot in an offshore boat.

 

[Scout Sport Fish]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

I wouldnt go out in the water with a 90 HP engine. Thats all I have to say. Thats really just risking it. My boat is a 18ft boat with a 130 HP engine and when I get the money is getting up graded to a 150!

 

[tommays]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

A real ocean boat will be built to a set of standards set buy the ABS or other rule makers

It will have to due with its ability to handle sea conditions with out structural failure as well as meet some type of stability standard (your run of the mill boat is really not that well built)

To me the single biggest thing is ability to keep running and get rid of water when things go FUBAR ,which will happen in the ocean


Tommays

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

Welcome aboard iboats!!!

With an "offshore" boat, you are going to have the high bow and flare as mentioned before; you will also have a good bit of deadrise or the "vee" in the bottom of the hull, this puts more hull in the water but allows the hull to plow the wave more effectively. The more deadrise, the more the hull will cut through the waves; this also translates to needing more power to push the boat through the water.

I have a 19' center console that I take offshore a good way (25-35 miles) into the Gulf of Mexico. I do watch the weather closely before I go out, but I have seen some pretty big water! My boat has a good bit of deadrise, a self-bailing cockpit, 55 gallon fuel tank, a t-top, VHF, GPS, and I am VERY familiar with my boat, the way it handles waves, wind, and varying conditions.

As much as I try to keep an eye on the weather, storms kick up around here quickly; I've come up from diving to some pretty nasty weather before. Knowing how my boat best handles the nasty stuff is critical, having the feel of how fast to take waves and swells either coming or going is important.

Personally, I would recommend a 21' boat with a good bit of deadrise and at least a 175HP outboard.​

 

[dingbat]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

In the N. Atlantic it's called weight, freeboard, deadrise, HP and redundancy in all mechanical and navigation systems and did I mention HP?

I would consider nothing less than a 24’ with twins preferably to be an “offshore” boat. The first time you go offshore fishing on a 35’ boat and can’t see anything but a wall of water as each swell passes by you’ll understand.

 

[Big Wig]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

I want to thank you all for taking the time to reply. I appreciate all the input on this subject.

Here is what I've learned:

When I have the experience and feel I'm ready to venture far from the shore, I'll likely have my own thoughts on which boat I'll need for the job.

Everyone here certainly knows a lot more than me and I think I should wait until I know a thing or two before I worry about heading out!

I think at this time I'll look for the best boat I can afford that I know will suit my needs.... and that will be something at least 17 feet long with at least a 70hp engine. I will feel comfortable in rivers, bays and the open ocean - close to shore and on a nice day

Thanks again!
Jay

 

[peacekeeper6]

Re: 1st post - what makes an "offshore" boat?

i dotn know i took my 24' larson cabin cruiser out about 12 miles off, got into the deadliest catch and as long as i could stay running and with or against the waves it wasnt that bad. very rocky but i have a good stomache, my buddy didnt though. after we got back to the channel i just sat over a sand bar so the waves werent that bad. it was a shallow baot though and top heavy being a cabin cruiser. so i figure a fishing boat is lower in the water. this did have a big V though. i figure the self bailing hull with nice bilge woudl be a great idea. i put a pic of my old boat that i have since sold.