19', Blue Water Bowrider for Oregon Coast?

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imported_Kendall

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Hi gang,

This is only my 3rd post so consider this another introduction to those of you that missed my first 2 posts. I'm Kendall. Thanks for having me.

I've got a 19' Blue Water Bowrider that I'd like to take fishing a few miles off the California, Washington and primarily Oregon coasts. Probably no more than 5 miles out and on good days only, no weather. I don't have a bow cover, but plan to get one beforehand. She's got a healthy 5.7L Mercrusier, but I'd like to get a kicker to help hedge my safety bets, too.

I'd be primarily trolling for spring and fall Chinook Salmon. I've only been about 5 miles out in the Monterey Bay (fairly unprotected) on a 28' Sea Ray, but I've seen smaller, closed bow boats out there.

What do you guys think. Will she handle some small stuff? If so, what are the conditions, i.e. swell and such that I should consider the max.

I'm going to try to post a picture of my girl.

Thanks so much,

Kendall

 

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imported_Kendall

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Re: 19', Blue Water Bowrider for Oregon Coast?

Well the photo didn't fly. It's only about 80 kb. Is that too much?

I'm tryin' again.
 

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imported_Kendall

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Re: 19', Blue Water Bowrider for Oregon Coast?

I shrunk it down to 40. One more time.
 

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imported_Kendall

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Re: 19', Blue Water Bowrider for Oregon Coast?

Hmmm. I'm checking the file box, browsing and attaching, but no workie.
 
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Fishmore

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Re: 19', Blue Water Bowrider for Oregon Coast?

Kendall, I fish up and down the California coast but mostly out of San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. Personnally I would not be out there in a bow rider but plenty of guys do it. I guess if you watch the weather and the wave intervals your boat can handle it. The biggest thing is what are your abilities. Do not think you are a wimp if you turn back it is much better to fish another day than to risk it all on one trip. At minimum make sure you have a working VHF (to call for help and get weather), a charterplotter(in case fog moves in) and an epirb (so the USCG can find the bodies). Also be sure you have at least class 1 life jackets but in that water you will only last about 30 minutes without a survival suit. If I were you I would avoid waves larger than 8 feet and avoid wave intervals less than 11 seconds also avoid wind greater than 15 knots. Your two biggest problems will be stuffing the bow when the wave intervals are too close or too steep. Even with a bow cover if you stuff the bow you are going to get water in the cockpit and sometimes quite a bit of water. Do you have a self bailing cockpit? if not get the largest pump you can find along with a good bucket in case the pump fails. There is a lot more to worry about in the ocean than there is to worry about in a lake so use extra caution. Also try to buddy boat i.e. find someone else with a boat so you can travel together. Buddy boating can also help you find more fish because each of you can fish different areas at the same time and keep in touch with the VHF. This is only a primer and my opinion hope it helps.
 
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imported_Kendall

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Re: 19', Blue Water Bowrider for Oregon Coast?

Oh you gotta' be kidding me! I just paste the URL instead of using the yellow mountain icon and it automatically turns it into a clickable?

Let's see just how long we can make this thread full of nothing.
 
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imported_Kendall

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Re: 19', Blue Water Bowrider for Oregon Coast?

Thanks, Fishmore,

Yeah, I plan on using this boat for fair-weather-fishing only.

Now when you say waves of 8', I'm assuming you mean swells, correct? To me waves are what I might encounter attempting escape from the harbor where the jetty ends and the ocean begins and 8' would be huge! 8' swells are pretty big, too, for fairweather fishing, so if you think my boat can handle that, then I feel pretty comfortable. And I'll definitely make sure the interval forecast is over 11, like you said.

The rest of that sounds like good advice, too. I plan on hooking up a new VHF to the antenna that came with the boat.

I think an inflatable life raft might not be a bad idea, either. I don't like the idea of swimming around in 45 degree water.
 
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