8' Boat, in the ocean?

[BigB9000]

A guy I sold my 8' inflatable to (good guy, comes over from time to time) wants to take it on a trip to Catalina island (about 20 miles off-shore)

And asked me if I wanted to join/follow in my 9' Fiberglass boat.

this is the pacific ocean.

Think its a bad idea?

I told him I don't think he could carry enough gas. My boat has a built in 10-gallon, and I could probably get 10 more gallons in the rear hatch.

Even then I don't think its a good idea. Keep in mind I have NEVER been on a boat in the ocean (well, the queen-marry when I was younger)
So ocean experience is NONE.

Even the 8 mile trip to the casino up-river takes all freakin day.
And, one of our engines is sure to break.

Opinions?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

the guy I sold my roller skates wants to take a trip on the los angeles freeway and wants me to follow along on my skateboard

 

[clarkbre]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

If you do decide to go, I hope my tax dollars do not go towards the Coast Guard's rescue operations...

However, I may kick down a couple bucks towards a Darwin Award trophy for the two of you to share!

In all honesty, if you guys decide to go, make sure you have a good life insurance policy so your wife and kids are compensated fairly.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

Ok, so I was correct, it is a dumb idea!?

Ill let him know

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

Guys have gone over in jetski's...,but its 100 riders in a race with chase boats with fuel,
I thought of going across in my old 17 frt I had when I was a young man,
Barely was past the L.A harbor lighthouse when I realized how stupid it would be.
Soooooo in a nutshell...,no way

 

[BigB9000]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

barely was past the l.a harbor lighthouse when i realized how stupid it would be.

hahahahahah!

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

As long as you have enough gas to make the trip on a half tank you shouldn't be concerned at all about going there. You can wait (months) for perfect conditions -- no wind or waves -- and get there in a couple of hours.

However, you'll have to deal with other boat wakes. Mine kicks up 3-footers under certain conditions. Multiply that by the hundreds of boats you'll pass.

Also, worry more about getting back, because weather conditions can change in a hurry.

Bad idea.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

Well, let's see...that's a little bigger than the boat the guys used to escape from Alcatraz...although no on seems to know if they made it.

Tell you what, I'll borrow my niece's PowerWheels Barbie Corvette, drive cross country, and tag along for the ride.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

I've done this numerous times. As a matter of fact, I just returned about a week ago from Avalon (Catalina Island) with my 11' inflatable, so if done right, you can do it. As always, the inflatable was stowed away in my real boat as my dinghy.

 

[clarkbre]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

Tell you what, I'll borrow my niece's PowerWheels Barbie Corvette, drive cross country, and tag along for the ride.

If you weren?t so stupid you?d realize that a PowerWheels Jeep is a much better tow vehicle for that boat. Would Barbie even know how to tow a trailer with that pink Corvette?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

The only way I would take an 8' boat into the ocean is if it was tied to the back of my 37' Carver as my tender. The only way I would be in an 8' bot in the Pacific Ocean is if my 37' Carver was sitting on the ocean floor.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

If you weren?t so stupid you?d realize that a PowerWheels Jeep is a much better tow vehicle for that boat. Would Barbie even know how to tow a trailer with that pink Corvette?

You're right, although with a little redneck engineering I'm sure you could get a hitch on a vette...and Barbie is a little white trash...

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

I know everyone is having fun here..but I also want to add on a very VERY serious note that right around 3:00pm the middle channel there gets very windy and gusty and you would be coming home (assuming you made it in the first place) in a following sea that can crash over your transom, submerge your lil outboard and leave you dead in the water..
Please do not even think about this for one more second if you have not entirely dismissed it.
I have been out there in my buddy's 24 ft Oregon C Dory and had some hairy moments, same as with his brothers same sized Farralon, both serious big fishing boats.

Get a ticket in San Pedro or Long Beach and ride the Catalina express...SEE how much ocean 22 miles is....may just put the fear of God in you

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 8' Boat, in the ocean?

Length is not really the issue; it's hull design. Speaking of offshore generally, on a mild day: A kayak would be fine. So would a jet ski. An inflatable would "make" it. A 13' whaler can handle anything! Sometimes a small nimble vessel will do better than a larger "pig" of a boat.
But you don't have an exit strategy: if the weather turns or your motor dies, you're dead meat. You don't specify if you have enough HP to deal with current, following seas, etc.
So the answer is still, no.