Ballsy, stupid, or a fantastic idea??

[mogfisher]

Ok folks. Here's the scoop. My family has a house on an island in Narragansett bay in Rhode Island. A "normal" boat ride is about 10 minutes give or take depending. My father and I are thinking of making an early run out there this year to do some brush cutting before it grows too deep. (this island is seasonal). All I have available is my G3 1442 Jon boat with 18hp mercury! LOL. Would it be suicide to try this? I've been out on a lake in a storm and even that was white knuckle. My gut is telling me dont even think about it, but there are folks that used to do this drive with 13 ft boston whalers and little zodiacs. Any input? I'm going to try and find a nice center console for a more permanent ride to the island but right now other than bumming rides this is all I have since the ferry gave up on us. Thanks folks!

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Ballsy, stupid, or a fantastic idea??

Ok folks. Here's the scoop. My family has a house on an island in Narragansett bay in Rhode Island. A "normal" boat ride is about 10 minutes give or take depending. My father and I are thinking of making an early run out there this year to do some brush cutting before it grows too deep. (this island is seasonal). All I have available is my G3 1442 Jon boat with 18hp mercury! LOL. Would it be suicide to try this? I've been out on a lake in a storm and even that was white knuckle. My gut is telling me dont even think about it, but there are folks that used to do this drive with 13 ft boston whalers and little zodiacs. Any input? I'm going to try and find a nice center console for a more permanent ride to the island but right now other than bumming rides this is all I have since the ferry gave up on us. Thanks folks!

Even the calmest day may turn ugly fast. I really wouldn't do it in a jon boat, especially with only 18 horses pushing. If conditions turn hard, you probably won't have nearly enough power to escape. I've got to tell ya, though, if my family had a house on an island on a bay, I'd swim to it if I didn't have a boat!!!

The 13' Boston Whaler... Deep Vee?... No problem. The Zodiac... No problem. A Zodiac makes a great life boat on the ocean. I used to make short trips off shore in New York with my Zodiac to go diving as a teenager. I had 40 horses, and that really was pushing my luck. It got really hairy at times; and looking back, I knew I was pushing it then, and I know how lucky I was. I probably would have done it in a row boat back then... And swam back!!! I did it a lot and it was very rewarding to me; but the most fun I had with the Zodiac was in and around Sheepshead bay, Manhattan Beach, And Brighton/Coney Island Beaches.

A jon boat just doesn't cut it for your purposes. I'm sure Chris-R will chime in soon. He boats Narragansett Bay.

Get yourself that Center Console, or whatever other seaworthy vessel you choose. Best of luck, and please keep us posted. Post some pics of the island, your jon boat, and your new boat when you get it.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Ballsy, stupid, or a fantastic idea??

I'm with Veritas. Granted, it's a short ride, but the Jon boat gives you zero margin for error. The Whaler or Zodiac will at least stay afloat if swamped and give you an opportunity to recover. I think the Jon will go right to the bottom, won't it?

My .02

 

[dingbat]

Re: Ballsy, stupid, or a fantastic idea??

Regardless of whether your boat floats or not, with water temps where they are right now you have 10-15 minutes to live if you go in the water.

We've already loss a commercial oyster fishermen, two striper fisherman out on the water and a sail boater who slipped on an icy dock and went in. The sail boater was able to get himself out of the water by walking back to shore but died of cardiac arrest before paramedics could arrive at the scene.

How lucky do you feel?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Ballsy, stupid, or a fantastic idea??

I'd take my 13' whaler anywhere, but I wouldn't risk it in the winter, unless I had a perfect day and a buddy boat. So if there's a lot of friendly boat traffic, you might be able to arrange a safe passage.

Add to dingbat's list, two duck hunters (seperate incidents) who died after falling from jon boats into Chesapeake Bay tributories. Cold got them both. water temps about 37o.

 

[FunInDuhSun]

Re: Ballsy, stupid, or a fantastic idea??

I agree- it's not safe, especially this time of year.
I'd hire a reliable local fisherman to shuttle you each way and have a backup plan if they didn't arrive by a pre-determined time.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Ballsy, stupid, or a fantastic idea??

No you might not want to listen to me but this is what i got to say about this iv'e bin in a jon boat in 2' waves with 4 people. the boat was over loaded and it only had a 3.5hp. we were close to the beach and were having fun doing this.( i know it was dangerous but so fun, every one have float coats.) What i'm trying to say if you can find a clam day that you know's going to be good with little to no wind go for it. bring you cell phone fully charged and a vhf just in case. Wear your float coat to.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Ballsy, stupid, or a fantastic idea??

Pretty much already been said, but I'll pile on a little. The jon is a totally different animal than the 13' Whaler or the Zodiac (whatever size). I have no ocean experience whatsoever but I know that the Whaler and Zodiac are built with big water in mind and jon boats are made with small, interior water in mind.

 

[barbosam]

Re: Ballsy, stupid, or a fantastic idea??

I have been all over narragansett bay with a 12' fiberglass jon boat at first with only a 5HP engine then I later upgraded to a 14HP engine. I used this boat almost on a daily basis and there's not a lot of areas in that bay that I didn't take that boat to. Of course in bad weather I didn't take the boat out and on fair days I did have a few nervous moments but on a good day its no problem. I don't know exactly which parts of the bay your course takes you (of course some parts are worse than others) but if you pick your day it should not be an issue; like I said I used to it at least 3 times a week for about three summers.

I do agree with others that doing it right now would not be a good idea because of the water temp but early spring is fine.