Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

[deerslayer303]

Ok fella's,

Fishing the Gulf Stream regularly has always been a dream of sorts for me. Now I can probably get into some Mahi Mahi, wahoo, tuna etc. at 40 plus miles off the coast of charleston. I have a '78 Grady 212 Chesapeak, with a single 470 Mercruiser, Now the engine runs fanastic, Of course I will have a kicker, all the required safety equipment, Radio, GPS and so forth. Now while I just got this boat it will be run most of this season in the lake stripper fishing so I will get to know her. And of course I will carry extra parts in the cabin. So do I venture out in this old girl or one day Upgrade to a twin engine boat??? No I can't afford 60 plus thousand dollar off shore fishing rig. Oh I plan to take the Coast Guard Capt's course for my own benefit.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

I've always had a mental cutoff of 30 miles with a single motor, in reality it doesn't really matter I guess. If it's mechanically sound, I would do shorter trips for a while till all the bugs are out of it. Also I would consider an EPIRB now that they're cheaper and a really good VHF and adequate antennae.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

Personally, the key here is it's and old boat no matter how you slice it and old boats scare me. I'm not trying to start a flame war on how good old boats are because any boat properly taken care can be a great boat, but it still has to be used intelligently.

But once you start thinking of going out that far just to catch a fish with only a single engine and that kicker is pretty much useless in high seas as the prop tends to keep coming out of the water on big roller waves. Really not going to move the boat along much from 40 miles out yet. I'd stay within 10 miles, unless I had a twin engine and it was a newer model. But that's just me.

Just remind yourself of those footballs players that were just lost at sea off the coast of FL.

If 212 stands for 21 feet that's pretty much of a joke to take a boat that size so far out unless you have a death wish.

All you are doing is risking the lives of your family "to catch a fish" if you take them or others and worse yet the families of the Coast Guard who lose a loved one when they risk their lives trying to rescue you.

I used to frequently cross from Falmouth MA over to Nantucket, MA each season on a "twin Engine" 46 foot Bertrum Sport Fish and felt uncomfortable on the days we got caught in high winds and seas on a 20 year old boat.

Years back my Brother-in laws fiberglass CC boat suddenly broke "IN HALF" while he was fishing 10 miles of the Fort Lauderdale coast.

Search out the recent post on the guy who wanted to cross lake Michigan in a small boat and read the feedback he got back on that proposed venture.

Just my 2 cents . . . but I'm old and lost my desire to risk my life anymore as everyone seems to do when we were younger. At least you are smart enough to ask about this in a post. Still it's an untested, single engine 21 year old small boat.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

It doesn?t matter if your 5 miles from shore or 30 miles from shore. A mistake could cost you the boat and or your life. What matters is that you have the skills to be out there in the first place.

I run a couple of dozen trip a year offshore in a Grady 226. Use to do it with a Grady 204 up until 3 years ago. While the 212 and 204 are a bit small there is no reason why you couldn?t head out on a good day. Buddy up with someone and there is no reason why you couldn?t enjoy the blue water from time to time.

Oh ya, don?t worry about the boat being 21 years old. I?d take a 21 year old Grady over 90% of the new boats on the market today.

 

[deerslayer303]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

Man, Thats some really good input, and I do appreciate it. As I said I will not do it till I get a little bit more comfortable with my self. I think the coast gaurd course will help me a little. I used to fish all the time 7 miles out of the Beaufort inlet NC for Kings. The way I see it even if you have a 50 foot boat Mother Nature don't play on a bad day. Thanks again guys

 

[capt sam]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

That 21' Everglades didn't kill the NFL players, stupidity killed them. That boat was/is perfectly capable of going 60 miles out and back if it's been maintained and operated by someone with experience enough to check a weather forecast.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

Man, Thats some really good input, and I do appreciate it. As I said I will not do it till I get a little bit more comfortable with my self. I think the coast gaurd course will help me a little. I used to fish all the time 7 miles out of the Beaufort inlet NC for Kings. The way I see it even if you have a 50 foot boat Mother Nature don't play on a bad day. Thanks again guys

Congrats, nice to see someone ask a question and then come back with an intelligent response.

Sometimes when these types of questions are asked they are usually of course, asked by inexperienced boaters (at least they ask for recommendations before they attempt their trip).

When people ask about making these types of trip in small boats, this forum sometimes reminds me of a group or people watching some guy on standing on the outside edge of a buildings window ledge 4 floors up and they are all shouting Jump, Jump or go for it . . . Go figure

 

[Les Robb]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

One thing not mentioned is weather. Know your weather, start watching the progress of normal fronts, and make sure you never get caught offshore of an approaching cold front in a small boat. Remember a gentle swell on an incoming tide can turn into a cresting mess on outgoing. Having a buddy boat or knowing the local charter captains in case of an emergency could be a lifesaver. For years I fished offshore in a really small boat but was always a radio shout from help. Nor would I have hesitated to abandon the boat if it would have put anyone else in jeprody. I didnt have that distance to run being spoiled in Stuart FL but principle remains the same.

Good luck to you and good boating

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

Hey Capt Sam, you are partially right about what killed them.

No matter what, the only thing you die from is "lack of air,oxygen."

 

[Les Robb]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

Sorry Capt Sam:

You sure did respond about weather although I missed it because I stopped reading after your appropriate remark about stupidity.

Safe boating' ya'll

 

[spudshaft]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

I live just south of Myrtle Beach, and people go out there all the time in boats slightly smaller than yours. I never have, but I can get more info if you want.

 

[frankie g]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

Sure! as long as your boat is sound, and you and she can handle most situations and seas, and you pick your days. And of coarse are prepared to spend some time out there in case of a break down. I would have all saftey gear including and Epirb, and food and water for at least 3 days. I have a 23 WA w/ a single 150, and on good days I"ll boggie out 65-70 mls. I also have Sea tow too! it cover 75 mls towing, and I'm always ready for a one or two night stay Too!

 

[frankie g]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

That 21' Everglades didn't kill the NFL players, stupidity killed them. That boat was/is perfectly capable of going 60 miles out and back if it's been maintained and operated by someone with experience enough to check a weather forecast.

I agree!

 

[lyle]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

I agree with frankie.... even in a big boat, you never leave common sense at the dock ... I have an inboard in a 23' WA and usually run 40-50 miles offshore when good weather is predicted...where I fish there are usually several oil rigs around so the urgency is not quite the same ... however good my boat was running it still broke down about 30 miles offshore...I got lucky and was towed back by a large sportfisher........ I will still go out on her knowing I have to respect the situation ...... and don't forget that you lose VHF contact from the shore around 20-25 miles ...... nothing beats a satellite phone

 

[O.T.Water]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

Yea, go for it. If you think your machine is ready then why not! That Grady is a tank and boats are made to float. BTW the fishing usually happens early out there, so pick a nice day, go early and come in early. Go get'em sailor!

 

[offshore2]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

I believe if you have confidense in what your boat can handle and the 3 things I never go offshore without are epirp, seatow and a good marine radio with the antenna set at the highest place on your boat and this weekend I just found out it would be good to have a strovelight so seatow can see you from far away, we could see him miles away with his strobe light before he saw us and we had our lights on.

 

[lyle]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

hey there offshore2 ..... sounds like an interesting story, how about a quick brief...btw, I like your idea of a strobe light ... something I never thought about before that makes a lot of sense

 

[frankie g]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

Hummm! strobe light hooked to an 8' ant. would be a great addition to the rescue factor! Thats, if your in the boat.

 

[ReelPlumber]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

Hummm! strobe light hooked to an 8' ant. would be a great addition to the rescue factor! Thats, if your in the boat.

and if your boat is upright

 

[Ocean Airbrush]

Re: Do I have the right Equipment to Hit the Gulf Stream??

I spent my life on boats of all sizes, I used to think going 30-40 miles offshore was really no big deal. Of course that was when I was 14. My parents had a beach house on galveston and my father worked oil rigs at the time. I used to routinely take our 15' whaler out and tie up to my dad's oil rig about 40 miles off to visit and fish. One day dad tells me I need to head to the house because big weather was coming in fast, I made it ten miles from the platform and found myself in seas that were much bigger than the boat. Being young and stupid I had little fear and an unwarranted amount of confidence. I simply took a line, tied myself off and surfed most of the way home. Upon arrival I was bruised, wet to the bone and in typically stupid teenager style...totally stoked.

That being said, I had checked the weather report before heading out, dad dutifully instilled that into my head. Yet I still got caught in well over my head. I see now how lucky I was to have made it home and how easily things could have gone differently had I had a lesser boat or the slightest turn of luck. Personally, I would say the following in response to your question:
1. have the proper saftey equipment including an inflatable raft to revert to in the event of sinking, a complete survival kit including desalinator and an epirb.
2. Know your boat inside and out and carry proper tools and spares
3. Know your weather

If you can cover these bases, then I say go for it on the optimum days.