Extremely stupid question #647

[Shadow66]

Either I can't find this answer on Google or I am just not getting it.

What is the difference between Onshore and offshore? Maybe more specifically why in the BoatUS pamphlet I got does it say:

"Going Offshore? Make sure you have your EPIRB."

Does that mean anytime you go on the water? If so why say "offshore?" Why not just say "anytime you go boating."

Or is there a difference between closer to shore on the Ocean and out past a certain point, so they call it offshore?

DUH.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

Or is there a difference between closer to shore on the Ocean and out past a certain point, so they call it offshore?

Yes...

 

[Shadow66]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

Bondo, at what point out do they call it offshore? 10, 20, 50 miles...etc...?

 

[phwrd]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

I am going to take a guess and say, once out of sight of land, you are offshore.

 

[Adamf24]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

I always assumed it was 10-15 miles from land/bay. Or if you were out of radio contact from the general area.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

Obviously nobody so far knows
To me if you step out the boat & your feet get wet your "Offshore"

 

[jonesg]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

can't see land?, you are offshore.

 

[QC]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

Check your propeller, they usually tell me when I'm onshore

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

25 miles or further, used to consider you offshore as far as dumping trash and stuff was concerned. dont know what it is now though, probably changed.

 

[grego]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

off shore boats are bigger,heavier and bigger engines. They do better in unknown wave/wake changes. a 35 to 40 ft. high powered boat that runs 65 mph or more will hold together better and be more manuverable than a 19ft boat that runs that fast. That is why you do'nt see 20ft. bass boats that will run 80mph+ running with them. /BIG, powerfull = better ride. OFF SHORE! simply means that these boats race in ocean waters,far enough from shore to be clear of reefs and sand bars or obsticles in the water. Damned inpressive!!! Sorry!! was reading from another post. "12 miles is as far as you can go before you are in international waters" I THINK! this is correct.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

If offshore is considered the point where you cannot see land the if I remember correctly it is 3 miles to the horizon.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

There is no real defination. We consider ourselves as being offshore once we loose sight of land.

"12 miles is as far as you can go before you are in international waters" I THINK! this is correct.

The ?States? control their boundary waters out to 3 miles. The US claims territorial waters out 200 miles.

If offshore is considered the point where you cannot see land the if I remember correctly it is 3 miles to the horizon.

Multiple your answer by a factor of 4 and you?re in the ball park

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

Actually dingbat I think we are both right. I was thinking about standing on shore looking out. For the average height person it is about 3 miles. Off shore looking in is variable depending on the height of the object you are looking at. Here is a handy calculator to determine the distance to the horizon.

http://boatsafe.com/tools/horizon.htm

I know nothing operating a boat in the ocean, but I looked over that sight and it looks like some handy information.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

Actually dingbat I think we are both right. I was thinking about standing on shore looking out. For the average height person it is about 3 miles.

http://boatsafe.com/tools/horizon.htm

I know nothing operating a boat in the ocean, but I looked over that sight and it looks like some handy information.

We have had many a discussion of this subject on the way out to the fishing grounds with newbie offshore fisherman.

The 3 miles horizon is "concept" based upon the circumference of the earth. In reality, you can never ?get? to the 3 mile horizon and if there is nothing out there to ?mark? the horizon do you really see anything at all?

It?s the same as the tree in the forest scenario. If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, did it make a noise?

A line of sight calculator makes more sense when looking for, or at, objects at sea
[/url]http://www.kagstrom.no/LineOfSight.htm[/url]

 

[QC]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

It?s the same as the tree in the forest scenario.

The Forest is definitely onshore . . .

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

It's not really conceptual, it's based on a mathmatical formula. If that calculator is used you can determine the distance to the horizon. If you travel in that direction at some point you will be on top of the point you were looking at some distance back. Will you know your there? Not likely. If you are off shore traveling in, at the point in time that a known height object comes into view you can also use that calculator to judge that distance to that object.

The same could occur if you went offshore with 2 boats. At some point you anchor 1 boat. The other boat proceeds until the exact momemt that it leaves your sight. You could judge the distance to that boat based on the height of your eyes above sea level.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

Simple: when you loose sight of land..your offshore.
still see land - inshore, also applies to ICW,bay's harbors ect...
If your looking for a distance..some days,with good atmospheric conditions you can still see land at 3 miles..hazy days 1-1/2 -2 you lose sight.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

It's not really conceptual, it's based on a mathmatical formula. If that calculator is used you can determine the distance to the horizon. If you travel in that direction at some point you will be on top of the point you were looking at some distance back. Will you know your there? Not likely. If you are off shore traveling in, at the point in time that a known height object comes into view you can also use that calculator to judge that distance to that object.

The same could occur if you went offshore with 2 boats. At some point you anchor 1 boat. The other boat proceeds until the exact momemt that it leaves your sight. You could judge the distance to that boat based on the height of your eyes above sea level.

The horizon is a "concept", for lack of the better word, because outside of this defination it really does not exist. As soon as you elevate anything above the surface of the water it becomes a line of sight calculation and you add the sum of your eye height, plus the total height of the other object, to come up with a distance.

I spend a lot of time fishing 30-75 miles ?offshore?. We figure a boat on the horizon is roughly 8-9 miles away. (Eye height above the water (3 meter) plus the total height of the other boat (4 meters).

Coming back in, the sight of land is between 12-15 miles (Eye height above the water (3 meter) plus the height of buildings (20 meters). Assuming the visibility is that good to begin with.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

The horizon is a "concept", for lack of the better word, because outside of this defination it really does not exist. As soon as you elevate anything above the surface of the water it becomes a line of sight calculation and you add the sum of your eye height, plus the total height of the other object, to come up with a distance.

I spend a lot of time fishing 30-75 miles ?offshore?. We figure a boat on the horizon is roughly 8-9 miles away. (Eye height about the water (3 meter) plus the total height of the other boat (4 meters).

Coming back into sight of land is between 12-15 miles (Mine height about the water (3 meter) plus the height of buildings (20 meters). Assuming the visibility is that good to begin with.

Well explained.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Extremely stupid question #647

Simple: when you loose sight of land..your offshore.
still see land - inshore, also applies to ICW,bay's harbors ect...
If your looking for a distance..some days,with good atmospheric conditions you can still see land at 3 miles..hazy days 1-1/2 -2 you lose sight.

On a foggy day loose sight of land at 100yds.