how far can i go out?

[arty007]

im buying a used 78 cobalt 19ft open bow and im wondering if anyone uses them for the ocean.. how far can i go safely? would this boat handle the open waters?not talking offshore just local inshore waters in san diego,long beach,malibu etc...
anyone use their openbow for ocean?

 

[rrhodes]

Re: how far can i go out?

Although I don't I have seen other use them. Offshore boats are designed to allow water to exit almost as fast as it comes in ie. scuppers. If and when you take a wave over the bow can your bilge remove that water fast enough to keep you afloat and keep the water away from your batteries and engine?

Intercoastal should be fine but I would not use it in Open water. That is just my opinion.

 

[Sharkfighter]

Re: how far can i go out?

I used to take my 1995 19 ft bayliner Capri, which is same style boat you have, about 11 NM off shore in atlantic off coast of GA. As Long as waves were under two ft (which was not as often as i liked and why i bought a bigger boat now) . I always had to take it SLOW going out usually keeping speeds under 15 MPH and sometimes as Slow as 8 MPH (that is miles not the more correct nautical Knots) or the ride was to rough for me.

Today I was cruising in heavier seas at 20-25 knots but my current boat is 25 ft mako walkaround.

I did take the 19fter off shore about 20 NM once but that was a bit far.

It was fine on the intercoastal and rivers and sounds /bays.

I would definatly get to know the boat well in shore before I took it off shore.

Just my opinions although looks like you got a great boat and enjoy IT!!

Rob

 

[triumphrick]

Re: how far can i go out?

Sure you can. But are you qualified? Hopefully you are aware of the four Florida football players that went out on their 21' Everglades over a month ago and three of them have yet to be found. I have boated these waters since I was 8. I started in the bay with a jon boat and 5 horse kicker.
Nowadays I take my 20' Key West as much as 30 miles offshore. But I plan that trip for days. It will be during the Spring, Summer and Fall months only. I am very well equipped with duplicate radio, gps, tools, fittings, hoses, epirb, and all required coast guard equipment.
I never go on the spur of the moment and always leave a float plan with family or friends.
If you just want to get a feel of that kind of stuff, go with someone qualified. Just the fact you are asking the question shows doubt. That would not help you survive if conditions became deadly.

 

[capt sam]

Re: how far can i go out?

Sure you can. But are you qualified? Hopefully you are aware of the four Florida football players that went out on their 21' Everglades over a month ago and three of them have yet to be found. I have boated these waters since I was 8. I started in the bay with a jon boat and 5 horse kicker.
Nowadays I take my 20' Key West as much as 30 miles offshore. But I plan that trip for days. It will be during the Spring, Summer and Fall months only. I am very well equipped with duplicate radio, gps, tools, fittings, hoses, epirb, and all required coast guard equipment.
I never go on the spur of the moment and always leave a float plan with family or friends.
If you just want to get a feel of that kind of stuff, go with someone qualified. Just the fact you are asking the question shows doubt. That would not help you survive if conditions became deadly.

it's funny rick mentions a float plan because I rarely see it mentioned. Always let someone know where about you'll be and when you'll be back. My wife always asks me these two questions before I leave the house.

 

[Ned L]

Re: how far can i go out?

My initial reaction to your qustion was 'if you have to ask, then not very far', and I mean that sort of seriously. If properly handled, the capabilities of your boat will exceed the capabilities of you. One thing to keep in mind is that distances in open water are VERY deceiving, the thought that you 'seem to be getting a bit offshore' may in reality be 3 - 5 MILES offshore.
The question of how far can one get offshore in a small boat reminds me of a time I was working offshore commercial fishing. We were about 100 miles off the Jersey shore (off Atlantic city), it was a dead pea-soup fog and we heard this sound coming in from a distance. After a minute or so a guy in a Boston Whaler Outrage came idleing into view from the fog and called out "which way is Atlantic City?". Our captain pulled his head back in the wheelhouse to look at the compass, stuck his head back out and pointed into the fog saying "that way". The guy called out "thanks" and idled off. -- (I think that was the same trip we pulled up a pair of 'cement overshoes'. Yes, really.)

 

[J. Howard]

Re: how far can i go out?

it's funny rick mentions a float plan because I rarely see it mentioned. Always let someone know where about you'll be and when you'll be back. My wife always asks me these two questions before I leave the house.

Absolutely. I do the same thing when taking trips like that. You never know if your radio(es) might not be working when the boat dies or something else out of your control. It's always good to have someone know where and when you're expected so that they can call the coast guard if necessary. I brought my boat from Michigan City to Chicago yesterday (about 38 miles across an edge of Lake Michigan). I called my fiancee right when we were leaving the harbor and said, "if you don't hear from me by X:00, call someone." Then I called her again as soon as we motored into our destination harbor.

Even if you think the above sounds overly-cautious, it absolutely isn't. Just do it to make sure your trip goes smoothly -- sort of like carrying an umbrella always ensures that it won't rain. ;-)

 

[Backyardhockey]

Re: how far can i go out?

The question of how far can one get offshore in a small boat reminds me of a time I was working offshore commercial fishing. We were about 100 miles off the Jersey shore (off Atlantic city), it was a dead pea-soup fog and we heard this sound coming in from a distance. After a minute or so a guy in a Boston Whaler Outrage came idleing into view from the fog and called out "which way is Atlantic City?". Our captain pulled his head back in the wheelhouse to look at the compass, stuck his head back out and pointed into the fog saying "that way". The guy called out "thanks" and idled off. -- (I think that was the same trip we pulled up a pair of 'cement overshoes'. Yes, really.)

More on the shoes please! The Whaler story is a gas.

 

[ebry710]

Re: how far can i go out?

Yeah, those Outrages can go anywhere and as I anyways say, "they are multi-purpose boats". Although I haven't heard of anyone using them to transport cement shoes before this.

 

[Ned L]

Re: how far can i go out?

...... Well, when you're 100 - 150 miles off Atlantic City & you pull up an old galvanized wash tub full of concrete with two holes in the concrete & a pair of pants legs hanging out, you tell me what you would call it. - One of the guys was going to save it for a "coffee table" in his house, but as the day wore on it started getting a bit rank smelling, so it was tossed back over the side.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: how far can i go out?

...... Well, when you're 100 - 150 miles off Atlantic City & you pull up an old galvanized wash tub full of concrete with two holes in the concrete & a pair of pants legs hanging out, you tell me what you would call it. - One of the guys was going to save it for a "coffee table" in his house, but as the day wore on it started getting a bit rank smelling, so it was tossed back over the side.

Hey Ned how'd ya haul that thing up- were you running some steel/lead line?
Priceless story thanks for sharing that. Sounds like someone learned the hard way.

 

[Ned L]

Re: how far can i go out?

No rod & reel fishing there. That was on an 87' western rigged dragger, rigged for offshore scalloping with (2) 12' dredges.

 

[mike64]

Re: how far can i go out?

...... Well, when you're 100 - 150 miles off Atlantic City & you pull up an old galvanized wash tub full of concrete with two holes in the concrete & a pair of pants legs hanging out, you tell me what you would call it. - One of the guys was going to save it for a "coffee table" in his house, but as the day wore on it started getting a bit rank smelling, so it was tossed back over the side.

uhhh...not to knock a good story, but shouldn't that have been turned in to the police? Yeah it sounds like it was a pretty cold case by then, but there might have been something to go on. Maybe there was DNA left in there to do a positive ID. Or maybe I've been watching too much CSI.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: how far can i go out?

uhhh...not to knock a good story, but shouldn't that have been turned in to the police? Yeah it sounds like it was a pretty cold case by then, but there might have been something to go on. Maybe there was DNA left in there to do a positive ID. Or maybe I've been watching too much CSI.

You know, there's something about the smell of death that makes you do some strange things. Also, a little thing called paperwork as well. As far as evidence...probably not much. I bet those three guys that were lost down here have been reduced to bones and little else. That was just two months ago. Yeah, I know dna in the bones.....but I think you get my point.

 

[Ned L]

Re: how far can i go out?

In today's work I would completely agree, however that was 1979 & the world hadn't heard of "DNA testing", CSI, the internet, or many of today's other high end technologies. We were working off Loran C (ever hear of that ) .

 

[FBPirate95]

Re: how far can i go out?

Back to the original question......you can go out only as far as half a tank of gas will take you.

 

[scipper77]

Re: how far can i go out?

Back to the original question......you can go out only as far as half a tank of gas will take you.

I know you're not serious (right??) but that's the worst advice I have ever heard. If there is a head wind on the way back you won't make it. Not to mention that gas gauges are not very reliable.

Sorry I'm not trying to pick on you FB it's just that I know there are people in this world who will read that and take you up on that advice.

 

[FBPirate95]

Re: how far can i go out?

I know you're not serious (right??) but that's the worst advice I have ever heard. If there is a head wind on the way back you won't make it. Not to mention that gas gauges are not very reliable.

Sorry I'm not trying to pick on you FB it's just that I know there are people in this world who will read that and take you up on that advice.

Sorry! Just a little sensless humor. I will say that if someone is contemplating going offshore, they definately don't need to run a smaller boat without any open sea experience.

Just like you said.....experienced boaters would know about headwinds & gas gauges....and even then experienced boaters can still get lost at sea. IMHO I hope whoever started this thread isn't seriously contemplating going out.

 

[bowman316]

Re: how far can i go out?

if your going offshore more than a mile or so, you really need to have a life boat on board, and a radio and/or EPERB.
if the worst happens, being out of the cold water and in a lifeboat will be the difference between life and death.

those football players should have had an inflatable life raft.

 

[rolmops]

Re: how far can i go out?

I have been out on the east side of Stellwagen and have seriously considered running out to Cashes Ledge which is about 80 miles off shore.Luckily,common sense dawned upon me and the sight of a very big whale breaching about 50 feet away from my little 19 footer.The whale damn near capsized our boat and had our 2 bilge pumps working for about 20 minutes until the water was out of the bilge again.All this happened on a day when there was no wind and no waves to speak of.
Unless you have a spare of everything do not play with your life.And always remember that as the sea gets shallower,the waves get bigger and start crashing.