How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

[rlb2252]

(Hope this hasn?t been asked recently. Did a search but didn?t find anything.)

What?s the farthest from shore/safety you've ever ventured? How far from land does your average outing take you? Aboard what type of boat?

What about any future plans for far-out-of-sight-of land adventures, such as crossing the Great Lakes, island hopping in the ocean, fishing far off-shore?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

unanswerable question. whether conditions, sea conditions, boat, power system, navigation equipment, your experience. just too many variables.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

I've been 12 miles out in the Gulf with a buddy in his 17' center console. It was a beautiful day, we had a good time and even caught some nice fish. However, I wouldn't repeat that adventure because he didn't have a lot of safety gear on board and his motor was a little troublesome. Plus, the ride was rough once we started hitting 2' and 3' waves. The cobia we caught made it worth the trip though.

If I ever get a "big" boat going, it'll have twins, all safety gear with comm, PLUS a liferaft so that I can feel comfortable running 30 or more miles out. I wouldn't go that far without that stuff.

Saw a news report over the weekend about a couple guys being picked up in a liferaft after their boat caught fire 30 miles out. One guy was burned over 20% of his body and had to be airlifted back to shore. They others were picked up by another boat.

Sometimes safety is a rubber raft just 100' from your sinking boat.

 

[collind]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

I've only ventured about 4-5 miles off the coast of south Florida in my bow rider on a flat calm day. I would love to cross the gulf stream one day and go over to Bimini in the Bahamas (about 50 miles) with a couple other boats and near perfect weather of course. I understand that people have done it in smaller boats.

-Collin
2007 Sea Ray 185 Sport

 

[jeffnick]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

It's about 60 miles from Lauderdale to Bimini, but that's really only 30 miles from one shore or the other...

I've done it alone in my 18' cuddy.

 

[rbh]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

The lake may be 100 miles long +/-, but its only 2 miles at its widest point, so I got to go with 1 mile with our boat.
rob

 

[witenite0560]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

Here in Idaho, it's more a question of how far up the lake, away from roads or other means of transportation. So far, the farthest I've gone is probably 5 miles.
Otherwise, I can only go as far as the otherside of the lake and the majority around here aren't more than a mile or two in any direction.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

Lake of the Woods in northern Minnesota is a big body of water dotted with many islands. One of which is a base camp for fishing expeditions. It is 17 miles out on the Canadian side of the border and the trip is made with an 18 foot Crestliner/150 HP Mariner. But then there is Lake Superior, the Mississippi River, the St Croix River and the Chippewa River in the area, all of which allow traveling great distances if you wish.

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

About 5 miles in my Scupper Pro Ocean Kayak.

About 15 miles in my Novurania Cancuro inflatable, 14 feet.

About 50 miles in my Boston Whaler Nantucket/Outrage 190.

Routinely half those distances.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

Around here safety and shore are not the same thing. On the west coast of our islands, along the open Pacific, the coast is mostly rocky and steep and there are no settlements. Although we may be only a mile or two offshore, we may be four or five miles from a safe refuge and twenty five miles from civilization.

Actually, being close to shore may be more hazardous than being offshore. If we were to lose propulsion with an onshore wind or current we could be in big trouble very quickly.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

Mike and Tashas have the best answers, if the question seeks information. If you can only swim or paddle a certain distance, any added distance is irrelevant. It's analogous to the fact that 10' deep water is just as dangerous for drowning as 100'.

 

[rlb2252]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

Mike and Tashas have the best answers, if the question seeks information. If you can only swim or paddle a certain distance, any added distance is irrelevant. It's analogous to the fact that 10' deep water is just as dangerous for drowning as 100'.

Maybe I phrased the questions badly. What I was most interested in was simply how far folks tended to venture out from land.

Safety, in many ways, is really subjective.

True, one could be a few yards away from a rocky shore in shallow water and be in more danger than ten miles out in the ocean.

So, to rephrase, how far out do you typically go? What's the farthest out you've ever been? And do you have plans, dreams, ambitions, goals to make a trip that entails a major lake crossing or island hopping adventure in the ocean?

 

[dingbat]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

In the Bay I'd say 8-10 miles from shore on average. In the Atlantic I'll say 30-70 miles from shore.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

My average trips offshore range from 15 miles to Sanilbel Island to 40 miles out to the ledges for spearfishing.

Weather is the key.

 

[rlb2252]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

In the Bay I'd say 8-10 miles from shore on average. In the Atlantic I'll say 30-70 miles from shore.

70 miles out? What kind of fishing (I assume you were fishing) inspired you to go that far?

Hope it was worth it.

 

[rlb2252]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

unanswerable question. whether conditions, sea conditions, boat, power system, navigation equipment, your experience. just too many variables.

Dispensing with the safety aspect of the question, Tashasdaddy, how far out do you go?

Or how far have you ever been out?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

I do lake Erie in old 67 16' MFG /w 80HP outboard, On nice days I'm limited only by fuel supply, my engine can guzzle up 2 6gal tanks in no time, about 10 miles or 1/2 a 6gal tank is all I'm good for out, I'm not running fumes to get back in and I prefer the extra room for fishing gear not gas cans.

 

[dingbat]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

70 miles out? What kind of fishing (I assume you were fishing) inspired you to go that far?

Hope it was worth it.

You have to go where the fish are. Blue and Yellowfin Tuna, Blue and White Marlin, Wahoo, Sailfish

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

I have a 17" homebuilt deep vee that I have taken 30 miles offshore on several occasions. HOWEVER, I pick my days carefully - the weather and the forecast have to be just right. Also, I carry a significant amount of water and some food, clothing, tools and a few first aid things.

Most importantly, I keep the maintenance on my engine and boat as close to perfect as I can get it AND I have two PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) on board which are fastened to our life jackets (that we never take off). I really like fishing offshore, but it can be dangerous. Its fun, but I respect it for what it is.

 

[dave11]

Re: How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

I have a 16ft boat I've had 10 miles out in the Gulf. I normally go out 5 or 6 miles. I have lots of safety gear, too.