Is a 1989 Chris Craft Limited 225 safe to take offshore?

[ggeezy]

Please help me with info....I am new to boating. I have been several times with my father offshore when I was younger, but never had the experience on my own. My father is now passed away and I always enjoyed myself with him when we went out, always a blast! I would love to bring back the memories. I am 22 and just moved to Saint Pete Beach, FL from up north. Just graduated college. I want a boat and I put my 02 gsxr 750 for sell or trade for a boat and a guy contacted me about a 1989 chris craft 225 limited 23' foot boat. I went and looked at a boat he offered to trade me today. I am asking $4100 for my bike and he offered to trade me it evenly. It has a rebuilt 5.7 mercur motor with a new outdrive, the motor is supposed to completely overhauled and new on it, including an elderbrock carburetor, supposed to be pushing 400+ hp. He says the engine is still warrantied for 3 years and he has ALL the paperwork to PROVE everything about the engine. He says he has taken it offshore 30+ miles several times even before the overhaul. But the question I am getting at is will this boat be ok to take offshore, maybe 20 miles out on good days? If so what maximum wave height? I just don't want to get burned. The boat looked nice, but it doesn't look very deep for offshore. I am sure you all know the boat so maybe you can give me advice? I know it may not be the perfect one but will it get the job done? Is it worth the trade for a 02 gsxr 750 that has been repainted recently and is chromed out?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Is a 1989 Chris Craft Limited 225 safe to take offshore?

You should always post pictures when you ask questions about a certain kind of boat.
There are lots of people who give surveys(it will cost)if your serious.Don't just buy and expect to go without a few short trips.
I have a 21 ft and regularily take it 20 mi. out.
Oh yea SEA-TOW is a MUST for ANY!!!!!ANY boat.Did I make that clear???
If the guy did that much work to make that many horses(400) was it because he raced it or ran it hard?I'd be afraid of it just because of that.J

 

[aspeck]

Re: Is a 1989 Chris Craft Limited 225 safe to take offshore?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=447525

You already posted this and got answers ... you don't need to repost it in another section.

Seems the feelings are:

1) You need ALOT of experience to captain a boat offshore. (I have been on a boat for 49 years, about 10 years holding a pilots license through the State Boating Commission while captaining a 50 plus foot tour boat.) Have also done many offshore trips with others. With that said, I would feel uncomfortable going offshore without proper equipment and training.

2) The boat you are looking at seems to be one designed with lower gunwales, more for a lake or inland waterway instead of offshore use. Not saying that if conditions were right you could not take it offshore, but things can get ugly quickly offshore. At the very least know what you are doing and know the weather and constantly monitor the weather stations and scan the horizon.

3) Boat seems a little over-priced.

4) Doubtful that it has the hp the owner says it has, and if it does, then the outdrive is a little light for the engine. This would also present a problem when offshore.

Personally, I think you would be better looking for something more suitable for offshore running if that is what you want to do. And get training and practice before you attempt it.

 

[JB]

Re: Is a 1989 Chris Craft Limited 225 safe to take offshore?

This is a forum about salt water fishing tackle and techniques, not boats. Also, you have already posted this question elsewhere.

1. Wrong forum.
2. multiple posting.

Both no-nos here.