Re: Saltwater boat selection
Out here on the West Coast of Northern California the water pretty rough a lot of the Summer and better in the Fall.
Still I see boats as small as 12 foot open Aluminum as far as 15 Miles away form a protected port. Most small open boat will be within 5 or 6 miles of the launch site.
My boats a 21 Foot Crestliner closed Bow Alumunum Runabout. and we have fished at far as 35 miles from port and as far as 28 miles offshore but we listen to the forcast and check the weather Buoy before we Launch. Also boating in the same area year after year you learn the normal pattern.
In our case if the Seas are over 8 feet or closer together than 8 seconds we do not launch or will fish in semi protected waters near shore for Halibut.
We have been out in 9 foot every 6 seconds but it was not much fun and came in early with only a half limit.
Our Dream boat would be about 24 foot closed bow with 8.5 foot beam a very sharp bow entry and desent dead rise and big reverse chines and a solid Alumimum Hull.
We see a lot of Wellcraft boats, most in the 22 foot range and they handle the big stuff very well. At least they are better than our boat.
Offshore I think the boat is about 50 percent of saftey. The other 50 percent is crew knowledge and experience. You have to be willing to stay in port or come in early when it rough. You start out Only going out on the nice days and take an experienced offshore boater with you. Over time you will gain the knowledge of what your boats limits are and leave a little room for error.
Today I would not go offshore without two motors. A 15 HP kicker will get you back in if the main motor should fail. I start both my motors before I leave the dock. If either does not start we would stay in until fixed. Also one should have a good Fix mount VHF and a 8 foot antenna, At least one good GPS or Loran C. Off shore your are required to have both Day and Night Flair with current date.
My whole Crew has Passed the US Coast Guard Aux Boating Skills and Seamanship class. I taken it 3 times and also the US Power Squdradons class 2 times. Two questions I have ask in each class is.
1: How big a boat is big enough to go offshore.
2: How big a boat is need to be safe when the Small Craft warning Flag is flying.
The answer was in each case more about the Skills of the boater than the craft.
One thing for sure you must respect the power of the Ocean and be willing to slow down. Know what to do with a big following Sea, the condition I consider the most dangerous. Also how to run in a big head sea.
Bodega Bay Weather May 8 2008
Winds NW 310 degree true, 29.1 knots Gust 36.9, Sea Temperature 47.8 degrees.
Seas 12.5 Feet Every 9 Seconds, Chop every 6.4 seconds, Swell Steepness = Steep.
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46013
