Small boat at sea (?)

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Small boat at sea (?)

Glad to hear you will not attempt it. Stay safe and keep on boatin'!

 

[Khan]

Re: Small boat at sea (?)

So what would be the minimum requirements ?<br />Khan

 

[bolted4]

Re: Small boat at sea (?)

I am with everyone else, dont do it, you need a bigger motor! <br />That way in case something happens you can get back to shore faster.<br /><br />Really, I used to take a 14 foot bass boat out in LI sound all the time but not with forcast winds over 15 mph. You would be crazy in a 12 foot especially outside the bay

 

[Khan]

Re: Small boat at sea (?)

Would a 14 foot with 10HP in good whether (less than 15mph wind) OK?<br />Khan

 

[mr T]

Re: Small boat at sea (?)

I am glad that you abandon the idea. I get nervous with my 21ft in the lake with high wind much less the ocean. <br /><br />This remind me of the VMese man boating from LA to the San Anibel (??) island off LA. His boat engine failed and he drifted all the way to Costa Rica. He got lucky and got rescused. He was on a big boat though. Even a big boat is hard to see in the big ocean.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Small boat at sea (?)

Khan<br />I have a 1967 14 foot Klamath Aluminum with a 15 hp motor. Yes it has logged many hours out to sea with 2 people, but only on nice days. Todays 16 foot Klamath is wider and deeper than my old boat. Also is a deeper V and much safer. I fish mostly out of Bodega Bay and see lots of 14, 16, 18 foot aluminum boats is seas up to 6 foot and they do just fine. They must go slow but they are pretty safe. If you buy a small aluminum boat look for one 16 foot or more but also the newer types with no rivets and a V hull.<br /><br />Out of San Francisco can still be very bad but it is a lot more about knowing the tides and conditions before you head out. Experience is twice as important as boat size, but still everyone makes a wrong choice sooner or later so get something big enough to give you a little extra saftey. For the ocean at least 14 V hull and 16 is even a better choice. I went out on the Cobra one day headed for Cordel Banks and captain turned around 1/3 of the way there and refunded all money. Cobra was 96 foot by 24 foot aluminum with three desels. Conditions that day at 5 AM 27 knots out of the NorthWest with sea's at 9 feet do not remember the time apart but not a nice day.<br /><br />For me bottom line in a opean boat for the ocean at least 14 foot and 16 even better. Modern Aluminum V hull pretty safe. Older aluminum flat bottoms not as safe and ride is very bad. Small boats you must watch the weight you load in. For a wife and a small kid a 14 can be oK. When the kid grows to be 200 lb full back the boat will be over loaded and unsafe at sea.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Small boat at sea (?)

I haven't been out to sea, but frequent Lake Champlain regularly. Although my 13 1/2 foot aluminum boat with 15 hp. is boarderline ok in high waves, my now sold 16 foot aluminum with 30 hp was far better. It wasn't necessarily that much faster, but it could take the waves far better due to the deeper V hull and higher sides. <br /><br />(...and now I have a 16 ft bowrider with a 3.0 inboard and here again it's far better than than the 16 ft alum.)

 

[BRG25]

Re: Small boat at sea (?)

I wasn't familiar with a Porta-bote so I looked it up. I'm not sure I would take this out in a large lake I'm glad you asked for some oppinions Khan. Take care.<br /><br />