Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

[Newbie@boats]

I am going on a vacation in Aug, and I was thinking about bringing my boat along, its a 18FT Manatee.

It has a 135HP merc outboard, we will be right on the ocean and there will be a boat launch there, I never been out on the ocean before on a small boat.

Any thing to worry about? do's and dont's?

Anything would be nice.

Thanks

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

Just check the Marine forecast. I would say if the waves are bigger than 2 to 3 feet use caution in that boat. Make sure your safety equiptment meets the requirements for offshore. Other than that have fun.

Also wash that trailer down good....saltwater is hell on trailers.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

The key is the marine forecast, and the possibility of storms popping up, which happens down here about every afternoon in the summer.

To give you an idea of what your boat is capable of, I used to fish with a buddy down in Sarasota that would run 35 miles offshore in the Gulf in a Wellcraft 18 Fish with a 130 Yamaha...sometimes the water would be so glass, you could ski out there...

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

The key is the marine forecast, and the possibility of storms popping up, which happens down here about every afternoon in the summer.

To give you an idea of what your boat is capable of, I used to fish with a buddy down in Sarasota that would run 35 miles offshore in the Gulf in a Wellcraft 18 Fish with a 130 Yamaha...sometimes the water would be so glass, you could ski out there...

The gulf is way different from the Atlantic. I have lived on both. The gulf on the average is much calmer however probably due to the shallow depth it tends to get rough a lot quicker. I have seen days when the gulf was like a sheet of glass, you will always have some swells on the Atlantic. Maybe not much but I can't remember ever seeing the atlantic like a sheet of glass.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

The Atlantic can and does look like glass, especially in the early mornings. I have run almost WOT many times out in the ocean. In the summer, it's usually afternoon thunderstorms that you have to watch out for.

Speaking of skiing out in the ocean...this is 16 miles out and I can't count the number of times we did this.

 

[Red Snappa]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

I am going on a vacation in Aug, and I was thinking about bringing my boat along, its a 18FT Manatee.

It has a 135HP merc outboard, we will be right on the ocean and there will be a boat launch there, I never been out on the ocean before on a small boat.

Any thing to worry about? do's and dont's?

Anything would be nice.

Thanks

Get a chart for the area you want to run in. Make sure you know how to read it and be aware of any hazards. Make sure that you know what the buoys mean. I'd also get a hand held marine radio. Don't rely on a cell phone.

 

[my1stboat1]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

do you guys think it would be ok to take my 16 foot bayliner with 85 hp outboard out into the atlantic on a nice calm day... I see 14 footers and cayaks out in the ocean all the time when im out in my father in laws 28 foooter

 

[seabob4]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

I know this doesn't help the thread, but, Fireman, COOL!!!

 

[Beefer]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

do you guys think it would be ok to take my 16 foot bayliner with 85 hp outboard out into the atlantic on a nice calm day... I see 14 footers and cayaks out in the ocean all the time when im out in my father in laws 28 foooter

Umm... I'd say most of the time NO. I have the same boat, and will take it on the Gulf only with seas of 1-2', and no inclement weather forecasted. Kayaks will right themselves when flipped; yours won't.

 

[Dick Sorensen]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

You've got good eyes and good sense (hopefully) and you know your boat. If you feel it's safe to go...then go.....you're not getting any younger (nor is the boat and motor) so go to sea my friend....have a blast....

 

[Newbie@boats]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

Yeah, its about a 7 hour drive and its a long drive towing a boat, it would be Ocean City, Maryland.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

The Atlantic can and does look like glass, especially in the early mornings. I have run almost WOT many times out in the ocean. In the summer, it's usually afternoon thunderstorms that you have to watch out for.

Speaking of skiing out in the ocean...this is 16 miles out and I can't count the number of times we did this.

Not the same kind of flat though. Yes maybe glassy looking with no wind chop but there are always ripples. The gulf will lay flat like a lake on a calm day.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

Yes it does. Used to ski on the Windemere chain at 0600, it was less calm than the gulf, when there was no breeze...

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

I know this doesn't help the thread, but, Fireman, COOL!!!

Thanks! The way I look at it, barring large waves, the water behind the boat is almost the same, regardless of the body of water. Usually flat water just inside the wake.

Those ski trips were in a 21' Center Console Angler. T-top, outriggers, and skis. When the fish aren't biting and it's not quite beverage time, you have to find a decent way to spend the downtime. I'm not gonna sit in the Florida heat waiting for fish to get hungry.

My best is 35 miles out off of Big Pine Key in the Fl Keys. The water was so dark blue that it was purple and almost 400' deep. Gotta love this hobby.

 

[dave11]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

I've had my 16 ft boat out in the Atlantic out of Jupiter Inlet. It can be fine. There are times when there is short chop and you can't see over the waves. Just be prudent about it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

Yeah, its about a 7 hour drive and its a long drive towing a boat, it would be Ocean City, Maryland.

Check out my thread from my trip there last year http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=347916 I stayed in the back bay and had a blast.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

Ocean City: there are lots of boats coming and going; follow someone in and out. For one thing it cuts the waves.
KNow your boat; if you haven't been in big waves, practice on some boat wakes inside first.
Be smart. Stuff happens real fast out there. Your anchor is your most important piece of safety equipment--ask the locals if yours is sufficient.
Go to Tidalfish.com forums under "mid-atlantic inshore" for good local info.
If you swamp, do not leave the boat under any circumstances. ut anchor it.
You will be fine. Have fun!

 

[robert graham]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

Do a float plan, let someone on shore know about where you're going and what time you expect to be back at the dock, leave yourself an extra hour or so to get back, in case you have any problems, bad weather, etc. We cruise the St.Johns River in Florida and once my wife and I left the marina, showed back up 6 days later, and they were all pretty upset because we hadn't let them know which direction or when we were returning, thay didn't know whether to call the marine patrol or what. So a float plan is a courtesy as well as a safety issue. So now we let somebody know. Good Luck!

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

Try out Long Island sound before taking the boat down. It can get messy and make you question being on an 18 foot boat.

 

[dave11]

Re: Thinking about taking my boat on the ocean for the first time?

Do a float plan, let someone on shore know about where you're going and what time you expect to be back at the dock, leave yourself an extra hour or so to get back, in case you have any problems, bad weather, etc. We cruise the St.Johns River in Florida and once my wife and I left the marina, showed back up 6 days later, and they were all pretty upset because we hadn't let them know which direction or when we were returning, thay didn't know whether to call the marine patrol or what. So a float plan is a courtesy as well as a safety issue. So now we let somebody know. Good Luck!

A float plan is a good idea, especially when you are in unfamiliar waters.