Can my boat handle the ocean?

[red_chaser]

Does anyone do any Texas Gulf Fishing?

I live in deep south Texas and have only done bay fishing. I do most of my fishing on the lower laguna madre, in between Port Isabel and South Padre Island.

I've gone out for trout and reds in the bay for a little while on both my boat and kayak.

Now I'm getting a little more interested in going out past the SPI jetties and into the gulf on my boat for some kings and bull reds. I'm kind of scared because I'm not too sure my boat can handle being out there. I don't plan on being out that far, just maybe a mile or two.

I've got a VIP boat with a Johnson 70. The boat is a 70's tri-hull only 15' long.

Is this going to be ok for some off shore fishing not to far from the coast? Any advise is greatly appreciated.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

Not sure of the sea conditions there, but that sounds iffy to me. Pick a 3 day stretch of nice weather where the sea reports are very calm and go on the middle day if you're gonna try it.

 

[dls322]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

I wouldn't take it out into the ocean....but then i'm a wuss.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

You need something that can take waves or wakes safely. I don't think a 15' tri hull fits the description as well as a kayak.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

It's not a question if the boat can handle the ocean. The real question is, "Can the pilot handle the boat in the ocean"?

I would suggest attending an area Safe Boating Course and, additioonally, observing the type vessels venturing into the waters of your desire.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

It's not a question if the boat can handle the ocean. The real question is, "Can the pilot handle the boat in the ocean"?

I would suggest attending an area Safe Boating Course and, additioonally, observing the type vessels venturing into the waters of your desire.

I respectfully disagree. There are some boats that just have no business on the ocean, regardless who the skipper is. A 15' trihull is right on the cusp.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

I respectfully disagree. There are some boats that just have no business on the ocean, regardless who the skipper is. A 15' trihull is right on the cusp.

And I certainly agree with you !!!

My intent was to be gentle with the OP'er and suggest he become more familiar with the type/size of boats venturing into his chosen waters. The Boating Safety Course would have been instrumental in him becoming aware of the sea worthyness of given size vessels.

Shucks, at times I am reluctant to venture far from shore with our V-20!!!

 

[mbgaski]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

IMHO, it's just a little too small. I've taken a 15' jon boat (semi-v hull) inshore fishing, but I won't touch the bay in that length, much less the open ocean. Just for me, 17'+ is bay worthy, and 20'+ I'd feel comfortable going a LITTLE off-shore. I don't personally trust my own skills enough to take a boat of any size too far out on my own.

These are naturally my own limits that I set upon myself though. People do take smaller boats out naturally, but they (hopefully) have the skills and experience to do so.

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

Many people do take smallish vessels offshore.The lucky ones come back with them!Tri hulls,by nature,dont handle waves well.Add the fact its only a 15 footer,thats just crazy talk!physics and mother nature WILL prevail.You would be miserable on 3 footers in that setup.You would be in serious danger in any bigger.

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

Many people do take smallish vessels offshore.The lucky ones come back with them!Tri hulls,by nature,dont handle waves well.Add the fact its only a 15 footer,thats just crazy talk!physics and mother nature WILL prevail.You would be miserable on 3 footers in that setup.You would be in serious danger in any bigger.And just for the record,if you have to ask the question in the first place,you should already know the answer!

 

[RobbyA]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

Many people do take smallish vessels offshore.The lucky ones come back with them!Tri hulls,by nature,dont handle waves well.Add the fact its only a 15 footer,thats just crazy talk!physics and mother nature WILL prevail.You would be miserable on 3 footers in that setup.You would be in serious danger in any bigger.

I agree. I also think I would equate taking a 15' tri-hull out on the ocean to going three rounds with Mike Tyson. Not only are you not going to make it three rounds, but if you do, you will have wished you didn't.

 

[MyViewGS]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

I say don't try it. You sound like a smart person that loves to fish. Save your pennies and get a bigger boat if you want to go off shore. Til then just keep reelin in what you can get safely

MyViewGS

 

[red_chaser]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

thanks for all your advice.

i took it out to the edge of the jetties last weekend. the swells coming in were big. i dont know how measure swell height but if i was in between them the crest of the next one coming in would be about head height, and i'm 5'9".

i was crapping in my pants the whole time and got sea sick very quickly. some one here at work told me that after the big swells at the edge of the jetties it get a little better. can you guys comfirm that?

if not i don't think i would go any further than that.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

I'm not going to be as gentle as the others but this IS NOT MEANT TO BE MEAN...... at this point neither you OR your boat have any business in the big water...... If you are"crapping in your...." then you are already in over your head and are in danger...... find yourself a ride on a 30-40' twin engine trawler with an experienced captian and you can see what ocean boating is about..... please don't push your luck..... heck the ocean eats 100' boats for lunch, all it takes is one mistake or a mechanical failure

Oh and the swells can and do get ALOT bigger than that.

 

[sasto]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

Had our 10 foot, flat bottom, alum boat with 3hp 1967 Evenrude in the ocean.... catchin Spanish Mackeral. Getting "out and in"
the inlet was a problem for me.....But.....I would never recommend this to anyone.... but given the chance to do this again at that age, I would never give up that expierence. No matter what size ship you have (It' limitations are up to you, captain) the expierence you gain is unmeasureable. Know Fear.

 

[oops!]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

a 15 tri hull is a lake boat.....it was ment for very calm waters.
even in a rough lake a tri will beat the heck out of you...(as mentioned above)

yes you can go out on a good day with very calm waters. like mentioned a bay or an inlett.... if you get scared....then you will know not to do it again.

but just remember what JB says.....on the ocean.....there is no forgivness for the unprepaired.

 

[saltlydawg]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

I have to chime in on this one. There is one thing you have in the Gulf that is not even a consideration in the Laguna Madre or a lake and that is the current.

Let me illustrate: If you have an engine failure (one engine) and you can paddle at 3 knots against an outgoing current of 10 knots, how long will it take you to run out of water and abandon all hope.

I stole that from my old flight instructor regarding Aircraft performance. Honestly speaking your 15 tri hull does not have the performance for environment you are wanting to delve into. The upside is, it's time for a bigger boat!

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

On the one hand, last season on Deadliest Catch they put a guy in about a 10' aluminum boat in the middle of the Bering Sea. On the other hand, I've been on a 48' sport fish with LARGE twin diesels in the middle of a small craft advisory in the Atlantic in November. I was just a passenger but was pretty well terrified until we made it back to the inlet. You couldn't pay me enough to do it again.

The day we sea trialed our new boat, a 29' Cobalt with twin 5.0's, there was a small craft advisory on the bay. 2-3' chop and blowing 20+ with gusts to 40. The boat handled it like it was nothing. Me, not so much. We cut the trial short and headed back to sign the paperwork. I have no intention of EVER being in that sort of situation by choice. That being said, it is nice to know that she'll handle it...and that she'll run 48 knots into that mess

Needless to say, I wouldn't chance it.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

I'm guessing the question is really should you not could you.

A 13' whaler is a tri-hull and I've been in the ocean on (not really in) them.

Simple answer if your asking then no.

 

[Philster]

Re: Can my boat handle the ocean?

The iboats default answer to this question should be set to this:

"If you have to ask, then the answer is no."