salt water/fresh water

[jdhain]

What is the smallest boat you would run in the ocean (i.e. shrimping and fishing close to shore in the flats) and still feel safe? I can't afford a $10,000 boat. Also want to run it in freshwater rivers and such.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: salt water/fresh water

To me, a 17' is about the minimum and thats provided you're not going so far offshore that you can't get back in a hurry if you need to. I use my boat about like you describe and it's a 17' deep-V with a Johnson V-4 as the main engine and a Johnson 15 as the auxiliary [I feel better with the kicker on it, although most don't have them]. I also have a VHF radio and take my cell phone with me. All that being said, in 30+ years I've never had to call for help or use the auxiliary to get home. Maintaining your equipment and watching the weather is your best guarantee of coming back safely.

 

[Solittle]

Re: salt water/fresh water

A lot depends on the boat but more depends on the knowledge and attitude of the captain. For me, I would not be comfortable in a 17' bowrider in the ocean. I would in a self bailing center console. I run a 23' center console out in the Gulf and am comfortable in most conditions - - but I pay attention to waves, wind and weather - constantly.

 

[crab bait]

Re: salt water/fresh water

GOOD HEAVENS,,, JACK..!!<br /><br />i hope you kissed a horseshoe,, danced a jig,, or somethin' after you wrote the ' 30 years' part..!! holey moley...<br /><br />at least put a block of wood on your head an KNOCK on it...!!!

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: salt water/fresh water

he forgot to mention the '29 years on a sailboat" part, lol

 

[tradin]

Re: salt water/fresh water

thats funny ray

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: salt water/fresh water

Thanks, Crabby. Actually, after I re-read my post, I ran down to my church for a few words with the MAN. Realized I was almost begging for a motor blowup followed by a kicker that wouldn't start and a radio and cellphone that didn't work.

 

[bobber head]

Re: salt water/fresh water

Safest small boat would be a Boston Whaler as it's unsinkable even if swamped as compared to say an open bow (bow rider) that stands the strongest chance of being swamped, and sunk, as it can't shed the water back out fast enough.<br /><br />Thing is once you hit the open ocean what are the odds you'll be content to stay close to shore?<br /><br />"The Sea's horizon has a call like no other" - jdb<br /><br />Capt. Bob Armstrong, my new hero, say's, "I'd set the lower limit at 18' L.O.A.".<br /><br />Bobbers two pennies.

 

[pbailey]

Re: salt water/fresh water

Mother nature is a wonderful thing and it will kick your butt in a nano second. That being said, remember that a small craft advisery is for vessels to 65-feet.<br /><br />Pay close attention to the weather, not what is forcasted, but what is or might be developing.<br /><br />This happened to me:<br /><br />Memorial Day 1990. Chumming for rockfish in the mouth of the Potomac, about 8 miles wide where it empties into the Chesapeake. <br /><br />Forecast for that day was light winds variable. Turning to the NW 10-20 knts at around 1:00 p.m.<br /><br />We figured we would fish until the wind started to swing. We were only 4-miles from ramp and I had a 16-foot Wahoo with ninty Yamaha. Went about 48 to 50 mph. We could get back no problem before the sea's built. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />When the I felt the cool wind from the north we picked up our lines and stowed the gear and took off for the ramp. Went about a half a mile when the winds had built to around 40 knts. Highest winds recorded at Point Lookout that day were 55 knts. and we were stuck in the middle of it.<br /><br />Sea's built to 6-8 feet and wave duration was about 20-feet. First big wave I hit, it felt like the boat was vertical. Came down and plugged the transom. Engine choked but didn't quit. Good thing because that would have been it. since this boat was built by an engineer who left Whaler it too wouldn't sink, but that was not much comfort at the time. <br /><br />After the boat plugged, it picked up about 30 gallons. Don't know how we stayed afloat until it drained, but we did. Without getting into all the detail, I was able to figure out the wave duration and the proper trim to time when to nail and let off the power to get the bow onto the back of the wave so as not to take one over the bow. <br /><br />Didn't have VHF installed and that was a big mistake. Coast Gaurd had been broadcasting a warning to mariners for about an hour before it hit. Had I had a radio all would have been well.<br /><br />Some of you will say 16-footer, what an idiot. How about a 20 or 25- footer?<br /><br />The extra 6-feet didn't help the 23-foot Mako that capsized 2 miles from me. <br /><br />In other words: 16-footer to 25-footer, it does not matter if the weather goes to hell.<br /><br />13 people died that day and numerous others lost or swamped their boats. The front that came through that day stretched from the Chesapeake all the way to the Deleware.<br /><br />Man I'm sweating just thinking about it.<br /><br />ALLWAYS HAVE A VHF RADIO SCANNING CHANNEL 16 WHEN OPERATING A VESSEL IN COASTAL WATERS.<br /><br /> pbailey

 

[KCook]

Re: salt water/fresh water

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