starter boat for going a couple miles offshore?

[xxoczukxx]

im looking into used boats for some in shore and offshore fishing around Boston. farthest id go in stellwagen bank (less than 10 miles from shore in some places). New to boats.

Ive been looking at used wellcraft v20's and have a couple I am going to check out but I also stumbled upon some good deals for 23/24' sea ray cuddy's in good condition as well.

I know theyre not exactly fishing vessels for the sea ray but i could make do as they look really good for the price (though i havent been by in person to inspect them yet).


Anyone have experience with these or have any recommendations? this would be my first boat so im looking for something cheap to work on and learn from. At the price im paying i dont expect them to last long but I hope they last atleast a couple years with good maintenance.

i do plan on boating around a lot inshore and in freshwater before even attempting to go offshore. I am not comfortable doing that with as little experience as I have

 

[dingbat]

Whether you go out 5, 10, 50 or 100 miles offshore is irrelevant. Boats sink, people die less than a mile out all the time. The worst and most dangerous part of going offshore, at least around there, is getting in and out of the inlet.

Here is some criteria for you:

1. I want a hull designed for rough water use, with adequate power.
Nothing like slugging your way back in following seas with an under powered boat.

2. I want a self draining cockpit.
You have no idea how much water can come over a bow in a single event until you've experienced it. No way would I want that much water going into the bilge hoping to get pumped out before the next wave hits.

3. I want high gunnels. I don't want waves coming over the side or me going over.

4. I want a lot of fuel capacity just in case. Observe the 1/3 out, 1/3 in and 1/3 in reserve rule.
Boats are gas hogs. Rough conditions can increase your fuel consumption 10 fold.

 

[southkogs]

Look at center console and dual console out board boats (Google search 'em): You'll see that those boats (compared to a bow rider or cuddy like the Bayliner you were looking at), have a deeper V to their bow. The bows have more rake to them (meaning they cut a little sharper at the centerline of the hull, and the bow gunwale flutes out to shove water away from the boat). There's more to the hull design than that, but you'll see the difference.

You're looking for boats that by their nature are designed to do what dingbat is mentioning above. Dual console boats are really similar to the bow riders you're used to seeing, but the hull design is geared more toward rougher/bigger water.

Just looking at a few boats like that should show you more what kind of design you want to find.

 

[Scott Danforth]

as 'kogs mentioned. look at dedicated center console boats such as Welcraft or Robalo for the style of boat.

searays and bayliners would not be my first choice for going off-shore

 

[tpenfield]

I vote for 22-24 foot center console (Grady white)

 

[high&dry]

When I was growing up we ranged far offshore in 17 foot BW Montauk and similar boats. Very few people had boats larger than 20 feet and I do not recall any of the 30 foot CC with triple engines zooming around. Yet somehow we survived without auto-inflating jackets, PLBs, EPERBS, triple engine 30 footers and all of it. Nobody spent $250,000 equivalent on a boat unless it was a sport fisher sedan.

But, I have a PLB, auto-jackets, EPERB, VHF w/DSC, two GPS/chart plotters, handheld VHF and a bunch of other stuff and I do run out, I pick my days, far offshore. I do not have a triple 30 and I could afford one if I wanted.

Here is the difference between the skipper of a 19 footer and the skipper of that triple 30 if either were to capsize, the 19 foot fellow will be sitting on top of his hull eating PB&J and the 30 foot skipper will be treading water over his hoping not to be eaten by that curious oceanic cruising by.

I prefer boats that are built to shed water (BW type) as opposed to boats that are designed to keep water out (GW type). You want self bailing decks that are above water level at rest and an outboard engine, no stern drives, regardless.

We all have out opinions based on our experiences, those are some of mine, yours may differ, just fine and dandy with me.

The real problem with ranging offshore in a smaller boat is you cannot run as fast in heavy chop and will have to drop off plane sooner/before the big guys (do) which means they can, maybe, outrun the storm and you cannot, that none of either should have been out in. The closer to the inlet or shelter, the better off you are. Pop up storms can come out of nowhere. I watch the locals, if they go out I go out, if they go in, I am out running them if I can back. Learn your weather and your water and prepare for the day that will inevitably come that you get to ride out a storm.

 

[pullin]

To High and Dry: What is BW and GW? I'll probably go "Doh!" like Homer Simpson, but I'm still on my first cup of coffee and can't figure it out.

Thanks.

 

[JoLin]

BW and GW are Boston Whaler and Grady White.

 

[dingbat]

I guess sitting on top of the hull eating P&J sandwiches wasn't in their cards......

The bodies of two Montgomery County men who went missing after a boating accident in Charles County on Saturday were recovered from the Potomac River by divers Sunday, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police.

Police identified the men as brothers Eriberto Ferrufino, 47, and Franklin Ferrufino, 43, both of Silver Spring.

The men’s 13-foot Boston Whaler was found empty and turning in circles about 10:30 p.m. Saturday near Cobb Island, police said. Officials said they found damage on the boat that looked as if it might have hit a buoy. Neither of the men was wearing a life jacket. The medical examiner’s office is doing autopsies and toxicology tests, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police.

Police said the accident is being investigated.

 

[high&dry]

I guess sitting on top of the hull eating P&J sandwiches wasn't in their cards......

I am not sure I understand your point. Do you have one? I guess if you run into a buoy or a jetty or piling at speed not sure there is a reason to blame any boat for that, but again, the BW was afloat and underway minus occupants, not on the bottom of the ocean minus occupants.

Dear OP, as someone else explained by BW I mean Boston Whaler and similar (Edgewater for example and I really mean the more classic or traditional Whalers)) and by GW I mean Grady White ( and similar such as Parker, Sea Hunt etc). Just two well known brands that have long history and strong followings.