On Feb 8, 9:04 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On 7 Feb 2007 20:30:55 -0800, "King5899" wrote:

I just purchased a '98 Sundancer 250 with a single 5.7 EFI/Bravo III.
The boat is in excellent condition, and a full hull and engine survey
proved it was quite the solid boat, with many hours to go on it. While
sitting waiting up here in the northeast for the weather to warm up I
keep reading more and more about fishing off the Jersey shore. I have
read articles about catching Tuna, Dolphin and all sorts of
interesting fish in locations like the Mud hole, which is 15 miles
offshore. I purchased the boat primarily as a Hudson river and bay
boat for the family,

The Sundancer 250 is a good river and bay boat but you will soon
discover that it has its limitations there also. It was not designed
as an off shore boat so it is severly weather limited for that use.

I agree with all of the previous advice: radar, liferaft, EPIRB,
kicker engine, navigation courses, SeaTow membership, etc.

In addition, I would encourage you to get a lot more experience with
the boat and its equipment. Over time you will get a much better
appreciation for what it can and can not do safely, and you will gain
experience in how to manage difficult conditions.

The Jersey shore is a dangerous place in conditions that are only
moderately severe. The inlets can have breaking seas even when the
wind is not blowing, all it takes is a large swell and an outgoing
tide. 25 foot boats get rolled and people lost every year after
getting caught by an inopportune breaking wave.

Great point. It's like working the Charlestown Breachway. Perfectly
calm day outside, six foot breakers on the tide going into.

Tough to do in a smallish boat.