"King5899" wrote in message
oups.com...


- How far offshore is reasonable in this style, size, and equipped
boat?


It all depends on the weather, wind and sea state. I've crossed Cape Cod Bay
in a 16' Boston Whaler. (stupid). I've also had a few unplanned, white
knuckled fishing adventures in a 36' Egg Harbor.


- What else should I consider getting to ensure any offshore trip
would be a safe one?

IMO?

1. Radar.

I don't think anyone is experienced until they encounter their first
offshore venture when suddenly, out of nowhere, a fog develops that limits
your visibility to 5 feet beyond the bow.

2. GPS-Equipped Emergency Locator Beacon.

3. Life raft.

4. Learn traditional navigation. Don't assume your GPS is going to always
work.


My other personal requirement for offshore boating is a boat with twin
engines. Many disagree.


- Are there any places or clubs to meet up with other boaters heading
out to the hot fishing spots that might allow someone less experienced
to follow them out? (This would offer a level of safety that if
something did go wrong there are other boats in the area)

Around here most serious fishing buffs are rather territorial and secretive
regarding their favorite "hot spots", but it's still a good idea to fish in
the general vicinity of other boats. Meet and make some fishing friends.

Eisboch

On Feb 8, 2:28�am, "RCE" wrote:


My other personal requirement for offshore boating is a boat with twin
engines. *Many disagree.

I think twins are important if you are a gas boat. Less important for
a diesel. Once you get a diesel started it will run until you shut it
off unless it overheats (entirely preventable) or is denied
combustible fuel. (Fuel problems tend to affect both engines, so twins
are less of an issue from that perspective). Witness- nearly every
commercial fishing boat ever built; offshore for sometimes a couple of
weeks and running with a single diesel. May be less true than before,
with all of the intricate comptuerization now incorporated into a
modern diesel- but I suspect in most cases a diesel would continue to
run if the electronics crapped out- just wouldn't run very well.

And of course, don't leave the dock without a VHF and a decent
antenna.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Feb 8, 2:28?am, "RCE" wrote:


My other personal requirement for offshore boating is a boat with twin
engines. Many disagree.

I think twins are important if you are a gas boat. Less important for
a diesel. Once you get a diesel started it will run until you shut it
off unless it overheats (entirely preventable) or is denied
combustible fuel. (Fuel problems tend to affect both engines, so twins
are less of an issue from that perspective). Witness- nearly every
commercial fishing boat ever built; offshore for sometimes a couple of
weeks and running with a single diesel. May be less true than before,
with all of the intricate comptuerization now incorporated into a
modern diesel- but I suspect in most cases a diesel would continue to
run if the electronics crapped out- just wouldn't run very well.

And of course, don't leave the dock without a VHF and a decent
antenna.


I agree with your point of diesel vs gas although modern diesels are
increasingly reliant on electronics to run. There are, however, other
propulsion system failures or accidents that could leave you dead in the
water while doing offshore cruising and/or fishing. IMO being dead in the
water, 30 or 40 miles from land in rough seas is second only to fire in
terms of danger.

Eisboch

On Feb 8, 12:13 pm, "RCE" wrote:

I agree with your point of diesel vs gas although modern diesels are
increasingly reliant on electronics to run. There are, however, other
propulsion system failures or accidents that could leave you dead in the
water while doing offshore cruising and/or fishing. IMO being dead in the
water, 30 or 40 miles from land in rough seas is second only to fire in
terms of danger.

Hooking up with a decent sized mako and having it jump
into the boat is one that I've actually witnessed.

Funniest "accident" I've ever seen. The fish was
flopping around the stern and three guys hanging
onto the top of the console and the T-Top.

I know a guy who had the prop shaft supports ripped out
the bottom of his boat by a whale that came out of
nowhere - hit the stern and everything went bye-bye.

Fortunately, it didn't sink - some quick thinking bystanders
came to the guys rescue with some tarps, the CG sent
a pump and two bigger boats came alongside and limped
the owners boat in until Sea//Tow could get to it.

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
ups.com...

I know a guy who had the prop shaft supports ripped out
the bottom of his boat by a whale that came out of
nowhere - hit the stern and everything went bye-bye.



We met up with some guys in a big Sea Ray on the voyage to Florida and did
some partying at the marina we stopped at. The next day (nursing hangovers)
we elected to stay on the ICW and they decided to run off-shore.

They ended up wrapping a submerged chunk of 2" hawser on one of their shafts
and ripped the cutlass bearing mounting plate right out of the hull.
Fortunately they were able to stuff the hole enough and maintain headway on
the other engine until the Coast Guard arrived.

Eisboch

On Thu, 8 Feb 2007 15:41:09 -0500, "RCE" wrote:

They ended up wrapping a submerged chunk of 2" hawser on one of their shafts
and ripped the cutlass bearing mounting plate right out of the hull.

It's amazing how much stuff like that is out there, most of it
floating polypropolene line and netting from commercial fishing boats.

We heard a distress conversation 2 years ago between a 110 ft Broward
and the coast guard. They had become entangled in floating line
somewhere off the Carolina coast and were dead in the water.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 8 Feb 2007 15:41:09 -0500, "RCE" wrote:

They ended up wrapping a submerged chunk of 2" hawser on one of their
shafts
and ripped the cutlass bearing mounting plate right out of the hull.

It's amazing how much stuff like that is out there, most of it
floating polypropolene line and netting from commercial fishing boats.

We heard a distress conversation 2 years ago between a 110 ft Broward
and the coast guard. They had become entangled in floating line
somewhere off the Carolina coast and were dead in the water.



For the benefit of the OP, the Hudson is loaded with chunks of wood, and
sometimes entire trees. There are so many so-called "creeks" that empty into
the river, many of them big enough to carry lots of debris, especially
during the spring thaw and a month or three afterward. This is why many of
the creeks were used for moving lumber.

On Feb 8, 12:41�pm, "RCE" wrote:
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in oglegroups.com...



I know a guy who had the prop shaft supports ripped out
the bottom of his boat by a whale that came out of
nowhere - hit the stern and everything went bye-bye.

We met up with some guys in a big Sea Ray on the voyage to Florida and did
some partying at the marina we stopped at. *The next day (nursing hangovers)
we elected to stay on the ICW and they decided to run off-shore.

They ended up wrapping a submerged chunk of 2" hawser on one of their shafts
and ripped the cutlass bearing mounting plate right out of the hull.
Fortunately they were able to stuff the hole enough and maintain headway on
the other engine until the Coast Guard arrived.

Eisboch


An excellent illustration of the point that twins don't always make a
boat safer.
With twin inboards, the shaft aft of the shaft log is perilously
exposed. I'd be willing to bet that more sinkings occur each year due
to ripping a strut away from the hull (and creating a 2-3 sq ft (!)
breach) than from a loss of motive power.
Losing headway won't usually put a boat into peril unless there is a
pretty nasty blow going on- but ripping off a strut upon striking a
deadhead, a hawser, a reef, a whale, etc can easily sink a boat in a
dead calm.

For my money, I like the shaft protruding about a foot or so from the
cutlass bearing, protected by a keel, skeg, and rudder. Much safer
than running naked.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...


An excellent illustration of the point that twins don't always make a
boat safer.

No, not "always". But having twins improves your chances. If the engine
still runs, one
otherwise disabled drive can help by using it's engine as a high volume
bilge pump
while the other is used to head for shallow water.


For my money, I like the shaft protruding about a foot or so from the
cutlass bearing, protected by a keel, skeg, and rudder. Much safer
than running naked.

Certainly agree there.

Eisboch