14 footer 3miles out

[Cantcallit]

Hello I am new to boating in south Florida came from south Carolina anyways I have a 14 foot lowes v bottom boat and would like to go at least 3 miles out to get to some really good fishing just wondering if anyone knows or has a small boat themselves and gone out any comments or concerns I need input thanks in advance.

 

[brnschoneck]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

make sure ita a calm day and be prepared for the worst stay tuned with the wheather its a lil small to be going out to far id say !!i wouldnt do it but thats me ...lakes yea ocean in thqt nonono

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Well, you can get just as dead 50 feet from shore as 3 miles out!

I know of guys who have taken 13 footers out into Long Island Sound and at the time I thought they were crazy. Now, having survived some pretty big stuff in a 15 footer----

As said above, keep a close eye on the weather and don't hesitate to head back. 3 miles becomes an eternity in bad weather. Oh, yeah---Don't skimp on the PFD. Buy the best avaialable. If you can afford it perhaps an EPIRB too.

 

[Cantcallit]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Yeah I would never try this if it wasn't about dead flat although in Carolina I wouldnt hesitate to head right on my dads John boat little crazy those days by the the way it's a 14 foot aluminum v hull if that makes a difference probably can't go for at least another week but I will let everyone know how it goes thanks again guys

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

You know our local saying, right Cant?..."If you don't like the weather...wait 30 minutes...it'll change!". Be careful...maybe have a buddy to go in another boat?

 

[sasto]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

I would......not today.....pretty snotty out there!

Good Luck!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

+1. Weather, weather, weather!!!! Your boat won't know if your 30 ft. or 3 miles from shore. However, if you're going that far out make sure your gear is 100% ship shape and let some one know where you're going and when to expect you back.

 

[Cantcallit]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

So it sounds like you guys are saying if the weather is right my a run for it hu I was gonna try it either way just wanted to get the experts opinion first thanks guys

 

[sasto]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Said I would do it.....Never said I was an expert!

Good Luck!

 

[Cantcallit]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Ok let you know how it goes Sunday thanks gents.

 

[sasto]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Bookmark this, Cantcallit.

Marine Forecast | Weather Underground

2' to 3' is quite choppy. Take along some raingear, you will more than likely get wet. Come summer, the Atlantic can be like glass.

Good Luck!

 

[Don S]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

There are two kinds of boaters that go that far out in a 14' boat.

Those that are experienced boaters and understand how to handle that size boat if the situation changes,
and those without a clue. The latter don't make it home in many cases.

Intermediate boaters don't because they don't know what to do if thing go wrong and understand they aren't ready for that yet.

Since you asked the question stating you are new to boating, a safety course, and experience is what you need before a 3 mile cruise. Oh, and what if the engine dies out there? What then?

 

[sasto]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Since you asked the question stating you are new to boating, a safety course, and experience is what you need before a 3 mile cruise. Oh, and what if the engine dies out there? What then?

Well said!

If all is good and well with your gear and your head.....study weather patterns.

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

You want to have a good Compass with you, that far out you may not see land, and if its raining you wont for sure. Also spare fuel. Good luck and be safe.

 

[Cantcallit]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Don I know this thread is getting kind of long but you should read it fully before responding new to boating in Florida not boating had my first boat when I was 12 and would take the boys out alone for hours on end just always proceed with caution in new waters thanks anyway I've gotten some good advice from others anyways

 

[sasto]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Don I know this thread is getting kind of long but you should read it fully before responding new to boating in Florida not boating had my first boat when I was 12 and would take the boys out alone for hours on end just always proceed with caution in new waters thanks anyway I've gotten some good advice from others anyways

Hi Cantcallit, It's just usually when someone posts a question like this, they appear to be new at boating and boats.

Not much different down here than Carolina....except for the fish. Bring us home some pics of Dolphin, Wahoo, Sailfish, Marlin.......

 

[lncoop]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Welcome aboard, Cantcallit. A bit of friendly advice if I may; use some punctuation. I had to read your initial post three times before I realized you were new to boating in Florida but not new to boating altogether. Good luck in the new waters and be sure to let us know how it goes.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Take your boys out there and ask them to swim to shore .. or the next boat.

3 miles is Off Shore .. no reason to be out there in a dink like yours in inconsistent weather. Pick your days depending on weather.

Think man .. Think ..

 

[Cantcallit]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Yes this is my main fear weather i believe we will start out at a mile or so see how that goes then move on crawl before you walk you know thanks for all the great advice can't wait to report back on how the trip goes thanks gents.the wind down here has been very bad the sea are not prime for this trip hope she lighting up soon...

 

[Jim Hawkins]

Re: 14 footer 3miles out

Funny you should ask,

2 years ago I took a trip down to the keys with a 14' aluminum Jon and a 8HP Evinrude. Tavernier. Had a blast on the Gulf side, up and down Tavernier creek, through toilet seat pass, but even in 1' to 2' seas it was just too slappy to be on the ocean in a Jon Boat and I turned back a few hundred yards out.

The reason for taking the Jon was towing capacity on my car. So the next year I saved a 13'6" trihull from the scrap yard and redid it with a 15HP Johnson. The beam on this boat was over 5' and way more stable than a Jon. On to Big Pine Key. Another great vacation. We put close to 2 hundred miles on that little boat in 10 days from the Content keys to the Ocean but only once was it calm enough to go out in the Atlantic. There was no chop at all on the water that day, only gentle swells. We ran offshore about a mile and that was as far as I would go in that boat. And a Mile out was twice as far as I thought it was after checking on my GPS.

Now I am dead set on having a light weight boat that can make it 3 miles out to the reef for snorkeling. Islamorada and Hen and Chicks reef is next. So this year I'm working on a 16' trihull (1968 Shell Lake) with a 30HP Johnson (total weight 600#) With that said, I still would not go out in any kind of chop but would wait for a calm day, (if for no other reason than it's just no fun being slapped around) and I would turn back at the first hint of changing seas. Take a VHF radio and if you have any doubts stay inshore.