How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

[jere1972]

I have a 96 KeyWest 2020WA Bluewater, powered with a 99 Johnson 225 op, w/9.9 Mariner kicker, mainly only ever owned small 15-17' flats boats, only had this one for a few months and only been in the bay with her doing test runs, so needs some insight here, boating out of the florida gulf coast region(Tampa) I'm not sure what offshore capability/range would be considered safe travel for this vessel, there was just a news segment here in tampa about some fisherman who became stranded about 70miles out(thats where they were found) I thought that was rediculas being any where near that far in a 20' boat, but of coarse that got my wife going, "just how far out do you think your going to go" well my answer was to where the fish are baby, but I just don't know never boated more then 3-4 miles out, west of Egmont Key, that was with my 1720 KeyWest, on a breezy day that was pretty unpleasent, but again that was a bayboat/flats boat, I have seatow, and a kicker, not really too concerned about breaking down, but am concerned about gulf seas and how far out the boat can be and still remain stabil seeing as that I have never fished off shore in my own boat, always someone elses, that were over 25'

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

First, figure your fuel capacity and consumption at cruising speed, and limit yourself to 1/3 of the distance. Keep track with your GPS. The rule is 1/3 out, 1/3 in and 1/3 reserve.

Second, there are two distinct issues to address, each with different concerns and solutions.
#1 is getting caught in bad weather. Obviously you don't go out when it is too bad or likely to become so. The real danger is getting caught in stuff you can't handle, too far from shore to make it back in time. And "shore" means your inlet, not the beach. 5 miles out and you can be safe in 10 minutes. 50 miles out and it's 100 minutes if the water stays calm. So for this one, you have to know that you can handle bad weather, because if you go out far, you WILL get caught. Your boat is OK for typical problems, but what matters more is whether your skills and experience are adequate.
#2 is breakdown. The problem is partially solved by your kicker and your radio. Consult local knowledge for range as well as cell phone range but NEVER rely on the cell phone to work; they are too fragile for marine safety. Your problem is further solved by leaving your wife or whoever your float plan so they can call out the dogs if you are overdue (which may cost you big bucks). That guy 70 miles out may have broke down 10 miles out. The best safety is the buddy system; again you need local knowledge. Going 30 miles out to a popular fishing spot on Saturday in the summer is not the same as going where no man goes on Tuesday in February.

A factor on #2 is the condition of your equipment and your ability to make repairs at sea. Don't leave that kicker sitting there until a breakdown to find it won't run. You have old gear. That increases your risk.

I live on the coast, and recently moved up from a 17' key west bay boat to a 21' deep V. I learned the limitations of the first; I am testing the limitations of the second. People take boats like mine 30 miles out, a lot, but (at least the smart ones) with the considerations I said above. Join a local fishing forum or club and learn from them.

To answer the direct question, "what is safe", that is driven solely on your skills. For that you need experience. Look for opportunities to run your boat in bad conditions but safely--close to shore, in the bay, with other boats, etc. Practice on the big wakes.

On another note, Faulkner could do it, but the run-on sentence is not your style. Please break up your posts.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

And "shore" means your inlet, not the beach.

Depends on how bad your situation is... If you are in danger of sinking, shore means any piece of nearby ground. Preferrably connected to a larger piece of ground with other people on it, but even that is optional if necessary.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

Next time your over at John's Pass look on the bulletin board at the link below. They use to have postings of groups of boats that were going out together.
If you've never been that far out then take one of their 34 hour trips. You leave late with sleeping bag and fish at dawn about 70-90 miles out.
It may change your mind about ever going very far off-shore in a small boat. After a couple of hours sitting and fishing the big boys show up, and it's time to move on. lol

http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/

huts

 

[Beefer]

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

I'm in the same area as you (Treasure Island), and boat/fish the same area as well. I have an even older boat (1984), that's only 1 foot bigger, with a 27 yr old single I/O, and no kicker. I have all the other safety equipment.

As I'm sure you've heard, you'll want to "Pick your days". That means knowing what the weather is, was, and will be. Watch the weather patterns. The day before those guys went out, I was out there, and it was dead calm. From what I understand, the day they went out, it was calm in the morning, but was forecasted to pick up later in the day, and it did. Personally, I think they were ill-prepared; didn't understand (or check) the weather, hand-held VHF that they (supposedly) dropped overboard, a HH VHF typically only has a range of about 5 miles, no on-board VHF, and from what it appears, no anchor, or at least not enough rode for where they were.

I'll go 50 miles on a decent day. I'll go 5-10 miles on cruddy days. I stay inshore on crappy days. A lot of it has to do with your abilities, and the boat's condition. You will know leaving the inlet (or attempting to) whether or not you want to proceed. I come out of either JP or Pass-A-Grille (preferred), and as inlets are usually snottier then the actual GOM, I use the inlet as a gauge to what will be out there. I live on the water, and less then 1 miles inland from the Gulf, so I also use my canal as a guide. I've gone out 15 miles in SCA's, but I usually stay home during Small Craft Warnings.

Winter is different then Spring/Summer. I tend to stay a bit closer (<25m) in the winter. Seems weather does weirder things quicker in the winter.

Take your boat, and go out. Start learning how the boat will handle in different seas, and how you fare as well. Only you can truly tell what the limitations are, because there are too many variables that only you can answer that go into the equation of 'how far'.

On a side note, there are tons of fish to be had within 10 miles of the Skyway.

 

[Philster]

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

Generally... If you have to ask how far, then the answer is not very far.

 

[Shamfarlango]

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

Well said guys. The rule of thumb is the boat will handle 10x what the occupants will. If you don't know the boat and aren't comfortable, you should slowly build experience and move farther out over time as you become comfortable with your abilities.

 

[ufm82]

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

I've been 20 miles out twice in my 19 footer and have felt very comfortable each time. Calm seas and clear forecasts. It's no different than being 20' off the bank in a technical sense. The distance involved seems to effect people more than the actual trip. Would you have the same reservation to running 20 miles up a lake or river? Granted, it's easier to get help should something happen but if you are equipped properly to handle an emergency it should not be a problem. Your boat is big enough, hopefully seaworthy, you have seatow, a back up engine (albeit small) and have been there in the past. If you have a radio, an epirb or other locator, GPS and a survival kit you're good.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

Depends on how bad your situation is... If you are in danger of sinking, shore means any piece of nearby ground. Preferrably connected to a larger piece of ground with other people on it, but even that is optional if necessary.

I know that, but that is not what you plan for. You plan your trip to return safely, in one piece, and that's back to the dock, not swamped in the surf. Here, when there's 60 miles of uninterrupted beach, you base your runs on the inlets.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

I disagree; this sounds like advice from an interior boater. We're talking coastal waters, and East coast at that, where 20 miles straight out it not the same as 20 miles along the beach, and nothing like a drive up a river. When you are straight out, you have lost visual bearings, radio contact and cell phone contact, and the ability to anchor. And even if you can reach Seatow it will be hours before they get you, if they find you by then.

You are 20 miles from sheltered water. Because the storms come from shore, by the time you see them, they are between you and the shore and headed at you. As I said, you might be able to make a 10 minute run for it, but not an hour.

EPIRB and survival stuff is all well and good, but only for last resort. You plan recreational boating as if you don't have them, and you plan never to use them. They do not make it all OK or solve routine problems.

 

[JoLin]

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

^^^ Well stated, HC.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

my ocean boating experience is VERY limited but I do understand a little about it. Honestly you can kind of have an idea and think you understand but most boaters probably need to get in a bad situation before they REALLY understand what can happen and how.... the problem with that is that all too often that education can be fatal. If you know exactly what you are doing you can still end up dead and if you don't it is much more likely. I've been caught in a storm in lake erie that made what would be 40 minute trip take from daylight through the night till dawn.

I've seen calm conditions in the atlantic go to waves that really hurt my back trying to get back in in short order and I've been on the gulf playing roller coaster on huge swells with no idea how the heck I was gonna get back in through the inlet.

The best advice I can offer is DO NOT learn how in your own boat unless you have an experienced captain making the decisions for you.... befriend an experienced captain and crew on his boat till you no longer need to ask.

It takes a special breed.... I'd say that 99.99% of inland boaters have no business heading offshore with their current level of experience and maybe only 10% would be up to the task of learning.

I'm pretty good and I wouldn't leave sight of land in the ocean.

 

[kahuna123]

Re: How far would you go!!!florida gulf coast! opinion needed

Gulf 3-5ft chop is nothing like Atlantic East big rollers. Rule here generally is 26-28 ft boat will span them. Other than that you are going to have big problems in a hard East wind trying to get home. Hard East will be the most dangerous. Never take that boat offshore if anything more than 5 to 10 East. IF it hits 20 and you are offshore you are looking at walls of water to get home through and your boat will stuff eventually. We got caught in Egmont in a hard East in a kingfish tournament and were taking them over the bow and enough to overrun the scuppers and out over the transom in a very well made 21 Mako CC. Minimum two rule 1500's. Buy an EPRIB, how much if your life worth. In the Summer get in before the afternoon squalls.

Forget the kicker, they are pretty much useless. Can it push a 20 ft loaded boat at a 45 degree angle up a 5 ft hill?? Look around and see who else has one. A handheld VHF is going to be great to talk the chopper as it is hovering over you after they find you with your EPIRB. Other than that not much. Throw away you plastic coated anchor chain and get 10 feet of good chain. At least 5 times as deep as you will ever be. ( I KNOW I KNOW ITS 7). Worst case is you can anchor up keep your bow into the wind. I helped out a charter off of Tarpon who had lost a transmission. 8 ft and starting to crest but he was anchored up good and steady into a hard wind and everyone was safe. Imagine if he could not get a hold and the were taking them at the beam.

Please listen. This is not the Atlantic. This gets really ugly over here for a small boat. Not that big but straight up and down with no back. Very difficult for a small boat to handle. So pick your days and when in doubt don't. Go with another boat at least a few trips. Go get your butt beat 5 miles offshore once and then imagine that for 4 or 5 times as long.

Boats come in all shapes and sizes. I have been in 20's that we very seaworthy and others I was nervous in the lake. My 26 Dusky routinely went 70 miles to the grounds. My friends 28 CC takes more than any of us can handle. Then again I been on a Pro Sport 26 that was coming apart in 3 footers.