What is the smallest boat you'd take to Stellwagon?
 

Assume that forecast looks good, you have your eyes on the weather the whole time, etc. What is the smallest boat you'd feel comfortable with out there?

Depends where your running out of but I'd take an 18 out there on a calm day no problem.

Are you out of Quincy often, or Falmouth? I'm looking to learn the Quincy area better myself, usually fish Hull more. If you are ever up for teaching a local a thing or two, let me know.

i'm out there pretty regular in my 19cc. not a day out there that i wish i was in anything smaller. get out there early and come home after lunch if there is any afternoon wind coming. it's doable in a small boat but it is so weather dependent, for me anyway. make sure your boat is 100%, make smart decisions and put safety first. give it a try w/ a buddy boat if you can.

Well said....many times that SW will start kicking around noon when in the forecast.

i go out there in my 18' parker i just pick and chose my days . a little unnerving when a whale twice the size of the boat pops up besie you

I fish out of a 20 foot center console and wouldn't want to be on anything smaller. I've seen guys out there in 16's but not me.

Last trip during May codfishing on the bank the wind kicked up and it was a 2 hr ride home, not fun.

Pick a day that has light and variable staying that way for the entire day or two. Do not go out when they are forecasting afternoon winds to increase.

My 20 footer, a Grady White CC. That is as small as I would go, and I really only consider it on days that are forecast to be 1-2ft. There are 20 footers, and there are 20 footers... Mine is heavy, well built, and tight. It rides better than some 24 footers. As was said above, if you're going out there, the boat better be in 100% working condition.

Keep an eye on cumulus clouds building over the Cape Ann horizon when on the NWC, as that is a sure sign of the SW getting ready to fill in and slop things up. That's my sign to beat feet and head to the barn.

18cc...going out of plymouth,,, felt safe had my 9yr old son onboard

I would but I'm only in Quincy when its not fishing season or when I'm not in school. I don't know the Quincy area to well but I know a few things so you can PM me questions and I can see if I can answer them.

I cant say to much for stellwagon, But i can say I have been out 30 mile out of Nomands Land and The SEA IS VERY UNFORGIVING. I am in a tensthousand pound 26.5 foot Invader that handes 6-8 like a champ, And ther have been days where i was pretty nervous. I woulnd ot want to be in anyting smaller. But i guess if you are leaving from plymouth or p-town a 20ft wouldnt be too bad

There are bluebird days when you can get there and back in alot of boats. But the point I would stress here is bluebird days.

If the forecast is questionable, or any chance of afternoon wind - don't screw around, it's just not worth it.

Our boat is an pretty much a tank, and I've come back at 6 knots and been flat out scared more than a few times.

Just be careful.

Nicey Said, Just not worth IT!

I've taken the 16' Lund across.

What is the closest ramp to the Swc, and how far of a run is it? Seems like lots of people have big cajones, especially after seeing what happened to MacoJoe's old boat in Buzzards bay

like the saying goes there are old sailors and bold sailors but no old bold sailors.

SWC 12-13 miles from GH.

what would you like to know?

Well said Jay !

2003 I was fishing Race Point in my Parker during july commercial bass season. About 11:00 am it started kicking up and all the boats around me had headed in, I stayed a while longer.
Needing gas I went in to Ptown to fuel up.
After fueling up I headed back of the harbor and it REALLY had kicked up !!!
The ride from Ptown harbor is one I'll never forget !!!
Took 5 hrs to get across to Plymouth going 6-7 kts taking constant waves over the roof of my pilot house.

Where the fish are! I'm actually looking to start learning and catching some fluke, sea bass, tautog, etc. Can't do Stripers and Blues forever...

Like everyone said, pick your days. That's what I do and I hit the NWC of the bank from Quincy regularly in late summer/fall. I don't like going in the spring, because the weather is not settled yet, and even though they predict calm seas, it can kick up nasty and that 30 mile run back home could be a nightmare. When I've been out and it looks like its getting nasty, I hit the throttle (my 21 is pretty fast) and get in ASAP. I don't care if the fishing is good or not, I'm going....it ain't worth it.

That said, I've seen 14' whalers out there that only have inches of gunnel out of the water. I've even seen some people out there in Badliners skiing and tubing !!!!!!! So point is some people are just plain stupid...and reckless. Be safe, pick your days, keep the weather channel on the radio.....See you out there......

To be safe a 20 footer is good size and if the wind kicks up you can always do a run to ptown harbor for safety,pick your days.

20 foot boat gets small real fast! I have a 23' Sea Ox now and i am still watching all the time, doesn't take but a min before the whole world changes out there!!

After seeing MJ drive 25knots quartering 4ft following seas . . . I think I have a better idea how he dropped off the face of a rouge wave in that V20. Stuffing the bow of those boats is not very difficult especially when the wind and the tide stack up on stellwagon and in BB. Don't fck around when the wind picks up . . . Head home or change course when the seas get ugly.

I not taking you out any more if your going to keep bashing me on these boards!! Your home aren't you, a bit wet but home:rotf2:

Hey MJ . . . I'm just busting your balls . . . I'm not knocking you at all . . . That was a fun ride!! I don't think I could have done that without getting thrown overboard and I'm too much of a pussy to even try. You got some great skills driving that boat. The V20 would have ejected all 3 of us in the first 5 minutes at those speeds in following seas. That heavy seaox rolls real nicely and just punches through the afternoon chop.

That was a perfect example of knowing the limits of your boat and it's handling characteristics.

Took my GW 18' CC out Sat morning from the N River to the SW corner. About 17 miles according to GPS. My first trip to the bank in my boat. Rougher than I had expected (forecast said 1-2, was clearly more than that), but never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. The ride home was a bit wet and slow, but all in all not a bad day. No sign of Charlie, but lots of whales.

I would probably not go again in similar conditions, just because it is slow going to get there and home, even to move around much once there. Sat morning was clearly not a perfect day, but not horrible either.

I hope you are kidding? Or mabe i am misunderstanding you. 16feet 15 miles offshore? where did you depart out of