Off shore considerations
 

I'm looking to start expiring the idea of gong off shore, Hydro, Atlantis, Veech, etc.

I'm completely comfortable interpreting the weather and tides, etc to predict conditions inshore almost anywhere in our local waters. What's different about off shore besides passing storm systems?

I'm pretty safety oriented, even in local waters. I always have a gallon of water, full first aid kit and the typical inshore safety gear on board but what additional is recommended beyond EPRB and additional provisions like plenty of water and food for going 150 miles off shore?

Other than looking for a bluebird pattern, EPRB, food and water, range of fuel, what else is to consider?

What size/kind of boat, power/speed and fuel capacity?

As for safety, life raft, survival suits, epirb, top notch radio, buddy boat, etc, etc. can't have enough safety that far off shore.
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a day trip to the shipping lanes as a warm up run

If you'll be refueling, first class containers , jerry jogs use to scare me,,, we smoked! :smash:

Communications! Your VHF is basically useless out there except for occasional boat to boat chit chat. You'll need a SSB or Sat phone for emergencies. A raft is a good thing to have on board and a top notch first aid kit to deal with the unexpected.

Gearing up any boat for offshore requires a significant investment. First dollars you should spend are to chip in to go out on someone else's boat that is already equipped. You will get a feel for it and have a better handle on if this is a good investment given the boat you have. Not all hulls are worth sinking that investment into. Personally, I have a great inshore boat. I can take it to Stellwagen, but am limited there by LOA on certain days. Conversely, there are good offshore boats that can't do what I want to do inshore. So when I have the need for an offshore adventure, I go on OPB, other peoples boats. Chip in for fuel, ice, food, etc. that I would have as expenses anyway. And I have my own ditch bag, float coat, and floatation devices. It is not a cheap endeavor. Ongoing maintenance costs of rafts, EPIRBS,big game rods, reels, and tackle etc need to be figured in. Do the math, count the number of trips you would make, figure you foot the fuel bill by yourself, add 25% to the total cost and see if it fits your reality.

Did you pull the trigger on the 25 nauticstar?
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We get the snot beat out of us on a regular basis only 2 hours from home and we are wikid good weathermen.
a 25 footer at the edge is ballsy.
follow the commercial vessel safety regs and you'll be prepared for survival.

other than that, find someone with balls as big as yours and have at it.
Bring a bunch of alieve, bungee cords and duct tape :bounce::bounce:

Thanks . Exactly the perspective I was looking for. I didn't buy the boat
with off shore in mind, just curious what it would take to be off shore equipped, If that became an option at some point.
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yup. Took it for a rip Saturday evening and its going back in to have some details taken care of. I rushed them through the prep so i could have it for the WE.
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We can go together ;)
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I don't think Niko's kidding. If he can get enough gas onboard watch out.:uhuh:

I just need to add a few more Gerry jugs to my collection
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After getting the #^&#^&#^&#^& kicked out of me for 4 hours in CCB yesterday, I think I'll stick to in shore waters. I can't imagine how it would be in 4'-6'rs for 160 miles. :yak5:

day trip to the lanes when it's a pond. days like yesterday- catch up on yard work

:uhuh:

I wanted to see how she took it. Stayed dry most of the time.

Let me know when you plan to go.

Knowing the weather, I hit CCB (Sunday)
Heard it was worse on Saturday, but it was still enough to get my legs trembling
Didn't take long before I headed south for groundfish
BB was much better (while staying in tight)

It's hard when your desire to get out supersedes your choice to make the better decision.
You can know your boat in and out, how it handles and such...
but with the weathermen being so off some times....:confused:
I try my best to side with caution.

Saturday's forecast was for 10-15 NE. I new it would be bumpy but figured 1-2 with the occasional 3 footer. It was easily 15-20 with gusts to 25 and solid 3-5' chop. Real snotty. Everyone enjoyed the wakeup wave in the face as I plowed through the east end rip at 4 am which was stood up about 5' with the wind directly in our faces. I wish I could do my job as poorly as the weather man…We ended up in Bbay too. Mostly at Ables and the edge of Hog Island, just scupin with the kids.

yep,
I'm in an 18'er and got stood right up leaving the east end too, then got smashed by the following wave which engulfed my bow....hence legs trembling and second thoughts ensuing.
Still thought that once I got further away things would settle out and be tolerable....:hs:

I'm always amazed at how far east the influence of the ditch extends sometimes,,, ats a lot of water! :uhuh:

You wouldn't go I hope! That is one key decision about going off shore.
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When you're already out there and some unforecasted weather comes up, you really don't have much of a choice! I've beaten my way back 100 miles in 8-10 footers taking green water over the bow.

Off shore considerations
 

I would pack a raft and make sure you have off shore life preservers. They are lot more robust than inshore. If you can afford or rent a satellite phone I would do so if you are going that far.

No such thing as "inshore" or "offshore" PFDs. what you want is type I PFDs.