New to offshore need help

[Nickjt]

Hey guys. iam very new to ( offshore ) stuff, i have been a inshore guy my hole life, i have a 19ft Back country with 225 merc, most i go is around the sky way bridge and thats pushing my luck, but any way i have alot of questions i would very much like to ask. for all you that put your time into giving me a answer i thank you very much.

ok 1, I been looking at boats around 26-32 ft center consol. some with twin O/B some with twin I/O , and i want to know how far can i go out with out geting my self into trubble. What would be a random guess on my GPH use with a 175-225 HP twin outboard. my price range is no more then 50k.
My fishing range at random guess would be around 10 to 60 miles out?

Keep in mind i dont need a center consol, iam just a big space freak. walk arounds are nice, but i also must keep my boat at my house, and it cant be BIG cause i have to tow it ( i live 1 mile from the boat ramp) no point in keeping it at a marine.

Gear? ok as gear go's i think iam set, my deep sea set up is 4 penn reels with 50lb, full roller rods, and i have 2 heavy duty penn reels with 80lb. same rods.

GPS? ok i have a fish finder with GPS on my flats boat, to be honest i never use it and when i do its to mark a reef. what is a good GPS unit and a good fish finder that is easy to read and find spots, and do the 3D fish finders work good?

sorry if my spelling is bad, iam one of those guys that cant spell to save my life.

[Seth]

Do you want to know how far you can go out in distance before you have to turn back in order to have enough fuel to make it back?This is really a wide open question. The fuel capacity of boats varies, so you would have to know how much fuel the boat you want will hold. Also, in order to determine how many gallons per hour you will burn will depend on boat size and weight, the speeds you are running, type of fishing you are doing, prop to a degree, sea conditions, etc. Do you have any idea of the type of boat you would like to have?

[jbanks1980]

irst thing is wherer are u from today i looked at a 2002 25 ft trophy w/ twin 115 horse outboards and all the electronics for 12900 it has a 150 gal tank runs at about 8 gal an hr at 15knts that should get u atleast 50 off shore also uj can get a brand nw triumph c/c 25 ft w/ twin 150s 2008 model for around 45k check out triumphboats.com 2 c new models but go t ur dealer to buy 2008 model and save a bundle

[dreamsfloatjoe]

Hey guys. iam very new to (offshore ) stuff, ... I have a lot of questions i would very much like to ask... I been looking at boats around 26-32 ft center consol. some with twin O/B some with twin I/O , and i want to know how far can i go out with out geting my self into trubble. What would be a random guess on my GPH use with a 175-225 HP twin outboard. my price range is no more then 50k. ... My fishing range at random guess would be around 10 to 60 miles out? ... Gear? ok as gear go's i think iam set, my deep sea set up is 4 penn reels with 50lb, full roller rods, and i have 2 heavy duty penn reels with 80lb. same rods. GPS? ok i have a fish finder with GPS on my flats boat, to be honest i never use it and when i do its to mark a reef. what is a good GPS unit and a good fish finder that is easy to read and find spots, and do the 3D fish finders work good? ...My personal preference is a Walk Around Cabin (WAC)/Express. Why? Ladies prefer their privacy when they potty/change clothes. I can keep 'stuff' secure and dry without loading/unloading and me being a pack mule every trip. Ice, drinks, bait and eats is all I have to load each trip. I have a place to go to get out of 'weather' if need be. Also in my case, when vacationing visitors (family and friends) visit/stay in our home and I am not fond of these folks, I can go out and I stay on board my boat (cheap) to see parts of south Florida and Georgia for 7 - 10 days at a time very comfortable. I love it when some vactioning visitors decide to visit us! smile

60 miles offshore? GPS - Mark your way out and follow your line back in, you'll thank me later if the weather turns on you and/or fog rolls in. Radar! - if the weather turns ugly on you, you will travel between 10-15 knots back in, it will seem like forever when you cannot see past the front of your bow. EPIRB!

Hand held VHF radio in case your radio goes out on you. Float plan, file one with a friend! Get a free Vessel Safety Check compliments of the USCG Aux or your local Power Boat Squadron. Take boating courses.

I prefer outboat motors over I/O in saltwater out at sea. Easier to work on, if a problem develops. Example: One of your fishing lines gets tangled in a prop from a fishie going crazyest about not wanting to be on board your boat.

Friendly reminder: Once you leave the dock you can get into trouble as fast and as easy as being 60 miles off shore. The ocean can humble me in a micro nano second.

I recommend you go out with other boats, when venturing out more than 7 miles. You will no longer be able to see land as a reference point. "Boat Buddies". Do not venture out off shore when the seas are greater than 3-4 feet and the wind speed is greater than 10-15 knots on your first few trips, gain your reliance/confidence in yourself and your boat/equipment. It's too 'ruff' to fish comfortably, without getting banged up yourself in a plane'g hull boat. It will feel like you are in a washing machine, agitate. smile As the Captain of your vessel, you are responsible for yourself, your boat and your quests. Why risk putting others in danger to come 'rescue' you for you being an irresponsible boat captain.

As far as recommending a GPS and a fish finder, IMHO, they are all good. It's a personal preference. The more features, the more expensive.

Gas Mileage, simple formula I use is, the more HP, the more gas you will sip. Too many varaibles, boat weight, trim, sea conditions, current, wind speed, speed you travel (MPH), etc. Example: Across the board, my average burn rate is 7 GPH with a 70 gallon fuel tank, you can do the math. Don't forget 30% reserve/safety in case things do not go at sea according to Hoyle. Example: A day earlier this week, I was about 5 miles south of my inlet and approx 15 miles off shore fishing, the USCG asked me to move 2 miles further south, because the US Navy was conducting training with a few of our War Ships. No problem to move. However, now we have to go further south and many miles east (out to sea) and around the training area to get back in without upsetting the USCG/US Navy. Radar, showed me wear all the ships were, I could not see them from the boat, other than the huge cutter who asked us to move and I'm confident they follwed my movements with their radar.

Fishing gear? Your gonna need more, if you go often. Please don't ask me how I know.

Tow Boat/Sea Tow insurance is a must, IMHO. They are both good, depends on who services the area you frequent.

In complete openness, I strongly suggest, you go offshore fishing in other peoples boats and chip in for fuel, before you put out your hard earned money for a large purchase. Purpose? See what gear they have on their boats, how they do it and 'why' they do what they do and the why they have what they have. This will save you money in the long run on what you want in an off shore fishing boat and what equipment you want to own. I am not an expert nor am I a know it all. Hope this helps.

Questions?

A few of my thoughts, IMHO, as usual, your mileage may vary.

Good luck and enjoy your journey!

[SirReel]

Six years ago I went through Jupiter inlet in my 16 foot runabout with a couple Zebco fishin rods. After 4 Hours, 2-48" Dolphin and almost sinking the boat when a wave broke over the bow, I was hooked.

I spent a year asking the questions you asked. A lot of the answers will become self evident after you purchase the new boat. The previous post has a lot of great information and I will try to add to it.

We have a 26' CC with twin 150's. We paid 50K for a one year old boat with 16 hours on it. The previous owner paid over 100K for the boat (we found the recipt in the boat). It had all the neccessary Electronics, Radar, Sonar, Chart Plotter, Radio Etc.

We spent the 1st year bottom bumpin up to about 12 miles. One night our GPS went out about 12 miles ofshore. That night I learned to read a map, compass, and use my radar. Now, we have 2 complete systems on the Boat and a handheld GPS.

You will find a GPS essential when you are trying to locate a position without any reference to land. We have a Ray Marine and Lowrance. I prefer the Lowrance for its ease of use.

As for Range we have a two hundred gallon tank and have been about 90 miles out in the Gulf. Out of Destin our Blue water frequently will be 60 miles out. We can go out 60 miles troll all day and have about 50 gallons left when we return. Initially, you won't be comfortable going as far as your boat will go. Now my son complains we can't go to the rigs which are about 90 miles out of our port. We now go out troll the Day, sword fish overnight and troll a some a second day and still have a little fuel left when we return...Sea Tow is my back up plan.

I really like the Center Console but you "will get wet". In the winter I want a Walk around and in the summer I love the center console. I would absolutely get a twin outboard. We have 4 strokes, put over 600 hours a year on them and have had to only perform routine maitenance.

As for Tackle, We caught our First Marlin on a Penn Senator with 50#. however, a year later we had smoked almost every Senator and 330 beyond repair. If you are after big fish get a second job...Inevitably the line that breaks will have your new Black Bart on it.

Lastly, Remember its a process. Six years later the questions will still be there....45' v. 60?.....What's the fuel burn....etc. There is a whole world to discover once you go through the inlet. Our friends think we are crazy, but it has been the adventure of a lifetime that I hope never ends. Good Luck

[Feeding Frenzy]

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