Trojan Sea Queen sea worthiness

[DaveF]

Hi,

I am considering buying a 1957 Trojan Sea Queen and have found a beautiful boat for sale. My concern however is that I live in Long Beach Ca and don’t want to be confined to the marina.

Can you take this size of boat out into the open ocean? I am not wanting to go out far but rather travel along the coast and visit neighboring cities and marinas. Is this something I could do in a sea queen or should I be looking for a larger boat. The one I’m considering has a 35hp Johnson 2cylinder outboard and everything is in good working condition.

I would love to get some good opinions so I don’t end up buying the wrong boat for my need.

Cheers, Dave.

[prowlersfish]

That boat was made for inland waters not offshore. Not sure what size Sea Queen but by the engine size it can't be too big. Offshore you would want something bigger and much newer.

[DaveF]

Thank you for your response.

It’s a 16ft boat. The thought was only to go far enough out in order to make it from one harbor to the next. Stay close to shore and travel a couple of miles along the shore line to the next inlet.

[prowlersfish]

I'm sure the inlets are more than a few miles apart. The ocean is not the place for small boats let alone an older wooden boat.

[Moderator]

I would Join a boat rental club like the Freedom boat club. You will get a choice of boats so you can see what best suits your needs. And they offer unlimited instructions. After a year in the club, you will be much better informed on what boat you should consider buying.

https://www.freedomboatclub.com/
And they have a place in long Beach

[RWS]

check one:


inexperienced boater

dreamer


Hmmmmmmmmmmm

I'd check BOTH.

DO YOUR RESEARCH AND ABOVE ALL, BE SAFE !

RWS

[Brooks]

Fun topic - I'm in Long Beach too, and also started off in a small boat, albeit a 17 ft center console with a 60 hp motor.

In essence - buy the boat and stay in the harbor. Duffy boats rule the area, and if it's a classic looking boat you'll be right at home. Music in the marina on Thursday nights, dinners, fishing inside the breakwater might be it...

For reference - a few times, I'd take my 17 footer to San Pedro, where hurricane harbor lived up to it's name, and always scared the new boater right out of me. Once, on the way back, I nearly stuffed the bow in the wake of a big boat. Really not fun. I'd also go south to Huntington Harbor and to the oil islands to fish. I probably shook loose every screw in that poor boat. Guests would have mutinied if there were any. I know you *can* take small boats to Catalina on a calm morning, but you really shouldn't as conditions change quickly. I know a few who've gone over in dinghies, but most do it once, and/or regret the last time.

Moving to a 25 footer solved many problems, and helped me gain some knowledge. A few years, and many trips to Catalina later, I bought an F32, and while it doesn't solve every problem, it solves many issues that smaller boats experience.

Good luck in what you do - and pick the safest choice
Brooks

I forgot to mention - the BEST day of my boating life was when I threw away my Johnson 15 hp 2 stroke outboard and replaced it with a Tohatsu