offshore performance

[made2008]

im in the process of purchasing a 1971 30footer sea raider. and i will be using going offshore like 35miles out, will it be able to handle the open ocean water any imput will be appreciated.

[k9th]

Welcome to the forum!

First of all. make sure you get a survey done by a reputable surveyor if you haven't already. That will tell you a lot about the condition of your boat.

There is no reason why your 30 foot Sea Raider will not perform well in the application that you have described if you have checked and verified the condition of the engines and transmissions and all related systems, and taken the proper safety precautions associated with offshore boating. Thirty-five miles offshore is a long way to travel with a problem, so make sure that you perform regular routine maintenance on the engines and transmissions and make sure your bottom is cleaned regularly. Also make sure you have adequate and appropriate electronics and even redundant systems for communication and navigation. Spare parts are also a good way to bring you peace of mind and mitigate any unforeseen event.

Common sense goes a long way in making sure that you are properly prepared for emergency situations and other "Murphy's Law" circumstances.

Post pictures of your new purchase when you get a chance.

[made2008]

thanks...i just want to make sure...i do alot of mahi-mahi and king fishing and here in north carolina you have to go out to hook up with them especially now with the season is here. if you could tell me more about them it would be appreciated

[prowlersfish]

If you pick your days carfully you maybe ok , But thats not a off shore boat .It was newer made to be . The N.C. coast can be a very rough place . with out notice

Pick your days ,make sure your boat is at 100% back up VHF, Make sure you have all need safty gear a EPRB or a PLB is a must off shore . A liferaft is also not a bad idea .

[made2008]

ok...but im sure it would be able to handle 2-4 conditions

[prowlersfish]

I added more to my post above

[Danny Bailey]

Welcome to the forum. I used to fish at the Big Rock and beyond on a 1973 28' Chris Craft with a single Cummins 210, but like Prowler said, watch the weather and pick your days. In the summer you can expect thunderstorms that will pop up at any time and kick your butt. If I were buying a boat specifically for offshore fishing, I would try to find a fixer upper 28 or 31' Bertram. I have been offshore many times on my son's 28 Bertram when I thought we would die but it brought us back. Trojans are not built for it.

[RWS]

hull design, hull design, hull design, hull design, hull design, hull design.

Boats do not drive like cars. Hull design is critical to exactly how a vessel will behave in a given circumstance.

Make sure that the hull design is appropriate for the water, weather and conditions.

RWS

[prowlersfish]

If you plan on doing a fair amount of offshore fishing I agree with Danny that a Bert 28 or 31 would a much better boat for that purpose. the 31 is a very costly boat . but in todays market the 28 can be had pretty cheap .

[jav]

Bert 31's are going cheap now too. Saw a nice twin deisel the other day for 60K. Gas ones even less - including Bert 33's and 35's. There was a nice twin diesel Bert 42 here that could have been bought for 60K!

I agree with the above statements- no reason any properly maintained boat can't go 30-60 miles off shore. I've seen guys do it in 16 footers in good weather. Possible? yes. Smart? not in my eyes.

When conditions get rough- it becomes a questionable choice. If your plan for the boat is mostly in this area, then the chances of encountering challenging conditions is much, much higher. Your boat (and mine) really weren't designed for that operating environment.

[made2008]

im wondering why a boat this size can not handle 3-5 footers. i dont go offshore all the time i only go offshore when the sea condition is between 2-4, i dont see why a 30 footer can not handle it. i should have kept my penn yan 23footer and i've been in 6footer in it no problem

[prowlersfish]

im wondering why a boat this size can not handle 3-5 footers. i dont go offshore all the time i only go offshore when the sea condition is between 2-4, i dont see why a 30 footer can not handle it. i should have kept my penn yan 23footer and i've been in 6footer in it no problem

First of all there are 5 footers that are no big deal and other 5 footers that will beat the hell out of you there is more to waves then the hight . the penn yan like the the 30 foot trojan is not a off shore boat . But the trojan would be better at it IMO .

I have a F36 conv. and I do not think of it as a off shore boat , I still pick my days or ride on the Viking behind me

[jav]

A gotta agree with Paul. Wave height is only part of the equation. I'm sure the 31 could handle 30 foot seas with the right period. But spend 3-4 hours in true 3-4 foot, short period seas and you'll understand. OR- how about 4-6 foot fast following seas? Not fun and not the best boat for those conditions.

It can be done, but there are boats that are better suited to that. And by "better suited" I mean that the hull design will require less pilotting skill to travel safely in those conditions. I guarantee the 31 will "handle" all conditions better than the 23' Penn and, I would also bet most folks greatly over estimate wave height.

[captainmaniac]

Like Paul and Jav say - there is more than wave height to consider. High seas 200' apart are doable, but stack them close together or add a cross-chop and it becomes a lot more dangerous.

Most likely, the boat can handle more than you and your passengers can. BUT if you don't handle the boat intelligently or properly given the conditions, you can get into trouble real quick.

[made2008]

guys dont take me wrong i only goes out when the weather is good if the weather call for bad weather im smart enough not be out there.