offshore (20+ miles) in small boats

[Pete_G]

Since there's no right answer here, this should be more of a discussion. What are your thoughts and also probably more importantly your experiences?

With the surge in popularity of chasing bluefins, I see more and more people pushing what is in my opinion, the envelope. The Mudhole (there's many Mudholes on the charts, in this case I'm talking about the one about 22 miles South of Sakonnet Point) lures many people out possibly farther then they should be.

I've done it numerous times (and much further) in an 18 Parker. Reliable four stroke on the back, well kept boat, and experienced people on board. We know the risks, we know the potential for a LONG ride home, and we're properly prepared in every way. We've taken our beatings on the way back, often on days when everything looked perfect. I've never been scared in that boat, but I've certainly been ticked off facing the start of a several hour slog home in larger then expected seas. I've said "I'm never going out that far in this boat this ever again" several times. It's not a deep-v by any means and it lets you know it in wind slop.

There were a couple guys in the shop today planning to make the run out tomorrow in a 20 foot boat which is why I started this thread.

Take a look at the forecast. To me the red flag for small boats is that wind coming around from NW to the SE. SE is infamously sloppy, and the fact that once it turns it will do nothing but build is the other. I predict an ass kicking on the way in for most small boats.

I'd take the bigger boat (24 foot, true deep-V) I have access to out there tomorrow without any reservation, but there's no way I'd run the Parker there tomorrow. I've seen the Mudhole get VERY angry quickly.

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
359 PM EDT FRI SEP 29 2006

COASTAL WATERS FROM THE MERRIMACK RIVER MA TO WATCH HILL RI OUT TO
25 NM

ANZ235-300730-
/O.EXT.KBOX.SC.Y.0108.000000T0000Z-060930T0300Z/
RHODE ISLAND SOUND-
359 PM EDT FRI SEP 29 2006


SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING

TONIGHT
W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 KT...DECREASING
TO 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT BEFORE MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 4
FT.

SAT
NW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT...BECOMING SE IN THE LATE MORNING AND
AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 3 FT.

SAT NIGHT
SE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO
5 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT.

SUN
SE WINDS AROUND 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT.
SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE MORNING...THEN SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON WITH
VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.

[Pete_G]

Seas looked awfully angry for a small boat 20 miles out any time after the early afternoon today when the wind turned...

[ChiefLinesider]

absolutely