So, being in the Upstate, once I commit to going to Charleston I have to go as the rooms are booked, plans have been made, etc etc. My question is this: Where do you draw the line on deciding to go offshore vs. staying inshore? Hold up…lol…please read on…
I know if it is flat and calm…no brainer. But in my boat 26’ offshore boat, 9’ beam…pretty heavy…is she built for 3’ - 4’ seas in 20 knots wind…or what. I do understand speed and stuff matters as well, but generally speaking, I Would like some ■■■■■■■■ from some that have a similar boat and have experienced some different weather.
Yes, I have been 30 miles out…but were good days. Would like to know the limitations of a boat my size? Thanks for the RELATED ■■■■■■■■ in advance.
anything more than 15 knots and you will hate life (typically). Steady 15 kn wind can be brutal. 10-15 is OK…
Just what I’ve found that I’ve enjoyed/tolerated when I ran our 26 for about 10 years.
Oh, and that post above deals with anything except Northerly winds…those pretty much suck all the time
Question - I see your tagline says “Capt”. Are you chartering or just fun fishing?
quote:
Originally posted by HoppyQuestion - I see your tagline says “Capt”. Are you chartering or just fun fishing?
He’s got a captain’s hat with the scrambled eggs…
quote:
Originally posted by SchoolsOut1quote:
Originally posted by HoppyQuestion - I see your tagline says “Capt”. Are you chartering or just fun fishing?
He’s got a captain’s hat with the scrambled eggs…
I’d like one of those. You know where I can get one??
You should absolutely consider who else is coming with you before setting your mind on one plan or another. Wives, daughters, people who aren’t used to boating, etc can be a huge deciding factor on what the game plan will be. I do it for a living and I find that sometimes the guys who show up in the PFG gear and talking the biggest game are the first to get sick while their wives are drinking beer and taking pictures of them puking in a bucket because they’re too sick to hold their head over the gunwhale. If you’ve got a boat full of veteran fishermen, you will be able to handle bigger seas and crappier conditions than if it were your wife who brought a book and your teenage daughter who is texting and instagramming all day.
There aren’t any definitive numbers as to what are acceptable conditions and what are not. There isn’t some kind of graph that says YES or NO if you plug in the wind speed, direction, wave hieght, period, etc.
With all that being said, 3-4’ and 20 kt winds will be uncomfortable on a 26’ boat. Doable, but uncomfortable. 10-15 kts is a much better range. There is no need to kick your own ass all day.
How long have you had your boat? How comfortable are you with it in big seas? Will this be the first time you’re taking YOUR boat offshore? IF it feels sketchy, whip out the inshore gear and save some fuel.
Try to find a buddy boat on here when you do head to the coast to go offshore.
Man…thank you guys. No…not a charter…not experienced enough…lol. Just a guy that wants to do fishing with his wife in the great Charleston waters. I would love to follow out someone…hell yes. Thanks guys.
Capt. Jim
26’ Ranger CC (Offshore)
Twin 200 Yamis
Rapchizzle…had this boat 2 yrs. I had a 3o’ cruiser and we decided a center console was more of what we wanted. Yes, been offshore plenty…but again, always in good weather. The reason for my question was…I sometimes am to protective when maybe I shouldn’t be??? So, I know there isn’t a YES or NO you should or should not go offshore…your response is cool and I can relate. I appreciate your time. Thank you… Jim
Capt. Jim
26’ Ranger CC (Offshore)
Twin 200 Yamis
LOL…oh, and as far as the “CAPTAIN” comments…I get blamed for everything on my boat…so, yes…I am the captain…lol.
Capt. Jim
26’ Ranger CC (Offshore)
Twin 200 Yamis
I would say no. Ranger makes a good bass boat. Probably not so much a good offshore boat as I have never seen one. Just cause it’s 26 foot don’t mean ****. Night and day between let’s say a 26 Regulator and 26 Tidewater.
Ranger makes an incredible bass boat and their center consoles are rock solid. friend has a 23 with twin 140 Suzuki. Great boat … rode on a 26 in the keys and its a great boat. You will be fine. stay home on a north anything wind. just asking foxhunter if you have never seen one how do you know what kind of boat it is???
Try to catch a west wind 5-15. Anything north east or 20 knots will not be good.
Olde Man Charters
No I haven’t seen one and there probably is a reason I haven’t.
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Originally posted by FoxhunterNo I haven’t seen one and there probably is a reason I haven’t.
Ralph Phillips used to fish one, I believe…Jump Start
They are good boats, but haven’t been manufactured in some time and only built a few years, IIRC (edit…I just googled them. Looks like they were built for a bit longer than I remember).
Thank you all for the input gentlemen…about my boat though, I bought this boat because she is built tough. It knocks down the waves like it’s nothing…NO, I will not say she is better than anyone elses boat…but she is built tough. Again, I do appreciate the intel and I will def. log this info into my little captains book…lol.
Capt. Jim
26’ Ranger CC (Offshore)
Twin 200 Yamis
Yes ranger is night and day a better boat against a tidewater
Stick w no more than SE 10-15kts 3-4 ft offshore report until you get some more hours offshore…never NE, WSW can actually suck on the way home. Watch for afternoon TStirms as we move into mid summer months. Get a life raft get an epirb and learn about them. File a float plan w someone. Trust and learn your electronics. He safe Cathem up. Diont chasing the Flemish Cap, .
Again thank you gentlemen…“SATISFIED”, Yes, I know I do need more experience with the inclement weather…as I said, I only had the boat 2 years and because we don’t get to Charleston but a few times a year…we have picked our days carefully. So, I do have good electronics, I do have a “SPOT”, I do have Seatow…and I have redone this boat from the new engines, new fuel tank and complete system, I trust this boat…I am very safe and cautious…but I do lack experience fishing offshore. These posts provided by you guys gave me more clarity on what my boats capabilities are and as I gain more experience, I will be able to make different choices.
Well…I am good with these posts, good knowledge for me to work with…THANK YOU CAPTAINS. Jim
Capt. Jim
26’ Ranger CC (Offshore)
Twin 200 Yamis
Nice rig. Ranger builds a fine boat, don’t let anybody tell you different.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper