Noob Question on Offshore Venture

[ashokrags]

Originally Posted by pjbrownva

I guess we lost the OP.

O.P. -- hopefully these replies are helpful!

No you didn't lose me. Just have a couple of tykes 5 & 3 that makes responding not too easy
First of all, I think all these responses and suggestions were really gratifying!!! This is a great community.


I will try to work my way through all those great responses and suggestions,so this might be a long post:

1. The plan was to go to Block island which is about 9 miles from Point Judith @skunkboat. I live near Jamestown which is about 10 miles north on the Bay, so i would probably refuel anyways at Point Judith just to be safe. I do know a couple of experienced folks, my neighbors, who have been out to block Island, usually in about 25+ foot boats.
2. As safety first, I think I would probably have them come with me for two or three trips. They are really nice and have said they will. One is a captain who transports boats for the rich folks.
3. I guess I would want to clarify first and Foremost what i mean by offshore and this will also probably highlight my "noobiness" :) .. Don't plan on going out very far .. just enough so that I am on open water just for the experience. Would like the experience of riding the swells, I am not sure if I am getting that in the bay.
4. @bgreene I am looking at a second one perhaps 25ft ( at the risk of getting killed by the wife) maybe in a few years. But the V20 is such a good size for both the bay and we go to a lake in upstate New york and its trailerable by my Honda Pilot, so i don't have to drop another 15K for a pickup.
5. I am not sure if this makes sense, I enjoy driving a boat, almost like driving on a winding road, there's an aspect of timing to it that i really enjoy.
6. @bgreene and @pjbrownva.. regarding seaworthyness I am not quite sure, it hasn't sunk yet :) .. its a 1990 V20.. The guy who sold it to me said they used to fish out of Martha's vineyard and the Elizabethen Islands out of Westport MA.
7. @pjbrownva ... you really provided some good insights on safety and the equipment etc. I have some of them in the works and some i had not thought of such as dual bilge pumps, batteries etc. I need to work more on my radio stuff for sure

Also thanks to the suggestions from the others. @pjbrownva I have been trolling the haulover inlet videos all through the winter and to me the striking part is that its the captain not the boat that matters ( there is that one guy with the 23ft whaler or something who makes it look easy).


To me I would like to get into some blue water as well, in addition to running around the bay with the kids and obviously I have tons to learn and hope to keep doing it for the future.



@pjbrownva and @bgreene you menetioned 4-5ft seas.. even 4-5 swells with a long period... Are those doable in a V20 with trim tabs? I am thinking of getting the electric ones?