Advise on taking boat into salt water

fishtees · 09-19-2006, 01:13 PM

I am looking to buy a boat to fish the CR and go chase them tuna and bottom fish and etc.I do not want to become a rescue mission or worse. I would like any advice of things to start learning and where I might do that. I am a very good river boat guy, 4"-6" of water at 35mph only makes me pucker up a little bit. I am looking to buy about a 20' to 24' Trophy style boat. What would be some main concerns with that style of boat. I am open to most any ideas, and any help will be appreciated.

Subtlety · 09-19-2006, 01:18 PM

I would recommend riding along with some guys that know what they are doing a few times because of how much the tides affect the CR bar etc..

safety is the most important concern and there is a ton of stuff to learn before venturing too far out on the salt.

Mother nature always bats last..

Herring Problem · 09-19-2006, 01:26 PM

I run a Trophy 2052 I/O.(21.7ft) Handles the ocean just fine. Been out as far as 56 miles with her. I just winterized her, so I can't take you out for a ride. The 21 foot (2052) does well for three. Very economical and you can get a diesel in her that gives (5 mpg) vs 2.45 for gas.
The cuddy sleeps two just fine, spent a many a night in her so far. Easy to handle and get on/off the trailer.
Just hit one of the dealers on the willamette River and take a test ride. I bought mine from Staff Jennings.

As for as info on going out on the ocean, get some class on navigation and seamanship. Get up with someone who goes out and learn from them first hand.

PM for any other info or questions I can answer.

Something Good · 09-19-2006, 01:26 PM

I took Coast Guard safety classes at the Tyee Yacht Club. That would be a great place to learn a few things. Contact your local Coast Guard Aux for dates and places.

Rod at Staff Jennings is an ifish sponsor and a well versed salty captain. Cotact him for all the Trophy info you can handle.

NW JET'N · 09-19-2006, 01:32 PM

I'll bet if you bought this boat you could get a few first hand lessons. I'm certainly droolin over this ride.
http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?...;gonew=1#UNREAD

Bigmaverick · 09-19-2006, 08:13 PM

Are you sold on a Trophy??? I just went from a 19ft Weldcraft and wanted something safe,economical and good in the ocean. I went with a 21ft hardtop Arima and I love it. I have so much room, storage and feel a lot better about being in the Ocean. Just my opinion!!!!
I also looked at Parker, osprey, sea sport, trophy, and a couple others along the same line. The Arima sold me on Saftey and towing abilty. Fuel economy was also a big thing.
Good Luck!!!

Chromaflage · 09-19-2006, 08:32 PM

I'm very new to the ocean thing. I've lived in Oregon all my 30+++++ years and had never been on the ocean until about three years ago. It only took one trip and I knew that I would have an ocean-going vessel eventually. I purchased a 25' cuddy this last Spring. I had many modifications to it to make it ocean-worthy. I have since had it over the bar twice. Between my first ocean trip three years ago and my first run during Labor day weekend, I went with others in the ocean several times. I studied everything I could on here, in books, other sites, etc. And I'm still a novice. I would caution anyone who is considering fishing the ocean - don't just go buy a boat, dump it in and go. There is much to consider and the process of preparation is actually an exciting one.

Fortunately, I've had great people help me along the way and I owe much to Boatdog, Skahorse, Ron M, Sadie-Lynne and many of the other usual suspects on here.

As previously stated - make safety a #1 priority - electronics (boat mounted and hand held redundancy), all other safety gear. Read about boat handling in the ocean. Take a USCG class - I haven't yet, but hope to in the future. Go with an experienced skipper a few times. When you're ready, take an experience skipper with you. Boatdog is my co-capt/first mate and he keeps me honest.

Keep reading here and, as Pete recommended to me, pick up a copy of this

Good luck!

CrF

CATCH AND EAT · 09-20-2006, 07:56 AM

Trophy/s are a great starter boat. Only advise as far as the boats are concerned is the "starter" system. Since it is located down near the bilge on most models it is an issue if you accumulate any bilge water at all. That was really the only complaint I had about my 23 footer that I ran for 7 years.

Lots of neat boats out there to choose from. Go to the CG aux class and go through some training. It is worth the time. There are also some on line training available to you.

As mentioned, go with a salty captain from ifish to learn the ropes of the CR and bar crossings. It is worth your time. I did this several times on a charter boat years ago to learn the water and talked with the different captains of those boats to learn the water. Worth every penny.

DriftR · 09-20-2006, 12:06 PM

Go, run as fast as you can to your local United States Power Squadron club or US Coast Guard Aux group. They offer some of the best instruction offered. As you go through the many required classes in the US Power Squadron you gain certificates documenting your study and passing their exams. These in turn can help reduce your boat insurance premiums. If you get a VSC(vessel safety check) prior to your boating season you can generally get a certificate from US power Squadron vessel safety instructor for 10% off marine safety items at BoatUS.
Classes are now forming for this fall at most US Power Squadron clubs. Don't know about US Coast Guard Aux?
I would highly recommend taking as many boating classes as you can. An educated boater is a safe boater.

fyshndad · 09-20-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Here she is in action:

Hard to find a find a cleaner, better rigged Trophy.

JD

See where the guys knees are???

I went out in a trophy and beat the %%^$ out of my knees

there is nothing to lean againt for balance while fighting fish

more than once I thought I was goin to fall out of the boat

one would at least need to add solid rails to a boat like that for safety

my dory has a deep deck and leaning against the side of the boat it hits me just below the belt(I am 6ft) and I feel very safe in it

I would not own a boat with knee high sides

BIGALSURF · 09-20-2006, 04:56 PM

Well, you have a good point about the boat's sides and the clearance. I have a 2509 Trophy and same problem. Several times I've netted and reeled in on my knees in pitching seas. They should put more freeboard on a lot of boats in my opinion. Also, I love my Trophy, but my motors weren't the best, I had two stroke mercs and repowered to hondas, doubled the fuel economy. The price on that boat might be reasonable cause it has a two stroke. Those things are not fuel efficient, they actually give a negative value to the boat in my opinion.

Other bad things about the boat, I think the fuel filler system is faulty, there's a recall on the boat that I am going to have done this fall, it takes forever to fill with gas and is not good environmentally, spills over sometimes if you're not careful. Have to keep paper towels handy and I get it wiped up, but why so much hassle? DOn't know if all trophy's are like that? Also, I've talked with several owners who had to balance their boats by putting hundreds of pounds of weight in the nose to trim them out, otherwise they seem stern heavy at least with the outboards. However, once I did this, the boat handles really nicely and feels very safe. I've had it at near full throttle, coming up the river, spotted a log, went hard right hard left and it never slid out. I grow more confident in my boat every time I take it out.

The positives on my trophy, again not sure if all are like this, factory very responsive to warranty issues, Staff Jennings were excellent in dealing with all concerns and very nice staff there, the boat feels very seaworthy, I have only had little problems with it, a loose seat, a loose section of rubber on the doorway.

My bottom line on Trophy, you can get into them very reasonably, there is a 10 year hull warranty transferable, they are a good boat owned by a corporation that also owns Mercury which marries them to not so good engines. If I bought another I think I'd go inboard outboard as I think Merc did a better job with these than their outboards.

Now that mine is set up with the hondas though, I love it and use it a lot, and the gas bill is low low low! I get 3 mpg cruising around 22 knots, and with that huge tank, nice live baitwell, and great hull shape, I'm a future tuna holic as I build my experience.

5 Salt · 09-20-2006, 09:37 PM

Get the 24 footer - you will get out more days.

Lot of days this summer where we out fish the salt when just about all of the smaller boats were staying in port - I have a 25ft Walkaround

I like the Seafox for value and quality over the Trophy. Chat with greenbuttskunk about his Seafox and give Sealicious a call at <font color="blue"> Big Tuna Marine - link </font> about Seafox. They are nice rides and I can attest to their seaworthiness as Greenbutt and I have been out in some pretty sport conditions together 50miles offshore this windy summer.

Shame to own a salty boat and only be able to use half the days you could because she was a couple of feet shorter.

ctflyfish · 09-20-2006, 09:48 PM

The Chapman book is a great reference and has become the "bible" for seamanship. However, DON"T buy the edition pictured in a previous post. The bigger and better 65th edition is out now and is available on line and at Powell's.
West Marine should heve their supply about October 4th. $60.00 and well worth it.