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keepitgreen05

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i have a 1987 V20 steplift i just bought i was wondering if anyone from nj ever took there steplift in the ocean and if so how far out can you go without getting tossed round
 
:sun:depends on sea conditions; usually a one to three foot waves are up to 20miles out forecast. that is about favorable conditions for the V-20. not saying it can't take more. the more experience you have you will determine whats safe for you. i was out forty miles one beautiful summer day along with other boats and i was just fine . but if headed out yourself [ no other boats with you] i would stay around 15 miles on a good day. plenty of good fishing on the jersey coast inside that range.
 
keepitgreen05 said:
i have a 1987 V20 steplift i just bought i was wondering if anyone from nj ever took there steplift in the ocean and if so how far out can you go without getting tossed round
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You're looking for a guarentee, and that's simply not possible to give. Your boat is a great hull design and will take you almost anyplace you wish to go, but how far offshore you can go depends on the weather. Like all small boats, you need to keep an eye on the weather and an ear on the weather channel. Only a (dead) fool would take his boat offshore when there are small boat flags flying.

To answer your question as to how far, the furthest I've gone in a small boat is the sunken texas tower off the coast of NJ (about 75 miles offshore). It was a super calm day that was one of several calm days in a row. The water was flat with seas about 1-3 feet. That's the exception, not the rule. I use it simply to point out that a boat can go almost anywhere provided your engine is good, you have enough time, enough gas, and the weather is calm.:head:


PS. If you are planning a far offshore trip remember a few important safety items. Check your radio and MAKE SURE it's working properly. Check all your safety equipment. Life jackets, flares, flags, fire extinguishers, etc. Check your bilge pumps. Take a fully charged extra battery for your engine. Extra food and water for you and your passengers. If you have a spare engine (kicker) make sure it's working and you have enough fuel for it. Compass, GPS working properly? Charts? File a float plan with somone onshore telling them where you are planning to go and what time you plan to return. Include in that a time to call for help if not heard from. Is your cell phone fully charged and in a clear waterproof baggie? Use the buddy system, go with at least one other boat. At least one working EPIRB is highly desireable.... and last but not least, a fully stocked first aid kit. Remember, all major accidents are the result of a chain of several small incidents happening one after the other. Break the chain and you prevent the catastrophy. If you are prepared for the worst, then it's easier to break the chain of events.
 
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Destroyer said:
You're looking for a guarentee, and that's simply not possible to give. Your boat is a great hull design and will take you almost anyplace you wish to go, but how far offshore you can go depends on the weather. Like all small boats, you need to keep an eye on the weather and an ear on the weather channel. Only a (dead) fool would take his boat offshore when there are small boat flags flying.

To answer your question as to how far, the furthest I've gone in a small boat is the sunken texas tower off the coast of NJ (about 75 miles offshore). It was a super calm day that was one of several calm days in a row. The water was flat with seas about 1-3 feet. That's the exception, not the rule. I use it simply to point out that a boat can go almost anywhere provided your engine is good, you have enough time, enough gas, and the weather is calm.:head:


PS. If you are planning a far offshore trip remember a few important safety items. Check your radio and MAKE SURE it's working properly. Check all your safety equipment. Life jackets, flares, flags, fire extinguishers, etc. Check your bilge pumps. Take a fully charged extra battery for your engine. Extra food and water for you and your passengers. If you have a spare engine (kicker) make sure it's working and you have enough fuel for it. Compass, GPS working properly? Charts? File a float plan with somone onshore telling them where you are planning to go and what time you plan to return. Include in that a time to call for help if not heard from. Is your cell phone fully charged and in a clear waterproof baggie? Use the buddy system, go with at least one other boat. At least one working EPIRB is highly desireable.... and last but not least, a fully stocked first aid kit. Remember, all major accidents are the result of a chain of several small incidents happening one after the other. Break the chain and you prevent the catastrophy. If you are prepared for the worst, then it's easier to break the chain of events.
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:clap:Well put, Destroyer!!you covered a lot of important points to consider before going off...one thing he touched on is to go off during a weather/conditions TREND...if it's been blowing for a week and forecast to blow for another week, but there's ONE DAY in there that looks good...DON'T go out on that one day...chances are, you gonna get CAUGHT somewhere you don't wanna be...schedule a trip offshore when you have been watching the forecast for DAYS and see a TREND of calm days in a row...
When you've chosen THE day, consider your fuel supply...the rule of thumb is 1/3 out, 1/3 in and 1/3 RESERVE...if you can actually call on 60 gals of fuel, that becomes 20 out, 20 in and 20 RESERVE....and if you think you're wasting 1/3 of your available fuel w/that rule, you haven't considered all that can go wrong on the high seas...
A kicker motor should have it's own, separate fuel supply in case your main source is contaminated or compromised in some way...
I know several experienced offshore fishermen who WILL NOT turn their motor(s) off at sea...the thought is the possibility of not restarting...Murphy's Law works overtime at sea...
Make your own choices, but the idea is to go, have fun, catch fish...and RETURN SAFELY...nobody here wants to read about you in the newspaper the day after...
 
:clap:ok everything said is solid and best info one could have buttttttttt i like to add sea tow insurance coverage well worth the money!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
step up here said:
:clap:ok everything said is solid and best info one could have buttttttttt i like to add sea tow insurance coverage well worth the money!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Boat US Boat US Boat US. Sorry, I'm a little partial towards the red boats.

to answer your question keepitgreen05, I have had my V20 out in 6' to 8' seas once out at the Sea Girt Reef. Took water over the bow and everything. I wouldn't do it again but I did make it back in one piece. And thats my point. These boats can handle the seas very well. As long as you don't get over confident you will be ok.
 
In all but the best conditions, as a single boat going out the V20 was designed to be a inshore, near shore all around boat for the family or for the fisherman. It excels in meeting those parameters.
Competently equipped, competently Captained it is capable of more serious adventures of course, these hulls were famous in the Jersey Coast for getting people back in some of the worst conditions they found themselves in.
The key ingredient in their sea keeping ability is the self bailing cockpits, but the design is only effective when the hull is being moved thru the water by a reliable engine.
Thus in my opinion, and I think you will find the opinion of many others here(especially MJ) the absolute reliability of your engine is the most important component on your boat in considering venturing out beyond the sight of land.
That and the wisdom of when to do it.
 
I usually run my V20 out of Manasquan Inlet. I typically range as far north as Shrewsbury Rocks and as far south as Seaside Park and out to Manasquan Ridge. The V20 is a perfect boat for this. If you can't catch something in that range, buy golf clubs. I have been out to the Mud Hole on a perfectly flat September day (after Fluke season ended) with a great forecast and a full tank. If you take that ride plan on starting back at 1 PM even if its still flat, or as soon as breeze starts from the south. It can become ugly quick. A typical summer wind pattern is Glassy sunrise, NW ripple till 10ish, N then NE just before noon, dead for a half an hour, SE ripple, SE chop, SOUTH "hmm, pull the anchor, let's get outta here", by 2 or 3 PM snotty wet ride home.
I've been out to Barnegat Ridge from Barnegat Inlet a few times and caught the same bluefish I was catching at the inlet. That's another place where you shouldn't overstay your welcome. Run out when its flat, troll for some BLUEFINS (the only reason to go there) and head back before the afternoon winds.
My opinion - I wouldn't take any 20 footer past the Mud Hole or Barnegat Ridge. Get a friend with a 25' or 30' with twins on the back, pay him gas money and clean his boat when you get back.
 
I think they got bounced off.....lol.


I will echo the typical summer trends up here. I love watching guys on the bay in little whalers (I own one) that wait a little too long and get soaked on the way home. Heck, Barnegat Bay is no peach in the afternoons or during a good blow either. Take your time, learn the waters in the bay, learn the inlets, especially if you will be going out of Barnegat inlet. Double Creek is my absolute favorite channel in the bay, HOWEVER, one wrong turn or missed bouy.... Lets just say there are many folks that keep Sea Tow and Boat US in business.

Before going further, have you taken the safety courses required to operate a vessel in NJ?
 
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