How did you start?

[OnTheBeach]

Hi all,
I've been reading the posts and thinking of buying a GW for three years. Every year at the beach, I'd see a GW out there and say to my wife "maybe next year".
I have a twenty foot bowrider (IO) on Squam Lake in NH, but also have available a marina slip on Boston's north shore.
My boat handling is OK, but I've never had the helm on the ocean, and know nothing about electronics.
We have been looking at a Gulfstream w/ twin 200's- but I want to be safe out there, and enjoy my time on the water, not a stressed out hazard with limited knowledge.
Any suggestions? CG course? Pay for fuel and go out with a current GW owner? How did you start?
Thanks-Mark

 

[ElyseM]

definitely take your safety courses.

i have/had a gulfstream with twin f200's. it is a great boat. it is, however, about a 28' loa. so it's not just a little bigger than yours. i would do a sea trial on a similar size boat (or the gulfstream if you can) and see how you feel on it. i wouldn't worry about handling at this time, just how you feel in a boat that size.

if it feels comfortable and you decide to buy, get a local captain that does hands on boat handling instruction and spend as much time as you need with him/her. i would split your time between close quarter handling and a bit of ocean-going work (since you said you typically boat in the lake).

i have been boating since i was a kid, but when we bought the gulfstream in 2002 i had been off the water for about 15 years. getting the captains (i used two different ones) was the best thing i did. i focused only on close quarter maneuvering because my boating background already covered general handling.

imo, i think twins are really called for on this boat for easy handling, but i know many do run with singles.

and i'm sure local owners would be glad to go out with you so you can practice what the captain taught you. good luck. ron

 

[alantani]

i actually sat and read chapman's, cover to cover, over a month and a half. well, i actually skipped the the sailing section.

 

[magicalbill]

ElyseM has some good points..

I would only add two things..
1.) I also have a Gulfstream with twin 200 four-strokes. it is an incredibly safe and stable rig. I would go so far as to say it's the "biggest" 23-footer out there. If you purchase a Gulfstream, you'll already have a built-in safety factor goin' on, provided you use good judgement pertaining to weather,sea conditions, etc.
2.) Whichever Grady you buy, (or any other model) take it to your lake that you regularly boat on for awhile, before you head into the open sea. Get used to it in calm water that your familiar with. Practice docking, close-quarter maneuvering,etc. It's sort of like boating with a security blanket.

Then, when you start feeling your oats, take her out the inlet and gradually get used to that environment.

A Gulfstream presents a trailering challenge, unless you get permits(It's 9'3" so it's overwide.) Plus, you'll need a pretty hefty truck to pull it safely. If you don't plan on trailering, then no worries, but I still think getting it to your home-lake waters would be a good way for you to start comfortably.

 

[Hookup1]

Getting Started

I boated on lakes for 15 years before getting involved with salt water fishing. Very differet experience. I've been in salt water for 15 years now. The worst beatings we took were the first two years because we tried to fish like we were on a lake.

I found ocean and tidal waters a completly different experience. On the lakes you could go out in almost anything and find a place to fish. No so in the big rivers, bays and ocean. Wind against tide, swell from offshore or wind and swell can make what looks like a nice day dangerous.

Find a GW you can get out on. Learn about navigation, GPS's, chartplotters, fishfinders, etc. You should decide first if this is what you really want to do before buying a boat for salt water.

Start with the Coast Guard boating saftey class. They will give you the boating basics and a quickie navigation course.

Get familiar with the new boat in the lake. When you start out in salt water be careful picking your days. The worst beatings I've taken occur when you decide to push on and the weather is marginal (windy). Your crew is ready to go and you have bait and ice. You rationalize that it will get better based on the forecast.

Even the inlets are trickey. Find out from other boaters what conditions affect the inlet.

When I bought the salt water boat I invited my bass fishing buddy to go fishing. Mike ask me what I knew about salt water fishing and handling a "big" boat. I handed him a book on offshore fishing and said to him "I know I've never done this before. How hard can it be?

 

[ElyseM]

Re: Getting Started

I boated on lakes for 15 years before getting involved with salt water fishing. Very differet experience. I've been in salt water for 15 years now. The worst beatings we took were the first two years because we tried to fish like we were on a lake.

I found ocean and tidal waters a completly different experience. On the lakes you could go out in almost anything and find a place to fish. No so in the big rivers, bays and ocean. Wind against tide, swell from offshore or wind and swell can make what looks like a nice day dangerous.

Find a GW you can get out on. Learn about navigation, GPS's, chartplotters, fishfinders, etc. You should decide first if this is what you really want to do before buying a boat for salt water.

Start with the Coast Guard boating saftey class. They will give you the boating basics and a quickie navigation course.

Get familiar with the new boat in the lake. When you start out in salt water be careful picking your days. The worst beatings I've taken occur when you decide to push on and the weather is marginal (windy). Your crew is ready to go and you have bait and ice. You rationalize that it will get better based on the forecast.

Even the inlets are trickey. Find out from other boaters what conditions affect the inlet.

When I bought the salt water boat I invited my bass fishing buddy to go fishing. Mike ask me what I knew about salt water fishing and handling a "big" boat. I handed him a book on offshore fishing and said to him "I know I've never done this before. How hard can it be?

pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! (just kidding).

Hook is correct as far as sea conditions go, but it isn't always like that. the key is you don't go out on bad days just because you gotta fish. you should go out a couple of times on "normal" days to see if you like harbor/bay/ocean boating - maybe do a short charter trip. there is almost always some ground swell, so if you don't like that, stick to the lake. but i believe that since you are already an experienced boater, normal sea conditions aren't going to be a deal breaker for whether or not you start ocean boating. good luck. ron

 

[Fishermanbb]

Not to minimize concerns but don't overplay this. Chances are you won't be going far offshore early in your ocean waters experience. The 23 is a VERY capable boat when used with proper precautions and common sense:

Do the following:

1. Make sure you have ALL appropriate safety equipment for the use you will be giving the boat

2. Make sure you and your crew know how to use it.

3. Know how all of your electronics work and what they can do for you.

4. Know how to read a chart (Paper and electronic).

5. Know how to use a compass.

6. Know the basic mechanics of your boat: - Especially filters, seacocks, alarms, etc.

7. Getting a captain is great...But a local boater willing to take you out on your boat and show you the lay of the land is good too.

8. When exploring new areas read the chart FIRST. If it looks wrong it probably is. Don't go until you check some local knowledge first.

9. CHECK THE WEATHER. CHECK THE WEATHER......Oh yeah...CHECK THE WEATHER...BEFORE you go out and periodically on your VHF while your out. If it looks like it is turning it probably is....Head in.

10. Practice anchoring in a few different conditions so you'll be able to do it if your really need to.

Do NOT do the following:

1. Cut it close on fuel

2. Use a lot of throttle around the dock - Be gentle...She'll love you for it. Remember, you can always lay up alongside something if you miss and pull yourself in. SLOWER is better when docking.

3. Put fuel in the rod holder

4. Go out when the boat is running improperly and assume it will just get better.

5. Leave without a Float PLan.

6. Fail to instruct your guests on proper operation of boat equipment and what they should/shouldn't do.


As for safety gear....Lot's of threads on here about that. The twin screw 232 is one of my favorite GW's (Out of the 11 I've had).....Take the Coast Guard course (Power Squadron is even more comprehensive), get some local help, PREPARE, You'll be fine and have a blast. You can always go on the lake and fish for bait that you can use on your GW (LOL).....

 

[bhemi]

Take a course

I took the power squadron course and sarted slow. I chartered alot before I bought. I grew up on sailboats and small fishboats but there is a difference between being a passenger and the guy in charge. I took a very experienced guy out on my boat 3 or 4 times and let him captain and show me the ropes before I went by myself.

Don't be cheap on safety gear. Redundancy is good.

 

[BobP]

You don't need a Grady to go in the ocean.

Get you're 20 footer over to the ocean side and use it on nice days, stay close to the beach. Do you or yours get sea sick?

Small lake boating is different, not everyone gets to enjoy ocean waters the same way as small lake waters.

A 20 footer I/O is plenty of boat for the ocean. If the inlet is tough, talk to local marina operators about it, or access inlet by car or foot and watch the boaters move through it, any small boats going through?

Have all your coast guard safety equipment, anchor with plenty of line, and practice using it.

You don't need any electonics to go out on fog free days, stay close to shore but go deep enough not to hit bottom, check the local charts.

Keep your cell phone with you and get marine towing insurance.

After you are comfortable with calmer ocean water days, work up a bit more at a time. Stay off the water on stiff flag days for now.

 

[bhemi]

Cell Phone not a good idea

I'm in Canada and we are told strongly a cell phone is NO substitute for a VHF. If you run into trouble and call 911 you get the police and all they can do is PHONE the Coast Guard who are monitoring VHF Channel 16. We actually need a license to use a VHF here. I took the course with my Power Squadron course. Good boaters here always monitor 16.

 

[BobP]

NO requirement in USA to have either a VHF radio nor cell phone.

Either is better than waving a flag !

If going VHF only, need a hand held VHF also in case electrical problem renders ship's VHF radio useless. Good thing about cell phones when inshore/in range need , use liitle power comparable to VHF radio. Good thing about VHF radios offshore, can hail another boater.

On a cell, can call anyone including SeaTOW/Boat US, home, relatives, etc, to get help relayed. Can talk for hours on charged cel phone, not so with protable VHF, and no need for ships battery power.

Remember, OP is starting out.

 

[bhemi]

Better than nothing

I have all three. A hard wired VHF, a waterproof hand held and I take my cell. I still keep paper charts for everywhere I go. If I go somewhere new I buy a chart.

I think Murphy must be related to me.

 

[nightfighter]

Hi all,
I've been reading the posts and thinking of buying a GW for three years. Every year at the beach, I'd see a GW out there and say to my wife "maybe next year".
I have a twenty foot bowrider (IO) on Squam Lake in NH, but also have available a marina slip on Boston's north shore.
My boat handling is OK, but I've never had the helm on the ocean, and know nothing about electronics.
We have been looking at a Gulfstream w/ twin 200's- but I want to be safe out there, and enjoy my time on the water, not a stressed out hazard with limited knowledge.
Any suggestions? CG course? Pay for fuel and go out with a current GW owner? How did you start?
Thanks-Mark

Since I assume you are near the North Shore, check out the Power Squadron class starting in Marblehead this month. If you get the Gulfstream, find someone to familiarize you with the boat and what it can do. Maybe the previous owner, referal from broker, or a captain. What you need to get them to do is steepen your learning curve, and get confident with the basic necessities of operation. How to utilize twin screws. How to account for your wind profile, how to anchor, how to dock in both calm and windy conditions, on both windward and lee side of the dock, how to use finger floats and pilings when entering and leaving slip in adverse conditions, etc. I have run a number of boats for owners until they were comfortable. I started at 9, I'm 51 now, and got my 100 ton license when I was in my twenties. Once you get on the same page with whoever you choose to spend time on the boat, you will be gaining years worth of insight and experience in the course of a few outings. Priceless when you get out and back with your family

 

[OnTheBeach]

Thank you all.

Great advice from everyone. I appreciate your replies and help.

Mark