Need an experienced boaters advice on a boat?

I'm up in SF Bay Area. My answer to you is NO! That's a lake boat first of all, and only 14' in LOA. Down there in Carlsbad you'll need a boat with more freeboard for the waves that are common for the area. I travel to Carlsbad and San Diego for vacations with my 60' motor yacht. While you may think that 1 mile out isn't much, it's still in the most dangerous waters near shore. That boat is NOT a boat for that waters that you'll be fishing. I am a retire boating safety instructor that taught power boating and trailer boating, AND have many awards for my work too! Contact me at my email address and I'll steer you in the right direction. Free of cost. Don't become someone on the evening news for being stupid.

It is not a question of "how far" can you go offshore in a boat like that. . . Believe it or not, the closer you are to shore in these waters, the more dangerous it is. Waves, swells and tides can simply play havoc on a small boat built for calm inland lakes - and the boat above is about as far from an offshore capable boat as you can get. Not to mention the fact that it is over 52 years old.

FYI - 99.99% of all boating catastrophes involving a single boat happen between 0 to 20 miles off shore. These are the most dangerous waters in the world. That's where boats get rocked, knocked, soaked, swamped, run aground and capsized. In offshore waters including large Bays & Sounds you are 300 times more likely to have your boat swamped or capsized, and the #1 reported reason for this? Boaters in inland lake boats under 20 feet that think they can go 'just a little ways out on calm days'.

That boat is simply the wrong boat for what you want to do safely.

If that boat comes with the trailer it's easily worth $2,000 and I'm not sure why they are selling it cheap, but BE LEARY. It will be fine on calm days as long as there are NO WAVES AT ALL. ALWAYS do an open water test before buying a boat!! Do not just run in a driveway with a hose. If that outboard motor breaks down it will cost $1500 to replace. Have a nearby mechanic look over the motor after the water test if you are unsure of it's condition. If I were you I would look for a 24 FT. or larger for the Ocean though. That would be best for inland lakes with no waves.

I have on no account noticeable a Ferry boat, nor a Navy surface ship, where the person without a doubt steerage the boat/ship had a seat or sat even as guidance the boat. I'm now not sure of the reasoning but for those who dose off at the same time standing, it will definitely be observed, the place as should you did so in a helm seat, it could now not be seen by means of others on the bridge. That being said, on most ships you stand stay up for four hours. Then you might be relieved. I'm now not sure how they work a small ferry.

Not familiar with your area, but if you plan on going further from shore than you can swim, then you should have a backup motor. An electric trolling motor is not enough. They cannot overcome currents, waves, wind, etc. They are just for trolling in calm water. You need at least a 10hp gas backup motor in case the main outboard has a problem. There are dozens of things that can make an outboard motor fail and leave you stranded.

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