posted 02-07-2008 04:40 PM ET (US)            

There are a lot of Montauk's that go out for tuna here in Northern California around San Francisco.

Here's a picture of me with my first tuna on my 170 Montauk.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v665/warrent/ First%20Tuna%20Run%208-05/?action=view¤t=DSCN1595.jpg

posted 02-07-2008 04:46 PM ET (US)            

Two things come to mind:

1. Gas capacity .... you need enough to get out and back (on a normal trip i.e. great weather & calm seas) and have a 20% reserve for the unexpected (always expect the supernatural). With that in mind the 190 Outrage would be my choice but I feel it really doesn't have the gas capacity to give you a warm a fussy reserve so you'd have to carry some extra gas.

2. Safety ..... it's a Whaler but if you run into bad weather or breakdown (which you will if you did this enough) you have to be able to survive. Even though I'm in a Whaler I carry an open ocean life raft, Florentine sea anchor, EPRIB, fish with a buddy boat, file a float plan, and always communicate with another boat on a scheduled time plan.

Bottomline ..... You can fish a single engine boat safely offshore you just have to be ready for any out of body experience that might come your way. I would say that 50% of the boats I fish alongside of offshore are single engine. You might do it once and find that it's not to your liking and that's OK but you'll still have a Whaler that will bring you years of great adventures.

My 2 cents.

posted 02-07-2008 06:51 PM ET (US)            

My 2 cents would be to try to go out 50 miles in someone else's 19 footer and see if its something you'd like to do a lot. And think about how may buddies you have who would do it more than once. You may be going out alone....

posted 02-10-2008 05:36 PM ET (US)            

The bay that day was very snotty at 3-4 footers and an occasional 5 footer thrown in. My passenger got slammed to the floor and bruised pretty badly, and although we got out of the bay and into the chester river were it calmed a bit, I was not looking forward to the return trip.

The return was more of the same...I had marlin and Ed one in front of me and one in back of me...That day Ed almost lost his engine(he has a classic), marlin a 16...we were not off shore but we were beat up pretty bad physically by the end of the day. I have had days like that on the Potomac River too, where the weather has a pronounced effect on comfort, even in my Nantucket. I would say to you that the 19s are fantastic boats, but unless your talking dead calm to 2 footers.., I'm not venturing 50 miles off shore in one. Others might even do it in 15s, 17, other 19s. Ive heard of people going to Bimini n small boats as well....

I just think they were not designed for that kind of trip and safety is number one in my boat...and should be in every ones

weather changes out that far can make a good day real bad real quick!

posted 02-20-2008 06:00 PM ET (US)            

I've felt pretty lonely in NY harbor on a 19' boat. Middle of the night, nasty weather, I can't imagine what being out 50 miles would feel like if things started to get ugly. That would be a long slow ride home. Scary. Too me.

posted 02-23-2008 09:47 PM ET (US)            

I carry 50 gallons of fuel, and usually go solo. Some days of bad eather I would not go 1 mile offshore. Or in the Bay for that matter.

So, my answer to the question is a definitive,...depends.

posted 03-04-2008 06:31 PM ET (US)            

I would have serious reservations about this in either boat.

I have had boats in swells that I could not see over, not a fun experience. I would not want to travel that far in similar or worse conditions.

Being that far out, you may not have time to respond to changing weather conditions and get off the water.

posted 03-04-2008 07:38 PM ET (US)            

Trust me I have been tempted sitting off the back of the vineyard thinking 20miles off is the dump and yellow-fin.

We have been out in winds at 10-15 and within 30 minutes faced 20-25 and shortly after that 25 plus. While the Bert can cut that at 20kts a small boat is going to slow to 10kts-12kts and ride hard consuming lots of fuel. That means you will be there longer and the waves will just get bigger. Rough seas are progressive!!

While it is very rare that far out, a thunderstorm is real scary 30-50 miles off and will turn everything white in minutes. Let's not forget fog, I doubt you have radar on the whaler so now you are stuck going 5-10kts and if you are 30-50 miles out it will be a very long ride. We always see other boats on the radar, you hope they see you.

Another issue is if you lose power.. Seatow doesn't go out that far so bring lots of rode for the anchor and bring a Sat-phone. If your not sinking the Coast Guard will get you when they feel like it. We had fuel trouble at around 3pm one time and they asked us if we were sinking, we said no, they got to us around 8pm. Pop the EPIRB for engine trouble and they will charge you big bucks. Other vessels will help but most smart captains will give you a ride but not a tow.

If you go you bring EPIRB, upgrade the life-jackets and have survival suits. You will last about 1hr in 70 degree water and you are 2 hrs from help arriving.

Sorry to be so gloomy but it is what it is. Ask the Coast Gaurd and what do you think they will they say?

posted 03-04-2008 10:40 PM ET (US)            

Tom (bluewaterpirate) goes rather far offshore in a single-engine 21-foot Boston Whaler boat. He keeps the engine (and the batteries) in top condition.

There is no doubt that on certain days you can sneak 50 miles out to sea and come back safely in a small boat. I also believe that owners of Boston Whaler boats are likely to feel more confident about trying this because they feel their boat hulls are unsinkable. But just because it can be done when the weather is just right should not make people think it ought to be done or is something you can do all the time.