[JohnB]

The rule of thumb I use for charters has more to do with the period than the wave height, and to some extent the direction of the wind/waves. I usually like the wave period to be at least twice the wave height. In a 20' SeaCraft, 3' on 6 sec is about as tall and fast as I would want to fish, and 5' on most any period is all I would want to play with. If I had an experienced crew of fishing buddies, I might push it a bit, but I have had a couple of days this year having to run 35 miles of ocean in 4' on 4 seconds or less, and the boat is fine, but the crew can't hardly walk upright the next day. These boats will take a lot more abuse than the crew can absorb, and I am usually in the 23'.

The boat/rigging, the captain's experience, the distance to be traveled, local knowledge, and the crew really make the final determination. An inexperienced captain, even with the best boat and crew can get himself in trouble. The reason I would pick 5' is some of the inlets in and out of Florida with an outgoing tide and an east wind make for a major spincter muscle exercise getting in and out. I had a 9' wave come over the top of my 23' the second time I took it out going out of Sebastian Inlet.

If your going out of Stuart, you guys catch dolphin and sailfish within sight of land, so you have short runs in and out. Up here out of Canaveral and Ponce, we usually run 30 miles before we start to fish. Given the shorter runs, if the weather turns, your closer to the dock, and in case of an emergency, help is closer to you. You can be a little more agressive if there is only 10 miles between you and safety. The 20' SeaCraft is probably one of the most sea worthy 20' boats out there, but it still is only 20 feet. If it has an open transom and you lose power, that open transom will be pointing into the waves in about 30 seconds. If it has a bracket, it is safer, but still is a 20' boat.

I think the 20' was really designed best for the keys and south florida where you have shorter runs to the fishing grounds. IMHO, it is the perfect keys boat. I don't like it as well up here, because you are usually watching the fuel gauge, and 35 miles each way in a 20' boat is not a picnic in anything more than 3'.