20' Seacraft Limits.

askipper3 · #1 10-12-2007, 09:11 PM

Just a thought...how big is big when it comes to the waves, in a 20' SF. In other words, what is pushing it, and what is the norm.?

Im really crazy, so I just want to know what you guys thought!

#2 10-12-2007, 09:32 PM

its not so much the wave height, but how theyre stacked up. anything more than 2-3 is gonna be uncomfortable if theyre tight, or you wont make more than about 15kts.

JohnB · #3 10-12-2007, 09:44 PM

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'.

NoBones · #4 10-12-2007, 09:57 PM

JohnB hit the nail on the head !!!
More than likely the boat will take more then you can.

Just my opinion....
See ya, Ken

Bigshrimpin · #5 10-12-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

its not so much the wave height, but how theyre stacked up. anything more than 2-3 is gonna be uncomfortable if theyre tight, or you wont make more than about 15kts.

Oh no . . . 2-3 that's when you speed up to 30 - 35 knots

The boat lifts up and you ride the tops with the tabs down and let the prop breathe.

#6 10-12-2007, 11:47 PM

its that stray 5-6 you gotta watch out for...

CaptLloyd · #7 10-13-2007, 12:23 AM

Well said JohnB! But let's all try to remember that this is "recreational" boating, if the seas are running 4'+, instead of heading for the ocean, cruise to the local Tiki Bar!

Lloyd

Bryan A. · #8 10-13-2007, 08:10 PM

20 SF at home in those conditions.

JohnB · #9 10-13-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Oh no . . . 2-3 that's when you speed up to 30 - 35 knots

The boat lifts up and you ride the tops with the tabs down and let the prop breathe.

Works great till you stuff the nose

.
Bryan, how fast was that boat going when the picture was taken? Looks like it is barely on plane.

Ikan Besar · #10 10-13-2007, 10:24 PM

limit of 20' SeaCraft? you'll know it when you see it.....and wish you were somewhere else. Let's face it, a 20' SeaCraft is a tiny wet boat. As stated above, if you fish out of the St. Lucie inlet, that model works fine as we are pretty close to land and when things get ugly the run to the Pocket is pretty short. It's decidely too small of a boat for many other places if fishing for offshore species is on the wish-list.

The upside is that fuel consumption is minimal for what can be achieved based on where the original poster is from. A day offshore for me is 12 gallons. Try that off some other places and you'd best own the local Texaco station.