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I bought a 17' Edgewater w/ a 115 HP Yamaha last year. I bought the 2008 as a leftover. Last year, while learning the boat, I stayed in pretty close to the eastern central Florida coast (within 10 miles) and just learned the boat and worked a few kinks out. I am now pretty confident with the boat. I have also added the electronics... VHF, GPS, GPS handheld back-up and depthfinder. I want to venture out the gulf stream this year (up to 35 miles due east). Of course, I'll pick the right days and monitor the weather. Is this totally ridiculous? For those of you not familiar with the Edgewater 17' center console, this is a pretty beefy boat for a 17'. The dry weight on the hull is 1700 and a 7' 3'' beam. Heck, here is the link to the full specs:
I know there are others out there who have ventured out in slightly "bigger" boats because you passed me last year. I've been out there before but never in anything under 22 feet. I've had some "stuff" kick up pretty quickly on me and I'm not quite sure I'd want that to happen in a 17' center console. Those of you familiar with Ponce Inlet know that can be a challenge on even a good day. I've been on boats my entire life so experience is not the issue. I guess I am hoping I get a few "I do that all the time" and "don't worry about it" responses before I venture out. Thanks in advance!
I had a whaler Xtackle 17 , 10-miles good range to get back if it gets bad. Then went to a 21ft Everglades 15 -20 miles. This year went to 23 parker with closed transom and motor bracket, It is why you buy a bigger boat
A 17 ftr w/ single outboard, Radar ? . very limited space for safety gear .. You will always find someone that has been there done that , But to run 35 miles A nice 23' w/radar etc. would be much better in my opinion .. Plus where will you properly store all those yellowfin ,mahi, blackfin .
Mark Master 50 / Ton nearcoastal out to 200 miles
Two years ago a couple with a 18 Edgewater went to Green Turtle with us, and had no problem. I am not saying I would have done it. But the boat handle it well, and it was a solid 4 feet going over. You just have to watch the weather VERY close.
I had a 175 Edgewater , fished the 500 line (35 miles) out of Oregon Inlet a few times, not the best idea
but with the right weather it can be done. Its a stout boat and will not sink but there are maybe 30 days
a year with a forecast that I would want to make the run. I would also come back early in the afternoon to
avoid the thunderstorms.
Trust that the winds and waves DEFINATELY pick up in the atlantic gulf stream. Not what you want. I go there regularly and it can be ugly in an otherwise nice day. The combo of current, waves and wind makes it a washing machine more often than not. If you run out to the stream, most likely will not be fishable in your boat. I face the same thing in my 2008 23' Proline express. This boat puts a lot of freeboard up forward, but still, I have my EPIRB in my pocket with the lanyard clipped to the inflatable pfd I always wear. Go for it, go for it safe! The run to the stream may be OK, fishing into it or the edge ups the ante mucho.
17' boat - trolling the beach and out to about 3 miles is about it. To go 35 miles out you need a 23'er or better with twins or a kicker. Plus lots of safety gear. They make differant size boats for a reason, each is designed for a specific purpose. You will not find any manufacturer that will tell you it is ok to take their 17'er offshore.
Been 25+ miles in a 17' Montauk that Bob Dougherty designed so it would make sense that a 17' Edgewater could do the same in decent seas.
__________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
It's pretty obvious that people have different thresholds for risk. To a professional snake handler, dealing with more than two black mambas at a time could be "risky", while to a yuppie in Saucelito, leaving home without his iphone would be "risky". Alot also depends on who will be impacted by your actions. A young single guy can afford to take risks that a man with two kids can not. That's why you gotta do the stupid sh+t while you're young.....
Awesome little boat, had one for a few years. Used to go out swordfishing 15-20 miles out in the middle of the gulfstream all the time, sometimes in NE winds conditions with a big swell and 3-5ft chop and it would handle it without a problem. It would cruise nicely at around 20-25mph in those conditions in and out. My inlet is a tough one and it would handle it well in heavy outgoing tide conditions. I highly recommend this 17 footer for offshore fishing.
How Far Out in a 17' Edgewater? 
