*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
OK, I'm a wimp. Well, actually I'm just a guy who's new to offshore anything, having spent most of my life with a 17' boat fiddling around in the sound and rivers. And that's where we've been playing with the Dusky, taking my time getting use to the bigger boat, and being very conservative about where we go because I still haven't gotten around to installing a depth finder. I've been through infamous Oregon Inlet a few times with buddies, but never on my own.
Yesterday afternoon we were taking it easy, just cruising the channel over towards the Bonner bridge. A guy in a Sea Hunt 232 blew past, and always being curious about other boats, I tucked in behind him to see if I could learn anything about how the boats compare. Big charter boats passed us going the other way kicking up some nice wakes, and it seemed to me we were having an easier time with them than the Sea Hunt. When we got to the bridge, I realized the Sea Hunt was headed out. I thought hmmm, seas reported 2-3, wind S at 12, Epirb and ditchbag on board, and we can follow this guy. OK, this is it I told my son, we're going out too. So out we went following him at a prudent spacing. When we got into it, the combination of big wakes from all the charters coming in and the ocean waves, I saw that we were dealing with more than 2' stuff for sure, but the light came on...the Dusky was in its element . It felt safe, handled well, and when we dropped into a trough it never felt like we were going to stuff the bow. The biggest problem I had was I felt like we were going way too slow trying to stay behind that Sea Hunt, which looked like a cork bobbing up and down in front of us as he inched along. We were off plane with the bow sticking way up in the air trying to maintain spacing. It did not feel right. I said enough, got my guts together and just passed the Sea Hunt. What a difference. Now the bow was down, and we were slicing it up. So that's what a Dusky is for! I managed the throttle pretty well to time the waves and what a fun ride it was! Well, OK there was the one wave we sort of launched off of and arrived with a bang, but I learn fast and we didn't repeat that. The dusky didn't seem to care. I went all the way out to the last buoy before turning, no depth finder you know, and then we cruised up the beach. The seas were as forecast, but with sets of some nice rollers interspaced in there. I was blown away with the way the Dusky handled. We cruised along at 30-35 MPH, no pounding at all. It sure felt a lot different from soundside. It was great. Too soon it was time to head back in, and this time we were alone navigating the inlet channel. No problem, the boat took good care of us. Then, just when I was feeling kind of smug about the whole thing, a Regulator 29 went flying past me, folks just a waving "Hey" to us as they tore up that inlet like it was nothing. I didn't even try to stay with him...Yes indeed, there is definitely a boating food chain. But I like my Dusky.
Somehow, I believe all the "fit and finish", "bow seating", "what color for my hull", and whatever else "issues" just went out the door, or out to sea in your case.
...a real sea trial. And you're right, as soon as we might think we're the big dog, here comes the BIG DOG!
You've got enough boat under you, that's for sure, in order to pass OI when it gets ugly.
The big deal is, and sometimes I think people just don't understand this, is:
Match your speed to the conditions. When the boat launched off the wave as you were going out, the hull was telling you too fast, and u were smart enough to realize to throttle back just a bit, but still keep the bow high to not stuff it. Once you clear the sea buoy here, it's 40 feet of water and the waves subside. That last hundred yards when the bar really turns it up are the worst, once u make it over it's usually a non issue. NEVER turn around in the inlet, even if taking green water over the bow. Rather punch through every wave you can, let your boat self bail, throttle back and make steady headway towards the sea buoy. Never turn the boat so a swell or breaker can catch you beam too.
Coming back, you almost have to ride the waves in and jockey those throttles to match the speed of the sea and still maintain good rudder control, but yet not overtake the next wave cycle and end up stuffing it into the backside of a roller closing the bar. Remeber, no trim tabs, get em up and keep em up, unless the seas are nice and flat.
By the way, go ahead and install that depth finder soon... there are places at the inlet where you can run between the breakers and the beach with sufficient depth so you bypass the main inlet and sometimes can get into more favorable seas, depending on wind and tide state. NOT advisable for unexperienced folks, and even experienced folks if you don't know where the bars are, ie, run the inlet every week.
The one nice thing about OI, is that come about time to go home, there are plenty of charter boats returning from fishing that are going through the inlet, and there's nothing nicer than seeing that carolina flare smash through those waves cutting a path for you.
Just make sure to keep your safe distance from the stern of that charter boat, most captains don't like to be followed so close.
Wait till striper season Itwonder, when the winter time comes around, that inlet gets nasty and even more confused. There's nothing worse than confused 5-6'ers in the inlet.
Lastly, good job, OI needs to be treated with respect, but common sense and a cool, non panicky skipper will meet every challenge thrown at you by the ocean. There a whole lot of fishing on the other side of those bars. Next time bring some poles with you!
Thats a good story.....too bad for the SH!!!! Always interesting to hear folks takes on going out and doing newt stuff.
When yall are saying OI, are yall talking about Ocean Isle NC?? We use to vacation up there in summer when I was younger, and I rememeber that being a VERY shallow inlet.
Nice ride BTW, that 23' should handle 2-3's all day long.
__________________
2004 Silverado 2500HD
2001 Grady White 265 Express
When yall are saying OI, are yall talking about Ocean Isle NC?? We use to vacation up there in summer when I was younger, and I rememeber that being a VERY shallow inlet.
Thats a good story.....too bad for the SH!!!! Always interesting to hear folks takes on going out and doing newt stuff.
When yall are saying OI, are yall talking about Ocean Isle NC?? We use to vacation up there in summer when I was younger, and I rememeber that being a VERY shallow inlet.
Nice ride BTW, that 23' should handle 2-3's all day long.
Oregon Inlet and the inlet at Ocean Isle (forgot the name) are VERY different animals, no comparison.
Reminds me of the first time I ventured through the inlet and out to sea. Granted, it wasn't OI, it was Manasquan Inlet, but still very cool nonetheless. Like you, I had had my boat for a while and hadn't ventured out yet. Being your typical guy, I was out with my girlfriend for a ride one afternoon and everything was very calm so I decided to go for it!
If you know anything about Manasquan Inlet, you know that tons of people are on either side of it fishing "over the rail" just about 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Parking my car by the Inlet and relaxing with a cup of coffee was something I had done most nights since I was a teenager. I remember going there with my mother and grandmother after school when I was little to have some ice cream and wave to all of the boats going by. That's what hit me the first time I went out in my boat - I looked to my side to see a bunch of kids waving at my boat from Pt. Pleasant as I went out. I smiled and gave them a wave back. It might seem like a little thing, but it's a moment I'll remember forever.
I only stayed out in the ocean a few minutes that day before coming back through the inlet and over to Treasure Island to have lunch. But the feel of piloting your boat in the ocean for the first time isn't something you'll ever forget!
__________________ 2001 May-Craft 1800
2001 90HP Johnson OceanPro
Friday I went out of the inlet and it was just about flat calm in the morning, I guess it must have kicked up a bit in the afternoon. I am surprised that the Sea Hunt was having difficulty.
BTW: Is your boat over at Sailfish Point in Pirates Cove, I saw a new Dusky there a few days ago. I am slipped about 10 boats back of you.
You sir get it. You have a very capable boat (very nice boat) and you are slowly pushing your experience level...Way to go. You will find as your experience grows so will your journeys and adventures then you will realize you bought a great boat and enjoy the sh!t out of it even more..
__________________ "I'm suing the THT and the guy that made it."
Love the story and love the boat. The Dusky is a great ride and love that clasic look. There are a million Dusk's here in South Florida so I guess I get used to how nice looking they are. I bet you have a one of a kind up there!
So that's what a Dusky is for! 
THT sponsor
