What's the smallest boat you've taken to the GS?

Twan · 12-14-2005, 03:53 PM

Let's see how crazy some guys are and lived to tell about it...

What is the smallest boat you have taken out to the Gulfstream???

Greg Manning · 12-14-2005, 04:01 PM

21'........carrying extra fuel and even though it was a great day weather-wise its still stupid without a buddy. The older I get the more in touch I am with the finality of mortality. Now on something like a 23' Kencraft with twins, different story. A lot depends on whether you leave from Masonboro or Hatteras. Greg

Shag · 12-14-2005, 06:00 PM

Depends on what you call the "Gulf Stream". Have had a 17 Montauk out to the #14 bouy off of Beaufort Inlet. The water temp jumped, the water turned blue, and we saw a passle of flying fish. I guess we were technically in the western part of the GS. Approx 20 miles off.

Now I am waiting for some smartazz from Florida to rub it in tell us the story of how they ran it in a 13'. Before you do, we already know it's only a couple miles off.

Drifter · 12-14-2005, 06:17 PM

23' is the smallest I see on a regular basis around the Big Rock and Swansboro Hole areas.

Holy Smoke · 12-14-2005, 08:06 PM

I had my Edgewater 175 to the stream out of OI and Hatteras a number of times.

2blackdogs · 12-14-2005, 08:11 PM

211 Mako with a 225 Johnson ocean runner, went with a retired sub master chief from a marina in Wilmington, fun day, but would not go again on that boat.

2 black dogs

King Smurf · 12-14-2005, 08:35 PM

hrm.......32ft century with twin 250hpdi's..........Don't think i'd ever go with out atleast 26ft and twin engines. I've been on the century and was praying for 29 more feet to magically appear with twin cat 2,000hp and a nice carolina flare......Riding on the "M' Lady Jane" last year during Tuna season spoiled me

Clarkspoon · 12-14-2005, 09:24 PM

19' Grady, caught a sail at the Rockpile (I know, I cheated and went out of Hatteras).
Big Rock in 22' KenCraft WAC.
It is not the size of the boat, it is the weather

shrug1013 · 12-14-2005, 09:32 PM

Took a 21' Triumph to Swansboro hole out of Beaufort about 65 miles, well that's when we pull back to troll. . We did have a buddy though. I may have taken the lead with that one!!!

Twan · 12-14-2005, 09:49 PM

I put a similar post on FS and some guy took out a 14fter out there. That is crazy! no matter the weather.

ClarkLLC · 12-14-2005, 10:44 PM

Took a 20 Vector.......22 miles beyond the 14 bouy.........caught ...tagged...released a sail......527 days later...
got a tag report from the Billfish Foundation.....fish was caught in Islemorada (sp)...on the "Man O War">..

Had 115 gals...of fuel........w/15 gal. to spare upon return...upon looking back on the trip.......I was stupid !!!

Too many things can go wrong.....

Clint R · 12-14-2005, 10:58 PM

The Finatic makes the run every now and again from Masonboro. She's a 23 sea hunt, fished the eastern edge one day, 86.6 nau. mi. to the hill on the return trip. Flat calm tho. That was a haul, ride and tuna! Silly not to go without buddies around in any sea.

MattH · 12-15-2005, 09:12 AM

Been to the Big Rock several times on a 22 foot Whaler (Cuddy Cabin) with a 200 HP yamaha 4 stroke, just need to watch the weather.

hunt4fish · 12-15-2005, 02:47 PM

I fish a 21CC DV Parker w/200 yammie and fish the Big Rock and Swansboro Hole numerous times a yr.Boat holds 100 gals of fuel I can fish all day and still have about a 25-30% fuel left.I usually burn around 65 gals of fuel on a all day Gulfstream trip.I am confident in my equipment and keep it well maintained,and I pick my days weather wise and keep a keen eye out for bad weather coming I will not hesitate running back in after a couple hours fishing if the weather looks like it could turn ugly.I'm stupid just not that stupid,to stay and try to catch one more fish.

bluewaterpirate · 12-15-2005, 05:33 PM

I take the 21' Whaler pictured below to Big Rock on a regular basis. I carry 95 gallons of gas and never used have never used more than 55 gallons.

wild-won · 12-15-2005, 08:38 PM

Not the smallest boat listed but considering the frequency I faced a few hairy spots. I purchased a 24 Albemarle from 70 west in 1992. My log recorded 87 Gulf Stream trips in a 3 1/2 year period. My tops was 1993 which I visited the stream 31 times! Caught 14 bill fish including 3 Blue Marlins on that boat. Won the release portion of the Swansboro one year and the kill division the next. Man that little boat would hum up the fish.

silverg · 12-15-2005, 10:06 PM

Went to 14 bouy a number of times in an 18' Parker with a 120. Tough little boats.
One time took a guy that had never been in the ocean but was always game for anything. He hasn't been back.

gmanoffshore · 12-16-2005, 06:16 AM

The 2250 HS below has been several times to the Blackjack out of Ocean Isle {70 miles } BUT is has always been with at least two other buddy boats and I carry all the ditch gear/ Hand Held VHF/EPIRB/ etc. Also make sure I have a very stable weather pattern.

offshore3144 · 12-16-2005, 07:09 AM

I dont think it is so crazy. To the GS it depends on what time of year you are talking about. Since I go by water temps and breaks all our trips range 25-45 miles from the inlet in the boat below. If you are prepared properly safty gear, a good day weather wise, and you keep your equipment well matained I dont see what the big deal is. If the weather and forcast looks good we dont stop untill we hit a good temp break or where we here the bite is. On our coast if you are fishing close to some of the more popular spots there are always other boats within radio range. My gas tank holds 118 gallons at 2.0 MPG.
Carry your Eprib, Handheld VHF, Lifevests, Flares Etc. And keep your eye on the weather. There is no reason why you have to stay inshore if you have good equipment. Mark

dubbs · 12-16-2005, 07:43 AM

Two trips last year in a 25 seavee with a single 250. There were tons of people out and the seas were flat. We left early and did some bottom fishing in the 30 mile range and didnt see another boat all day. It made me wonder if I was more safe in the gulf stream. What do you think, are you more safe 50 miles out with 30 boats within a few miles or 30 miles out and no one in sight?