Moving . . . Will the Boat Be Right ?

[D and D]

Have a 24.5' Regal cabin cruiser. Moving from the mid-west (rivers and lakes) to Savannah, GA. Is our boat seaworthy? Day sailing mostly - would like to go further. Any advice?

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by D and D

Have a 24.5' Regal cabin cruiser. Moving from the mid-west (rivers and lakes) to Savannah, GA. Is our boat seaworthy? Day sailing mostly - would like to go further. Any advice?

Is this boat a motor or sailboat?

[D and D]

Motor - I/O 350 GM - single prop

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by D and D

Have a 24.5' Regal cabin cruiser. Moving from the mid-west (rivers and lakes) to Savannah, GA. Is our boat seaworthy? Day sailing mostly - would like to go further. Any advice?

What's the keel, and how wide is the beam? Compare that to the likelihood of unexpected storms to get your answer.

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by D and D

Motor - I/O 350 GM - single prop

Not ideal for the ocean. Single engine no back up (consider putting a 15 HP O/b on a swing down bracket ,, to get you home)
Ok on the inter-coastal water way.

[D and D]

Unfortunately we have no experience with anything other than the occasional thunder storm that pops up on the Missouri river in this boat so we have no idea how to judge. We are both confidant boaters but completely unexperienced in the ocean. The beem is approx 7.5 and the keel approx 20' (never needed to know before)

[D and D]

Hi Laidback - that's a great idea and something we had considered (back up that is) - I am afraid we will have to go bigger to go where we want. We have room for additional petro tanks and the hull is nice and deep. Thanks so much for speaking with me about this. We really are a kind of a loss here. LOOOOVVVVVEEEE this boat

[perchance]

Originally Posted by D and D

Unfortunately we have no experience with anything other than the occasional thunder storm that pops up on the Missouri river in this boat so we have no idea how to judge. We are both confidant boaters but completely unexperienced in the ocean. The beem is approx 7.5 and the keel approx 20' (never needed to know before)

If you want to scare the **** out of yourself watch some youtube videos
on storms at sea and then decide.

[Vyndance]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

What's the keel, and how wide is the beam? Compare that to the likelihood of unexpected storms to get your answer.

Do What?

[D and D]

Amen Vydance - I thought I was just ignorant as to how to figure that. On the youtube - I watch Deadliest Catch -- LMAO!!!

[Vyndance]

Go google the great loop. You could leave for a couple of years without going very far outside.... unless you wanted to. Watch the weather, the boat is probably braver than you are!

[Laidback]

PLENTY OF PLACES TO EXPLORE WITHOUT RISKING THE OCEAN
Savannah River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[sailcruiser]

Great boating down there. What little I know of power boats I'd say no. (I did have a ski boat at one point in my life.). If you're in fresh water watch for moving logs. The gators can get quite big. I wouldn't take this boat too far into the ocean. Storms blow in very fast. Keep one eye on a radar even if on a cell phone.SC

[sailorchic34]

There will be tons of rivers and sounds to explore in the coastal Georgia and South Carolina areas from Savannah to st. Marys and Charleston. Your boat will be fine for a number of years of coastal cruising (with good weather). Offshore during an afternoon thunderstorm is someplace you probably don't want to go.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by D and D

Unfortunately we have no experience with anything other than the occasional thunder storm that pops up on the Missouri river in this boat so we have no idea how to judge. We are both confidant boaters but completely unexperienced in the ocean. The beem is approx 7.5 and the keel approx 20' (never needed to know before)

That's because you only draw 20" -- LOL!!!

I think that's a small boat for the ocean. Weather is weather, and if you're around the Missouri River you know how fast a storm can come up. But the ocean can really contribute to that.