When Is the Latest You Can Make the Trip South?

[grunzster]

From NJ?

Now I realize most cruisers are long gone by now, but if you were really dying to escape when is the latest you could safely go?

Key word "safely" not comfortably.

Keep in mind, I've lived up here my whole life, I used to dive all winter, even did my dry suit training in the middle of January. Been out off NJ diving plenty of times in constant 5-6 foot chop (I'd rather be at the helm then a passenger in that). I have plenty of blankets on board, I know dive and fishing boats around here usually go out until middle or end of December. Worst case I can stop at a marina for the night and fire up the heat.

But at what point, does it become too cold, is the weather outside too rough, and inside there is too much of a risk of ice?