In the Ocean
 

I'm a rook at running in the ocean, only lakes and rivers What do I need to get or know before moving to Ft Lauderdale. I'm considering practicality and safety mostly, I've only got a 22' boat. I've got a VHF and GPS. I'm gonna purchase some Mustang Jackets. What else?

anchor, sea anchor, extra line, flair set, first aid kit would be on my list

I run the ocean all the time. The only advise I have for you... BE PRUDENT!!! Even on what appears to be a calm day, a wave can come out of nowhere and eat you up. Keep up with the latest weather reports and always look out on the horizon. Personally, I never venture offshore. I feel no need to. I only run along the coast. That way I can disturb as many sleeping sun bathers as possible. :D

Vinny-
seriously--get a BIGGER boat !!!!!

Flush your engine after every use!!

I dont plan on heading offshore either. I'm just trying to be ready for whatever. How much anchor line should I have. Whats the sea anchor? Is the the big parachute that slows your drift down? Are flares required by law as required safety equip?

Best advice I can give is to take a Coast Guard safety course, that will prepare you the most and teach you what you need to know to be a safe boater....from your statement and questions, it appears you are a prudent boater....good luck and when you get down to Ft. lauderdale, give me a holler, .....it will be good to know another boater on this board............

Frank

Make Friends with Bigger Boats !!!!

Buy the Chapman Navigation book.

Never go alone- always have someone in the boat, even if you're running with other boats.

Allow plenty of time to return by nightfall.

Be careful. It's big water during the winter months. You should be able to get a little during the summer.

This is a 36' Gladiator in September running out Port Everglades!

Did you guys finally get moved down? Decide on storage yet?

Flare gun kit is easiest to meet USCG reqs
150' anchor line with 6' of chain
Consider a second small anchor and maybe 50' depending on your plans. Lots of people down here back in instead of beaching; or sometimes a stern anchor is nice to deal with tides.

Chances are you'll find yourself not seeing as much time in the ocean as you'd think. Depends on how much you like a bouncy ride. In Broward and Palm Beach you'll find most of the time you'll be in the ICW hanging out at places like Peanut Island, Lake Boca, Shooters, John U Lloyd State Park.

You need to spend a little time checking out the inlets and getting some pointers from people that have been through them. Smaller inlets like Boynton, Boca, Hillsboro can have swift tide action and they have some tricky areas that need to be avoided. Larger inlets like Port Everglades, Government Cut, Haulover can have swift tide AND big rollers when the conditions are right.

Depending on where I'm headed, I like checking out webcams:
www.lakebocacam.com and has a nice little radar picture and a link to bocasurfcam.com
You can see some other beach cams from http://www.forcee.com/beach_cams.shtml Note the boca Inlet cam hasn't worked since last year.

If you end up at Marina One in Deerfield, I live about 20mins due west of there. There's a free ramp just up river and there's a few of us that launch out of there. A few more local boaters launch further north in Delray or Boynton.

One detail that I haven't heard mentioned yet is the tide. If you tie up to anything other than a floating dock you have to know where the tide is. You don't want your boat hanging from the lines:eek:

yes and along with that be aware that some of those cuts can get pretty ugly when the tide rolls in and out.

and once out in the ocean look out for subs (no chit:D)

Tides! Definitely something to be aware of. Nothing worse than sitting high & dry while people pass you all afternoon- and evening. The good thing is the problem will resolve itself in 12 hours.

There's a comedian in every crowd:drink: I don't think we are ever gonna hear the end of the sub story:party-smiley-004:

in addition to knowing how to tie your boat up it's makes good sense to know what the tides are doing because in some cases it may dictate when you decide to leave or enter an inlet......

Outgoing tide with an onshore wind thru an inlet = SNOT!

Offshore wind with an incoming tide in a large bay = SNOT

On rough days it's best to plan your trips before or after the tides start ripping!

Damn I got some learning to do. It'll be a good time though.
Handfulz, I'm heading down Aug 16. The wife is already there. The boat will be in MarinaOne. Oh yeah and not to turn this into an employment ad but I'll be looking for a job too so in between submitting resumes and interveiws I'll be cruising the ICW. It'll be tough for awhile.