the 29 Outlaw Baja is a Slug w single.

I am very close to you. I boat in the bay of fundy. Your on the right track for your price range. Prices on used boats are very high at the moment. I have a scarab 26 (26'10") with a 496 ho that does very well in the rough water and I know a guy with a Baja 272 that is similar. The Baja has more cuddy room, my cockpit seems to be a little less cramped. Don't go any smaller the 27ft or you wont be happy when it breezes up, and it does very quick around here as you probably know lol. Also mine does not stay in the water, I tow it with a 1500 silverado 5.3. It handles it quite well around town but it's a work out for it on the highways.

I'm on Grand Manan island. I have never been that far up the bay but I can cross to either side no problem from where I am at. The bay does get rough with all the current but I just moved up to what I have now from a 21ft and its night and day difference.

Yes, all things being equal a narrow beam will be better for rough water. Think of the physics involved. Sharp knife cuts better than a dull knife. A sharper deadrise will also perform better in rough water. More weight helps too. There are drawbacks tho and even the best built boats will get damaged in rough water. Even overbuilt race boats frequently need fiberglass work with stringers and tabs poping loose and gimbal failure.

It's really encouraging to hear that there are other offshore boaters in Nova Scotia. I've now heard from someone on the Atlantic side, and the Fundy side. I never assumed when I joined OSO that there would be membership anywhere in Eastern Canada. I really had concerns about being able to use the boat on the bay, nice to hear it's definitely doable.

Charters, I'm told that the 25 OL handles rough water even better, and I think the running length is almost identical to the 272. The OL also as a little more room in the cuddy. Unfortunately all the 25 OL's I'm seeing are most expensive than the 272's, which seem to be very plentiful.

That makes sense, I was looking at the Scarabs, most of which seem to be a narrower beam, but have the same deadrise (24*). That said, I hadn't really considered that the wider boat is pushing more water, even with the same deadrise angle.

29 Outlaw single with a blown 572 would be cool.....

ran a 26 ssi chaparral for a few years. it was a good boat with great cabin. 496 with bravo 3. the cockpit lay out was nice also.