| 22 ft. is definitely too small, if you were only doing day trips,
22 might cut it. the twist in power boating is when you want to
get out of it you can. i can say this about buzzards bay, i've
been in it for 21 years. when the bay gets nasty, its time
to get the hell out of there. i would recommend a 28ft. sea
ray, with twin v-8 i/o's. the inside is accomodating, and it
has accomocations under the cockpit, and they look pretty comfortable.
Keep in mind, i'm recommending that 28 is the minimum, for what
you wnat to do. In making your transistion from sail to
power, speed may not be one of your considerations, but what
ever you do don't buy an under pwered boat, they don't perform
well, its to hard on the engines, and they will actually
use more fuel. try and achieve a horsepower to weight ratio
of at least 25 or 1 or lower. (divide total horsewpower into
the wet weight of the boat and gear)
hope this helps,
JIM.
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| I agree with the previous note, except for the specific recommendation
of a boat. 22 feet is too small and in Buzzards Bay or out there
on the open sea, it can get quite rough. You'd be tossed around
quite ruthlessly in anything more than a 3-5 foot sea!
I have a 23' Bayliner myself and have most of my fun in Block Island
Sound, but make it a point constantly to watch the weather. That's
why I'm working on upgrading to 32' or more.
As for Bayliner, the evidence would appear to point out that the
hulls are not really designed to take a heavy pounding (although
mine has, quite effectively!) especially the more recent models.
But when looking at the larger boats, 32' up, you will get as good
as most unless you are going to invest in a Hatteras or an Egg Harbour
boat.
It's horses for courses. If you enjoy the challenge of getting out
there and fishing in anything the sea is going to throw at you,
you have to fork out the loot. But if you are careful about the
conditions, as all of us should be, a Bayliner or most other boats,
of the right size, can quite comfortably accommodate the bay.
Good luck,
Ray
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| Thanks for the responses. I fully understand the under or marginal powering
problem. Our 26ft Ranger (sail boat) came with only a 9.9horse outboard for
auxilliary (dealer said that was all we needed). We immediately upgraded to a 15
horse and needed that extra push going through Woods Hole many a time. We
sailed out of Onset Bay and Fairhaven for many years, so we are reasonably
familiar with Buzzards Bay. I almost lost a job one day when I had to call in
from Cuttyhunk because we could not get home because of the weather... So bad
that day, that even the little ferry didn't run!
Nantucket Sound, we are only familiar with the Woods hole, Famoulth,
Oaks Bluff area, because that is about as far as a leisurely day sail
would get you in one day from Fairhaven. The Hyannis/Nantucket Island
end of the sound seems to have a personallity of it's own, with all the
sholls (sp) and all, tho I have stood on the beaches and watched
a storm suddenly rip through sorta like Buzzards Bay.
Thanks for the info so far, and keep the suggestions comming.
Alice
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