I go out as often as the weather permits in my 22ft Champion. I have been gassed up, baited up and ready to go with 3 other guys I work with, who all pitched in on gas and loading/readying the boat, only to turn around at the jetties no less that 5 times last summer. Its a judgment call when you break the jetties. Its a much more important judgement call to know when to head back in due to changing weather and winds. I recently rode back in the GOM 22 miles at a top speed of 11mph. That was a 2 hour ride with most every wave spraying into the boat. NOT FUN! But as already stated, its got a lot to do with knowing your boat well and knowing how to trim and run your boat in seas. And LUCK. 30 footers go down all the time. Just get experience with your new rig before you try any sort of a run into the GOM no matter what rig you buy.

Sorry, I got you mixed up with the guy that posted the thread. I agree, it doesn't matter if you're spending a day on the basin or a night offshore, you should always have the essentials and be prepared. My point to the original poster was to figure out what he really wants to fish and rig up for that. There is no real all around boat. Each one is designed with a purpose. If I'm running offshore, I would want to be in a boat made for it. Things can take a turn for the worst quick on any body of water.

Yes, people, including me do it all the time.

Yes, people drown out there all the time.

If you even have to ask on a forum, then you should second guess yourself.
Not taking a cheap shot at you man, but dead is permanate.

AND, if those that go with you see YOU as the guy, so you need to be sure.
No sure, no go

I agree with the guys on here, if you do go make sure you know your boat and have a buddy boat. I try to never go offshore unless I have a buddy boat out with me. I've been as far out as 30 miles out at night in our 19ft nautic star if that help answer any questions. Its always possible, just know your boats capabilities.

Good luck if you do go and make sure to post a report. I wouldn't go any time this week btw. Looks like there will be scattered thunderstorms all week

In my experience the gulf tends to kick up at night. And I NEVER run at night out there. You wouldn't believe the stuff they have floating out there and un manned unlighted well heads. Some people do but I won't. If I have to navigate at night out there I'll throw some rods out and troll around. Nothing faster than trolling speed(6) mph.

What's a Hiney??:shaking:
LMAO!!!

I see this often, and would never consider doing it myself. On a perfect day we have taken the 24' bay boat to the 8 mile rigs, which is still what I consider "coastal", but I wouldn't even do that run in anything smaller. 99% of the time nothing will go wrong. That 1% is what you have to worry about and prepare for. Ive been out enough times in bigger boats and had summer squalls pop up and get beat up, I would never want to do that in a small boat. Also, if you are going in a bay boat with a single motor, I would strongly consider adding a kicker. You know that feeling when your heart just sinks when you try to crank it and something goes wrong on the water? Or you are running and something craps out? Imagine that miles from shore. That VHF on channel 16 might save your life, but a kicker definitely makes things seem less life or death.

I will go out in my 21' frontier, but I pic my days and I have been out quite a bit in my younger days. Any doubt, don't go.

If you want to be able to snapper fish just get an offshore boat and use it for inshore fishing too.... Problem solved