What's the difference in canal - river or sea boats?

Question

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between canal / river/ and sea boats? I am looking for a cheap boat that can take me out about 2 miles offshore at Blackpool to do some fishing,will a 14 foot boat with a 15hp 4 stroke motor be big enough to cope with the tides? How can you tell what sort of boat you need? the tide at Blackpool I have been told runs a 8 knotts, cheap price is a big issue, not able to spend more than £1000, I know I am not going to get the QE2 for this price, but I don't want the Titanic either

Answer 1

The chief difference between canal/river boats and sea boats is sea keeping ability. The ocean has a tendency to keep what it has, and has a lot of tools to help it-tides, swells, waves, bigger waves, currents, liner wakes, fog, storms, etc. Some of these can become deadly very quickly.

I don't know anything about Blackpool, but over the years the Irish Sea has not been kind to ships. Is the Riverdance still there?

Back to your boat. I would not recommend a 14 foot boat with 15hp engine in the open sea. You might be able to fish for months or years, but then the next day, you will be found floating face down, and everyone wondering what happened.

Look around for a used boat, about 18-19 feet, with a 80+ hp engine, with a good compass, and room to carry all your gear. It should have plenty of free board when loaded. You should not be able to reach your arm over the side and touch the water. You should be able to see the tower at Blackpool from 2 miles out, and this will give you a wonderful reference, but nature has a way of making these disappear very quickly.

If you give some thought about what all you need to fish in the ocean, you will realize that a 14'  boat will not carry all of it and you, too.

Look around and see what you can find.

I wish you well.

Regards,

Dan

PS I once rescued 2 guys who had "caught" a shark and were headed out to sea from Charleston, SC, and they were in the Cooper River, about 5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean when they hooked the shark. Headed out to sea, with engine not working, and no knife left to cut the 35' rope to the shark and close to a 40' bottom. The shark was pulling them along about 15 knots in a heavy fog.

Answer 2

A 14 ft boat will be good in 99% of occasions. However it is best to remember that a small boat is not the best thing to be in in bad weather, so this is an inshore boat for use up to about 3 miles off shore from open beaches. Its use in strong tides will depend upon how well it reacts to the 15 hp motor which will be more than sufficient for its size.

I have used 14ft boats of Hastings beach in all weathers up to force 5 but by then the situation is getting very hairy and remember a power driven boat will be much less sea worthy than one under sail. I would also advise you to join a fishing club where they use such boats in your area as they will be able to point out the dangers and problems found on your piece of coast.

Answer 3

Different motors are used for salt-water and fresh-water. It would be risking your life to take a 14" offshore. I would either go with a commercial fishing boat trip, or buy a boat 20"+ with a V hull.

Answer 4

Its simple.  Anything that floats will get you out there.  But...will it get you back?  People have been going out to sea in rickity small boats for centurys but the ocean has a way of claiming the inadequate.  Much of it comes down to how brave you are and how sensible you are about sailing conditions with the craft you have.  Good luck man.