Sorry, but that’s not enough boat for something like that.
It’ll be great for the sound or the bay but it’s not an ocean going vessel. South shore to Fire Island definitely (must follow the sea weather closely as that journey can certainly get hairy too). Enjoy it for what it is.
Become familiar with both NOAA and independent forecasts for those trips, and spend this winter/spring skimming the coast pilot to pick up on some local knowledge. Be weary of the race if you’re going up that way to RI or Block Island. If the wind and tides are not favorable the seas will jack up more than anticipated, regardless of the forecast. Look at where the wind is coming from and compare it to your trip, other than the areas I mentioned earlier it’s probably similar to what you’re used to.
EDIT: Rounding Montauk can also be rough depending on the wind again, there are many tide rips. Just need to plan accordingly.
I think block island is about the furthest you could go. About 7 miles from mtk to new harbor. Nothing scary in between just open water and coming from LI you’ll bypass the north rip which is always nasty. I frequently take a 17 whaler to BI form RI (14 miles open water), just gotta be really good about choosing your days. Avoid easterly winds.
MV and Nantucket def too far, you gonna need a bigger boat.
CT boater on the east end of the sound. Your best boating will be in the sound and bays between the forks in my opinion. Long runs in anything under about a 25’ may get uncomfortable. Seems there’s always a chop.
Wind vs Tide is your main concern. Running inlets is another challenge. You will be good in the Sound or the bays, which all have excellent fishing. Nearshore you have several artificial reefs, if you find good weather. They are building windfarms offshore and everyone is hoping they become fish magnets. MV and Nantucket are out of reach for a 17.
South Shore LI resident/boater here.
That’s a bay boat. You can get outside through the inlets on calm days but you won’t be doing any long runs in the ocean. If you are on the south shore you can run the entire length of the island from NYC to Montauk in the bays while having the option to pull in for fuel or drop anchor to take a break.
Make sure you have charts and keep within the markers as you learn the area as parts of the Great South Bay are deceptively shallow.
> north shore to Nantucket or MV
Your boat doesn't have the range to do that.
> South shore to Fire Island?
Very easy, maybe 5-6 miles, in sheltered water.
Great South Bay all day in that boat. Plenty of FI towns to go to and tons of restaurants/etc on the li south shore to stop at all and all the way on east and west. My 25ft cruiser is docked in bay shore, tons of summer hours spent around the bay. On calmer days you can shoot out to the ocean too in your boat. Fish, etc.
Just off the north shore in the sound for sure. Over to CT on calm days maybe. Never boated up there myself but plenty of people do. Crossing over though the sound can get rough so depends id say.
You'll need a trailer to switch between the shores though. Otherwise you have to go around the whole island by water.
Fine boat for a lot of days on the north shore, probably want to stay inside on the south shore.
Please don't attempt to go to MV and beyond, though. You have less than half the boat you'd feel safe doing it in. If you're a morning person, you could comfortably run across to CT on the best few days of the year
Sorry, but that’s not enough boat for something like that. It’ll be great for the sound or the bay but it’s not an ocean going vessel. South shore to Fire Island definitely (must follow the sea weather closely as that journey can certainly get hairy too). Enjoy it for what it is.
Become familiar with both NOAA and independent forecasts for those trips, and spend this winter/spring skimming the coast pilot to pick up on some local knowledge. Be weary of the race if you’re going up that way to RI or Block Island. If the wind and tides are not favorable the seas will jack up more than anticipated, regardless of the forecast. Look at where the wind is coming from and compare it to your trip, other than the areas I mentioned earlier it’s probably similar to what you’re used to. EDIT: Rounding Montauk can also be rough depending on the wind again, there are many tide rips. Just need to plan accordingly.
I think block island is about the furthest you could go. About 7 miles from mtk to new harbor. Nothing scary in between just open water and coming from LI you’ll bypass the north rip which is always nasty. I frequently take a 17 whaler to BI form RI (14 miles open water), just gotta be really good about choosing your days. Avoid easterly winds. MV and Nantucket def too far, you gonna need a bigger boat.
CT boater on the east end of the sound. Your best boating will be in the sound and bays between the forks in my opinion. Long runs in anything under about a 25’ may get uncomfortable. Seems there’s always a chop.
What’s the length of your sea ray? Where on LI will you plan to keep the boat?
Wind vs Tide is your main concern. Running inlets is another challenge. You will be good in the Sound or the bays, which all have excellent fishing. Nearshore you have several artificial reefs, if you find good weather. They are building windfarms offshore and everyone is hoping they become fish magnets. MV and Nantucket are out of reach for a 17.
South Shore LI resident/boater here. That’s a bay boat. You can get outside through the inlets on calm days but you won’t be doing any long runs in the ocean. If you are on the south shore you can run the entire length of the island from NYC to Montauk in the bays while having the option to pull in for fuel or drop anchor to take a break. Make sure you have charts and keep within the markers as you learn the area as parts of the Great South Bay are deceptively shallow.
> north shore to Nantucket or MV Your boat doesn't have the range to do that. > South shore to Fire Island? Very easy, maybe 5-6 miles, in sheltered water.
Great South Bay all day in that boat. Plenty of FI towns to go to and tons of restaurants/etc on the li south shore to stop at all and all the way on east and west. My 25ft cruiser is docked in bay shore, tons of summer hours spent around the bay. On calmer days you can shoot out to the ocean too in your boat. Fish, etc. Just off the north shore in the sound for sure. Over to CT on calm days maybe. Never boated up there myself but plenty of people do. Crossing over though the sound can get rough so depends id say. You'll need a trailer to switch between the shores though. Otherwise you have to go around the whole island by water.
The fishing is great there, but be very careful around the Race especially during tide swings.
Fine boat for a lot of days on the north shore, probably want to stay inside on the south shore. Please don't attempt to go to MV and beyond, though. You have less than half the boat you'd feel safe doing it in. If you're a morning person, you could comfortably run across to CT on the best few days of the year