Hi Damon .. Based on the past 4 yrs in an 8.0 metre boat, I would limit your max to 1m seas on 1m swell. Start in Cockburn Sound, and get comfortable with your radio and safety gear. Then venture to the west end of Rotto on a calm (0 waves on 1m swell) day. I'm pretty conservative, but there's nothing so scary as a big sea in a small boat when you're not quite sure about what's safe. I hope that helps. Cheers, Dan

if you feel uncomfortable or unsure dont do it....... common sense really....... like the previuos post.....the sound can get a bit rough sometimes so take ya time gettin used to your boat and build your confidence there 1st before you venture out past the island........plenty of fish to be caught in the sound as well........you dont want to become a statistic due to inexperience or takin a chance........another idea would be to take some1 who does have exp. so they can teach you and help you with it all..... have fun with it though.....

I'd agree with Fish4Dan with starting in cockburn sound. If your fairly inexperienced with your boat you would want a good ramp to put it in. Woodman point has good facilities for that. Also, the ramp is quite protected. Start in the sound like around garden island and get used to how the boat handles.

Weather wise stick to 1m waves and 15 knot winds for a start until you become more familiar.

 Agree - if it feels uncomfortable, don't do it. Stay in the sound until you get familiar with everything. Make sure you have Epirb & radio, offshore flares etc before heading out further. Perhaps team up with another boat for your first time out? Make sure you have charts/GPS.

My runabout is 5m, and is usually great out the back of Garden Island etc, but in the wrong weather it's plain uncomfortable (gets unpleasant before it gets dangerous IMO)

And remember, guys are catching very good size pink snapper off kayaks in the sound, you don't have to go out too far. (From a guy who has yet to pop his Cockburn Sound Pinky Cherry! lol)

Cheers,

BD.

All of the above very good advice,if you aint happy then dont do it. Proficiency comes with time so dont be in to much of a hurry. Another thing that I would advise is dont go alone anything can happen even on the best of days, why not let people know on FW when you intend going out and ask if anyone fancies helping you out its worth a go. Hows your reversing skills with the boat on the back ?? if you dont have a lot of experience why not get yourself up to an industrial estate and practice,we have all had to do it at some point, also retreving your boat requires a little bit of practice once again no great rush. After a few cock ups it will all come good, believe me I had more than my share of cock ups so enjoy your new toy and be careful. Tight lines.

Thanks for the great responses!
Yeah I was assuming it was mostly common sense, I've taken her out twice in the sound and went around carnac (hit a smallish rock the second time around!) I'm assuming to avoid this, check the gps map and avoid areas of whitewash?

Yeah, thinking of asking someone on FW to come out as a deckie when I get a little more used to it (don't wanna look like an idiot and waste a whole bunch of time haha).

Few further tips,

Learn to trim the motor depending on which way your going, - different boats handle differently and you need to learn to feel how your boat responds best but generally trim the motor down slightly when heading into the waves and trim it out (lift) when going with the waves. If the boat feels like its spearing (stopping and suddenly pulling in one direction) in a following sea  - slow down as this can be quite dangerous either with the following wave swamping the boat or throwing you overboard.

Take twice as much fuel as you need - If your normally getting back to the ramp with less than 1/3 of the fuel you started with left, your risking running out if conditions change for the worse -  if it gets rough you'll use more fuel and running out when rough is neither fun nor safe.

If it's rough the best thing you can do is slow down.  Once you get to know your boat and it's capabilities you be suprised at what it can handle as long as you don't try to belt through it with the throttle down - slowing down means you'll use more fuel hence the first tip.

If your not sure if its too rough to head out then don't go - As browndog mentioned you'll find it too uncomfortable to be out there fishing anyway.

and yep rocks and fibreglass don't mix too well.  - don't relay on charts and if your not sure where the reefs are in a certain area and you know they are there, slowly does it is best - hole in the bottom is certain to ruin your day and any future trip.

Good luck with all your fishing adventures

Cheers

Paul

Don't forget to have your engine serviced, boat and trailer checked over !

You do not want to break down whilst out at sea, with a new rig you are still learning in !

Murphy's law happens when you least expect it - and you need to be prepared - because your looking after your crew as well ( family /friends )

Good luck out on the water Damon !

hey mate i got the same sized boat im pretty new myself. stick in the sound a bit and with more confidence and experience with your boat youll venture out a bit more everytime. first time i went behind garden island i thought the swell was quite big now i just take it easy and its a piece of cake..

and still keep your wits about you the sound can still be quite heavy on a late afternoon.

 Mate Im hearing ya.. got 18'6 baron, and Im like you, Im sure the boat can handle more than my experience... as above, the golden rule regardless of experience is 'when in doubt, dont' 

I work with the 1&5 rule ie 15 kn, 1.5 & 1.5.. thats the worst conditions Ill head to ramp for... 

I strongly suggest buddy trips, theres plenty of peeps on the site that will all too happilly do that with ya.. me for one... 

If u are planning on heading out through any of the islands/reefs, try asking someone at the ramp thats doing the same and track your course through the leadlines.. I couldnt imagine anyone thatd say no!! keep it saved then its there whenever u need it...

I know where your coming from

Troy

Pm me if ya ever heading out and wanna team up

Just make sure the batterys are all good in your EPIRB, then as long as your esky is full of coldies you're set to go... Drive until you've got half a tank of fuel left, fish all day, get rotten drunk then think about driving home.

Allways leave the car engine running,  I had a car battery go flat on me while i was on the ramp retriving the boat.  Turned engine off, attached boat, start car.......start car........look at people waiting getting angry!

Luckily for me some one had a tow rope and pulled me and boat out.  My car was 2 yrs old, which is about when car batteries start fading.

Bad luck, yes, but murphys law!

Just saying.....leave the engine running.