re: Any fellow boaters out there?

I've fished offshore for years, we've owned several different brands of CCs, our last was a Jupiter 31fs badass machine. We've had grady white, hydrosports, & century.

In that size range currently here are the best brands; Jupiter, Yellowfin, Regulator, Grady White, Contender, Everglades and Boston Whalers. Go with twin Yamaha 4stroke engines.

You should be able to find a low hour used boat with a good electronic package. I do recommend you get Radar if you plan on overnight trips. Actually IMO it's a must have. We made regular overnight tuna, bill fish trips out 65 to 100nmiles. Radar will save your arse dodging summertime thunderstorms.

Start off with what you're comfortable with distance wise. I've taken the 100ton masters captains license courses and passed. Unfortunatel, I had to have spinal fusion shortly after the class and couldn't pass the physical in time to upgrade. I recommend, if you get serious about going offshore, to take the captains license course even if you don't plan on getting the license.

If you fish out of Orange Beach I will be happy to go with you on your first few offshore trips to help educate you on captaining your vessel and on how to bottom fish. I have over a hundred private spots we've either deployed ourselves as artificially reefs or natural bottom spots on the edge/yellow gravel. Grouper, snapper, AJ etc.

Good luck!