How Far Offshore is Offshore?

[Adelie]

Wow, 10yr old thread resurrected. Longest I've seen.

[belizesailor]

USCG's definition is > 250nm from land.

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by Jay Jennings

(Warning: Newbie Questions Ahead!)

Okay, the main difference between a coastal cruiser and a blue water (offshore) cruiser is typically one of sturdiness, yes? An offshore boat is built to take more of a pounding (from what I've read).

So here's my question -- if you're getting your feet wet (hopefully only as a figure of speech) with a coastal cruiser, how far out do you typically go? I mean, if you're hopping down the West Coast, for example, how far offshore would be "normal" when going from one anchorage to the next?

Are you out far enough that you don't see land?

Does offshore typically just mean that you're crossing an ocean?

Thanks!

Jay Jennings

6 inches

[Scot McPherson]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

USCG's definition is > 250nm from land.

Is it? an inshore license grants you license to take paying passengers 10nm offshore, a Near Coastal license grants the same privilege out to 100nm. You need a Oceans license to go past that mark with paying passengers.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Scot McPherson

Is it? an inshore license grants you license to take paying passengers 10nm offshore, a Near Coastal license grants the same privilege out to 100nm. You need a Oceans license to go past that mark with paying passengers.

IIRC is 250nm. I hold a 100 ton Near Coastal Liscence and as I recall Im good for up to 250nm from land.

I never carry passengers that far out so never really needed it for that purpose.

I will double check and report back.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Scot McPherson

Is it? an inshore license grants you license to take paying passengers 10nm offshore, a Near Coastal license grants the same privilege out to 100nm. You need a Oceans license to go past that mark with paying passengers.

Originally Posted by belizesailor

USCG's definition is > 250nm from land.

Originally Posted by belizesailor

IIRC is 250nm. I hold a 100 ton Near Coastal Liscence and as I recall Im good for up to 250nm from land.

I never carry passengers that far out so never really needed it for that purpose.

I will double check and report back.

I stand slightly corrected. Its 200nm.

From USCG:

Near Coastal or Ocean Waters

Near coastal means ocean waters not more than 200 miles offshore.

Oceans means the waters seaward of the Boundary Lines as described in*46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 7. For the purpose of establishing sea service credit, the waters of the Inside Passage between Puget Sound and Cape Spencer, Alaska, are not considered oceans.

[Scot McPherson]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

I stand slightly corrected. Its 200nm.

From USCG:

Near Coastal or Ocean Waters

Near coastal means ocean waters not more than 200 miles offshore.

Oceans means the waters seaward of the Boundary Lines as described in*46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 7. For the purpose of establishing sea service credit, the waters of the Inside Passage between Puget Sound and Cape Spencer, Alaska, are not considered oceans.

That's right 200nm, my fat fingers

[belizesailor]

So, 6 pages later, there you have it, the definitive answer is > 200nm.

😆

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

So, 6 pages later, there you have it, the definitive answer is > 200nm.

��

As far as the US Coast Guard is concerned. What do other coast guards have to say in issuing their licenses?

That should be good for another couple pages.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Adelie

As far as the US Coast Guard is concerned. What do other coast guards have to say in issuing their licenses?

That should be good for another couple pages.

Dont know. Other nationalities care to contribute?

[IslandHopper]

As far as Australia (AMSA) goes, Near Coastal for the purpose of issuing of CoC's (Certificate of Competency/Licence) is 200nm, or to be more precise, 200nm from the territorial base line, the EEZ.....

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the government body concerned with the issuing of Certificates of Competency in Australia, the Coast Guard here is a voluntary rescue organisation....

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

So, 6 pages later, there you have it, the definitive answer is > 200nm.

��

I believe I said something to that effect 10 years ago (post #9)

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

I believe I said something to that effect 10 years ago (post #9)

C'mon...who reads 10 year old posts...or revives 10 year old threads.