re: Bayboat 22 vs 23-25

Sea Pickle, you are exactly right. It is a very heavy hybrid style boat. As far as fishing 40 plus, that was only done on exceptional days in mid summer when weather is flat calm. I maintain my equipment to the highest standards and never leave the dock if I have any doubt as to the reliability of any equipment on the boat. I carry sea tow insurance , redundant vhf's and epirb's. Fishing a single engine boat that far offshore is taking a little more risk than with twins or trips, but there are so many things can go wrong with fuel or electrical systems that will shut down a boat no matter how many engines. When I had a bigger cc years ago I have seen several single engine outboard boat up to 75 miles offshore in the middle of the night. If you boat offshore enough ifs not a matter of if you will break down, it's when will you break down. As long as properly prepared for the situation, you should live through it. I've been fishing in the GOM in my own boat for 35 years and the two times I blew engines I was tied up at the dock or on the trailer.