boat limitations for newbie off-shore..

[k5ranger]

i have a 19' Palm Beach C/C with a yamaha 115. if your not familiar with this make, it is a flat bottom bay boat with some-what of a v- bow. it has a dead rise of 12 degrees( i believe) and drafts in 6-9 inches of water. i boat in fresh water lakes all the time....high rock, badin, buggs isalnd....but never off shore. i have taken an old jon boat i had in the channels around oak island.

my question is how far off shore can i safely go with regards to wave heights and limited experience. we vacation at oak island every summer and i would like to reach some of the man made reefs. any references as to information on boating etiquette in the icw and off shore? vhf preferences? mandatory equipment on board? ......yuno, things of that nature.

thanks and good fishing!