Finally, outfit your boat if you haven't already. A good compass, a GPS, and complete safety kit should be standard equipment at the very least. You can have your boat undergo a courtesy marine examination by the USCG auxiliary at almost any harbor in the area on a weekend. They'll have all the details you need generally. Your own comfort level, equipment and navigation capabilities and knowledge of safety is the only thing that counts in my book.
Different circumstances call for different decisions.
Good Luck with the fishing. Good fishing and tight lines. I was out in my boat on Saturday fishing for coho. I have an 18 foot walleye style boat that is 92 inches wide. I am fairly new to boating and probably act on the conservative side when making decisions.