Not clear if experienced in crossing bars...
I have not crossed the Raglin....I have watched it on the cctv feeds, and watched boats going in and out from shore.
I have crossed the Manukau and Waikato many times, Waikato the most.
Both of these seem milder than the Raglin from the shore.
My very strong advice, is go out in anothers boat, or have an experienced person on THAT bar when go out.
Do not just follow.
Each bar has its quirks, and line to take, dont turn 'left' too soon' Watch the 'freak wave come at you sideways once in actually inside the bar etc.
Will my boat be suitable for crossing the bar?
I have a 5.5 Surtees with a 90 Yamaha on the back.
A lot ppl cross bars in low powered boats.. on very calm days.
A well powered boat is when hit good chop, with white horses well developed, you just set the throttle and may work only the trim...If need to work the throttle you are under powered when the proverbial hits the fan on a bar.
Another indicator, is full load, inducing full bin and ppl, your WoT will be 42 mph plus.
If your boat/rig can do the above, nicely powered for bars and when chop comes up.
If not when that wave starts to catch up up going in, or that wave that comes thru every 1 1/2 hrs stands up in front of you, you get over it, and the last one of that set is standing up.
And when current wind, swell and chop on top of it causes a washing machine patch, or a hole (like sink hole cars and houses fall into) open up in front..
And going with some else 1st just to point stuff like above out, cant do if follow... even on dead calm day.
Im not trying to put you off.
We have a 5.5m glass boat, I swaped out the 115hp for a 150 when came west coast ( a 130 or 140 would do done just as well.)
And make sure your jackets have crotch straps..