C-Dory 22 Accident

[RobLL]

Pat - yuh gotta tell us the story on that photo!

[Pat Anderson]

[Foggy]

A single remarkable photo could be simple luck.

Multiple photos, like side referenced above, are more
of a reflection on the expertise of the helmsman.

An incompetent helmsman, in big seas or bad weather,
can get the most seaworthy boat into big trouble.

Aye.

[jkidd]

[clayhubler]

Seeing that pic makes my back sore

[NORO LIM]

If I remember correctly, the pictures of the pictures being taken were even more impressive. I believe the photographer was hanging just above the wave tops suspended from a helicopter while shooting some of them.

[Hunkydory]

In 2001 on the return from exploring remote rivers & lakes in Alaska & the Yukon & Northwest Territories in our 12.5 foot inflatable, we stopped at Newport, Oregon & went out & back the Yaquina River ocean entrance. The swell was about 8 feet then & very evident to us without charts, the reef line to the north & south off the end of the jetty sides & the proper way to enter & exit the entrance, which was well marked. Unless there was steerage or motor failure, the boat shouldn’t have been in the reef area in a 10 foot swell.

Big swells not overly steep only become dangerous to a 22 foot C-Dory when the wind, tide or shallow water causes them to turn into breakers. Just before our first cruise to the Gulf of Alaska side of the Chichagof Island wilderness a fishing boat captain who had fished those waters for the previous 40 years advised us to not go out in over 10 foot swells, no matter how far spaced or low the wind. He said, the danger was from the many shallow spots “reefs” in the area going out several miles from shore. We had to go through this area to enter Mirror Harbor. We did go out the first time in 10 foot swells following a gale where the waves had been 20 foot plus. With careful boat placement avoiding the reefs, we have now transited this & many other areas like it many times. No boat does well over submerged reefs during larger swells & they are to be avoided unless no other choice.

The photos of the C-Dory on the Columbia Bar are very dramatic, but have little to do with the actual rough sea ability of the CD22. If those waves that day were breaking that boat wouldn’t survive there. The CD22 performs extremely well compared to most other 22 foot boats in very confused seas up to about 7 feet, tracking down the front of a large swell & many other conditions, other then going into 4 foot or higher steep short spaced waves.

Jay

[thataway]

A rule of thumb is that one should go the "Sea Buoy" before turning to go in a channel. In this case the Sea Buoy is 1.3 miles from the actual entrance between the jetties.

The article says the boat capsized off Nye Beach about 2.5 miles North of the entrance to the bay--where there is an extension of Yaquina Reef.

We were headed out of there at about 5 AM, still dark and a bit of fog in our Cal 46. The CG had said there were going to do a patrol early in the AM, and would let us know the state of the entrance. As we came to the dog Leg the CG boat was coming back--and shined their spotlight on us. Of course we lost all visual reference (long before GPS chart plotters). Fortunately I had written down the compass headings for each part of the legs going out--and was able to rely on this until our vision returned. The radar gave an all around echo, because of the cliffs and jetties so was of little help...Moral--know compass courses into these difficult harbor entrances also. Use all aids available.

[garyf]

Did anyone ever dig up more info on this accident? I'm definitely interested in hearing more details.

[PaulNBriannaLynn]

I tried to look it up a week or so ago, but didn't come up with anything more than the update from December 21st. I'm interested in the accident too if anyone has any more information...

[hardee]

[Marco Flamingo]

[hardee]

Mark, you are right about the reflectivity. And I have thought along that line as well. In this photo, that bright sport in the bottom left quarter is the SOLA Reflective patch on one of my PFDs.



I know of at least one C-Dory that had installed the silver portions of the red/silver trailer marking reflective tapes (short sections), on multiple surfaces around the boat so it would reflect from almost any angle.

Harvey
SleepyC

[thataway]

I have put the 3M retrospective tape on the Radar domes of the last 3 boats I have owned. It really shows up with a light at night.

[hardee]