Running inlets or river mouths

hardee · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:53 pm Post subject:

Jason, Really good thread, good information being provided, and good to share your experience.

Jim's advice on finding and taking classes is well worth serious effort. Experience is also a really good teacher IF, you survive and are smart enough to learn from it.

You have a good, sound and seaworthy vessel. Don't abuse it but do use it. It is bigger and heavier than the 19, so less like a cork and more like a 2x4. Keep the hatch battened and stuff stowed. Keep the PFD on, and I would highly recommend a PLB to wear on the PFD along with the handheld VHF. Single handing, you have to keep priorities in order. If the PFD and VHF are with you, you will have that few extra seconds to grab the ditchbag, (which for me is on the seat next to the cabin door), on your way out.

Keep enough power to maintain control, and riding the back of a wave is a very good place to be, if they are going your direction. You have to look at the situation. Sometimes it's better to run in the center, deepest, part of the channel, sometimes there is less wave action along one shore or the other. Look for where the wave action is happening and judge your course accordingly.

Experience on your boat will be your friend. Enjoy it.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

AstoriaDave · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 1:36 pm Post subject:

Jason,

You got the horse laugh when you asked around about boater ed classes because really good instruction beyond whatever your state requires (or advises) for new boaters is very rare, and expensive when you do find it. In Oregon, new boaters are required to pass a class, now just a day long seminar, before earning a "boater ed" card. This was phased in over a period of years, moving up the age brackets. It has very heavy emphasis on novice boaters, especially PWC operators, because that is the demographic group where the greatest incidence of water-related casualties is.

You might find an "advanced" USCG or Power Squadron boating class, whose content is what was required in the old boater ed class. I took that, back in 2007, from the local Power Squadron, and it was excellent! YMMV, however, because the local group brought in USCG experts, etc., and had instruction on avoiding and dealing with hazards unique to our area [Columbia River Bar and estuary, as well as near shore sport fishery]. Others, who took similar classes where the major boating activity is running a wakeboard boat on the local lake, got none of that added instruction. None. Yet, they carry the same boater ed card I do.

All of this is by way of explaining why the best way to get started on training yourself on running tricky bars and inlets is ... hitching a ride with a local who runs them regularly. It will be worth the money to pay someone with a solid reputation if you can do a ridealong. Ask around.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 1:50 pm Post subject:

Another educational possibility: I am sure other communities do this - the sailing club we used to belong to taught a 6 week class through the local adult ed center. My part was teaching Rules of the Road (intro) and man-overboard rescue techniques. There were people who were considering a boat purchase, new boaters, and experienced boaters taking the class.

Might be worth checking into adult education classes offered in your area.

thataway · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 4:19 pm Post subject:

The US Power Squadron may be your best bet: Here is a link to look up the nearest class to your location during the winter. The information is good. I had an uncle who was an instructor in all of the classes thru celestial navigation. He had about 500 miles of total boating experience. Owned a 50 foot boat, which never left the dock under its own power. There may be many seasoned boaters giving the classes, or they may have just worked up thru the various classes.

There are plus and minus thoughts about the Coast Guard classes, and the Aux. I took the basic series of classes in the 1960's and again in the 1970's with Marie. Good basic knowledge, but may not prepare you for situations like you experienced. For the most part there are very good dedicated men and women in the CG Aux. I have worked with them doing safety for various sailing regattas, and high speed power boat races. For the most part they were very professional.

CG Aux classes can be found on line here. I put my zip code in and it gave no classes--so this may be outdated?

hardee · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 4:34 pm Post subject:

BobAustin Said:

Marco Flamingo · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 4:39 pm Post subject:

One of the thing's you should do as practice is learn how fast you can do a 180 turnaround. Find out what is possible/comfortable and count 1 one thousand, 2 one thousand, etc. You will probably be surprised at how fast you can turn in a C Dory. Then time the wave interval coming at you when you're in something that is uncomfortable.

I got into some big seas this summer and then the wind came up and started blowing the tops off. I needed to turn and run. I slowed to idle and watched the waves for a while hoping for something small. When I finally made my 180, I was amazed at how fast I turned around with a dory hull. I accelerated and the approaching wave didn't even have a chance to lift my stern before I was heading back in the trough. I was giddy.

The 16 spins and takes off like a scalded cat. You might be amazed at what you can do in six seconds.

Mark

hardee · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 5:06 pm Post subject:

For some, I believe the turns to port or Starboard may not be equal, in timing or leaning. I know for me I can turn much faster and with more lean in to Starboard than port. makes for a tighter, faster turn.

Also want to pay attention to where on the wave you would make that turn. I think that would depend on whether they are oncoming of following waves.

Thoughts anyone?

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

thataway · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 7:25 pm Post subject:

Great to hear that the CG Aux class site is working well.---I guess just no classes in Pensacola--or it is not recognizing my ZIP...

The 16 will turn far faster than a 22 or a 24. A lot does depend on how the boat is trimmed. Being broadside at the wrong time (on the face of a wave) can be catastrophic in any boat. So making a 180 degree turn is not undertaken lightly in waves which are of the size enough to roll a boat. Generally, waves come in sets, even in instances as Jason was in. You need to time the sets, and pick the smallest of the waves--then make the turn, just after the crest has passed. But then you better be ready to use both throttle and helm to control the boat...

Agree, the most right hand rotation prop boats will turn faster to Starboard. This is certainly a factor to remember as Hardy suggested! I had to make some sharp turns to port with a 25 knot wind and very un responsive steering, due to air in the hydraulic system--it would have been easier to the Starboard.

westward · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:30 am Post subject:

You can also gain helpful knowledge on youtube. Try this search query: How to cross a bar safely in a trailer powerboat New Zealand". Best, Mike.

hardee · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:34 pm Post subject:

Marco Flamingo · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:11 pm Post subject:

I remember seeing that Washington State requires a boater education card for operators younger than me (like my wife, for instance). Any Washington C-Brats have one? What's involved? Any of the CG safety courses qualify for the card?

Mark