Prevost entrance 2 Boaters 0

localboy · Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 1:01 pm Post subject: Prevost entrance 2 Boaters 0

If this was previously mentioned, disregard. If not, boaters need to be more aware:
https://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s59/sinking-norwester-57514.html
https://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/its-happened-again-boat-meets-rock-prevost-57731.html

These rocks, reefs etc are all charted. Despite that, I’m know that rock noted in the second thread has claimed quite a few victims.

NORO LIM · Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 1:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting. You really can't have too many reminders of dangers like this.

Some of the comments on the linked forums point out a common, and sometimes critical, mistake boaters make in plotting a course. Details on electronic charts appear and disappear with the zoom function. Plotting a course when zoomed out is not a good idea! It's slower and more laborious to pick your way along at a scale that will reveal obstacles and important changes in depth - but that's how people could avoid running into what they often erroneously claim are "uncharted" rocks. If you plot a course while zoomed out, then going back over the course a little bit at a time while zoomed in is crucial.

I really liked having two chart screens up whenever I was in unfamiliar waters. I kept one zoomed out for the big picture - to give a sense of what's coming next, and how far away or near important points may be. The other one I kept zoomed in to show as much detail as possible about the immediate vicinity.

pcg · Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 3:28 pm Post subject:

Good info. Never knew about this stuff...
http://www.stayafloatmarine.com/

localboy · Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 5:24 pm Post subject:

The Nor'wester is still floating, barely. Just the bow is poking up above the surface and it's going where the tides take it. USCG and CCG are aware and consider it a hazard to navigation. What a sad loss. So much history. So beautiful a boat.

When routing I do as Noro Lim advised: make my general route in a large, zoom out mode. Then fine tune it by zooming in. I always find places that I need to adjust my route. We don't have auto pilot but following a route makes the trips easier and more efficient.

I also learned early on: "When in doubt, stay out". I heed that rule.

thataway · Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 11:04 pm Post subject:

I also use two chart plotters--one on large scale and one on small scale. Having spent many years sailing before GPS and chart plotters, probably make me aware of several other very useful implements. First Is the human eyeball. Second is a depth sounder--and slow speed.

Back about a dozen or so years ago a Willard 40 Trawler hit a rock in Dundas Bay AK. I had been there with my Cal 46 years before, and was well aware of the rock--even not having a chart plotter--I had studied the detailed paper charts. I took my C Dory 25 to AK the next summer, and wanted to replicate the conditions that this Willard was in--and claimed the the Garmin chart plotter was wrong. (Same chart plotter I had). Same light, time of day and weather conditions. I found the rock visually easily. It was also charted in the proper position on the Garmin, and paper charts. Again, a skipper error.

Boating is an active participant recreation! You have to pay attention 100% of the time!

Cheaper than the "Stay Afloat" material, is the wax toilet bowl rings you can buy at any big box hardware store. Better yet is under water epoxy, such as Splash Zone Compound. Yes, I had to use it once. In the med, there was a rock which was on British Admirality charts, but not American DMA charts. I found that rock, and had to patch a small area in the keel, with splash zone compound. No water inside the boat, (7 foot draft--the keel was encapsulated.)

The story reminds me of an incident in Emerald Bay at Catalina way back. A beautiful 50 some foot boat owned by a car dealer in Redondo Beach CA, came in at full speed over a reef, which was just under water. It tore a good sized hole in the bottom of the boat, and there was no question the boat was going to sink after it cleared the reef. We got out dingies along side the boat and beached her. We found a log which was big enough to keep the rudder and one remaining shaft from being driven up into the boat. The Coast Guard arrived several hours later. A crusty bosons mate did a quick repair with several sheets of plywood, and anchor fast nails. The CG pump pulled most of the water out of the boat, and was kept running with a CG crew aboard the damaged boat, she was towed into waiting slings at a boat yard. Unfortunately the CG no longer offers this kind of service. Sea Tow is not capable of this type of quick and dirty repair.