Moves you don't want to make in your C-Dory

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Nan-C":1amk1qzx said:
My son looked at me with a smile and said, "Tuna!" I gave him the "Huh?" look. "Chicken of the sea, Dad!"
Greg
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Greg, back in the 70's I was part of a sailboat crew competeing in the Cinco de Mayo race to Ensenada, Mexico. When we neared the Coronados (south of San Diego) we experienced heavy wind and high seas and had to reef in the sails. As there were 550 sailboats in this race, the radio began crackling with numerous skippers reporting that they were withdrawing from the race. One skipper with a bit of humor came on the air saying, "You Iron Men In Your Wooden Ships can have this stuff....us Chicken of the Sea are heading back to San Diego".
 
Jay and Jolee, thanks for posting those links again. I've enjoyed watching your videos. Even though I know what's coming at Ford's Terror, that one still makes me flinch.

Happy Holidays and stay warm,
Jim
 
Hey Dave -- At least you all were facing daunting conditions. I'm not quite to that level yet, but we will raise the level of our game over the next year or so. Some of the comments on this thread should help. One thing we have already learned is to secure everything in the cabin and the cockpit. Just like almost everything is more fun when done by boat, all rough conditions seem much worse when objects are crashing and clanging about -- freaks my wife totally.

Regards and Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all,

Greg and Nancy
 
JamesTXSD":2g9j07t9 said:
Jay and Jolee, thanks for posting those links again. I've enjoyed watching your videos. Even though I know what's coming at Ford's Terror, that one still makes me flinch.

Happy Holidays and stay warm,
Jim
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Being an avid riverdog and someone who has piloted his own boat (not a CD22, but a Riken self bailing raft) on the Lochsa, Selway, Spokane, Salmon, Green, Tieton, Wenatchee, Hoh, Deschutes, and others, I was worried as soon as he rounded the corner and was looking at the waterfall. The current was accerating, it was very shallow on the inside bank, and downstream even though you can't clearly see it on the camera looked like the gradient was much getting steeper. It looked just as it does on so many rivers just before a series of rapids. I thought, no it can't be, he should be turning around, and then you see the haystack come into view, and the rather deep hole on the other side. It is too late.....

In retrospect, it is very possible that even if somehow you could get the boat around, you would probably drop off of plane, wreck your props on the rocks as it probably was getting quite shallow, and then go through it sideways. That would really suck. Can you imagine highsiding a CD22? I can't.

I'm glad that nobody was seriously injured. And, the video is a good documentary of why one should be very careful in fjords as they are potentially very dangerous places to be in a boat.

One thing is for sure, I really enjoy (for the most part as I hate to see a CD22 get banged up and I know do too) your videos. They are very well done. Thanks for sharing!
 
T.R. Bauer":1tjl3x8a said:
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In retrospect, it is very possible that even if somehow you could get the boat around, you would probably drop off of plane, wreck your props on the rocks as it probably was getting quite shallow, and then go through it sideways. That would really suck. Can you imagine highsiding a CD22? I can't.
....
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Those videos should be on the C-Dory website! I too was wondering about the depth of the water in the rapids and the possibility of hitting props, etc. Fast current makes for interesting maneuvers!
 
Take big head seas at a 45 degree angle for comfort, but if they are breaking that can be disasterous, leading to being thrown over on your beam. When seas are breaking, best to take them dead head on, using the throttles to punch through, then back off so as not to get too airborne. Best tactic, though, is not to get caught out in such seas. A C-Dory bottom is not built for soft landings.
 
If your careless like I was and got inside of the surf line on a beach you could get in trouble. I posted the story some time back but I got fixated on something on the beach and got caught by a beam breaking sea. The boat tilted 45 degrees or so and surfed sideways on to the beach. I was able to get the bow pointed into the next wave in 18 inches of water and get back out, but I lost considerable captain cred with the wife as she screamed "are you trying to kill me"

Women have no sense of adventure....
 
Bill3558":266806v0 said:
If your careless like I was and got inside of the surf line on a beach you could get in trouble. I posted the story some time back but I got fixated on something on the beach and got caught by a beam breaking sea. The boat tilted 45 degrees or so and surfed sideways on to the beach. I was able to get the bow pointed into the next wave in 18 inches of water and get back out, but I lost considerable captain cred with the wife as she screamed "are you trying to kill me"

Women have no sense of adventure....
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Ha ha ha! I like your sense of humor...classic.
 
Bill3558":kd6l5k6p said:
If your careless like I was....... I got fixated on something on the beach ...... I lost considerable captain cred with the wife as she screamed "are you trying to kill me"
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So do you have pictures of what you were "fixated on"? Did your wife notice the object of your fixation?

Inquiring mind wants to know..... :mrgreen:
 
Thanks to everyone who responded to my queries regarding ID'ing conditions to be avoided and the moves NOT to make.

Dr. Bob touched on a situation of concern here on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and that is the dearth of reports available from mid-Strait. It's nominally twenty miles across to the San Juan Islands, crossing three traffic lanes, with NOAA reports of indefinite age, and a couple of (non-cash) banks. So there's no shortage of available "testing" conditions.

The real question is how many times can we test ourselves when each time provides the potential for a failing grade. Hence, our interest in learning to ID all the cases which "were likely manageable, but the crew made a crucial mistake in operation".

Paul
 
Your sure right about wanting to learn from others mistakes especially when some of them can have such a high cost. At other times you can do every thing right and still end up with the chance of a costly happenstance where only having adequate equipment or electronics and the proper knowledge in their use to help see you through. Case in point was our entrance through the fog and ice into Tracy Arm Harbor in Holkham Bay. The clouds had been present but high enough for good visibility all day and we needed to exit into Stephens Passage where we good get a radio weather report to decide on which of our two choices of anchorage would be best for the night. One had protection from the north winds the other the south. The fog dropping all at once cut off both as good choices, but any other harbors were to far and even more dangerous to try for, so all we could do was keep our cool, try to maintain the best speed for the situation and work closely together to give us the best chance to make the harbor.

In the Fords Terror incident, I like T Bauer said knew by the signs we were headed to rapids just didn't believe they would be that severe. We had studied the cruising guides advice on this remote inlet and from it and our checking on the way in knew where the deepest and best channel was to navigate on our way out. What lured us into complacency was the cruise book and all the other information we had read about the areas we had already made it through from our start in Prince Rupert, BC had over sensationalized many of the dangers or at least it was directed to a larger boat, so with the 22' C-Dory the trip up to this point had been much easier than expected especially concerning shallow water passes such as Rocky Pass and other remote tide influenced shallow water inlets. The best advice I can give to others on these kind of inlets and passes is to treat them all exactly how others with knowledge suggest untill you know them and your own boats ability better than anyone giving you the advice. I love exploring and going where known local knowledge is rare, but if it is available it sure is best to follow the advice. This incident cost us several thousand dollars in loss of computer and two cameras and could have cost a lot more. For those who haven't read it and might be interested I wrote this cruise up in the Grand Adventure Forum under the title " A Hunkydory Adventure on a 22 cruiser". Also there is a video of it up to the Fords Terror incident where our video camera was ruined in the Grand Adventure Forum titled "Video----2004 to Alaska from Prince Rupert, BC".

Jay
 
"What I never liked in my 22 was running with the waves, surfing down the front and nearly broaching. I could run about 12 knots, still on plane and then down the face got up to 18+ at times. Not a good feeling."
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Charlie

Paul, I have to agree with Charlie, running (downwind, down stream, before the waves) is my most uncomfortable course. Then again, I have not been blessed with having much of a beam sea run. I'm sure they would not be comfortable either, and if they were breaking they would soon be head seas.

Any breaking waves would be a concern, due to the possibility of rapid escalation.

IMHO the most frequent reason we get into uncomfortable or dangerous situations is trying to maintain a schedule, or meet a deadline. I like the idea of checking weather for the end of the trip as well as the beginning. Sounds like a good practice. I also like the idea of an active float plan. May not make the ride easier, but may save the bacon if we get in over our head.

Learning how the boat handles, what it can do and what we are capable of doing in the boat, as well as developing a definable comfort level are good steps in building and maintaining boating safety.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Jay, thanks for posting the links again. Incredible, beautiful.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Harvey,

Like you, I love the idea of the active float plan. There have been many days that I have fished over in Day Harbor, Port Bainbrigde, Ayalik Bay, Harrison Bay, where I have come out to the open Gulf and just turned around. You know, CD 22s just don't do very well in 10-20 foot seas which is why I always leave port fully stocked with as much food and water as I can reasonably take.

So, what do you do? Well a lot of guys push on in a rush and do make it. But, I just turn around and go to a nearbye cove, drop the hook, throw a line over the side, put the pole in the fishing pole holder, have a beer, some whiskey, or wine if the wife is with me, and wait it out. I spent a nearly a week in Bowen Anchorage once due to weather. I played around on shore, went on short hikes, built huge fires, looked at bears, and got a lot of sleep. It wasn't that bad. We had other plans for our vacation, but this was ok too. Often times when you boat in little boats like ours, you just have to excercise a lot of patience. That's ok, from my experience, most C-Dory folks have plenty of it and aren't in a hurry anyway.

Have a great weekend!

Tim
 
Tim Said:
"But, I just turn around and go to a nearbye cove, drop the hook, throw a line over the side, put the pole in the fishing pole holder, have a beer, some whiskey, or wine if the wife is with me, and wait it out. I spent a nearly a week in Bowen Anchorage once due to weather."
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Tim, great use of the alternate plan system, and being flexible. So does anyone know where you were, and that you were OK?

Because we both work, our boat time is generally compressed into a weekend, and we feel that we just have to go now. I use a float plan with a combination of e-mail and phone calls but have run into the problem of not having cell service at some portion of the trip. That always worries me that a search might be started, so I intentionally leave the plan somewhat loose, knowing that if something did happen out of phone range it may take longer to gain assistance. Here in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the associated islands, the VHF is pretty effective. Once out of this area and farther up the inside (between Vancouver Island and BC coast, there are lots of areas that are pretty much blank (no cell and limited VHF). Our trip up to Princess Louisa Inlet was an eye opener in that, and many respects. Thus my campaign to acquire SPOT.

I like to have with me whatever I may need for an emergency situation. I also take some comfort in knowing that somebody knows where I am and when to expect me back. Using the SPOT will allow changes in plans and direction to be acknowledged and still make it possible to get emergency help if that should ever be necessary.

Here's to Safe and Sane travels in 09.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

Harvey
SleepyC
 
Harvey,

I have never had anyone come out and look for me. But, my wife used to get concerned when I didn't show up when I said I was going to. However, she knows that I would rather wait it out than boat is stupid stuff, so she found comfort in knowing that I was likely safe and sound in one of the many coves in PWS or the North Gulf Coast.

But, those were the days that I actually had a plan. Now, since my wife bought me a used satellite phone I just call. And so does she. It is kinda nice and it is kinda not nice if you know what I mean. And, while they still are a bit expensive, we paid about 900 bucks for a demo model. It included a variety of must have things like a waterproof case, an AC and DC charger, and some other stuff.

Overall, I figure it is money well spent. But, I think the next one I get will be a better model. There are some cons as the service plan is hideously expensive. But with that said, I get a lot of use out of it as I bring it on the snowmachine, the jetskiff, in my buddy's plane, and while rafting. It is nice to have - especially up here where the cell phone coverage ends at the end of town.


Tim
 
Joan bought me a SPOT satellite messenger for Christmas. We've always had our daughter as our float plan contact, but there are times where we've been out of phone contact for days at a time that we have to leave that float plan pretty loose. I've tried to go with "this is where we'll be and when, and this is when you should get concerned if you haven't heard from us."

We've not run into any problems, but I'm cautious about weather and allow plenty of flexibility in any agenda. Our big concern in the past has been to not worry those close to us. The SPOT should help with that

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
At Fort A. P. Hill, in Virginia, there is a sign:

"The three causes of accidents:
I didn't see...,
I didn't think...,
I didn't know...".

Apparently someone had noticed that almost all incident reports on base included those words.

And then there are the immortal words “...but I decided to push on anyway.”

David B.
 
My folks fly and never take off with out a flight plan being filed. but I cant get them to do the same when they are on the boat. With the net and cell phones its not to hard to get ahold of them, but SPOT would be much better. they would not have to think about it and I could go on line any time to check on them with out bugging them.
 
I agree on the following sea comments. They take the most work ranging from jockeying with the throttle, steering, and being on the lookout fore and aft. You can make a lot of wrong moves here that can make life exciting.

The first move I did I don't want to do again was play with the trim tabs while going fast. After we recovered my first thought was, "I didn't know the boat could do that." I now know why split flaps in an airplane is generally fatal. While moving at about 28 to 30 mph I started working with the trim tabs. When I wasn't getting the desired effect, I added a little more, a little more, and then just held the buttons down. Apparently I was only working with the starboard tab, and all of a sudden the boat started a rather abrupt left turn thowing me almost out of the helm seat. I now know how to steer with just trim tabs. It's not very precise, but it can be done.
 
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