Woody
Well-Known Member
While watching that video I was picturing what it would be like to retrieve someone that fell overboard in those conditions or worse. I dread the day that I have to attempt it.
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While watching that video I was picturing what it would be like to retrieve someone that fell overboard in those conditions or worse. I dread the day that I have to attempt it.
It's when the person is near the boat, ready to try to get aboard that I wonder about. Watch the motion of that boat stern as it rises and falls, sometimes slamming down on the water. The potential for someone to get busted up or worse is a big concern.I would approach downwind / down current and let them drift to me so they don't have to swim against current....Make sure in neutral anytime someone is near the stern.
It's when the person is near the boat, ready to try to get aboard that I wonder about......
with it full of water that’s a huge amount of force, and from what I see on my boat albeit much smaller, they don’t hold that locker on with much
I guess this raises the question to me -- I see a lot of larger boats, cruisers in the 50 foot range that have chocks on their (hydraulic) swim decks for dinghies. I was looking at the new-ish Beneteau Swift Trawler 47, and its basically a factory option. Is this an inherent risk to this setup? You get some bad following seas or whatever and you get water in the dinghy, and then bam, you've trashed the swim deck?
I assume there's a bunch of things done to make this not happen, like starting with a dinghy way under the platform maximum load, always keeping the dinghy covered when under way and probably owning a dinghy with a self-bailing cockpit that won't retain water or pulling the drain plug?
While watching that video I was picturing what it would be like to retrieve someone that fell overboard in those conditions or worse. I dread the day that I have to attempt it.
Lots of things could have been done better, in my opinion....I actually started to cringe when I saw the extension pole disappear under the stern....The last thing they needed was a fouled prop(s)....
I have a cousin I made get in the Chesapeake once since he was hungover (great remedy)...until I had to get him back aboard our 320. It seemed like the swim platform was going feet up and down and he had to time it to grab the ladder and time it to not get smacked in the head. Lesson learned. It would be really hard on our 500 with the dinghy on the platform. No where to board from the stern. Mike
I am not sure how you could retrieve someone. The reason for the waves - there is current ripping through the inlet. You can't hold in one place.
In this particular inlet, when the water is ripping - all the clowns who just want to see how high they can bounce their boat in the air come out. People will go out, then turn around and come back in. Thinking they are hoping to get caught on a video.
So add to the waves and current - sometimes very heavy boat traffic. In the waves you would only see a person in the water when they ride up on a wave. In a trough an approaching boat would not see them till it is right on top of them.
That is the reason I am so focused when going through an inlet in less than slack conditions, everyone is seated where they cannot fall off. No one standing, helm or cockpit.
In Florida on the lower east coast, I divide inlets into three categories.
Those that I would go through in most any conditions (defined as conditions I would want to be outside in).
Those inlets that I would only go through in slack water. Not so much the waves, the depth and concern about bottoming out in a trough.
And finally those inlets I will not go through in any conditions.
Baker Haulover actually falls in the first category. As long as you are prudent and safe, its always passable unless the Atlantic is so rough you would want to be outside anyway.
Is that the North side of GH looking out, or the South?
That's part of the reason I've cut back on nite running. A couple years ago I got caught up in a fish net, sun going down, it was pretty calm out. Took a couple dives to get my self cut loose from it. I can't imagine doing that in the dark with even 2' waves. You could get beat up or worse pretty easy under there.I have a cousin I made get in the Chesapeake once since he was hungover (great remedy)...until I had to get him back aboard our 320. It seemed like the swim platform was going feet up and down and he had to time it to grab the ladder and time it to not get smacked in the head. Lesson learned. It would be really hard on our 500 with the dinghy on the platform. No where to board from the stern. Mike
Inlet conditions are primarily the result of wind and the very steep waves breaking against the walls of the channel and then rebounding back toward the center of the channel and over the opposite wall. The opposing current adds to the mix, and a good 3 day gale pushes water upstream. We are about 7 miles upstream and in a different lake that leads to this inlet. The water at our dock was 8" higher than normal when the inlet pic was taken. The open waters of Lake Michigan experience 26'+ steep seas that are very dangerous. The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost in a storm that was comparable to this one. It broke into two pieces when the bow and the stern were floating on different waves with a trough in the middle. These storms occur routinely this time of the year on the Great Lakes.Not water that I would go through. Looks nasty. Curious, what are the sea conditions outside of the inlet while it is that ugly?
What are the drivers for the inlet conditions there? Is it tidal, river flow, wind, or all three? Or others?
View attachment 76178
Inlet conditions are primarily the result of wind and the very steep waves breaking against the walls of the channel and then rebounding back toward the center of the channel and over the opposite wall. The opposing current adds to the mix, and a good 3 day gale pushes water upstream. We are about 7 miles upstream and in a different lake that leads to this inlet. The water at our dock was 8" higher than normal when the inlet pic was taken. The open waters of Lake Michigan experience 26'+ steep seas that are very dangerous. The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost in a storm that was comparable to this one. It broke into two pieces when the bow and the stern were floating on different waves with a trough in the middle. These storms occur routinely this time of the year on the Great Lakes.
View attachment 76178
Inlet conditions are primarily the result of wind and the very steep waves breaking against the walls of the channel and then rebounding back toward the center of the channel and over the opposite wall. The opposing current adds to the mix, and a good 3 day gale pushes water upstream. We are about 7 miles upstream and in a different lake that leads to this inlet. The water at our dock was 8" higher than normal when the inlet pic was taken. The open waters of Lake Michigan experience 26'+ steep seas that are very dangerous. The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost in a storm that was comparable to this one. It broke into two pieces when the bow and the stern were floating on different waves with a trough in the middle. These storms occur routinely this time of the year on the Great Lakes.