The Columbia Bar

[Art]

This video is of commercial fishing boats returning from fishing off the coast of Washington and Oregon . They are crossing the Columbia Bar, which is the site the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean .


This is designated as one of the most dangerous ports of entry anywhere in the world. There are at least eight to 10 deaths per year with people trying to get in or out in boats that are not made for this kind of severe beating – the kind you will see these boats going through.


These boats are self-righting, have a super low center of gravity, sealed engine compartments, basically bullet proof glass windows, double steel hulls. Well, you get the idea.


They are commercial shrimp and fishing boats. The Coast Guard has closed it to any other boats due to waves of 35 to 45 feet. It is quite a sight to see. Watch the U-tube video and determine if you would like to have been a crew member on either of these two vessels.


Columbia River bar – let’s go fishing! No Thank you very much!


http://www.youtube.com/embed/ByGSMmenPDM?rel=0

 

[HUMPH]

That video was posted here a few weeks ago but without the narrative. Amazing footage.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Check my blog about bring our new boat up from S.F. to the Columbia River. We crossed the bar with 35mph sustained south winds with gusts to 45 mph creating 6ft wind waves, then we had 8-10 foot swells from the west. We crossed the bar on a strong ebb tide heading to a minus tide. Needless to say it was not fun.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Art that video isn't shot on the Columbia Bar. It's from somewhere in Europe but I don't recall just where. Note the registration numbers on the boats and you'll see that it's not WA or OR.

Unlike Tom's crossing that he mentioned above, I've crossed the bar twice (on the same trip) and both times it was just a 2' chop. Piece of cake. It all depends on the tidal flow and the winds.

 

[Btcowboy]

That video is supposed from New Zealand at least looking at the comments on the video

 

[Gofirstclass]

BTCowboy, I think you nailed it.

 

[AKBASSKING]

The bar is calm? Oh yeah when you aren't trying to cross it on a strong ebb tide to a minus tide!!

 

[CV-23]

Boating and surfing all in one! We went diving off NJ in 20-25ft seas in a 45ft Crew Boat (Thunder Horse) designed to service offshore oil rigs. We never went diving that day due to conditions that worsened to the wave hights mentioned above. I ask the captian if I could come up to the helm with him and it was amazing....mountains of waves! It was a self righting design with twin Cat Diesels and we just powered over those waves.....I loved it! Doing a 180 turn in the trough of the wave was wild and she turned on a dime. The boat ride was worth the trip for me.....some others got real green, Mike.

 

[Chris Nowell]

This video is of commercial fishing boats returning from fishing off the coast of Washington and Oregon . They are crossing the Columbia Bar, which is the site the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean .
These boats are self-righting, have a super low center of gravity, sealed engine compartments, basically bullet proof glass windows, double steel hulls. Well, you get the idea.
They are commercial shrimp and fishing boats. The Coast Guard has closed it to any other boats due to waves of 35 to 45 feet. It is quite a sight to see. Watch the U-tube video and determine if you would like to have been a crew member on either of these two vessels.

Incredible video. We see these types of vessels moored at Steveston's Fishermans' Wharf every time we go there. I had no idea they must endure conditions like that. Gives me a whole lotta respect for the people selling fresh seafood off these boats.
As far as being a crew member on one of these boats, I think at my age it would lend a whole new meaning to the phrase "the dry heaves"!!!!:wow: Thanx for posting that, I can't stop watching it.

 

[AKBASSKING]

The video is NOT the Columbia River Bar......

 

[Ike]

I think you are right. That is not the Columbia River Bar and those are not US fishing boats. I have crossed the Columbia Bar twice both ways. However, it was on a 327 foot Coast Guard cutter. The first crossing was uneventful. It was a nice day. The second crossing the next year was scary even on that big a ship. We took a 47 degree roll at one point, which on many ships would be a death roll. Going back out was again uneventful. But even so I would not want to do it on a small boat. I have a lot of respect for our men and women who man the motor surf boats at Cape D. They put their lives on the line every time they go out to rescue someone.

I might add that I have been through three hurricanes on those old 327's and crossing the bar the second time was a lot scarier than those hurricanes. Yeah we took a lot of water aboard in all three and lost some deck hardware and a gangway but we were never in danger of rolling all the way over. on the bar we almost did that.

 

[BritLady]

That video is supposed from New Zealand at least looking at the comments on the video

I believe you are correct too as we understood when talking to folk in NZ recently on our visit there, it is from Grey River Bar on the West Coast of New Zealand.