- Joined
- Oct 1, 2007
- Messages
- 7,331
- Location
- Texas
- Vessel Name
- Floatsome & Jetsome
- Vessel Make
- Meridian 411
Just a little something I learned on my last trip down the coast.
I(Carver 35) was following a friend in a Sea Ray 47. We were coming up on a tow/barge and looking to overtake. He had 3 barges strung out and the wind was blowing hard out of the south so he was up into the wind taking up a lot of the ICW(we were just west of Port Oconnor...eastbound). We coordinated for a pass on a two whistle. So we wer going around him, tow on one side...jammed up close the shore on the left/north side. Sea Ray in front of me. The tow wanted a slow bell so we were creeping around but Sea Ray kinda got spooked as he was getting pinched between the barge and the shallower water on the north side so he powered up. I was just coming alongside the pushboat when the Sea Ray wake bounced off of the barge and back at me...it hit me on the stern first and turned me into the pushboat...right at the point of where that swirling eddy is right next to the pushboat and behind the barge. So I am damn near perpendicular to the pushboat and pointed right at it with full port rudder. I slam the left throttle closed and jam the right throttle for more power and FINALLY, the boat responds. Except now, I'm pointed directly at the shoreline in rapidly decreasing water depth. I slam both throttles closed and slow down. Realize, I am towing a dinghy on about a 60 tow bridle....I can't just back up. Anyway, the real danger is gone but I pivot the boat around and go for another (successful) run at it.
Moral of the story, if you are following someone around a barge in close quarters and they are capable of making a wake, be aware of their wake bouncing off of the barge and back into you. In this scenario, the wake spreads from the boat ahead and then bounces and comes back to you on the stern quarter. The boat in this case wants to surf/broach going in an unintended direction until the rudders(or assymetrical thrust from a twin engine boat) can correct it. There was also a lot of air in the water from the barge/pushboat diminshing rudder control even more along with the swirly eddy right next to the pushboat.
Wendy was there to pat me on the back on doing a great job handling the boat in that situation. I did handle the boat well enough to get us out of a sticky situation. But I will leave you with a little saying we use in aviation:
A superior pilot uses his superior judgement so he does NOT have to use his superior skill !!!
I think I fell short on the first part and ended up having to use the second part. Lesson learned and chock it up to experience! Next time I will just let the boat go ahead of me and wiat for awhile until everything calms down and I can make a clean run at it. Also realize just how much towing a dinghy restricts you in maneuvering. I like to think I have planned ahead in all scenarios...I didn't have this one in my "experience bank". I do now.
I(Carver 35) was following a friend in a Sea Ray 47. We were coming up on a tow/barge and looking to overtake. He had 3 barges strung out and the wind was blowing hard out of the south so he was up into the wind taking up a lot of the ICW(we were just west of Port Oconnor...eastbound). We coordinated for a pass on a two whistle. So we wer going around him, tow on one side...jammed up close the shore on the left/north side. Sea Ray in front of me. The tow wanted a slow bell so we were creeping around but Sea Ray kinda got spooked as he was getting pinched between the barge and the shallower water on the north side so he powered up. I was just coming alongside the pushboat when the Sea Ray wake bounced off of the barge and back at me...it hit me on the stern first and turned me into the pushboat...right at the point of where that swirling eddy is right next to the pushboat and behind the barge. So I am damn near perpendicular to the pushboat and pointed right at it with full port rudder. I slam the left throttle closed and jam the right throttle for more power and FINALLY, the boat responds. Except now, I'm pointed directly at the shoreline in rapidly decreasing water depth. I slam both throttles closed and slow down. Realize, I am towing a dinghy on about a 60 tow bridle....I can't just back up. Anyway, the real danger is gone but I pivot the boat around and go for another (successful) run at it.
Moral of the story, if you are following someone around a barge in close quarters and they are capable of making a wake, be aware of their wake bouncing off of the barge and back into you. In this scenario, the wake spreads from the boat ahead and then bounces and comes back to you on the stern quarter. The boat in this case wants to surf/broach going in an unintended direction until the rudders(or assymetrical thrust from a twin engine boat) can correct it. There was also a lot of air in the water from the barge/pushboat diminshing rudder control even more along with the swirly eddy right next to the pushboat.
Wendy was there to pat me on the back on doing a great job handling the boat in that situation. I did handle the boat well enough to get us out of a sticky situation. But I will leave you with a little saying we use in aviation:
A superior pilot uses his superior judgement so he does NOT have to use his superior skill !!!
I think I fell short on the first part and ended up having to use the second part. Lesson learned and chock it up to experience! Next time I will just let the boat go ahead of me and wiat for awhile until everything calms down and I can make a clean run at it. Also realize just how much towing a dinghy restricts you in maneuvering. I like to think I have planned ahead in all scenarios...I didn't have this one in my "experience bank". I do now.