rsn48
Guru
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2019
- Messages
- 2,019
- Location
- Canada
- Vessel Name
- Capricorn
- Vessel Make
- Mariner 30 - Sedan Cruiser 1969
So my first time out in the area with the cable ferry was not a good one. Forest fire smoke (last summer) was thick and I didn't know diddle squat about the red and green light, and for that matter in the thick smoke, not so visible.
So as I'm getting closer I think, you know, he's going to pull away just as I am on top of him, he could blow one long horn to announce his crossing. And sure enough, he starts up. And I slow down but get a hailed on Channel 16 from the ferry officer to go to another channel which I say I will do after I have turned my boat around away from the cable. When I went to the channel after the turn, the officer never returned my call.
So I wasn't sure of protocol and when I returned home and looked up the proper procedure. It is simple, green light on you can proceed, red light on, you can't. And the red light stays on during the entire crossing. And the ferry is doing about 5 knots, not really breaking any speed records.
I think in calm weather (wind), if it got about 2/3rds across you could probably cross over safely as the cable will be drooping down. But in a wind that pushes the ferry to one side the cable will raise up.
This is one of those times your forward looking sonar earns its money.
So as I'm getting closer I think, you know, he's going to pull away just as I am on top of him, he could blow one long horn to announce his crossing. And sure enough, he starts up. And I slow down but get a hailed on Channel 16 from the ferry officer to go to another channel which I say I will do after I have turned my boat around away from the cable. When I went to the channel after the turn, the officer never returned my call.
So I wasn't sure of protocol and when I returned home and looked up the proper procedure. It is simple, green light on you can proceed, red light on, you can't. And the red light stays on during the entire crossing. And the ferry is doing about 5 knots, not really breaking any speed records.
I think in calm weather (wind), if it got about 2/3rds across you could probably cross over safely as the cable will be drooping down. But in a wind that pushes the ferry to one side the cable will raise up.
This is one of those times your forward looking sonar earns its money.