Do you take your open sled in Big Blue?

[rags]

I'm reading a lot of post that it is not safe to take an open sled across the bar. I have a 19ft. Super Vee with a 150hp pump. What conditions do you look for and when don't you go out. I have all the safety features (GPS, VHF,PFD's, etc.) and would like to hear your thoughts. I fish out of Hammond and experienced on the Columbia but haven't venture out with this boat. Tillamook bar? Columbia bar?

[ 07-03-2003, 09:11 AM: Message edited by: rags ]

[Flatfish]

Rags,

I am one of the doom and gloom Columbia bar folks.

As long as the seas are fairly calm, yep. Been out in an open boat. I have and most likely, I will again. But not on the Columbia. And not when it gets steep.

Big swells are OK, not fun, but ok. Steep swells are not. I am sure there is a formula to describe height and time, but I don't know the rule of thumb. Maybe 2x time for every foot of swell? So if you have 5 foot swells, then you want 10 second splits. Sounds about right for my conservative mind. Oh yeah, in my mind, 10 foot swells are big for most sport boats.

Nehalem and Tilly are not too bad if you pick your days.

Remember to spin the herring clockwise when North of the equator. Counter clockwise when South.<bad joke>

Mark and the spoiled dog.

[Pete]

I've got a 20' Intruder with a windshield that I'll venture out with when seas are welcoming. I've been over the bar in several different open sleds, too. The first thing you notice with a windshield is that you have a way to avoid being drenched with spray. The spray stays out of the boat, for the most part, with a windshield boat. It's all a matter of conditions. If the sea is flat, it doesn't matter. If the chop, swell or wind picks up, the glass adds both comfort and safety.

[onstep]

I go in my 21 Super Vee quite a bit from now through October. Pick your days and your tides. For example I'm going to be Garabaldi for the next 4 days. The tides suck for going out with outgoing most days until 11:00 or so. If the wind comes up (which it always does)the ride in will be both dangerous and very wet. I'm just not going to get my hopes up for fishing outside this week. Your open boat can handle big water just as long as the wind stays in check and the wave frequencey isn't to tight. Anything closer than 7 seconds is to tight for me. Stay safe...

[Conn]

Onstep,

I've got a 20' Willie in production and will have it in a few weeks. :grin: I'll be fishing mostly out of Garibaldi. I've fished a good amount there in others boats, but as we all know being a passenger and a skipper are night and day. I'm going to be there this weekend and was invited for a trip tomorrow morning weather/bar conditions permitting. After checking the tides I have a question:

Wouldn't it be worth making an attempt at 5:30 am or so, pending CG approval, since the 7.2 high at 3:58 is close enough that there is a good chance bar conditions would not be so bad. Provided it is safe to get out, one would need to stay out until 12:30-1:00 in order to allow things to calm down after the -.5 at 11:03.

As mentioned I am learning and appreciate the advise.

thx

CC

[onstep]

Conn,
I would only go under two conditions. What is the wind forecast and is it starting to stack up beyond the jaws. You are into outgoing 1 1/2 hours buy 5:30 that means the water will be ripping pretty good. Personally, I'm going to be at the bar at 4:45 to see. Honestly we probably won't go out because of the wind factor and crossing a bar ( either out or going in )on outgoing tide is a serious taboo. My thoughts anyway.....

[kenai]

I always check the tidal currents (not tidal heights) when the numbers are iffy. Check HERE (http://www.boatsafe.com/links/index.htm) to get a better idea what is happening at the bar. Looks like an early out Saturday is possible but Friday will be rough at daybreak at Garibaldi.

[fishbait]

my 0.02 worth to answer your question..... NO, abaolutely not. Would consider Tillamook or Nehalem, but not the CR. From my poerspective it's just not worth it. Oh sure you might have a few good days, but this is BIG water and conditions change fast. I have been is some pretty tough conditions on and out of this bar in much bigger and more seaworthy boats and have had some high pucker factors, fact of the matter is that your margin for error is just too small. Open boat, open bow, super vee so you are 11 or poss 17 bottom and a jet pump. Think about trading trips with someone that has a more sutitable boat, or just wait a month or so and the fish will come to you.......... I don't know how many Salmon you catch each year, but I ask.... is it worth the calculated risk for a couple of fish? Heck you can take your boat to many rivers and catch lots of fish right now. One buddy hooked 13 summers yesterday. The Berkenfield fish will begin pushing into the Nehalem in a few weeks, probably some there now, and those are nice nookers........ all things that your boat made for........... Thanks for listening and good luck

[Full Freezer]

On the roughest day I fished outside, I saw 2 open sleds about 5 miles out with me in some pretty tough weather- the waves were crashing over the bow & commin' thru between the boats canvass & windshield -needless to say I got outta there as fast as my 21' NR could. I don't know how the open sleds faired but the Coasties were around that day. The Bar was moderate but still dicey. I would hate to get swamped there!
I see open bows out there all the time though. Dont pay much attention cause I got my eyes fixed on the next wave a commin' most of the time. Make sure you ask someone to escort you out if you go. Good Luck.

Full Freezer

[Tilla]

I've done the Tillamook bar in my 21' open 6 degree, jet sled. I pick the days, study the numbers, and I can look before I go from the relative shelter of the N. Jetty. I stick with the group and keep my eyes open.

[Jim]

Lets see:

No

Then NO

Finally ABSOLUTELY NOT!!


There isn't a fish alive that is worth the risk, just wait for them to come inside.

My opinion of course.

Jim

[ZaQ]

Tilla, what sled do you have? A VS?

[GutshotApe]

I've taken my 17' open semi-vee inboard open jetboat out from all the rivers with jetties from Florence to Brookings...but only on relatively flat and calm mornings. I almost always head NW when outside so the return will be with following seas if (when) the wind come up. I usually don't go out very far...and always try to maintain situational awareness & a sharp lookout. I once went out 10-12 miles at Brookings...alone, new boat, new 15 hp kicker, etc., but still probably not a good idea. I know a guy who took his NorthRiver 21' out 50 miles :shocked: for tuna...but he's crazy! :wink:

[Deleted User]

If you pick your days and watch the waves and the wind you'll find you can get out many times in the summer and fall mounths, just be carefull and safe. As far as an open sled outside is concerned if there are windshielded outboard or inboard sleds out there then you should be safe. I have fished out of Winchester Bay, Florence, Newport, Depot Bay, Tillamook and Bouy 10 Astoria numerous times in both my Alumaweld VS 20 and a freind of mines 23 super vee. In fair conditions these boats handle just fine outside just don't over due it. Usually if your fishing inside at the bar your in rougher water than whats is outside, not always but usually. As far as swamping goes well I have never really got any more water in the boat than my friends inboard, the Vs with the flatter front end rides up over the waves better and steys drier than my friends 21 Weldcraft inboard which has a deeper vee and digs into the waves more than my sled does. Good point GSA always useing the falloeing sea when your retuning and avoid using more gas and fighting the wind chop coming in.

[ 07-03-2003, 10:47 PM: Message edited by: Chinookie ]

[Bob Barthlow]

Did the CR bar in my 21' super vee like 2 dozen times.....then rode in a buddys, as a passenger once......NEVER AGAIN!.....I do well in the river anyway :cheers:

[k9jeff]

I wouldnt....nope,, nada,, I have seen the ocean do some fast changes and would not want to be caught in it.

[Slugranch]

The worst year for sinkings and drownings on the CR and adjoining ocean areas, was because of waves coming over the stern of open Jet boats with low transoms. Be careful. Open tiller style boats are the most suseptible.

[hustlerrjim]

I posted an article on the bouy reports for the coast; read it.
If you use them you should not get into trouble.
most boats get hurt in an outgoing tide on the bar
once you get outside always come in on high slack.
listen to the bouy reports and note the direction of the wind any time the bouy reports a wind of 15-20 mph. up wind of your position you want to be inside.
the bouy reports are on your vhf channels 3,4,5.
listen to them it could save your life.

[rags]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I think I will stick to the CR and wait for the fish to come inside. Maybe I can hitch a ride with someone that has the right boat to go outside and knows the ropes. Let's see, August 1st is less than a month away :dance:

[timinthegorge]

You are wise beyond your years John.... no matter how many you have under your belt.

I'd like to be a salty dog, but I don't have the boat, or the experience to warrant that designation.... IMHO, you've made the right choice!

Tim.... graemlins/applause.gif

[Jennie@ifish]

I'm a member of the weenie dogs, and I applaud your decision!

:smile: :smile:

Jen

[HammondSeaRanger]

i'd rather get hit in the head with a hammer ...

But that's just me.

It's all about control ! :sick:

[TH]

I read through some great infomation in this tread!
I have a 23' open willie predator.. w/ a 115 Merc 4 stroke prop/tiller! I fish Big Blue out of Charleston and Bandon and Windy Bay....
I am very mindful of what the ocean is doing and always error on the safe side.

My boat handles the ocean very well.. but I never put myslef in a position where it might not!
Ocean Coho/Chnook and crabbing has been so good the last few years (down here) that it's hard to pass up!
But you need to know your limits and how your boat handles and how to handle it! I see a lot of little boats out there everytime I'm out and I always shake my head... but my boat does very well!

[1pump]

I have an open boat, and a couple of times while crabbing in Yaquina I was tempted to cross the bar when it was flat, just to say I did it. Both times we got within 100 yards of the end of the jetties when my girlfriend gave me the "u-turn" order. :rolleyes: I'm sure it wouldn't have been a problem (We've been out in worse conditions at Hammond) but I know when to obey an order. :grin:
Those were rare days when there was no wind, and there was only a short, gentle swell. I wouldn't have tried it otherwise, and I wouldn't even consider it on the CR or Tillamook. Maybe I'm wrong, but Yaquina seems gentler than most. I'd try it again, but only under ideal conditions.