Bar Crossing and Jet Boats

[new boat]

I need some help. I have been reading the posts about crossing the bar and am concerned. I have been out a few times with others, always in a prop boat, across Tillamook, Newport and the Columbia, but never have I taken my boat. I never felt my boat was large enough until now. I now have a 23 foot Thunderjet and am considering the Columbia Bar on Thursday, weather permitting. I have a 10 hp kicker, GPS & VHF aboard. Many of my buddies have expressed concerns about the Columbia Bar and the fact my boat is a jet boat. If the bar should get rough, there is concern I will not have the steering control I need since the intake may be out of the water at times. I have experienced the intake coming out of the water at times when the Columbia river is rough, but have not noticed a loss of control. Has anyone taken a pump boat of my size and what problems have you had? Have you had control problems? Have you had problems with seaweed being sucked into your pump and disrupting the water flow and your amount of power? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. I will have precious cargo aboard, my father and my son. Thanks Again!!

[Phish_on]

Just my opinion (valued at $.02) but DON'T try crossing the Columbia bar without taking someone along who has done it dozens of times.

It's a fine line between macho and dead.

I know, I'm a weenie ... and a weenie who doesn't want to read about you in the paper.

Sounds like your boat is more than adequate, I've seen quite a few jets out there ... but ... maybe practice on some smaller water?

[new boat]

Thanks Phish, I will have a friend aboard that has crossed many times. He used to crew on a charter boat. If you were going to practice on smaller water, where would you go first?
Thanks

[Phish_on]

I'd say Newport - but then I've never gone over the bar there! If your pal has driven the boat out before, that sounds good. I've crossed the bar a lot of times, too, but that doesn't mean I can teach you anything - all I did was hold on!

In good conditions, you should have no trouble. I always thought coming back in was weirder than going out. Know your tides.

Anyway, my boat doesn't go out there - other guys here are a better source of opinions. I will go to about Buoy 12, maybe a little more on a perfect day. Just don't have power to spare, which I would want.

[Whalerman]

One good resource to check is the Coast Guard recording of Columbia River Bar conditions, the latest is available after 0500. The number is 360-642-3565.

[Beer Waggin]

TJD
Look at these two web sites and don't cross the bar on the ebb. I had a heck of ride one time last year... ever go down hill in a boat? [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Not good!
www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/zone/west/pqrmz.htm
www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Northwest.shtml

They will give you info on waves, wind, water temp, air temp. I look at these a couple of times a day every day before I plan a trip. Of course the Columbia bar has been known to change very quickly, in which case these sites offer you no value. None the less have a gander at them, they both provide useful information.
The only place I've ever plugged my pump in salt water is in Netarts Bay. I'm not saying you can't plug it on the Columbia bar, but I've never had the miss-fortune of doing so. Just make sure you have on clean skivvies so you can swim under and clean out the pump. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
23 footer should be fine out on the Big Blue Lake.

[Thunderstruck]

I took my 21' Alexis Pro Sport over the Columbia bar last Sunday and had no problems.
The bar had only 2-3' swells so I could keep the boat at 3200rpm and motor out pretty quick. Have had sea weed problems so I carry a rake with four 4" prongs and a modified handle so I can reach the grate while standing on my swim platform. My pump occasionally comes out of the water but usually recovers fast enough so I don't notice much. Newport is by far the easiest bar to cross and a good place to learn.

[Biteme]

are 5 to 7 pound coho worth being dead, either go out with a big boat charter or wait until the river opens and even then pay attention to the tides and wind conditions.

[Trick]

Getting upto date reports and knowing how to read a tide book correctly goes along ways. I used to go out often years ago in a 20' closed bow Bayliner with my father and there were a couple times when I almost urinated myself. My dad is a retired merchant marine and spent 20+ years running mainly ocean-going tugs over the bar. He also ran private-party boats over the bar for extra cash. It can be one hellish experience and the bar can change fast. We never went out that far and always stayed insight of the bar so we could make quick dashes in, but there were a couple times where we took waves and I thought the end was near. He had nerves of steel and never made any mistakes like trying to turn on a rough bar and running the risk of rolling the craft. He watched the tides close and was never caught on an ebb. Sometimes the bar is like glass and 20 minutes later it would kick up. He was good at adjusting the power to ease the boat through the swells. It is a good idea to go with someone that has developed a feel for the bar and understands the craft they are running well. I can see where the bar is capable of not providing most with a second chance. Good luck.

[new boat]

Thunderstruck, thanks for the info, I bought a rake from Hamilton, it is hard to reach the grate from my swim platform. How did you modify the handle?? Thanks

[Hookset]

A word about the Newport bar conditons. Just because the bar can and will lay down with the right conditons, small swells and flood tide. For the most part, the bar is never a calm walk in the park.

I don't venture out that often from Newport over the bar, but I often fish from a boat near the end of the jetties for rock fish. The bar is usually rough and only lays down when the ocean does and on the flood tide. The influence of the ebb tide is so great you'll get some large rollers right at the entrance even when the ocean lays down. It's better to stay out longer then try to cross to meet a deadline when the bar is this rough. I know pretty basic.

What comes to mind is a Charter boat that went down crossing the bar maybe 5 years ago. I think 2 people died. The ocean was rough and the tide was flowing out and the skipper failed to ride the wave in and powered over the crest into the throat, between the front wave and the rear the boat turned sideways and rolled. At least that's what I remember.

I don't really think you can say there is an easy bar, just some conditions are better then others.

Sorry about bringing up this traggic event, it's always in the back on my mind.

Like already mentioned, check the conditions, wind, waves, forcast and tides. Set your watch and know when to head out and travel back in and allow time to make it back in safely. And never be afraid to cancel at the ramp or turn back if conditons aren't right.

best of luck,

hook

[boater]

PTD, stay home, wait till bouy 10 opens, you have to many doubts about doing this. the columbia river bar is no place to learn how your boat handles rough water, it`s the place people go with alot of experiance.

[boater]

??? did you go

[boater]

ive been fishing the sound and doing ok, not red hot like down there but we are getting a few. we are leaning towards a 3 day weekend at westport this comming weekend....

[Thunderstruck]

Proud TJ Driver,

Sorry it took so long to reply I was catfishing at Brownlee res. I just made another handle that attached perpendicular to the rake.(Looks like a big letter L). Make the extention about 3-4 feet and easy to disassembly.
I will try going out of Tillamook bay this Sunday. Low tide is at 9:30 and high is at 4:00. Thunderstruck.

[new boat]

boater, we chickened out!! Did not like the reports we were getting from the buoys and the weather service. Will try this weekend however, probably out of Newport. Did you go out??