Crossing the Columbia Bar

Gus Orviston · 09-14-2002, 07:48 AM

Okay, so I am a little anal, but I am a student of life, so I got to ask you all this question. I would like hear what you all think how to cross the bar "text book style" given rough situations?

Coast guard flyers basically say travel the green Buoy line. When I have crossed the bar though it seems haphazard and the red line is the choice of most (which carries risk).

I preplanned a route on my GPS for yesterday's outing that followed the green buoys... I didn't like it at all! The biggest reason is that my end goal was CR Buoy but that meant at some point I needed to cross the channel in the Fog (50yd vis). The weather and bar reports were great and we crossed at high slack, given that information I decided to not try out my "new" Green Buoy line in the fog and fall back on my red line.

Upon our return I ran the green line route, I went up from B2 to B7, that seemed to be a rougher route than necessary. Should I have gotten north further west, is a B2 to B7 direct line too close to the bar.

Would love to hear you thoughts on the crossing, and getting lined up to be in good shape. I know most of you run the big boats, but the proper tips/tricks you still have in your tool box

Thanks!

Miss B Haven · 09-14-2002, 10:07 AM

The Red line is the route of choice for almost all the "locals" (charters and the full summer folks I dock with every year). Some of the folks refuse to even get near the green line at all. The only time I have ever used it was when there was about a week when the fishing South seemed to die off and the big green 1 was hot.
This of course assumes the bar is reasonable. At times when it's big and breaking the center line is the best route. This only works if you have good visibility (that tug and tow will ruin your whole day.)
I believe the coast guard is saying to use the green line because of ship lanes/right of ways (not because of the ride.) If visibility is poor I stay just outside (South) of the red line to avoid the channel completely. Ships in the fog scare me a lot worse than the waves do (radar or not!!). :shocked:

Gus Orviston · 09-14-2002, 10:51 AM

Thanks, that kind of supports my observations. The Coast Guard got me a bit worried that i wasn't where I should be.
And that following the green Buoys was best, but I didn't like the break around the north jetty much, so that is why I posted to get some more info...

Being the middle of the channel in the fog is the WRONG place to be that is for sure. I tucked in tight to the red line going out in the fog. However, I saw something that surprised me at B2, one of the Toyota Ships ran about 2 yards off B2 for the entire length of his ship, I thought he was going to hit it at first. He was definitely using 100% of the channel; I thought they would leave some margin but I guess that isn't a requirement!

Miss B Haven · 09-14-2002, 11:15 PM

Gus - that's why you stay just outside the red line in the fog. It's no guarantee but those big guys have pilots on board who get paid a lot of money to keep those ships in the channel. They have every right to use every inch of it. 3 seasons for me going out there and I'm just getting past the terrified point when it's foggy (I'm down to just scared as H@#l.) :shocked: When I get relaxed and complacent about it that's when I'll make the 5 o'clock news. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]
To quote a famous CEO who I happen to have a vested interest in "only the paranoid survive".

8knots · 09-15-2002, 02:49 PM

I also prefer the red line. I have crossed the bar over the last 10 years and the last several years have crossed it in the middle of night several times in order to make a long transit, tuna trip and to get the right tide. When I go at night I go at slow to idle speed to take in as much information as possible via sight, electronics and auditory. I want as much reaction time as possible. I am 100% anxious and fully alert until I get out past the CR buoy and have a manageable number of radar targets and open water. My permanant route on my computer is out of Ilwaco and over to the first red buoy and then hugging them all the way to the CR.

I am sure that much of my preference for the red line is based on comfort from experience with it. Last summer in mid-August I watched the breakers off the North Jetty when going out in steep 8 to 9 foot swells. I saw several fast boats make a run in a lull between sets off the north jetty. Moments later the waves were breaking from the outside grounds to the north jetty. I was planning on fishing north but the size of the breaking swells all across the middle outside grounds would have made for a long run and quite frankly were unnerving. After getting out to the CR buoy the radio was all about the search for the commercial crab boat that flipped just north of the north jetty, killing the crew and trapping the skipper in the hull. So, I am a little spooked by the green line. I have heard that on strong NW swells that you can run closer to the North Jetty for an easier run inside. I'll stick to the red line and wait for the right tides and conditions.

Pilar · 09-16-2002, 06:16 AM

The 'Red Line' for sure.

You can skirt just to the south of it until you get to 2SJ near the south jetty. You have to watch out if the tide is ebbing at all for a rip that forms off the S. Jetty. Avoid that for best boating results.

Peacock spit by the North jetty is notorious for breaking waves. I avoid it always. The #1 green bouy is a great salmon trolling spot. To get to it I run the red line and cut west at #6.

What was said above makes good sense. Hug the red line if the visibility is low. Run the middle if it's swelled up and you can see at least a mile.

The very best thing is to avoid the area unless the predicted conditions for 4 hours from the time of crossing are acceptable to you.

Gus Orviston · 09-16-2002, 04:09 PM

If I had a nail you sure all hit it on the head, right down to the four hour prediction window. I have been putting together those observations this year, I do want more experience but I want it on my terms if I can help it.

Is the boat that flipped on the the North Jetty the Rememberance?

I would love to go on one of those Tuna runs with someday they sound like a blast, my boat isn't set up for the long haul. How long will the tuna fishing be around?

As far as the paranoid surviving, it is a great passage and it happens to be written about the place where I work as well. I have had the opportunity to meet ASG several times, quite a man.

Thanks for the advice!