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Mr. Carkington
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Not all that wander are lost.
Posts: 10,882
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Barge Vs. Fishing Boats
wtbarrong
Chromer
Member # 815
posted 03-25-2002 02:13 PM
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While sturgeon fishing this past Saturday under the powerlines and below the Sandy, I witnessed something that made me think. A Tidewater tug was pushing a full load of 4 barges down river. The river was full of people fishing for salmon up above the powerlines and people fishing for sturgeon under and below the powerlines. From my experience on the river, if a boat is in the channel or in the path of the tug, he will sound his horn 5 times, telling you to get out of the way. At no point did this tug sound his horn, so myself and everyone else in the area stayed put on thier anchors. As the tug came closer to the powerlines, he looked like he was coming closer to the boats on anchor. There was one boat above me that when the tug came through, his anchor ball was rubbing the side of the tug. As I watched this, (I was well inside of this boat) I thought I was going to have to pluck these guys out of the water but the came out ok. Then the tug approached the boat below me. Same thing, his anchor ball rubbing on the first set of barges and then his BOAT was rubbing the barge.
Now looking back at the situation, should the tug have sounded his horn?
I would have thrown my anchor rope over and moved because I would not like to play chicken with a barge! Luckly, nobody got wet.
What do you think?
[ 03-25-2002, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: wtbarrong ]
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Posts: 70 | From: Vancouver, WA USA | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged
NEUTRON
Chromer
Member # 122
posted 03-25-2002 02:17 PM
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CRAZY
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no one knows more than ALL of us
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Posts: 306 | From: Oregon City, Or, Usa | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
TheRogue
Chromer
Member # 54
posted 03-25-2002 02:19 PM
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Was this on Saturday?? We noticed the exact same thing...we were above the little rock island with the power poles. Not one toot out of the barge!! The boat above us never noticed until he was right on top of them, they ended up moving (very quickly, I might add ) Maybe he figured with the good weather, it would be ok to teach someone a lesson??
I thought it was not a good thing that he didn't blast his horn.
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No, sir, really, you can finance this boat forever!!
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Posts: 365 | From: Lafayette, OR USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged
Pete
Chromer
Member # 11
posted 03-25-2002 03:29 PM
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the 5 blasts warning is a courtesy, not a requirement. What is required is that sport fishing boats yeild to commercial traffic. I think the duty is on the fisherman to stand clear, not on the barge to provide a warning.
That being said, it is also reckless and dangerous of a tug/barge to endanger others. Anyone who witnesses such behavior should report it to the sheriff and the coast guard. The fines to the barge line are serious enough to help make our waterways safer for all.
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Posts: 1155 | From: Portland, OR | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged
Lured In
Chromer
Member # 1480
posted 03-25-2002 03:39 PM
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Question? Do you know where the channel is? The channel runs from between the red and green cans upriver of Washougal to the north side of that rock island with the power lines on it and makes a line right toward the wing walls just above Chinook Landing. Looking down river from Chinook Landing is splits the middle between Gov't Island and the the island to its north.
"Pleasure boats" must yeild to barge traffic. Additionally if you anchor in the channel (not advisable) be prepared to move, it is your responsibility. Plus for stugie fishing you will find that the south side of that island can produce better anyway and its out of the channel.
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Lured In
Camas, WA
"I have to think like a fish, act like a fish and whenever possible...look like one."
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Posts: 194 | From: Camas, WA | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged
Pilar
Ifish Forum Guide
Member # 270
posted 03-25-2002 03:50 PM
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Wow!
They usually only honk if they think they will have trouble with the wind or the channel is obtructed.
You have to move because they are the 'burdened' vessel and it is illegal to obstruct the channel. The fine is $5000 if you don't. It amazes me every year how unwilling people are to move, even when they get honked at.
Use an anchor puller and pay attention to the river traffic, it might save you some grief.
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The bend is your friend!
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Posts: 1655 | From: Portland, Or., U.S.A | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged
dampainter
Chromer
Member # 1332
posted 03-25-2002 05:29 PM
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confuscious say when you see barge coming at you pull anchor up and move otherwise end up as hood ornament...
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fish all of it and than some
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Posts: 71 | From: oregon | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged
FishinMission
Chromer
Member # 706
posted 03-25-2002 06:09 PM
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Yeah...I was at the mouth of the Sandy, and wondered why there wasn't a "toot" or 5.
For God's sake..stay out of the channel. I'm surprised however that NO warning toots were issued.
Mark
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If it's "COMBAT" fishing..I'm outta there!!
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Posts: 935 | From: Oregon City, Oregon, Clackamas | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged
TJB
Fry
Member # 1413
posted 03-25-2002 06:22 PM
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I was told at the Coast Guard Auxilliary boating safety class that once they sound the horn because you are in the way you are ticketable. They should not have to use the horn. I don't know if it is true or not?
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Posts: 8 | From: Vancouver, WA | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged
Lured In
Chromer
Member # 1480
posted 03-25-2002 06:42 PM
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Many moons ago my father taught me a family "law" known as the "law of gross ton-age". It simply states that if one body is larger and more massive than another body, the smaller body will get squished. Of course this was usually offered when I unceremoniously smart mouthed him and was followed by the following correction...
"Your alligator mouth is about ready to overload your hummingbird @$$!"
I love my dad for sharing practical lesson.
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Lured In
Camas, WA
"I have to think like a fish, act like a fish and whenever possible...look like one."
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Posts: 194 | From: Camas, WA | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged
crabbait
Chromer
Member # 1634
posted 03-25-2002 10:16 PM
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A VHF radio is a good idea if you are fishing close to the channel. Unless the area is full of boats, I find that I can generally raise the tug Captn and ask whether or not I need to move while he is still a long ways upstream.
This allows me to move without the mad dash. In almost every case, the tug says I'm fine where I am and gives me plenty of room. Of course, I stay to the edge out of the main channel.
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Hey Gary, where's your bobber???
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Posts: 114 | From: vancouver wa | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged
FishinMission
Chromer
Member # 706
posted 03-26-2002 02:08 PM
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O.K...So we all know we shouldn't anchor in the channel, and perhaps the tug doesnt' have to sound a warning horn.......SO.......
If you're driving down the highway, and some dumb, and unlucky kid is chasing a ball into your path...Do you honk your horn?, or just think he ought to know not to be there, and run over him?
It would seem to me that if a stupid, or unknowing boater was killed being hit by a barge that didn't sound a warning, there would be an ugly lawsuit on the tug owners hands.
Any experts out there wanna clarify this one??
At least I'm glad it doesn't apply to me...I'm never in that situation in my boat.
Mark
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If it's "COMBAT" fishing..I'm outta there!!
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Posts: 935 | From: Oregon City, Oregon, Clackamas | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged
Pilar
Ifish Forum Guide
Member # 270
posted 03-26-2002 02:31 PM
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Never is a very long time Mr. Fishing Guide.
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The bend is your friend!
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Posts: 1655 | From: Portland, Or., U.S.A | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged
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