Re: Netarts 5-11-15 video
We had a pretty lively and contentious discussion about crossing the Netarts bar a couple of years back. Check it out and notice the wide variety of opinions and the consensus that it is a very dangerous bar.
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=417612&highlight=netarts+tuna+crab+whale&page=2
That said some do cross it and some have crossed it many times. Regarding this thread specifically please don't learn the wrong lesson about the south crossing. The fact is the "channel" changes almost weekly and sometimes disappears altogether. Don't think the north route will always be better.
Make sure you drive up the road from Netarts to Oceanside and park at the turnouts above Happy Camp. Get out and watch the bar for 15 minutes before you cross. That will tell you where the "channel", such as it is, is located on that particular day.
Ebb tide turns that bar into a beast. I would only cross on slack or incoming tide.
I believe the death toll on the Netarts bar is 4 lost in the last 10 years? Most of those were bay crabbers who lost power and were swept out into breakers on an ebb tide. That's a high body count for a bar that almost never gets crossed.
If it were me on a PWC I would wear a full wet or dry suit, and at least one swim fin on my foot for the crossing. That way if it all goes bad and you end up in the water, you are at least warm and mobile. When I cross in the dory I prep by mounting the oars in ready position, clearing the deck of any obstructions that could impede rowing, and picking my line from the aforementioned road overlook. I wear a full wetsuit anyway and I've been known to wear a swim fin as well.
So you were scared eh? That's a good thing. The minute you're not scared of that bar she will kill you dead. I'm not one to say never do it, for that would be hypocritical. I am saying it's dangerous, it's killed people, and you need be cunning and wise in picking your day, picking your route, and having contingency plans in case it all goes gunny bags out there.
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