Crossing the ballina bar north NSW

Discussion in 'All Things Boats & Boating' started by Sheepy, Sep 27, 2013.

  1. Sheepy
    Joined: Apr 2009
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    Sheepy Junior Member

    This is the first time I have been on a boat crossing bars that I have had to back through a wave. Been crossing bars for 20+ years

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    This is the boat on the slip..

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  2. Milehog
    Joined: Aug 2006
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    Milehog Clever Quip

    Thank's for the photos and links.
    Now, help a lubber out. "This is the first time I have been on a boat crossing bars that I have had to back through a wave."
    Are you backing into the overtaking wave so's it doesn't have time to broach the boat?
    Or???
    I'm hoping to learn from a waterman every chance I get.
     
  3. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Maybe he ran aground, and backing was the best way to free it, but I too would like to hear further !
     
  4. Sheepy
    Joined: Apr 2009
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    Sheepy Junior Member

    We back through the wave just after I shut the door, that crossing was done an hour before low tide. Yeah it helps stop us from broaching, well at least that's what I think the idea is for.

    I'm curious to know what others think of this crossing myself
     
  5. waikikin
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    waikikin Senior Member

    That's how it reads to me, at about 1m 45s to 2m into the vid you hear the dynamic of revs & visual of engaging astern to stop the trawler from a surf & potential broach, NSW barred entrances are pretty fearsome & if you broach, the rock training walls at the river mouth show no mercy, this is like a day at the office for these blokes....... never listen to people complaining about the price of prawns........

    A mate of mine had to back....slowly... into a barred river mouth... with a vehicle ferry in tow, he swung the towed barge into the river mouth & gently stemmed the incoming tide & swell...& made his way slowly upriver till he found some broadwater to strap up & push, otherwise the risk was that the towed barge would surf onto the stern of the tug whilst in the entrance.

    Jeff.
     
  6. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    There's a video ? where ? Oh, OK, click on the top pic, now I see it..........
     
  7. Landlubber
    Joined: Jun 2007
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    Landlubber Senior Member

    Yeah, waves travel at between 12 to 18 knots, so the boat has to be slower or faster than that to keep water speed over the rudder.
    The object when bar crossing is to ride the back of the wave formation, climbing the hill so to speak if the boat has the power to do so, if not enough power then you have to place yourself selectively for the waves to pass (like in a yacht)
    My double ended yacht on bar crossings had to go astern a few times to let the waves pass so that I was still in control, cos if the waves pick you up, the rudder water speed falls to zero and you are captured, moving the rudder has bugger all effect so the boat is very liable to broach. You are not really goiing astern direct wise, just putting on the brakes.

    All he has done in the video is let the wave pass the boat to keep control...very normal practice in northern rivers crossings.
     
  8. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Crossing an hour before low tide, which is effectively low water, on a bar that is not that deep, you have no-one to blame but yourself if it all goes wrong.
     

  9. SamSam
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    SamSam Senior Member

    Well, the deck got cleaned up pretty easily, so there's that.
     
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