Giving Sea Ray owners a bad name

While watching that video I was picturing what it would be like to retrieve someone that fell overboard in those conditions or worse. I dread the day that I have to attempt it.
 
Woody said:
While watching that video I was picturing what it would be like to retrieve someone that fell overboard in those conditions or worse. I dread the day that I have to attempt it.
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I would approach downwind / down current and let them drift to me so they don't have to swim against current....Make sure in neutral anytime someone is near the stern.
 
Boat Guy said:
I would approach downwind / down current and let them drift to me so they don't have to swim against current....Make sure in neutral anytime someone is near the stern.
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It's when the person is near the boat, ready to try to get aboard that I wonder about. Watch the motion of that boat stern as it rises and falls, sometimes slamming down on the water. The potential for someone to get busted up or worse is a big concern.

My wife and I had this discussion this summer. She said 'If I fall overboard will you be able to get me'? She gave me quite a look when I said 'It depends'.
 
Woody said:
It's when the person is near the boat, ready to try to get aboard that I wonder about......
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You are correct....It would concern me too, in rough conditions...It would really depend on the victim and their abilities. But, Swim ladder down and or rope with knots every foot or so would likely help a great deal.

I think just being cognizant of the issue and remaining as calm as possible would alleviate most injuries. So, just the fact that you recognize the problem, you're less likely to have an issue in my opinion...
 
Strecker25 said:
with it full of water that’s a huge amount of force, and from what I see on my boat albeit much smaller, they don’t hold that locker on with much
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I guess this raises the question to me -- I see a lot of larger boats, cruisers in the 50 foot range that have chocks on their (hydraulic) swim decks for dinghies. I was looking at the new-ish Beneteau Swift Trawler 47, and its basically a factory option. Is this an inherent risk to this setup? You get some bad following seas or whatever and you get water in the dinghy, and then bam, you've trashed the swim deck?

I assume there's a bunch of things done to make this not happen, like starting with a dinghy way under the platform maximum load, always keeping the dinghy covered when under way and probably owning a dinghy with a self-bailing cockpit that won't retain water or pulling the drain plug?
 
mobocracy said:
I guess this raises the question to me -- I see a lot of larger boats, cruisers in the 50 foot range that have chocks on their (hydraulic) swim decks for dinghies. I was looking at the new-ish Beneteau Swift Trawler 47, and its basically a factory option. Is this an inherent risk to this setup? You get some bad following seas or whatever and you get water in the dinghy, and then bam, you've trashed the swim deck?

I assume there's a bunch of things done to make this not happen, like starting with a dinghy way under the platform maximum load, always keeping the dinghy covered when under way and probably owning a dinghy with a self-bailing cockpit that won't retain water or pulling the drain plug?
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I have carried a boat on the platform in chocks for a while. Both current boat and previous boat.

Good solid chocks which let you tie the dinghy down tight. On both boats I have/had chocks with cut outs and pads that matched up with the lines of the hull.

I always keep the plug out when the dinghy is on the platform so water can drain out. Never had any concerns.

Did have a dockmate with a not very heavy whaler dinghy which he did not tie down very well. it came loose during a rough crossing of the gulf stream on the way to the Bahamas and fell half way off. Said it was the scariest time of his life when he was trying to secure it. Finally got it tied enough to make it to calm water. His comment to me was that if it had come loose - he would have left it.
 
Woody said:
While watching that video I was picturing what it would be like to retrieve someone that fell overboard in those conditions or worse. I dread the day that I have to attempt it.
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I am not sure how you could retrieve someone. The reason for the waves - there is current ripping through the inlet. You can't hold in one place.

In this particular inlet, when the water is ripping - all the clowns who just want to see how high they can bounce their boat in the air come out. People will go out, then turn around and come back in. Thinking they are hoping to get caught on a video.

So add to the waves and current - sometimes very heavy boat traffic. In the waves you would only see a person in the water when they ride up on a wave. In a trough an approaching boat would not see them till it is right on top of them.

That is the reason I am so focused when going through an inlet in less than slack conditions, everyone is seated where they cannot fall off. No one standing, helm or cockpit.

In Florida on the lower east coast, I divide inlets into three categories.

Those that I would go through in most any conditions (defined as conditions I would want to be outside in).

Those inlets that I would only go through in slack water. Not so much the waves, the depth and concern about bottoming out in a trough.

And finally those inlets I will not go through in any conditions.

Baker Haulover actually falls in the first category. As long as you are prudent and safe, its always passable unless the Atlantic is so rough you would want to be outside anyway.
 
Boat Guy said:
Lots of things could have been done better, in my opinion....I actually started to cringe when I saw the extension pole disappear under the stern....The last thing they needed was a fouled prop(s)....
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I noticed that too, and had to chuckle when the guy on the swim platform gave a thumbs up as the pole disappeared under the stern.
 
I have a cousin I made get in the Chesapeake once since he was hungover (great remedy)...until I had to get him back aboard our 320. It seemed like the swim platform was going feet up and down and he had to time it to grab the ladder and time it to not get smacked in the head. Lesson learned. It would be really hard on our 500 with the dinghy on the platform. No where to board from the stern. Mike
 
spikedaddy99 said:
I have a cousin I made get in the Chesapeake once since he was hungover (great remedy)...until I had to get him back aboard our 320. It seemed like the swim platform was going feet up and down and he had to time it to grab the ladder and time it to not get smacked in the head. Lesson learned. It would be really hard on our 500 with the dinghy on the platform. No where to board from the stern. Mike
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It's kind of challenge to board anywhere there's wave action. I cut my shin pretty good (or is it pretty bad?) on the swim ladder when an unexpected large wake lurched the boat as I was trying to get to the ladder. We always tell guests, especially kids, to stay away from the swim platform/ladder because you can get bonked pretty good. We have a big swim mat on a 10' bungee for people to congregate near instead.
 
IMG_4230.JPG
In which category would you place this inlet?
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FootballFan said:
I am not sure how you could retrieve someone. The reason for the waves - there is current ripping through the inlet. You can't hold in one place.

In this particular inlet, when the water is ripping - all the clowns who just want to see how high they can bounce their boat in the air come out. People will go out, then turn around and come back in. Thinking they are hoping to get caught on a video.

So add to the waves and current - sometimes very heavy boat traffic. In the waves you would only see a person in the water when they ride up on a wave. In a trough an approaching boat would not see them till it is right on top of them.

That is the reason I am so focused when going through an inlet in less than slack conditions, everyone is seated where they cannot fall off. No one standing, helm or cockpit.

In Florida on the lower east coast, I divide inlets into three categories.

Those that I would go through in most any conditions (defined as conditions I would want to be outside in).

Those inlets that I would only go through in slack water. Not so much the waves, the depth and concern about bottoming out in a trough.

And finally those inlets I will not go through in any conditions.

Baker Haulover actually falls in the first category. As long as you are prudent and safe, its always passable unless the Atlantic is so rough you would want to be outside anyway.
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That would South side looking Northwest.
 
It's the tide, winds, and the constant shoaling. The current can run 4-5 knots. With an opposing wind you get stacked standing waves. Also there are constantly moving shoals on either side of the inlet. The deeper water in the channel rips through very fast.

From the videos, the conditions on either side of the inlet generally seem OK most of the time. It's just the inlet itself that's a problem. Kind of like Plum Gut at the end of Long Island, where the entire Long Island sound empties through a narrow channel. The depths can go from 30 feet to 300 feet right quick; the Gut can can frothing standing waves and the rest of the sound be flat. Also, Hell Gate where the LI Sound meets the East River in NY.
 
spikedaddy99 said:
I have a cousin I made get in the Chesapeake once since he was hungover (great remedy)...until I had to get him back aboard our 320. It seemed like the swim platform was going feet up and down and he had to time it to grab the ladder and time it to not get smacked in the head. Lesson learned. It would be really hard on our 500 with the dinghy on the platform. No where to board from the stern. Mike
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That's part of the reason I've cut back on nite running. A couple years ago I got caught up in a fish net, sun going down, it was pretty calm out. Took a couple dives to get my self cut loose from it. I can't imagine doing that in the dark with even 2' waves. You could get beat up or worse pretty easy under there.
 
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FootballFan said:
Not water that I would go through. Looks nasty. Curious, what are the sea conditions outside of the inlet while it is that ugly?

What are the drivers for the inlet conditions there? Is it tidal, river flow, wind, or all three? Or others?
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Inlet conditions are primarily the result of wind and the very steep waves breaking against the walls of the channel and then rebounding back toward the center of the channel and over the opposite wall. The opposing current adds to the mix, and a good 3 day gale pushes water upstream. We are about 7 miles upstream and in a different lake that leads to this inlet. The water at our dock was 8" higher than normal when the inlet pic was taken. The open waters of Lake Michigan experience 26'+ steep seas that are very dangerous. The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost in a storm that was comparable to this one. It broke into two pieces when the bow and the stern were floating on different waves with a trough in the middle. These storms occur routinely this time of the year on the Great Lakes.
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 76178
Inlet conditions are primarily the result of wind and the very steep waves breaking against the walls of the channel and then rebounding back toward the center of the channel and over the opposite wall. The opposing current adds to the mix, and a good 3 day gale pushes water upstream. We are about 7 miles upstream and in a different lake that leads to this inlet. The water at our dock was 8" higher than normal when the inlet pic was taken. The open waters of Lake Michigan experience 26'+ steep seas that are very dangerous. The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost in a storm that was comparable to this one. It broke into two pieces when the bow and the stern were floating on different waves with a trough in the middle. These storms occur routinely this time of the year on the Great Lakes.
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"When the gales of November come early"
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 76178
Inlet conditions are primarily the result of wind and the very steep waves breaking against the walls of the channel and then rebounding back toward the center of the channel and over the opposite wall. The opposing current adds to the mix, and a good 3 day gale pushes water upstream. We are about 7 miles upstream and in a different lake that leads to this inlet. The water at our dock was 8" higher than normal when the inlet pic was taken. The open waters of Lake Michigan experience 26'+ steep seas that are very dangerous. The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost in a storm that was comparable to this one. It broke into two pieces when the bow and the stern were floating on different waves with a trough in the middle. These storms occur routinely this time of the year on the Great Lakes.
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Have always heard that the Great Lakes can turn into the worst of boating environments very quickly. No personal experience there and little to no knowledge.

Do you have tides? are they significant?

When you see the inlet looking like the photo - would you even want to be on the other side of it?
 
We actually do have tides, however they're typically measured in inches. The pic sbw1 posted above was taken from the navigatable side of the channel/inlet.
 
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