USCG Warns of Hazzardous Bars in PNW

[Lepke]

https://www.workboat.com/news/govern...SWdkZ3p5In0%3D

[er9]

may I ask what a bar is? is it referring to sand bars?

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by er9

may I ask what a bar is? is it referring to sand bars?

It's a pejorative term for inlets formed by rivers. Yes, there is shoaling (sand bar) and the associated extreme conditions of incoming sea against outgoing currents. Vast majority of Port entrances along the 1000nm coastline north of San Francisco are bar crossings. Exceptions are Crescent City, Gray's Harbor, and a couple others - very few all-weather ports (Yaquina, mentioned in the warning, is considered one of them!). There have been consistent gales along the northern coast for several weeks, often with >7m seas. Tough duty lately.

Loosely, on the east coast, they are called inlets - you "run an inlet" on the east coast vs "cross a bar" on the west coast.

[Lepke]

And then there are the places that shanghai sailors.

[er9]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

It's a pejorative term for inlets formed by rivers. Yes, there is shoaling (sand bar) and the associated extreme conditions of incoming sea against outgoing currents. Vast majority of Port entrances along the 1000nm coastline north of San Francisco are bar crossings. Exceptions are Crescent City, Gray's Harbor, and a couple others - very few all-weather ports (Yaquina, mentioned in the warning, is considered one of them!). There have been consistent gales along the northern coast for several weeks, often with >7m seas. Tough duty lately.

Loosely, on the east coast, they are called inlets - you "run an inlet" on the east coast vs "cross a bar" on the west coast.

interesting I did not know that. thanks for the clarification. iv'e seen a couple of nasty inlets on the east coast.

[er9]

Originally Posted by Lepke

And then there are the places that shanghai sailors.

I havn't been to one of those yet but a couple that shanghai'd my wallet.

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by er9

interesting I did not know that. thanks for the clarification. iv'e seen a couple of nasty inlets on the east coast.

Depoe Bay Oregon is a tiny harbor with a USCG MLB station - not for the feint of heart (not sure I'd be aboard as a passenger let alone ever bring a boat in) . Video is of a day charter fishing boat returning. They sit out and wait for the right set of waves before entering. He misses by a bit but somehow recovers.

Mind you, this day is in the better quartile of weather along this coast.

https://youtu.be/oUwXuHPktc4

.