Another Great Weekend!

Could the obstructions and navigable channel be properly marked? sure. Mike's point is well taken - who's gonna take responsibility for a PATON in the cove?
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Obviously no one.
 
Sounds like most people here prefer no buoy to 1 buoy in Bowline pond. I don't understand how that is safer but what do I know. I'm just some dumb old guy with a boat. In Florida some of the hazards within a couple of miles of land are marked with 1 buoy. We stay well away from them. For the rest unmarked we use our chart. Bowline pond was a clay pit back in the brickmaking days. It was opened up to the river I have been told when the power plant was built for the cooling water intake.
 
Ken the problem is there is no way to know which side to pass on while staying away. I liked having a buoy at the end of the wall it's a good indicator but this only helps if you have local knowledge and know left as you enter.
 
The answer is proper buoy or no buoy. A poorly place buoy is worse!
 
quote:
Originally posted by pocket change

So the answer is no buoy? Fewer boats will hit the wall with no buoy than with one?

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ONE buoy marking an obstruction under it is WORSE than no buoys! How many times do I have to say it, the wall stretches almost all the way across the channel. How is someone who is not familiar with the channel going to know which side is safe??? In fact, since the marker was closer to the shore than the middle, most boaters would thing that the middle (where the wall is) is safe.
 
In theory, if only one buoy was to be placed, it should be a lateral aid (one that marks the channel) rather than an informational aid (like a DANGER marker). I would think it would be red, and placed on the southerly end of the wall - marking the "right" side of the channel. And while we're theorizing, the buoy should probably be a daymark (a channel marker on a pole), rather than a floating Aid.

In practicality, I would guess that the mariners who actually know the "Red Right Returning" rule, are the same guys (and gals) that know enough to obtain Local Knowledge prior to entry . . .. I agree that even with a lateral aid, there will still be a good amount of groundings, cuz too many boaters don't know the rules, and will pass the red buoy (or daymark) on the wrong side.

It's kinda like knowing what the light configuration is on a barge at anchor.

Too many boat owners simply don't know - and we all know that those are the same guys who blame everyone but themselves when they find themselves aground!
 
Looks like the hazard buoy is back where it belongs in Bowline pond in front of the wall. Don't know who put it back but someone did. Hazard buoys are usually next to the hazard so you just stay away from the buoy all around it and watch your sounder as you pass. Give it a wide berth. Never get too close to a hazard buoy and you should be fine.
 
Ken I noticed they moved it as well the problem is the hazard continues all the way to the shore so you can stay as far as you want to on the north side and still run aground. This buoy does nothing to help at all!! Unless they put in a string of them people will continue to run aground.
 
So I guess the big question is who moved it? My guess is the Sheriff.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

Ken I noticed they moved it as well the problem is the hazard continues all the way to the shore so you can stay as far as you want to on the north side and still run aground. This buoy does nothing to help at all!! Unless they put in a string of them people will continue to run aground.

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Dave, he's been told this at least seven times in this thread, yet he still believes that ONE buoy marking the edge of the wall, and nothing marking the rest of it is better than no buoy. I give up...
 
But who moved the marker? My money is on the new sheriff not wanting to make the same mistake twice!
 
I don't want to fight about the buoy but I'm glad it's back. In Florida where we go in the winter there quite a few coral heads and small reefs within 5 miles of the shore. There is 1 buoy at these hazards. I never saw one circled by buoys. You see a buoy, give it a wide berth. Coming into Bowline the buoy is way to starboard. Don't know why someone would see the buoy then take a hard right to pass in the narrow space between the buoy and the park when straight in is open water 20 feet deep. Just come in slow and watch your sounder. Those are my final thoughts on the matter. If anyone thinks no buoy is safer than 1 they have a right to their opinion. Have a nice day.
 
"You see a buoy, give it a wide berth. Coming into Bowline the buoy is way to starboard."

Ken I know you mean well but that buoy is smack in the middle why do you assume that boaters will know to stay left and not right? In this case giving it a wide berth could be a grave mistake!
 
If the buoy is "way to starboard" then it is not even in the correct place. Who is going to be responsible when someone hits the wall because of it?
 
Common sense should apply as well. If there is one buoy which most boaters entering does not know what it means stay away from it. If you are watching the depth finder you will know you are in a channel. Stay in it Don't turn towards shore. Someone asked if Bowline was man made, the answer is no. Its the result of a landslide due to brick yards digging too deep. There are several stories about the how the water entered after the slide. I cant say for sure but no mater what it still was not man made. The brick wall is actually the remains of one of the houses that was lost. As a kid when we moored the fishing boat behind the firehouse we used to tie up to an old pot belly stove that sat on top of it and fished the inlet. As for who owns it I am not really sure but I believe O&R has rights to it. When they were getting ready to build the power plant in late 60's the did a lot of scanning the bottom and clearing in there. They also widened the entrance and put the channel that is there in. They also removed another wall that used to be there. As for marking the channel my personal option is they should never have done it. The obstruction is on the charts. It is not navigational water. If you are a responsible boater you can get in and out without damage. Now that there is a buoy more boaters are trying to enter, usually at a speed that they should not be going and not watching the water. too busy looking around at the area. There are a lot of obstacles out there on the water ways that are not marked. Does anyone remember Potato Rock over by Croton. Take a look, its on the charts. I can name a few who hit that trying to listen to the concerts over there. In fact I believe there may be a conversation on boatered way back when the board first started. It was finally removed when the landfill was sealed. I think a few tugs hit it. No mater what it is the captains responsibility for the safe operation of his vessel. Just wondering, how many of you take a trip for the first time without going over your charts or plotting your course. Do you enter an area you are unfamiliar with at a speed above no wake when its not marked.
 
Butch-agree with most all you have said and thanks for the history. My only comments are that most entering who go up on rocks are not going at a high rate of speed. In fact, most can back off with little to no damage. The other is that watching your depth does not help because you are in plenty of water right before you hit.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Anchor Management

Butch-agree with most all you have said and thanks for the history. My only comments are that most entering who go up on rocks are not going at a high rate of speed. In fact, most can back off with little to no damage. The other is that watching your depth does not help because you are in plenty of water right before you hit.

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That's why I like my forward looking sonar!
 
As to who owns the pond, no one owns it like you own your house. The federal government has control over it because it is part of a federal navigable waterway. The upper Hudson is under state control along with the streams and brooks because they aren't navigable by commercial vessels. That's the way I understand it. With the buoy by the wall now there shouldn't be as much entertainment for you who spend weekends in there.
 
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