piloting suggestions

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pdecat

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Be nice to inform folks of things we learned..
I'll start:

What approaching a mark, regardless of how much charting or electronics you have, always absolutely confirm the number on the mark for certain before altering coarse onto the rocks.
 
Auto Pilots are dumb, deaf, and blind, don't put yourself in the same class!
 
Ok, I'll bite.

Many boats have set on the rocks going into Black Sound at Green Turtle Cay. Day markers on substantial poles are all they have. AND they may not subscribe to what ever rules you are accustomed to. Here is a perfect example. Look at the markers. No triangles are visible on the poles.
Which way would you go encountering this? Note the shapes on each pole. BOTH SQUARE!!

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Unless you study the charts and all other available documentation before entering an unfamiliar passage, you are taking undo risk.
 
Dumb is Dumb no matter how you do it. Watch the con.
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

Many boats have set on the rocks going into Black Sound at Green Turtle Cay.

Click to expand...


And that's one of the better marked channels in the Abacos!
 
Yeah but the top of the pole is painted red, isn't it?

Charts show 4' MLW, I wouldn't try it with anything over 5' draft even at hight tide, not enough margin.

Active captain mentions a missing/broken red too...
 
Obviously we were there when the attempt was made. Another boat blew it on the way out at the same marker! However, if I was to pick a boat to sympathize with, I'd take the med yacht going in. Early in the day with the sun rising into the bridge.

Pascal EVERYONE would be hard pressed to make out the color of the markers early in the day. The S.O. was screaming at me the first time we went in this channel. The channel takes a hard turn to stbd just past this pole leaving you close to shore on port. It's a tough call if you have not looked it over on Google Earth etc..
Fortunately I looked it all over and ignored the visual cues, the S.O. ranting, and looked at the water. Otherwise I would have been on the rocks in the same spot.
 
I followed a local in the first time. That's the advantage of a 2' draft :-)
 
Never cut across numbered Chanel markers. They are designed to indicate a safe passage. There are some where I boat where I see people routinely cut too far ahead and risk running aground. The savings of a minute isn't worth the risk to safety and property.
 
Keep your head UP and your eyes moving. Don't get fixated on any one object, inside the cockpit or in a distance from the boat..
 
At night or in low light keep your eyesmoving and look a little away from a mark to find it because your peripheral vision works better than central vision in low light
 
Regarding depth vs your draft local knowledge is usually wrong
 
Not going between the markers headed into Black Sound on Green Turtle. The water is clear enough to see the rocks off to the starboard side. I've found local knowledge to be rather indispensable at times.
 
I believe they have updated the markers since then with some better reflective material.
 
When in doubt about a spot, I anchor and run the tender which has a $100 sounder. Cheap insurance. Even in the Bahamas where the water is clear and readable it is well worth it. I can do multiple passes to know exactly where the water gets skinny while recording the tracks on my iPhone...

Again looking at the black sound chart, I wouldn't try it without first checking it out with the tender. Too skinny, too narrow
 
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