What I found in Bowline Pond on Monday

IIRC, Bowline pond was originally created by a mining collapse and later on became an entry point for cooling water for the Bowline power plant. As such I don't think it is technically even part of the Hudson River nor considered a navigable water way.

That said the Coast Guard will go in there and do vessel boarding and inspections.

I also heard a long lost rumor that locals don't want outsiders there so they keep building the wall back up as boats try to knock it down but that's just a rumor.
 
Maybe someone should just leave an old boat perched up top of that wall, as a reminder...or warning!
 
It shows on the chart without any sounding readings. IIRC it does show an obstruction on the starboard side as you enter but that is at the edge of the river proper.
 
There used to be a pole there standing up years ago... Of course the time I hit the damn thing cause I was looking for the pole, wouldnt ya know someone had beat me to it and it was lying under my bow when the tide went out. I was lucky (or maybe that means I'm extra stupid) I hit it near low tide, so I dinghied over to Mark's boat and had dinner, then went back and drove off, no damage except to my ego...

There is a false sense of security when you go in there, because you pass over a bar and then the water rapidly deepens into a deep hole. You figure you are in nice, safe water and then BAM, that pile looms up and you hit it without a chance to react. As I recall, there is a big church steeple on the far shore and if you keep it to your starboard upon entering you will miss the pile - my mistake was I headed for the steeple...

Keep in mind my recollections are about 12 years old by now, maybe more...

Oh well - those are beautiful boats, hope they are okay, esp that red-hulled one which we see in Kingston a lot. It really looks stunning in person...
 
I use that steeple as a target to aim for Pete. Of course you have to enter Bowline well to port but not too far and then line up with the steeple.

I have some GPS coordinates I should post that will keep one off the wall but it's mudslide time in Block so I'll do it later!
 
An update on the red hulled Luhrs in the pictures. I spoke with him this morning via email. He was off the wall at about 8 PM on Monday. There seems to be no obvious damage (no vibration or leaks) to his boat. He was back in his slip up north by 10. He's pulling it over the weekend for a closer inspection. He was VERY,VERY lucky, and he knows it.

It was absolutely sickening to see up close! I'm really glad that the boat is fine and no one was hurt. Does anybody else think there should be some real marker on that thing? How often does this happen a season? Maybe not on this grand scale, but people must hit it all the time. Maybe a petition with these pictures to present to the CG? Would anyone here sign one?

rommer, I would love those coordinates.
 
OK here goes but keep in mind these are my points, that work for me, and your mileage may vary. (We draft 39-42")

I have 2 points and I head for the first and then line up from there with the second and proceed with an eye on the depth gauge for safe measure. The second point is WELL past the wall so you can make your turn to starboard any time you reach the second point.

These points are NOT the wall location but a safe way into the pond.

Bow1
41° 11.961 N
73° 57.497 W

Bow2
41° 11.985 N
73° 57.665 W

FWIW - We've used these 2 points for many years and they have served us well.
 
bing maps shows the wall pretty well with the birds eye view. Just search Bowline State Park and scroll southwest to just past the entrance.
here's my attempt at using tinyurl---http://tinyurl.com/km9hol
 
If you put your mouse pointer over the position of the wall in Bing maps,( it's a very clear picture of it) it gives you the coodinates. They are:

41*11.997'N
073*57.603'W

I placed a "mark" on my plotter in that position and added rommers coordinates and it seems to put you comfortably clear of the wall/pile. Thanks for posting them rommer.
Bowlinechart.jpg

I couldn't get the "mark" to change color for some reason so it's a little hard to see over the "Obstn" note.
 
Last weekend three boats hit the wall while I was there maybe a few more when I wasn't, none of them hit to hard all got off on there own or with help from friends. I watched a jetski pull a small boat off it still took about 1/2 an hour and I'm sure it caused a few gray hairs.

I agree it's a known problem and should be marked to prevent damage and injury.
 
The problem is if you look on the map it shows it as "Priv"... O&R used to be responsible for it but since O&R sold the plant I am not sure who it is. If they wanted they could shut it down and stop a great anchorage. If you look at the chart it does say "Obstn". If your not sure of the area and not using the chart, you should stay out. It is the boaters responsibility to insure the safety of his passengers and vessel.
 
I don't think the "Priv" is refering to the pond. I think it's refering to the markers at the end of the pier on the east side of the park (Q 15ft Priv). There is also another "Priv" marker just to the north (B).

I understand that the boater is ultimately responsible for the safety of his passengers and craft but the fact is, people are going to go in there because they see other boats in there and assume (right or wrong) that it's safe. Personally, I wouldn't go in there with my big boat having read some of the horror stories and seeing the pictures right here on this forum. A couple of weeks ago I PM'd Hogan to ask him if he would help me get in (I knew you folks were going there)and he agreed. It didn't work out for me that weekend so, I've still not gone in with the big boat. I did go in last Monday with my dink. All the way over from my club I was explaining to my wife how there was a brick wall in there that boats get hung up on so it was important to come have a look first. As we came around the turn and into the entrance my own nightmare came to life in front of me with that red sportfish on the wall! My wife said " I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it for myself!"

If somebody gets severely injured or killed because of that wall there's gonna be a lawsuit,no? Then whom ever is responsible for the pond is going to shut it down anyway I suppose due to the liability so why not just have a simple marker on it that people (even doppie ones going too fast)can actually see? Not all small boats or jetski's carry charts (no excuse I know) so that "Obstn" mark isn't doing them a bit of good.

A lot of you guy's have been going in there for many, many years but at some point you all went in there "for the first time". Did you go in alone? Did you know about the wall? Looking back on it now do you think it was a bad idea and you were lucky to make it in without incident?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Showtime

If somebody gets severely injured or killed because of that wall there's gonna be a lawsuit,no? Then whom ever is responsible for the pond is going to shut it down anyway I suppose due to the liability so why not just have a simple marker on it that people (even doppie ones going too fast)can actually see? Not all small boats or jetski's carry charts (no excuse I know) so that "Obstn" mark isn't doing them a bit of good.

Click to expand...


Liability? For what? An underwater obstruction that has been there for ever?

Why is it always someone else's fault?

Sorry, but I just don't get it.
 
Looks like a great Bottom Cleaning Opportunity. Can get at all but a few square feet.
 
wow- i would really not be happy to have my boat perched such as these, despite the great opportunity to clean the bottom.
 
Rommer,

I agree with you but that's not how the liberal courts look at things. Unfortunately, people are always looking for someone else to blame or to pay the freight.
 
I was looking at this using Google earth (new version) and saw that the Penny Bridge gang put a slide show out there already!

Anyway, as far as the PRIV is concerned, would that be a reference to the oil transfer facility and perhaps a landing on the inside near it?
 
Priv refers to the Bowline power plant's oil offloading dock.

Who are they going to sue? The wall? Sorry, but you go in there at your own risk.

I've seen many a moron come flying in to an unmarked channel, having no idea how deep it is or whether there is an obstruction, and learn the hard way that there is.
 
To think about it the "Priv" is probably for the dock that the town usually has in there. As for the obstuction it is on the chart. Hard to put a marker on every underwater obstruction out there. There has been markers on this wall in the past. They have been run over, cut loose or just blown away. As Mike has said, if you put a marker on it you could be putting yourself at risk.

I have escorted quite a few people in for there for there 1st time. I have also seen many boaters hit the wall. We have had many times were we would be yelling and waving at people trying to get them to turn, most look at you like your an assss. Some turn and some hit.

I agree there will always be someone who will try to use the legal system for there failing to use proper operating procedures. In fact the picture that Rommer posted of the boat on the rocks. I talked to the captain of the boat that day. He was talking about taking it to court. Upset because it was not marked and he thought he was entering Haverstraw Marina. He also said he had picked up his boat I think in the great lakes area and was taking it home to New England. This was the 3rd time he had been aground since picking up the boat. He had just put a set of new props on the boat after hitting ground in the locks.

As far as my 1st time I have been using bowline for over 45 years and have the advantage of rememering it when the old pot belly stove with stack on it was there and there where 2 areas you had to watch. The park and O&R was not there. My father guided me out of there my 1st time. Even back then he stressed the importance of charts to me.

One last thing that should be pointed out. There are 2 obstuctions that need to be watched. On the right side as you enter there are still remains of the old pilings that where in the entrance.

Here is a picture of what bowline looked like in 1906...Long before my time..

landslide3.jpg
 
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