PNW boaters, No Go Zone is back - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: The Whaler GAM or General Area
  PNW boaters, No Go Zone is back

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   PNW boaters, No Go Zone is back

JMARTIN posted 12-10-2012 08:14 PM ET (US)
http://www.sanjuanjournal.com/news/182552931.html
I think it is fiscally stupid that if there is money left to spend on public outreach, by gum you better spend it.
John
Buckda posted 12-10-2012 08:28 PM ET (US)
Here is a question -
How would they clearly demarcate this as an area off limits to boaters? What if some poor guy from Out East decided to go for a summer cruise in that area and went through the zone?

kwik_wurk posted 12-11-2012 12:00 AM ET (US)
I personally protested the idea, because it forced vessels large and small closer to the shipping lanes, and created navigation hazards.
JMARTIN posted 12-11-2012 01:49 AM ET (US)
Well David that is just one of the problems. Shall we bring up ingress egress from your beachfront property? Last time was a straight out/in.
Last time it was no go Commercial fishing, but Sovereign Nations have a special relationship with Orcas so they are OK.
I have seen the volunteer Whale policeman in action. They caused more harm than good. Think spandex, bike rack, Bayliner. Orcas are wild animals, I have failed at trying to obey the existing rules.
John
jimh posted 12-11-2012 10:04 AM ET (US)
A good way to learn about special situations in a particular area is to listen to the VHF Marine Band radio on Channel 16. Periodically the Coast Guard will make announcements on Channel 16 that there is going to be a further announcement on another channel. You can then tune to the other channel, typically Channel 22A, and listen to the announcement. Details are usually given. Listening to Channel 16 when underway is a good idea, in addition to being required by the rules.
As an example of what you can learn about local rules, I recall we were once cruising in the Canadian waters north of Vancouver and monitoring Channel 16. That is how we found out one morning that a vast region of the Strait of Georgia was going to be closed to all vessels due to the conduct of submarine warfare exercises. The broadcast also provided information about from what station and on what channel further information could be obtained. We had been planning to transit that area and had to hold off. Later we called the station in control of the exercises to ask permission to cross prior to the stated end of the exclusion. The exercises were concluded and the station gave us permission to cross. Without listening to Channel 16 we would have just blundered into a submarine warfare exercise.
On the other hand, sometimes one just has to very carefully read the charts. We accidentally ventured down the wrong channel into a restricted area on the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, and we were promptly interdicted by a very serious group of armed soldiers on a patrol boat. That darn thin magenta line on the chart was just about invisible to me, but a very close inspection showed it was there, and a notation on the chart referred to the some federal publication to learn the details. Of course, I was not carrying the referenced federal publication onboard. I think the local boaters were well aware of the situation, but as a poor guy from the Midwest, I was not.
Marsh posted 12-11-2012 07:24 PM ET (US)
jim, your story reminds me of the time I blundered into the main gate of Fort Rucker in Alabama while trying to find a shortcut back home from my trip to south Alabama. It seems that fort, for "security reasons", was not shown on the "official" state highway map that I had picked up earlier that day at the welcome center upon entering their fair state. After 20 questions, proof of citizenship, insurance, and registration, and after having my truck searched, the guard allowed me to go on my way.
Some shortcut!!

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: PNW boaters, No Go Zone is back
JMARTIN	posted 12-10-2012 08:14 PM ET (US) http://www.sanjuanjournal.com/news/182552931.html I think it is fiscally stupid that if there is money left to spend on public outreach, by gum you better spend it. John
Buckda	posted 12-10-2012 08:28 PM ET (US) Here is a question - How would they clearly demarcate this as an area off limits to boaters? What if some poor guy from Out East decided to go for a summer cruise in that area and went through the zone?
kwik_wurk	posted 12-11-2012 12:00 AM ET (US) I personally protested the idea, because it forced vessels large and small closer to the shipping lanes, and created navigation hazards.
JMARTIN	posted 12-11-2012 01:49 AM ET (US) Well David that is just one of the problems. Shall we bring up ingress egress from your beachfront property? Last time was a straight out/in. Last time it was no go Commercial fishing, but Sovereign Nations have a special relationship with Orcas so they are OK. I have seen the volunteer Whale policeman in action. They caused more harm than good. Think spandex, bike rack, Bayliner. Orcas are wild animals, I have failed at trying to obey the existing rules. John
jimh	posted 12-11-2012 10:04 AM ET (US) A good way to learn about special situations in a particular area is to listen to the VHF Marine Band radio on Channel 16. Periodically the Coast Guard will make announcements on Channel 16 that there is going to be a further announcement on another channel. You can then tune to the other channel, typically Channel 22A, and listen to the announcement. Details are usually given. Listening to Channel 16 when underway is a good idea, in addition to being required by the rules. As an example of what you can learn about local rules, I recall we were once cruising in the Canadian waters north of Vancouver and monitoring Channel 16. That is how we found out one morning that a vast region of the Strait of Georgia was going to be closed to all vessels due to the conduct of submarine warfare exercises. The broadcast also provided information about from what station and on what channel further information could be obtained. We had been planning to transit that area and had to hold off. Later we called the station in control of the exercises to ask permission to cross prior to the stated end of the exclusion. The exercises were concluded and the station gave us permission to cross. Without listening to Channel 16 we would have just blundered into a submarine warfare exercise. On the other hand, sometimes one just has to very carefully read the charts. We accidentally ventured down the wrong channel into a restricted area on the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, and we were promptly interdicted by a very serious group of armed soldiers on a patrol boat. That darn thin magenta line on the chart was just about invisible to me, but a very close inspection showed it was there, and a notation on the chart referred to the some federal publication to learn the details. Of course, I was not carrying the referenced federal publication onboard. I think the local boaters were well aware of the situation, but as a poor guy from the Midwest, I was not.
Marsh	posted 12-11-2012 07:24 PM ET (US) jim, your story reminds me of the time I blundered into the main gate of Fort Rucker in Alabama while trying to find a shortcut back home from my trip to south Alabama. It seems that fort, for "security reasons", was not shown on the "official" state highway map that I had picked up earlier that day at the welcome center upon entering their fair state. After 20 questions, proof of citizenship, insurance, and registration, and after having my truck searched, the guard allowed me to go on my way. Some shortcut!!