Snowbirds or Boatbirds

A conversation among Whalers
Jefecinco
Posts: 1592
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:35 pm
Location: Gulf Shores, AL

Snowbirds or Boatbirds

Postby Jefecinco » Tue Nov 23, 2021 9:33 am

The annual migration of southbound snowbirds aboard boats is well underway. Numerous vessels with northern state hailing ports or registration numbers have been transiting the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway to Florida for the past several days. Some of the vessels are large enough for comfortable living aboard. We've seen vessels well over 70 feet LOA in the parade. Not all of the vessels are large yachts. We have seen sailboats as small as 20 feet LOA traveling under power and laden with cargo above deck. The most common bots are aft cabin trawler type yachts. One common feature of almost all the vessels is canvas enclosures on fly bridges and cockpits. We enjoy exchanging greetings with these very welcome winter visitors. They are significant contributors to our coastal tourist economy.
Butch

Masbama
Posts: 355
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:33 pm
Location: Mobile, Al

Re: Snowbirds or Boatbirds

Postby Masbama » Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:39 pm

The big yachts have been problematic for small boat fishermen in the northern part of the Mobile-Tensaw delta. There have been numerous reports of swamped boats caused by the huge wakes of the large yachts.

Jefecinco
Posts: 1592
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:35 pm
Location: Gulf Shores, AL

Re: Snowbirds or Boatbirds

Postby Jefecinco » Fri Nov 26, 2021 10:20 am

For small boats at anchor it is especially difficult to ensure the bow is in the right direction when a large wake come along. Some of the wakes arrive well after a large vessel is out of sight. If the anchor scope is short it can hold the bow down with undesirable results.

A few days ago we were out on our Sport 13 on the ICW near the "Wharf". A thirtyish foot center console was idling along nearby when the operator suddenly applied full throttle and put the boat on plane. The the boat's very high wake arrived before I could maneuver to cross it at the right angle. We came very close to shipping water over the gunwales.
Butch