I am new to boating and have thought about going into the bay area by boat. My question is what would be the minimum size boat and power needed there? I have a Rinker 17' with a 4 cly. and OMC outdrive. Enough for a nice day or is it too small/ underpowered?
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Boating on the Bay
- Thread starter Dave4622
- Start date
Dave, the bay is not the easiest place to learn about boating. I'd try splashing in a lake or up in the delta to get started! A safe boating class by the CG Aux or USPS would be greatly recommended. You will learn more in one day then you thought was possible!!! http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/courses.htm
The key here is knowledge, not the size/power of your boat! Good luck and don't hesitate to post your questions and concerns here. There are a bunch of folks who are willing to help and they have lots of experience and knowledge to share!
The key here is knowledge, not the size/power of your boat! Good luck and don't hesitate to post your questions and concerns here. There are a bunch of folks who are willing to help and they have lots of experience and knowledge to share!
You are marginal even in fair weather - and we'd like to see you live to enjoy a life of boating. I suggest you spend some time on the bay as a guest aboard a larger boat, get a feel for what can happen. SF Bay can be quiet and calm one minute, and an hour later go nasty on you. If it's as flat as glass on a nice spring day early in the morning - you can do it. But by noon you'll be getting nervous. And at almost any time you can't handle the San Pablo Bay - so knowledge is your friend. The delta and other rivers like Napa and Petaluma are great for your boat, you can go places I can't. Again, bum a ride or ten on the bay and get comfortable with what it's like. Many of us, including me, are happy to help a nube learn the ropes.
When you say you would like to go "into the Bay Area" do you mean from the Delta side? If so, I wouldn't recommend it. If you want to launch in Alameda and cruise the channel, you will be fine. Like everyone else said, the bay can be very tricky.
Dave
You'll need to know how to read charts if you go into the bay. And you need to have paper charts with you----not just a GPS! You'll also need a depth finder. Many areas of the bay are very shallow, but you cannot tell the depth by looking at the water. If you run aground, you'll have to wait for the tide change. That can take hours! If you try drive off, you'll risk ruining your engine by sucking mud up into it.
Again, I'd like to stress that knowledge is your best friend.
You'll need to know how to read charts if you go into the bay. And you need to have paper charts with you----not just a GPS! You'll also need a depth finder. Many areas of the bay are very shallow, but you cannot tell the depth by looking at the water. If you run aground, you'll have to wait for the tide change. That can take hours! If you try drive off, you'll risk ruining your engine by sucking mud up into it.
Again, I'd like to stress that knowledge is your best friend.
Personally, I don't find boating in the Bay as being tricky. Its not like you have to time traversing a shoal or something like that.
It can just be very rough in the areas that people mentioned, particularly just east of the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz and in San Pablo Bay. When it is rough, you will get very wet in a 17' and the low freeboard might be a little scary.
South of the Bay Bridge is generally much calmer (to the chagrin of my sailboating friends berthed in the Peninsula).
It can just be very rough in the areas that people mentioned, particularly just east of the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz and in San Pablo Bay. When it is rough, you will get very wet in a 17' and the low freeboard might be a little scary.
South of the Bay Bridge is generally much calmer (to the chagrin of my sailboating friends berthed in the Peninsula).
Thank you all for your input. I have worked through the California Boating and Waterways course and passed their exam. I am also starting the America's boating home course due to my work schedule.
Yes, I plan on starting out on the lakes and working into the delta region. Safety and knowledge are two things I won't compromise on in life.
Again thank you, and Any input will always be appreciated.
Yes, I plan on starting out on the lakes and working into the delta region. Safety and knowledge are two things I won't compromise on in life.
Again thank you, and Any input will always be appreciated.
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Pay attention to the weather, know your charts, be prepared to navigate in fog, watch for ships, keep the nearest port in mind while traversing the bay. There are a few books listing the different boating areas you can visit. Some of the best fishing is done from small boats in the protected areas. I think the Halibut are running strong off Oyster point to Candlestick point.
Dave,
It sounds as if you are taking a well planned and cautious approach to boating. You will hear a lot of doom and gloom stories about the Delta and Bay, but both are doable as your experience grows. Hone your boat handling skills on the lakes and when you feel ready start working on the Delta. Try to launch and retrieve during slack tides and pay attention to the weather forecast. The main differences between the Delta and lakes are tide levels, tidal and river currents and the vast expanse of water that is easy to become lost on.
Your boat is a little small for the Bay, but if you pick your days carefully and stick to sheltered waters, you can do some exploring on the Bay. The Alameda/Oakland Estuary is a great place to poke around. You can also launch in Sausalito and explore Richardson Bay; on a good day, you can cross over to Angel Island, but really watch the winds. They usually pick up in the afternoon and can make the return crossing rough. I assume that your boat has an open bow which presents your greatest danger when the water gets sloppy. If you stuff the bow into a wave, you can get a LOT of water into the boat very quickly.
Build your skills and work your way up gradually. BTW, you could spend years exploring in the Delta and still not have seen it all. The Bay can be fun, but actually has less boating attractions or destinations. In the Delta, you can jump from one restaurant/watering hole to another all day long. If I can offer you any advice or suggestions, please feel free to email me.
It sounds as if you are taking a well planned and cautious approach to boating. You will hear a lot of doom and gloom stories about the Delta and Bay, but both are doable as your experience grows. Hone your boat handling skills on the lakes and when you feel ready start working on the Delta. Try to launch and retrieve during slack tides and pay attention to the weather forecast. The main differences between the Delta and lakes are tide levels, tidal and river currents and the vast expanse of water that is easy to become lost on.
Your boat is a little small for the Bay, but if you pick your days carefully and stick to sheltered waters, you can do some exploring on the Bay. The Alameda/Oakland Estuary is a great place to poke around. You can also launch in Sausalito and explore Richardson Bay; on a good day, you can cross over to Angel Island, but really watch the winds. They usually pick up in the afternoon and can make the return crossing rough. I assume that your boat has an open bow which presents your greatest danger when the water gets sloppy. If you stuff the bow into a wave, you can get a LOT of water into the boat very quickly.
Build your skills and work your way up gradually. BTW, you could spend years exploring in the Delta and still not have seen it all. The Bay can be fun, but actually has less boating attractions or destinations. In the Delta, you can jump from one restaurant/watering hole to another all day long. If I can offer you any advice or suggestions, please feel free to email me.
I'll add one more:
Always bring along an extra couple gallons of gas. The times that you run out of gas will be when you're in the middle of a channel and the tide going full speed. And it'll never take you TOWARDS where the nearest gas dock is, always away from it. Boating around in the delta isn't tricky unless it's a windy day and it gets choppy.
Always bring along an extra couple gallons of gas. The times that you run out of gas will be when you're in the middle of a channel and the tide going full speed. And it'll never take you TOWARDS where the nearest gas dock is, always away from it. Boating around in the delta isn't tricky unless it's a windy day and it gets choppy.