Took a ride down to NY harbor on Monday with some guests who had never seen the city from the water. Did all the usual sightseeing. On the way home (Haverstraw) we swung around the South side of Governors Island, passed the Queen Mary 2 and headed up the East River. The amazing part about this leg of the trip was that I got up on plane just North of the Brooklyn Bridge and did not have to come off plane until I got to the sculling area in the Harlem River. I have never seen the East River or the Harlem River so smooth. It was like being on a calm lake. What an anazing ride it was!
East River/Harlem River
- Thread starter JohnH
- Start date
We came back from NJ on Sunday afternoon and it was snotty most of the way....kids were impressed we actually took water on the fly bridge.
The bridge is easy to open...simply request a passage/opening on channel 13. Or, if there are other boats such as the circle line, listen on ch 13 to see if they requested an opening and how long it will be. I recall the bridge attendant would respond with "we have a train due in at 1:20, I'll open the bridge after it passes".
The bridge is easy to open...simply request a passage/opening on channel 13. Or, if there are other boats such as the circle line, listen on ch 13 to see if they requested an opening and how long it will be. I recall the bridge attendant would respond with "we have a train due in at 1:20, I'll open the bridge after it passes".
Got a negative on my initial request for the Spuyten Duyvel bridge opening.
After about fifteen minutes I was going to contact the bridge tender again when it began to swing open. We actually got a bunch of "thank yous" from the sculling teams on the river for our (required) no wake speed through their area. The rest of the ride up the Hudson was fantastic as well. What a day.
After about fifteen minutes I was going to contact the bridge tender again when it began to swing open. We actually got a bunch of "thank yous" from the sculling teams on the river for our (required) no wake speed through their area. The rest of the ride up the Hudson was fantastic as well. What a day.
We did the Circle Line yesterday! Been years since I was on that. Circle Liner was at minimum speed through the Harlem River speed zone. We were passed by a number of (well every) cruiser through that area - all looking puzzled at our slow speed. The signs weren't great as I could see, but that area is narrow enough, and you are within 100 ft of the boathouses that you can see you are swamping the docks. And you still need a sign? Please all be aware when transiting that area, which as I recall was where a college student was killed not too long ago when a Columbia skull was overturned by a wake.
By the way, the bridge was open when we got there. I think they try to keep it open when no trains are due through - at least during the day.
By the way, the bridge was open when we got there. I think they try to keep it open when no trains are due through - at least during the day.
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I know a skull with 4 grown men was rammed by a boat traveling at speed in the low light of the morning. That was a failure to keep adequate watch, and traveling beyond your visability IMHO. It was a tragic accident where there was also loss of life.
Some people are too concerned with saving time on the way to or from L.I..
Some people are too concerned with saving time on the way to or from L.I..
IMHO too many people zip up that Harlem River. At least slow down when you're coming near another boat! We once had a huge 46 Sea Ray roar up behind us and that sonofab!tch actually went FASTER when I tried to speed up to beat him to a nearby bridge. The result, I had to veer over to the other side of the bridge (bascule type with two spans) and would have had serious trouble had another boat come through at that instant. Also I had to take his 4 foot wake, on the stbd quarter, in very close spaces. And of course I had to stand there watching them all laugh at me as I shook my fist at them...
You don't know how badly I wished for a submerged telephone pole at that instant!!!
PS - many years back some idiot did the same thing to my Dad in the Harlem. Only this fellow didn't notice the signs that said "Span Closed" under the bridge (he should have used the "wrong" side of the turntable). So he went right aground. And we passed nice and slow on the correct side, waving merrily as we went by. Its the only time my Dad ever said "screw it" to helping a fellow boater. He figured the guy was aground anyway, so what the Hell...
PPS - John, none of the above is directed at you - glad you had a good trip, and that the scullers appreciated your courtesy
. They probably don't get it from too many people!!!
You don't know how badly I wished for a submerged telephone pole at that instant!!!
PS - many years back some idiot did the same thing to my Dad in the Harlem. Only this fellow didn't notice the signs that said "Span Closed" under the bridge (he should have used the "wrong" side of the turntable). So he went right aground. And we passed nice and slow on the correct side, waving merrily as we went by. Its the only time my Dad ever said "screw it" to helping a fellow boater. He figured the guy was aground anyway, so what the Hell...
PPS - John, none of the above is directed at you - glad you had a good trip, and that the scullers appreciated your courtesy
. They probably don't get it from too many people!!!Yep, I'm sure the skullers appreciate it. Similar to when I came off plane just inside sandy hook as there were a ton of fishing boats. I figured me coming off plane would save a dozen or two boats from rocking and rolling. I received alot of waves and a couple of verbal "thank yous"...hey, we were that close, I could hear them, the area was packed.
Sometimes it pays to be nice, especially when you know too many people aren't.
Sometimes it pays to be nice, especially when you know too many people aren't.
The skuller that was killed was in an unlighted skull before dawn and was hit by a boat not even on plane. Not sure of any court liability but the articles I saw placed the blame squarely on the side of the unmarked vessel. Now before I get reamed for being a cold hearted bee I realize that lights on a skull is difficult to do but what the hell were they doing out before dawn?
That's the first I've heard the results. I always wondered what happened. I don't even know if they recovered the body. I guess these results didn't make such great headlines.
Still I'm glad they made it a no wake zone. Though, I wondered who actually hung the sign. That river is no place to be on full plane anyway.
Still I'm glad they made it a no wake zone. Though, I wondered who actually hung the sign. That river is no place to be on full plane anyway.
Rommer, you are a cold hearted bee...but you're also 100% correct
The skull was not properly lit and while it pales in comparison, I bet the captain of the power boat's life was changed forever that day, he was a victim too.
The skull was not properly lit and while it pales in comparison, I bet the captain of the power boat's life was changed forever that day, he was a victim too.
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May we see a link to the report? There seem to be conflicting sides to the power boats reported speed. The friends of the dead rower have posted on their corporate website that the power boat was running at a fairly high rate of speed. If they were out there regularly I'd be willing to accept their argument and description. link -> http://www.pantheonproperties.com/newsarticle.php?id=newsartcl436666fbea635&from=news.php
ANYWAY:
I firmly believe that the rowers were at fault because they were out there in poor visibility.
But I also feel the power boater was traveling beyond his visibility. In other words he could not stop in time or otherwise avoid something in his path. That's not good practice and reflects poorly on power boaters. It applies to driving cars also that's why we have headlights. But people cruise along at 60-70 mph in down pours don't they?
All of the accidents auto's have had produced new laws driven by insurance companies. Laws like driving with headlights on, vehicle inspections (ok, really old) etc. are all driven by accidents. If people would learn to respect the potential harm they can cause, we'd all be alot better off.
Too bad the power boater had to learn the hard way. Was he a victim? Sure, but not in the sense he was a hapless victim. Everyone has probably been passed by a n1ppleheaded captain at one point or another.
ANYWAY:
I firmly believe that the rowers were at fault because they were out there in poor visibility.
But I also feel the power boater was traveling beyond his visibility. In other words he could not stop in time or otherwise avoid something in his path. That's not good practice and reflects poorly on power boaters. It applies to driving cars also that's why we have headlights. But people cruise along at 60-70 mph in down pours don't they?
All of the accidents auto's have had produced new laws driven by insurance companies. Laws like driving with headlights on, vehicle inspections (ok, really old) etc. are all driven by accidents. If people would learn to respect the potential harm they can cause, we'd all be alot better off.
Too bad the power boater had to learn the hard way. Was he a victim? Sure, but not in the sense he was a hapless victim. Everyone has probably been passed by a n1ppleheaded captain at one point or another.
Dan
I have not seen a final report and base my comments on my recollection of reports back when it happened. I also put very little faith in a press release intended to be a memorial obituary.
Fairly high speed for those guys is anything above no wake speed.
I have not seen a final report and base my comments on my recollection of reports back when it happened. I also put very little faith in a press release intended to be a memorial obituary.
Fairly high speed for those guys is anything above no wake speed.
I had talked to someone who knew the power boater involved. As I recall and the mind is going bad, there where no charges filed. I think there is a civil suit against him and yes it has changed his life severely.
I’m not pointing blame here but if I were stopped at that hour out there with the Jet Ski I would receive a summons for not having the proper lighting on vessel. Yes you, as a power boater is responsible for the proper operation of your vessel and need to be able to stop in a reasonable amount of time. One of the major factors in this accident was the fog, we all know how it just lays on the water and you can see nothing. The skull should not have been out there, unfortunately it end in a death of someone who was doing what he enjoyed.
I’m not pointing blame here but if I were stopped at that hour out there with the Jet Ski I would receive a summons for not having the proper lighting on vessel. Yes you, as a power boater is responsible for the proper operation of your vessel and need to be able to stop in a reasonable amount of time. One of the major factors in this accident was the fog, we all know how it just lays on the water and you can see nothing. The skull should not have been out there, unfortunately it end in a death of someone who was doing what he enjoyed.