Getting a push
Yesterday we contacted the two marinas in the area who could step our mast for us (put it back up). Both are located in the Catskill Creek, about 35-40 miles from here. After speaking with both of them we found out that only one can accommodate our boat due to its beam (width). So Hop-O-Nose Marina it is I guess. Our plan is to be there early Monday morning.
One new consideration for our travels from this point forward will be tides. I posted a bit about the effect of tides back in March. Up to this point I have primarily thought of the effect of tides on the depth of the water but the flow of water as the tide is changing can create, what I understand is, a fairly strong current. This can either result in a “push” towards our destination or a push back against us. Apparently we need to consult the tide charts to plan our departure and arrival times.
How do we do this? There are several online resources for this info, and even our iPhones had apps for it. We no longer have the phones though, and relying on the internet would be silly. Our chartplotter has a feature which can tell us the tides, and we’ll no doubt give that a spin to see how it works. The traditional way though is to consult a Tide Table book. Acquiring such a book, along with some charts for the local area, was one reason we decided to join some new friends on a bus trip to West Marine. Did West Marine have the book? Yes. Did they have any charts? No. Apparently no one around here carries strip charts of the Hudson River. We also inquired about grommets for sail repair at West. The guy basically told me they didn’t carry such nautical things. I’m sure he could have sold me one of their stupid pink pirate flags though! I was pretty pissy when I left that place.
The buses were nicely air conditioned, and also made for some good people watching.
Skipper Bob’s book, Tide Table book and photocopied chart… we’re all set!
Our Garmin 546 chartplotter might help a bit too. 🙂
Our friends made out a bit better at West Marine than we did though. They went to acquire a tiny dinghy to use as a tender for their boat. Even though they needed to find the manager to actually find it in the store, they walked out happy.
The Christening ceremony for Ben and Beth’s new dinghy, Terry(dactyl) the Tender.
Rebecca, once again, sewing on the trampoline. This time she was patching a sail-slide grommet that we noticed was torn a bit.
The brass replacement grommet was acquired at Home Depot, not West Marine (of course).
Great job Rebecca!
Update: That tide table book is written in GREEK! 🙁
I think the Garmin will be getting some more use.
Don’t forget the currents too! They are not necessarily in sync and sometimes you will be expecting a push down when it is actually the opposite direction. The tide/currents can be 3-4 knots. Sometimes they get up to 4-5. Sounds like you are having a great time!
Hi Doug. Yes, we are having a good time. The tidal current is exactly what I was referring to in the post. Our Garmin displays info for both the tide and the current. The tide will start to ebb tomorrow at 9:04 AM.
I know you lived on your boat before departure and now it’s like your finishing the second week of a vacation. I have a question about how you are feeling??? Like maybe you’re on a trip somewhat with no end, like you’re free as a seagull. When or have you felt like the boat is home? Just curious! You both look extremely happy!!!!
I’m just needing to feel some of your freedom since I start back to working in a middle school next week. SQ
We have felt like the boat is our home for a long time now. This journey is, of course, different than previous cruising we have done because we don’t need to go back to the marina every so often. Thus, it rocks. 🙂
I remember when West Marine was the upstart, challenging the big, old-time chandlers. Now they.
are one, and it is time for a new upstart to appear.
And beer seems entirely appropriate for christening an inflatable!
I 100% agree on both of those comments.
West Marine has begun to try to compete with the nautical decorating stores more than chandleries. They seem to carry less and less boat stuff and more and more rugs and drapes and dishes and tschatskies. Good job on the substitute, Rebecca!
Agreed. It’s silly actually.
Hi – welcome to tides. it’s been cool to be without them in the Med, but we miss them too. Tide is like the breathing of the planet.
More prosaically, do you know the rule of twelfths? If you do, ignore the next bit. if you don’t… If you know the fall of tide at the place you are at, and, say it’s 3.6m, leaving a charted LAT of 2m and you arrive at HW or 5.6m depth. In the first hour you will lose 1/12, of 30cm of depth, at the second hour, 2/12ths of 60cm, and in the 3rd and 4th hours, 3/12th each or 90cm in each hour. Then 2/12 in the 5th hour and the final 12th in the 6th hour. This also works the other way – ie if you arrive 2 hours after HW you can calculate how much you’ve lost and how much still to go. The rule of twelfths is remarkably accurate (subject to wind surges and pressure changes) and saves a lot of mucking about with interpolated charts and what have you.
it won’t help with tidal streams though, and for those, if the waters are at all complex, a tidal atlas is a massive help. On the English E coast, where tide heights are always 4m plus, and the tide stream (not currents, which are different) are regularly 3 or 4 kts, you get to treat the tides as an escalator. And nobody runs the wrong way up escalators for fun and speed (and Z2C doesn’t need to do it just for the workout, right?) If you can’t get one, get the key watershed/reference port fixed in your mind, download the tidetable for there and learn the difference from where you actually are. This is generally, except in complicated areas like the mouth of the Thames, much simpler than it sounds.
But, you only fight the tide once, and after that you just chill out and enjoy the ride!
I like that.
We are familiar with the rule of twelfths but everyone else reading this may not be so thanks for taking the time to type it out. We need to figure out the reference port closest to us in order for the book we purchased to be of much help.
And no, we have no need to fight the tide. Enjoying the ride sounds better.
O.k..a shirt that says, “Average”?..C’mon Mike…you can do better than that!
Also, you got rid of your iPhones?….Why?..They can be jailbroken..SIM cards put in…even use them without a phone plan for the apps
Doug
The Average Joes shirt was a rip off of the logo from the movie Dodge Ball. If you haven’t seen it, check it out.:)
As for the phones, the issue is that we had one year remaining on our contract. We would have had to pay a stupid amount of money to break the contract so we just gave them away. If no contract I definitely would have done as you suggest.
Watch out for the Home Depot grommets; most are thinly plated with brass and turn to rust quickly. I’ve made that mistake. I need to get some better ones, from Sail Rite I suppose.
We didn’t have much choice. Don’t go looking for the grommets at West Marine. They don’t carry stuff for (sail) “boaters.”
Ain’t that the truth.
The West Marine in Cape May (an offshore fishing town) carries less sail hardware than I carry as spares!
I believe that!
One other important point on running with the current in a narrow waterway. BE CAREFUL!
Consider this: you’re running along with the current when suddenly you have to maneuver to avoid an obstacle, oncoming boat, marker, etc. The current is still going to take you along at 3 – 4 knots and can make it very tricky at best, and very dangerous at worst. After learning this with a narrow escape from disaster, we try to avoid running with the maximum ebb if at all possible.
Fair Winds,
Mike
Hi Mike
A voice of experience. Thank you.