River Bar crossings.

I've got a couple of rivers in my area (Noosa/Maroochy) that have a bar (not the good type unfortunately) at the mouth that are marked as 'dangerous, breakers' on charts.

Plenty of paddlers on ocean surf skis negotiate the crossings with relative ease as the waves break over them. I've been up to the bar on my Oasis but have never gone through the 'washing machine'.

A few questions....

1. I assume that the tri (AI) would get through the bar much more easily than the single hull Oasis ?

2. Would you attempt this crossing with the mast up or strapped to the akas to avoid any tilting issue through the waves ?

3. Is it possible to rig a strapped mast at sea ? (Once past the bar the bay is normally quite calm)

4. Tramps down or rolled to avoid any buffeting up/down from the waves?

I'd obviously only attempt this in good conditions.

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

This is a link to an aerial shot of the Noosa bar and some video of various powered boats going through. (Sorry, computer dummy unable to post video)

http://www.fishingnoosa.com.au/noosabar.htm

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

Ken,

1. Single hull kayaks have an advantage in surf, in that, if they get side-on to a wave, you can lean into the wave, bracing with the paddle, and stay upright. Because of the amas, the AI is always going to be more or less at right angles to the surface of the water, which makes it much more likely to be tipped over if it is on the face of a wave.

2. Arno capsized his AI in surf and ended up with the mast imbedded in the sand: viewtopic.php?f=70&t=18539&p=91062&hilit=capsize#p91062

3. It's easy to rig the mast on the water.

4. I would have thought the tramps could only make things worse.

You are more likely to have problems coming in through the waves than going out, because the boat is more likely to get turned sideways being pushed from behind and the rudder is ineffective when you are travelling at the same speed as the water around you. Interestingly, Yakass told me that the guys from the Transparent Sea expedition always got out of their AI's and swum them in through the surf and they are mainly pro surfers.

That said, the waves in the video look manageable, but you wouldn't want them to be much bigger than that last one .

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Thanks Chris.

I was worried about the coming in bit, because of the scuds that can develop real quick in the area.

I do have Option B, which is to drive to Main Beach, Noosa and walk the boat into the beach through about 100 metres of beach track which I've done with the Oasis. That section of beach being just around the corner from the Bar and a lot calmer with only a smallish beach break that's nearly always your basic 3 waves per set and very predictable. It's where a couple of surf schools operate from for tourists in the area, so the small waves are really quite gentlemanly.

I was hoping to launch from Noosa River and out through the bar simply because I can walk the boat from my mates yard and launch easily via the river.

Born lazy.

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

OG, Fun video.

I would not launch through that on an AI, even w/ a 90HP outboard.

If you do go - have someone shoot it.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

OK, but if it makes it to 'Funniest Home Videos' I want half the cash.

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

That looks great, would love to try that. Remember, stay on board

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie