Take me to the bar....

[blairv70]

Hi Blair

It would be wise to get familiar and comfortable with your new boat for a while before attempting a bar crossing. Every boat handles differently and you really want to have a good feel for the boat before doing something like bar crossing, which is a bit more "advanced" than running around in the Bay.

Once youve got a solid level of confidence in the boat and yourself in the Bay, then its time to consider going offshore though the SPB.

I think your request for an experienced skipper to join you on your first attempt is a pretty good idea. Go for it!

Plan B, which is to get an experienced skipper to lead you thru, while you follow in your boat, and keep an eye on you as you go, is also a good idea.

I have done that for quite a few newbies over the years and it works pretty well. If the one you follow offers you a bit of a briefing session prior to departure that will be a real benefit too.

You could join or tag along with a Club, such as Power Boat Anglers. They are very safety conscious and travel thru the bar in groups, and will take extra care to help a newby skipper as well. They have trips most weekends, uaually departing Manly and Scarborough.

If youre interested in that option, google them and you should find contact details, but if you cant find them Pm me and i'll send you contact details.

For what its worth, my criteria for a "first crossing" at SPB would be:

SE swell no more than 1.5m and preferably 1.2m or less
No more than 10 knots of wind
Top of the tide (remember, the bar is about 50mins earlier than the tide times at the Brisbane Bar which is at the mouth of the river)
If not top of the tide, then run-in tide on a small tidal run day.

My cardinal rule is that if i get there and when i get close it looks too rough and scary, I dont go through. Never be too proud to go, nah, too rough, im not going thru that. Often though you can come back an hour later and it has calmed down.

But once committed to going through the rough stuff, never try to turn around in the middle of it because thats when disasters happen.

Moonlighter thanks for the advise the Power Boat Anglers seems a great idea.. I am pretty condident with the boat and around the bay so I feel ready to venture out further. That said I will always seek advise from the local crew when crossing a new bar.

[blairv70]

I will be out through the south passage bar again this sunday,forcast looks great at the moment...s/e swell predicted 1-1.5mts. pretty good direction on the spb the more southerly in it the better the bar will be.i recon the bar will have 2-2.5ft on it..slack tides this weekend so wont be standing up at all...lightish winds forcasted...perfect weekend to get out for your first trip if the current forcast holds...biggest tip I can give you,if you have any doubts on how your boat handles don't go till all these doubts are out of your head..your more than welcome to follow me out but once outside your on your own..

Rosco thanks for the advise and the offer. What time are you thinking of heading out? I am looking at around 4 at the Manly Ramp. Was thinking of hitting the beacons but if it works will maybe head out with you.

[rosco1974]

I wont know till tomorrow nite what my plans are on where I am fishing..more than likely I will be leaving manly around 4.15 or there abouts...should put me on the bar around 4.50 but depends if I pull my pots on the way out or not