The Daily Times (Salisbury, Maryland USA), 1 Aug 98 page 3. Bay Foundation's boat sinks Baltimore (AP) - A Chesapeake Bay Foundation boat used for educational and scientific trips sank in a heavy rainstorm. Snow Goose, a 46-foot motor boat, "got swamped by a sewer tidal wave" as it sat docked in a Baltimore marina Thursday night, foundation spokesman Mike Shultz said. A witness told the foundation that a high wave, generated by water moving past a nearby storm drain, washed over the boat and "took her down within a minute," Shultz said Friday. The 14-year old boat, which has been inspected by the Coast Guard and deemed seaworthy, probably sank because ropes morring it to the dock didn't allow it to rise above the wave, Schultz said. Another boat was also damaged in the incident, he said. =========================== i have read more than 1 book on waves and never seen the term *Sewer Tidal Wave*. think about this: rain, sewer tidal wave, 46 ft boat sinks in a marina? are sewer waves frequent? any paddlers familiar with *sewer tidal waves*? 25 yrs ago, an overnight storm sank an 20 ft research boat that i was using on a creek by a nuclear power-plant... but i was not creative enough to come up with the phase *nuclear tidal wave.* The university didn't really believe my tale of high winds.... but i swear it was true... now then, *sewer tidal waves*.. sure nuff !... but only in Baltimore. bye bye bliven *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Larry wrote; (SNIP) >are sewer waves frequent? >any paddlers familiar with *sewer tidal waves*? > > Sewer waves (Sewernami?) are common. The cause is simple enough. Cities have huge areas of paving that funnels water into the storm sewer systems. Heavy downpours overload the system and out it comes in a rush. Not unlike the effect of clear cutting on rivers although considerably more concentrated. Here in southern Ontario where landowners have been restricting use of traditional portages and essentially cutting off access to whitewater rivers we were forced to find an alternative. The alternative was the storm sewer system in Toronto. A few of the Wilderness Canoe Associations more daring members ran the Bathurst Street sewer in 1992 and have since run sewers in many other cities. We named our group the WCA Sewer Surfers. For a few years we advertised out rips in the WCA newsletter (Nastawgan) but complaints about the dangers and questionable legality of the practice forced us underground. People who know little about sewers do not know that there are two systems under most cities. A sanitary sewer system that carries everything that gets flushed down the toilet and storm sewers that carry the runoff from streets etc. Even so we still take advantage of spring run-off and the occasional heavy rain storms to do some quick runs down to the harbour where one can get a thrill popping out on the chute. Sewer surfing is dangerous and one should not attempt it without thoroughly studying the system. Some sewers have steep vertical drops and the turbulence at sewer intersections effectively mimics a washing machine. Practised with proper precautions I believe it no more dangerous normal whitewater paddling. The greatest danger is when the overload causes mixing with the sanitary sewer system. Also dangerous is paddling after prolonged drought. Then oil and such from streets are flushed down in high concentrations. While drowned cats and dogs are frequently encountered only once has anyone encountered a drowned human and then they were of great service to the police in solving a murder since they where the body came from. Cheers, John Winters Redwing Designs Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft http://home.ican.net/~735769/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>From recent posts I am sure that John Winters can relate some tales of surfing giant sewer waves! Brian. ;-) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 3:37 PM -0400 8/1/98, Larry Bliven wrote: >are sewer waves frequent? >any paddlers familiar with *sewer tidal waves*? > I believe they are known to happen during halftime of the Super Bowl. Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks c/o Newfound Woodworks, 67 Danforth Brook Rd, Bristol, NH 03222 (603) 744-6872 Schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ >>>>"It's not just Art, It's a Craft!"<<<< *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>At 3:37 PM -0400 8/1/98, Larry Bliven wrote: > >>are sewer waves frequent? >>any paddlers familiar with *sewer tidal waves*? >> Nick Schade commented: >I believe they are known to happen during halftime of the Super Bowl. I've heard that John Winters' paddle and boat test tank has been known to generate a few. Only recently was it was proved that the tank itself was a recycled water closet. Not an ugly rumor any longer.... Hank Hays Lightning Paddles, Inc. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Remember the TY-D-BOWL guy. He was the grand kahoona of sewer yaking. Is he still around? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:32:51 PDT