Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaker saves boater

From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 13:44:29 -0800
skimmer_at_mail3.enter.net wrote:

> Where is Netarts Bay?  What was the water temperature?
> 
> Chuck Sutherland

Mary Z and Peter R already covered most of the bases on this.  I live some
80-90 miles north of Netarts.  Some additional "context:"

The bay is a smallish, very beautiful one, almost entirely naturally covenanted
at the entrance, with no major breakwaters, etc.  Because it is small and no
major rivers feed it, it lacks the enormous current exchanges characteristic of
larger bay/river/estuary systems (the Columbia, SF Bay, Willapa Bay, etc.).

However, it has a "bar," nonetheless, and of course it is there that the crabs
are found at high tide.  That is apparently what the two guys in the small
inflatable were up to:  running pots.  And, their location is OK until the ebb
begins.  (Most recreational crabbers fish the last bit of flood, then
skedaddle.)

Mitch McKinnon was the sea kayaker who did the rescue (relation to Craig?).

And, yes, jeans and a jacket (no PFD) is pretty much SOP down there for small
boaters -- the Bay looks so innocent.  Pretty difficult to change that ethic. 
IIRC, there is a death or two of this type almost every year in Netarts Bay,
with the scenario usually very close to this one.  The ramp is very close to
the mouth of the Bay, so a naive boater can get into trouble pretty quickly.

My sympathy to the loved ones.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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Received on Tue Feb 19 2002 - 13:44:40 PST

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