Another way to do this, assuming you cannot read all the buoys and marks which are pretty clear IMO, is to fire up your navigation software and follow the little green boat. I have done this in Ilwaco channel many, many times and it is accurate. Joe Engel -----Original Message----- From: Michael Maurice [mailto:mikem@yachtsdelivered.com] Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 9:17 AM To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com Subject: TWL: Ilwaco Channel Transiting Copyright 2002. Capt. Mike Maurice (Once I have the inbound route well described, I will do a reverse description. Comments are invited) The following is an analysis of the Ilwaco Channel, located just inside the Columbia River, north side. Also known as "West Baker Bay Channel". I am not aware of any more comprehensive description of this channel, anywhere. The Ilwaco Channel(IC), is a fairly narrow winding channel approximately 3 miles in length, starting near the tip of "A Jetty" and running to the Port of Ilwaco boat basin. The channel is in the rough form of an "S" curve. The coast pilot recommends that it be navigated only at high tide. The controlling depth in the channel is 6 feet, but most areas near the center have 14 feet. Outside the channel there is little or no depth to as much as 10 feet at low water datum. Historically this area was a region of many canneries and there is much abandoned piling and obstacles, outside of the channel. Numerous commercial fishing boat use this channel and there has been a huge pleasure craft fleet that once used this channel when salmon fishing was hot in the 60's and 70's. 25 years ago, on the third Saturday in August, if the weather was good, there would be 4-5 thousand boats across the bar fishing for salmon. The bulk of them would have come and gone thru this channel. The material presented here is believed to be accurate and has been carefully considered but there could be mistakes, especially in the details, such as way point locations which if off even 20 yards could cause you to go aground. Use this information with caution, as you would any such recommendations. Even if you are not interested in this particular channel, the analysis that follows is an interesting study in how to evaluate any imilar channel. All course mentioned are TRUE. The present variation in the area is 19 East, and should be subtracted from the true courses. The lights on the piles and daymarks marking the IC tend to be of 4 second period. There is only one quick flashing and that is the #12 light. In general, if lights are close together on one side the next light will be of someother period, in this case 2 < seconds. In other words, if lights 10 and 11 are right across from each other and 4 seconds then if #12 and #14 are nearby, they will be 2 < seconds. The entrance light #2, #15 and #22 are 2 < second lights. They each mark special turns. Number 10 has a high intensity beam visible while in the channel. Most all the markers have radar reflectors. In most cases if an even numbered mark is lighted it's odd numbered mark will NOT be lighted. Adjacent marks where both are lighted. 1,2 Entrance to Ilwaco Channel (Baker Bay), #2 faster flashing 11,12 Turn below CG Boathouse, #12 red light quick flashing instead of 2 < seconds 2,3 Entrance to Ilwaco Boat Basin, Lights that act as ranges #10, shows high intensity up and down the channel centerline. If you keep in mind that measuring lights that are only 1 < seconds different from each other might be difficult to do with a stopwatch. Still it is no trouble to distinguish two lights ahead, one of which flashes perceptibly faster than the other. The IC is entered between 2 wooden pile dikes, just east of the tip of "A Jetty". The entrance itself is marked by red and green lights and day marks. Keep over to the red side as there is a constantly moved green can buoy #3 just north (100 yards or so) of number 1 pile light. The green can is the only one of it's kind in the channel and is moved to protect the constantly shifting shoal and hidden rock that it marks. It is not lit, use a searchlight to pick it up. Every time you pass this spot, be sure to have the can identified. It has been lost on occasion, don't assume that it is guaranteed to be in the correct position. The channel runs almost due north for 540 yards. Once past the green can the danger area is to the east, where several pile dikes extend diagonally out from shore. At night if you look north you will see the flashing lights of #8 and #10 pile lights, both of which flash every 4 seconds. #10 is somewhat left of #8's light. When abeam of number 2 pile light you aim just to the right(east) of #8 light. You can follow this until about 220 yards from #8. At this point you can take aim at #10 pile light, flashing red 4 seconds. Number 10 shows higher intensity beam, both up and down the channel(tends to act like a range light). When abeam of #8 pile light, move over the starboard to get better centered in the channel. About 50 feet of so. Then shift your aim so that you will pass #10 pile light, with it safely on your starboard side, about 50 yards off. When abeam of #10 it is time to come to about 296T and aim for #12 pile light flashing Quick Red. It is about 620 yards away and there is a green pile light #11 which will be almost smack in your path. As you approach #11, slip over to the starboard and pass it about 30 yards off. When abeam of #11, it is time to aim for the North end of the Coast Guard Boathouse, the course is about 285T. When you're just near the north end of the Coast Guard Boathouse aim for the #15 pile light, a 2 < second green flashing light on the end of the wooden dike protecting the Fort Canby boat launch ramp The distance is 530 yards and as you pass #14 day mark (not lit), shape your course about 20 yards to the port and start aiming just a little to the right of #15, green flasher. There are 2 dangers at #15. The dike itself, which is pretty easy to see and the abandoned cannery piles on the other side of the channel. Be sure you have identified #15 by it's number and that it is on your port side. You can now aim at #17 pile light, flashing 4 seconds bearing 004T about 475 yards away. Keep it off your port side about 20 yards and as you pass it you can take aim on #20, flashing 4 seconds red about 700 yards away, course 038T. Remember to shape your course a little ways off each light so that you pass it out in the middle of the channel. From here to #22 is one of the tricky spots. #20 flashes red and slower than #22. Be sure to keep #20 on your right until just past it or you will go aground in the shallows just to the south of it. The mistake is in aiming at #22 before passing #20. From #20 to #22, the course is about 047T and the distance is about 590 yards. #22 is a 2 < second red flashing light on a pile and marks a 90 degree turn to port in order to make the entrance to the Ilwaco Boat Basin. The green day mark #23, across from #22 marks the inside of the turn and hould be stayed clear of, as it tends to shoal up from storm activity. The boat basin jetty is marked on the west side by a 4 second green flashing light., #3, and you should aim close to it as there are submerged piles over on the other side near the end of the jetty rocks on your right. A hundred yards out from #3, is a red pile light #2 on the right side coming in.. #2 pile light flashes every 4 seconds and marks the edge of the channel and warns of submerged piles. If you are uncertain of what you are doing, the Coast Guard will politely give you an escort in. Good searchlight technique, consists of short sweeps across the area in front and both sides of the boat. Avoid flashing the light on the deck and blinding the eyes of the lookouts. If possible, station a lookout outside the cabin, on a harness with tether. Keep noise and talk to a minimum so that you can communicate well with your lookouts. Finding a place to park in Ilwaco Boat Basin. At night, but especially in a storm, don't take any chances. Tie up to the first convenient place and wait for daylight and better conditions to get a better spot. The offical location for transient boats is on East Main near Lat/Long. 46-18-20N, 124-02-17W. Capt. Mike Maurice Near Portland Oregon.