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[JBB]

What is the best way to land a boat on a bar when the water is really ripping along the shore? I crossed over the Fraser at the mouth of the Harrison but did not try to land at the bar. I just looked at the situation and decided to ask how to beach the boat before I gave it a try.

[arimaBOATER]

Personally I do not beach our 16fter near the Steveston area... as possibly some big tug will go by or other larger vessel & their WAKE WAVES may propel the boat 6ft onto the shore....then I'd have to change Steveston Is. to Gilligan's Is...cast away.................................. But if your in an area where the current of the river is zipping by....I'd 1st slowly approach the shore on an angle with the bow facing up-river. Then slowly nudge up to the shore...at that pt ya should be able to jump to the shore & tie up or put your anchor on dry land. I'd also make sure ya know the bottom area of the river....thus ya do not bang into something or wreck our prop. ---------------Always think safety ...life jacket on...always good to have someone with you also. (buddy system...like in scuba diving)  We anchor & beach our boat but in areas that do not get big wake waves. After ya find an area ya like to beach your boat & get experience...then ya can approach it with less caution as youi know what to expect. The CTV news said last night that over 200 boaters lose their lives yearly (assume that's for Canada ...& not for N America) so safety is number one. I've seen just the other day a car topper with 3 people on board racing up the Fraser R with no life jackets on So many things could of happened...hit a small water logged debris or dead head just inches under the water etc.... 

[Sam Salmon]

Good point about tug wakes in the Fraser-they are ugly and dangerous.

[captainzippy]

Good point about tug wakes in the Fraser-they are ugly and dangerous.

I know what you mean I had 2 tugs pass me on either side of me - I didn't know which way was up

[warlo_527]

With a prop I would motor along side the bar and try to read the water as to what looks the deepest....this takes time to learn. Generally if you see small rifles in the water and see the shore of the bar extending towards the rifles...its probably shallow there. Try to find water near the shore of the bar that is slower moving..which naturally will be slower closer to the bar. With bow pointed upstream I would inch my way closer keeping the speed of the boat steady to your intended landing location on the bar. You could trim your prop up as you get closer keeping an eye on the depth sounder. When you see the 4 foot mark be prepared to cut the motor...3 foot even more so as you will soon be dinging your prop. At the 2 foot mark you are within inches of the rocks.  As you inch closer it's nice to have an anchor ready to be deployed or a dependable and physically capable person to jump out onto the hopefully 2 feet of water and hold the boat..but this is very dangerous. In the summer it's not so bad as most wear shorts, life jacket, and sandals..but waders is another story. Anchoring in 2 feet of water and ensuring the boat has come to a stop is much safer. The most important is to read the water, inch or way closer to the bar, watch the sounder, trim the motor and prepare for docking. A prop saver is handy to have. Then you can pull your boat onto the bar or keep it anchored in 2 feet of water.

[Richmond]

I also keep it anchored off shore in 2' of water. i have a cinch cleat that holds the anchor line so it can be removed and chucked out of the boat with a bouy when the chase is on.