Hello Steve:

How are you? I was asking about your where abouts last week. I hope
your absents was due to fun and interesting adventures.

About the Columbia River..................... I have run that part of
the river about six times (12RT). There are a few major, "oh ****",
parts that only a full keel sailboat can understand. But nothing major
for someone with your experience.

On Feb 1, 9:32 am, "Steve" wrote:
I'm looking into the prospects of going up the Columbia River and into Lake
Celilo/Umatille.
I see there is a dam with locks at about the Dalles but don't know it there
are any other navigation considerations along the way.

First get a crusing guide.
Second, get USCG Pilot # 7
Those are "required."

Bonneville Dam is your first upstream lock through. Also, each lock
has an up/down stream lock schedule for rec vessels. There is a nice
spot I tie up for the night before getting an early start to make the
noon lock through. If you leave PDX you'll have a very late day and
may miss the last upstream lock.

Everything on the river is ho hum till ya get about 3 miles below the
lock. Then you face an up hill swim with a current that ranges 3 - 5.5
knots. I have a Freya, reasonable similar to your wonderful Ingrid,
with a 3QM30. I have a 3 bland work prop. I can usually get through
the "rapids" at about 1.2 to 0.6 knots ground speed. If you lose power
you have two choices: 1) a rock cliff or 2) a rock beach. I dont think
I could manouver a 180 without power or deploy an anchor. Most liklely
if I dropped anchor it would not hold or when it did catch would rip
out any deck attachment.

Then there is the down stream barge trafic. The channel is about 40
yards wide in a few places. Of course that is at the rock cliff and
the rock beach. The barges can not manouver because of the current. So
always best to check with the lock master to see if anybody is heading
down stream. Most everyone uses a roller furling jib for that much
need HP to get through the fast water.... That is, if the wind is with
you.

After that, I am usually ready to park at Cascade Locks about 2 miles
from the lock and have a BIG beer. The entrace is about a boat length
wide. Cozy, but doable.

Okay, now that you have manouvered the easy part its time to head to
The Dalles Dam and then the John Day Dam (maybe the world's 2nd
highest lift???) and then smooth sailing till ya get to Umitilla Dam.

I have a 38' Ingrid sail boat that draws 6' and mast clearance of 54'.

No problem with either draft or mast clearance. ALthough u will have
to call a couple bridge tenders and have a couple bridges opened for
you.

I know I will have to motor most of the way and can handle several knot of
current for brief period.

The "pools" have about a 1 knot down stream current or less. WInd???
now that can be a real bitch. Weather? in the summer east of The
Dalles your talking 90 to 100 degrees, zero or 30K wind that blows to
the west. Now for winter, burrrrrrr. East of The Dalles 0 to 40
degrees with a howling wind from the east.

Now for the locks. You WILL need the biggest king crab pot bouys made
and use them as fenders. I use two about 3.5 ' in diamater. Power
boats have no problems. A full keel boat gets slammed into the
concrete wall inside the lock while locking up. The water boils around
and a masive force pushing against your full keel. So you look up at
your spreaders and realize you got 2-3 inches between your spreader
and the concrete wall. Please god........ dont let it catch. "Quick,
everybody to the rail!" Oh, I forgot, ITS JUST ME!

If you want the full story email and I'll give the rest of the fun.
freya2goATyahoo.com

Bob

Just what is the river current in some of the
narrow passages.

(To tell the truth, I always though crossing the bar and the enterance of
the Columbia was the major hurtle.)

Nope.


Commnents and recommendations appreciated.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions