Friday, August 6, 2010

Safety , Safety , Safety

As I mentioned yesterday safety is of the most importance to everyone on the water.....or at least it certainly should be. This picture is of a whirlpool caused by the lockmaster opening the intakes for the water to fill the lock chamber. There are signs galore but people still take chances and get too close to the lock gates where these whirlpools will take control of your boat and destroy it. Most of the signs I have seen at locks and dams say stay back 800 feet. There is a reason and you can see it in this picture. While we were watching this whirlpool a large spoonbill fish about 5 feet long got into the whirlpool and that was the last we saw of him as he went round and round and disappeared ....as if he were flushed down a drain. The force of this water is so strong there would be no fighting back you and ..or your boat would be completely out of control. The whirlpool was apx 10 feet in diameter...BIG...thanx again for checking in Tom