Boating Basics: On the Water
Hazardous Coastal Bar Information

The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the roughest coastal bars in the world. Unfortunately, some boaters are unaware of the warnings, laws, and hazards specific to this area. Many boaters have been lulled into a false sense of security with tragic results by not taking the time to gather information and observe the conditions on the bar prior to launching their vessels. Many boating accidents and fatalities in the Pacific Northwest have been attributed to hazardous coastal bar conditions.

Distant storms from as far away as Asia can travel unobstructed across the vast expanse of the Pacific and can affect sea conditions on our local river entrances and beaches. Swells can build suddenly, making the river bar regions extremely dangerous. Additionally, converging tidal conditions and inland rainfall also will clash with ocean swells, creating hazardous seas at a river entrance. Bar conditions may become hazardous when an outgoing tidal current meets an incoming ocean swell. During high swell conditions, a boater may wish to wait for an incoming tidal current or high tide to cross the bar.

Small craft advisories or wind warnings should not be confused with warnings for hazardous bar conditions. Because ocean swells can travel such great distances, they may be present on a day when the winds are calm.

The local Coast Guard Commander will evaluate the conditions and make safety broadcasts on channel 16 VHF/FM, indicating when bar crossing restrictions are imposed, what size boats are covered by the restrictions, and when bar restrictions and conditions change or subside. Each estuary has a warning sign with amber flashing lights located in the local harbor or near the river entrance that warns when bar restrictions are imposed.

Coastal Bar Information on Low-Band Radio Station
The U.S. Coast Guard and Washington State Parks broadcast coastal bar conditions and restrictions on AM radio 1610 at select coastal communities. The broadcast can be heard locally in the Grays Harbor, Ilwaco, and La Push areas. The broadcast provides local area weather conditions, weather hazards, alerts, and boating safety public service announcements.

Unsafe Conditions

Unsafe conditions are defined as:

• Wave height is four feet or greater or…
• Wave height is greater than the length of the boat divided by 10 plus the freeboard or…
• The surface current is four knots or greater.

Before You Go:

• Check your local weather reports to see if advisories have been issued for rough bar conditions.
• If the amber lights are flashing on the “Rough Bar Warning Sign,” call the Coast Guard weather phone recordings for information regarding any restrictions that may be in place or use channel 16 on your VHF radio.
• Contact the local Coast Guard unit and learn where the regulated areas are located, and call the Coast Guard weather phone recordings for information regarding any restrictions that may be in place.
• Monitor channel 16 on your VHF radio for safety broadcasts and information broadcasts on rough bar conditions.

VHF Frequencies Broadcasting NOAA Weather Reports

• 162.400 MHz
• 162.425 MHz
• 162.450 MHz
• 162.475 MHz
• 162.500 MHz
• 162.525 MHz
• 162.550 MHz

These are the most commonly used VHF channels on United States waters.