Steveson Sliiiiiiiider - 200' Floating Breakwater

tonyb · Thu Mar 20, 08 3:50 pm **Steveson Sliiiiiiiider - 200' Floating Breakwater**

The Port of Skamania just awarded the installation contract for a floating breakwater which is the final element of a 2 year long boat launch facility upgrade project. The purpose of the breakwater is to provide wave attenuation during high east winds so that the launch ramp is usable in all weather conditions.

The breakwater is 200' long, 12' wide, 6' deep, made from 24" and 12" HDPE piping, floats on the surface and is held in position with ten 3,000 lb danforth type anchors and a whole lotta chain.

Unofficially, and not recommended or endorsed, but the east end of the thing may be far enough out of the wind shadow to work as a slider for goofing around on when the area is clear of other traffic.

Pic below shows the general layout. It should be in place in the next 30 days.

Tony

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

That's Nice !! --There's gonna be some butter in there!

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

Needs to be more north to south for good flat water, I think... At that angle it's going to be about a 50ft stretch!

tonyb · Thu Mar 20, 08 4:46 pm

The pic is rotated quite a bit so it's not showing E/W from left to right. Look at the arrow in the upper left - I think that is true north and it is running just a little off of north/south. The breakwater should be around 200' from shore at the west end and about 130' from the dock at the east end. We'll have to see how it works with the wind shadow behind the trees. It may make for a really nice spot to play on east wind days.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

That's true, though I was really basing it off of where the wind normally flows through there. It'd take a WNW-NW day to really get a run downwind of it... And you know how it is when there's north in it. Everyone's going to be swimming long before that! Laughing

East wind would be cool though! Surprised

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 538 Posts Oregon Addicted

Tony,

I know this was all planned before your time but its really interesting the port is putting a stationary object directly downwind of the Kite launch.

was this considered when they were planning this?

how many people go fishing when its that windy?

tonyb · Thu Mar 20, 08 7:08 pm

This was put in motion well before my time but I have expressed these same concerns. Apparently there were a lot of requests to do something to make the launch usable during the late fall and early spring east wind days. The waves coming in make it so the ramp was pretty unusable for the fishermen and other boaters.

We have discussed that this object is downwind of the kite launch but it is placed inside the usual kiting line and is mostly in the wind shadow area east of the trees. It may present a bit of a problem though for the beginners or someone that breaks something that needs to wash up in that area. I have even had to self rescue into the boat dock a couple of times before. I'm hoping the angle is such that we can drift in without problem. There are provisions to put some decking and some ladders on the wave break if we need it. We'll watch what happens with it this summer and try to be proactive if there are problems. It can also be relocated somewhat by adjusting the anchor lines or even moving the anchors. East point is pretty well dedicated to the kiters but the boat launch facility (which is still free btw!) serves a large population of other water users as well. We can't hog the whole area for our selves! Smile

This is the hard part about trying to balance things and provide for many different interests but I think we're getting a pretty good balance so far.

Tony

forrest · Thu Mar 20, 08 9:38 pm

Damn, got my hopes up... Would be pretty insane to have a 200' slider. Maybe that's my next project. Smile

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

I would think that for navigation safety reasons, that each end of that floating monster would have to have towers with lights. Possibly signs on posts sticking up saying "US Gov. Property, keep off...fine for tying up boats or trespassing $5000."

Good luck hitting that slider!

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Mar 21, 08 10:05 am

my plan is to run into the breakwater and hurt myself. Then I'm going to sue the port, buy the launch site with the money, and then install hot tubs and and an escalator for the hillside. Laughing

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

any plans to turn this into a dock or something less lethal looking?

tonyb · Tue Apr 29, 08 4:21 am

There's still some decking to be put on and a couple of solar powered lights. I was surprised at all of the cleats along the top myself. Hopefully the decking on top smooths things out a bit. It looks like it is doing the job of making the ramp usable during high east winds and should allow the dock to go back in the water sooner than in previous years and to stay out longer in the fall.

Tony

kss · Since 24 Apr 2006 614 Posts pdx Addicted

cleats were prob put there purposely so we don't use it as a slider. Sad

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1781 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

On east wind days the rebound waves off the breakwater mess up the swell all the way across the river. It should make a good kitecatcher for Grom's missed handle passes!

lawnmower · Since 14 Dec 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Have to agree with Mark. The thing realy messes up the waves east of the launch on east days. I kept looking for a boat, but it was just backskatter.

captain crusty · Since 30 Aug 2005 92 Posts PDX

Why dont they move it for the summer when the east winds are gone and all the kiters are there?

I was kinda shocked when i saw it..I thought who the th f*** planned that..is the fishing/jet ski/hobbie cat really that good in 30-50knt winds?

Someone for sure is gonna get all wrapped up and tangled or worse land on that thing

should have takin it out before the bushes

how many people asked the port to do it...any input from the kite community?

I work in the marine trade that thing is BS and a waste of $$ and wont work

cut er loose

tonyb · Thu May 01, 08 6:20 am

I don't know who designed it or asked for it but it's been in the works for about 3 years. I don't think we can change things much this summer but if we're seeing problems with it adjustments will be made. I haven't kited there this season yet but it seems like it's mostly out of our normal traffic lanes and shouldn't interfere with our kiting.

I know it's not ideal for us but there are other users that benefit and the existing facilities might last a little longer if they're not taking a pounding all winter long. It's not finished yet so give it some time and keep me posted on any real issues with it.

Tony