Bayfield Harbour: What the visiting boater needs to know.

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Dave Bieman, CPS-ECP - Port Captain.

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OK - I don't have to tell any boater that "This is not to be used for Navigation". Prudent skippers always do their own. Certainly I know I've gotten into trouble by not following that maxim. However, for your information, here's some things of interest. The channel is usually dredged to 8' from the mouth of the river to the gas docks at Harbour Lights and provides adequate depth for most boats up to the Hwy 21 Bridge.

The harbour can be bit difficult to locate from offshore. Look for a cell tower with a flashing red light just north and inland a bit.  My GPS says its co-ordinates are 43 34.50 081 41.78 The ends of the break walls are painted fluorescent orange (yet hard to see). There are cliffs just south of the harbour. And, as is often the case,  if you don't see boat traffic going in and out you will see sailboat masts against the trees.	Houses have been constructed in the last two years on the hill on the north side of the river, just in from the mouth.  Sometimes at night, you will see their lights glowing as you approach from the south.
	About 1 nautical mile south of the harbour, a cluster of 3 buildings, with somewhat shiny roofs are quite noticeable along the cliff.
BAYFIELD RANGE (green lights) No 775.5 43 34 13  81 42 27 7.6 meters high - daymark, fluorescent orange vertical stripe No. 775.6  076°45' 61.5m from front (775.5) 10.0 meters high - daymark, fluorescent orange vertical stripe. The range is on the North Pier and can be seen most clearly when approaching from the South, trees may make it difficult to spot at first. Once you follow the range in past the breakwalls, turn a bit to starboard to follow the channel in.	FOG HORN ON SOUTH PIER No. 776 43 34 10.1 81 42 33 mast, red and white Horn - last 3s; sil. 27s Horn points 270°. Mariners requiring horn to be turned on can activate it clicking radio mike five times within a five (5) second window on channel 19 - 156.95 VHF. Horn can be activated with 1watt power at 3 NM range. Horn will stay activated for 30 minutes and can be reactivated as required. Chart:2260 This tower was replaced with a newer structure on June 19, 2001 - it has the same characteristics and still shows a red light at all times.