Pilot Boat

pilot boat Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook

A harbor pilot is a person who takes control of a seagoing ship when it is entering or leaving port. He is expertly familiar with all the channels, shoals, currents, tides, and regulations of his particular port, and is essential to safely steer the ships in and out. It is an ancient and exclusive profession, often passed down from father to son*. In old days, the top two signal flags at right were used by ships entering and exiting a harbor to call for a pilot, while the bottom flag indicated "pilot on board."

A pilot boat transports the harbor pilots to and from their charges. If you go out to the vicinity of the Ambrose Tower, you will probably see the Sandy Hook's modern descendants.

pilot boat New York
The modern-day pilot boat New York. Number 2 New Jersey is similar.
Nineteenth-century Pilot Boat 15
Nineteenth-century Pilot Boat "15"

* there are very few female pilots, even today.


dive mask
Single-window mask with purge valve

Masks come in hundreds of models and designs. Options include one to six windows, purge valves, color tinting, anti-fog coatings, and whatever else the corporate marketing guys can think up.

A mask's purpose is to let you see in the water. It is surprising just how narrow your field of view in a mask actually is, although you get used to it. Generally, the closer the main windows are to your eyes, the wider your field of view, and this is good. Side windows are supposed to increase your field of view, but they also move the main windows away from your face, and at any rate, you can easily turn your head to get the same effect. A few masks also have bottom windows, which are useful for inspecting yourself or your gauges.

Printed from njscuba.net