True story

[KW4MW]

True story: #San Francisco, 1970: #To reduce congestion on the Golden Gate Bridge from Marin county commuters the powers had decided to resume the ferry service between the Ferry Building (Pier 1) and a pier in Sausalito. #

A new boat was commissioned and the piers at both locations were upgraded. #

The company I worked for had the job of installing a Decca radar aboard the new ferry boat. #Yours truly assisted with the installation.

The helm and throttle controls on the boat were pneumatically controlled and control could be either in the wheel house or on the bridge wing. #This was accomplished by a simple valve mounted about 4 feet from the deck, just under one of the windshields on the forward bulkhead of the wheel house. #Push it in and the wheel house controls were activated, pull it out and the bridge wing controls were activated. #But I wasn’t aware of that and a safety guard had not been installed. #

The day arrived when the ferry boat would make her maiden voyage. #The plan was that all the SF big wigs would be driven to Sausalito and the ferry boat would arrive around lunch time and they would all ride back together. #

So my company got a call that morning that the radar wasn’t working and I was dispatched to check out the problem. #I arrived at the pier just in time to get aboard before the lines were cast off. #It was a bright sunny day in the bay, no real need for radar but they wanted everything to be perfect. #I don’t remember exactly what the problem was, something simple like a breaker turned off. #I got the radar up and running and walked into the pilot house to enjoy the ride. #The operator and I chatted a little but it was obvious that he was a little nervous, this being the maiden voyage, lots of VIP’s waiting at the other end and several TV cameras. #

We approached the Sausalito slip and the operator transferred control to the bridge wing so his wife would see him on TV that evening. #

We were steadily entering the slip, everything looking very smooth. #On the pier waiting for us were, among others Mayor Alioto, Harvey Milk and none other than Diane Feinstein whom I believe was a councilwoman at the time. #

As I leaned against the forward bulkhead to get a better look I accidently pressed the control valve in, I heard a slight pssshhh but thought little of it. #

Then I noticed that we were coming into the slip too fast and the operator was frantically working the controls. #I was clueless but he finally had the presence of mind to run into the wheelhouse and used those controls to back down full on both engines just in time to stop the ferry from crashing into the slip. #We backed out of the slip and re-entered without incident.

I often wonder what a few more seconds would have made, but I'm glad that it didn't happen.

[W5HTW]

Neat post, interesting story. And I learned how control is transferred, something I never knew.

Would make an interesting thread, don't you think, to have folks post their various "close calls" here. I'm sure most of us have had quite a number of them, some ham radio related, or electronics, and some perhaps not, but still interesting. Could be fodder for a new thread, or simply add to this one.

Your story was good to read. Thanks. (You forgot to mention code, of course, but what the heck! I've done it for you.)

Ed

[N8CPA]

I love sea tales! And that's a good one. Not quite Conrad or London, but good none the less.

[W2LYS]

What's di fi?

[n9yb]

An interesting aside about Di Fi.

She lives in a gated neighborhood with about 15 or so homes in SFO. The mansion across the street from her mansion has a very nice tri-band yagi on a 40' (approx.) tower.

I always found that amusing. Anyone know who the Amateur is that lives across the street from her?

[nx6d]

Quote[/b] (n9yb @ Feb. 01 2005,10:45)]An interesting aside about Di Fi.

She lives in a gated neighborhood with about 15 or so homes in SFO. #The mansion across the street from her mansion has a very nice tri-band yagi on a 40' (approx.) tower. #

I always found that amusing. #Anyone know who the Amateur is that lives across the street from her?
It's actually more than 15 homes. Big houses on a loop!

Next time I'm in the city I'll check the address. We can figure out who the amateur is by looking up the address...

Dave WX7B

[KA9VQF]

Quote[/b] (W2LYS @ Feb. 01 2005,08:35)]What's di fi?
Di Fi = Diane Feinstein

[K8YS]

True story, I almost met Hillary, it was MY option NOT to meet her.

Early 1992, during the presidential campaign, Bill and Hillary were selling their lies to the blue collar crowd in Toledo.

At the time, I worked as a contractor, I serviced alternative long distance access equipment (when ever you dialed a 0+ call, instead of the primary carrier such as AT&T, you were sent to the carrier that paid the hotel a commission).

I was called to the Raddison in Toledo to repair the access dialers. Seems that the White House Communications people – they were assigned to Bill even though he did not have a federal job yet – managed to remove all of the dialers when they installed monitoring equipment on the central office trunks. I guess they had to listen to all calls in and out and my stuff confused them.

Well, Bill had done his pony show and moved on to the next willing ear, but while I was standing at the front counter, waiting to get the manager to OK my invoice, Hillary walked up to the other end of the counter.

Shortly before she arrived, a customer had walked up to pay the hotel, and as she walked up, I turned to the customer and said, “Do you know who that is?”, he turned and said “yes”, I then asked “ you want to go over and meet her?” he said “no”, I said “neither do I”.

Later that same year, I did meet Elizabeth Dole, this time, I got her picture, in sunny Honolulu.

I would have far preferred Mrs Dole to be the First Lady.

[N8CPA]

I still think WJC would have been a one-termer if Liddy, instead of Bob, had run in '96.
I started out supporting her in '00.

[n0xu]

Quote[/b] (N8CPA @ Feb. 01 2005,07:46)]I still think WJC would have been a one-termer if Liddy, instead of Bob, had run in '96.
I started out supporting her in '00.
I tend to lean a little left of center, but I'd vote for Liddy Dole in a heartbeat.

Drew NØXU