A big pilot boat outside the museum. Boats like this one take harbor pilots out to meet ships in all kinds of weather so the pilot can guide the ship into port. Ships are not allowed to enter the Columbia River without a pilot.
These ships look empty, so I am not sure what they are waiting for. More cargo, maybe? High tide to go out to sea?
This is really neat. It is a complete Coast Guard rescue boat held at an angle to simulate how the boats go over big waves to rescue people. All of the rescuers wear harnesses and are fastened to the boat.
Another, older rescue boat.
This is a Japanese fishing boat that arrived on the West Coast a couple of years after the recent tsunami in Japan. They identified its owner and asked if he wanted it back, but he said no, so here it is in the museum. The sign below gives more explanation.
The museum had a big exhibit of fishing on the Columbia River and "Crossing the Bar" which is crossing the large sandbar in the ocean at the opening of the river. This bar causes very rough waters which were dangerous to cross.
Check out how full of fish this boat is from a few decades ago.
Old photos of fishing boats and canneries.
This permanently docked Coast Guard ship used to be a lighthouse ship just outside the mouth of the Columbia River.
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