The Confused Seas of the Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico can have seas that seem to come from every which way and build and subside faster that you might expect.
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[@2140BlackCreek]

As good an explanation of confused seas that you made, it never really sinks in until one experiences it at deck level, two feet above the waterline. Looks like fun in a Gumby suit! CUOTO

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@thelongs5698]

I liked the closing there Tim, always good when you bring us along CUOTO

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you very much for watching. CUOTO

[@James-seafan]

Excellent video Beautiful sunset Thank you Tim

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching James. CUOTO

[@FloridaJack]

Brave souls conquer. Stay as smart as you are. Thanks for the video.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Jack. CUOTO

[@wayneroyal3137]

Me and a friend delivered a 60’ motor yacht from mobile to West palm during the winter season, it was terrible! The gulf can be treacherous for sure! Be safe!

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Wayne. CUOTO

[@robbubba8020]

Ive been a commercial fisherman for 35 years in the Gulf it can be maddening at times the seas can come from all directions the ground swell and the lack of time between swells so i feel your pain they just keep coming can't make any forward speed new subscriber love the channel

[@TimBatSea]

Welcome to the channel Rob. Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@randylarsen6044]

It my small center console boat in Tampa Bay I call this kind of water a 'washing machine'! Inside the bay this happens a lot! Makes fishing always challenging!

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Randy. CUOTO

[@ricka5471]

The Gulf on that day was like Lake Superior on a windy day. The waves bounce from all over the shore lines. Almost like dropping a pebble in a small pond and watching all of the ripples bouncing. Have a great new year to you and the crew.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you very much for watching Rick. CUOTO

[@TheBandit7613]

Before I scrolled down, I thought those are like the waves in the Great Lakes. They aren't as big as the ocean but they just keep pounding.

[@bayoumike544]

Close to my stomping grounds around Breton Sound. When the wind and tide are going opposite directions it get ugly. Today was a work day and had 30 gusting 40 driving an 18 wheeler with a light trailer. A real attention getter.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Mike. CUOTO

[@2020HotShotTruckingLLC]

I'm painfully familiar with the confused seas of the gulf. In '97 I sailed out of Marco Island heading for the keys and the waves from the previous storm were marching across the gulf and the new waves driven by the current wind resulted in the confused seas. And if you are trying to sail in a direction where the wind doesn't keep the sails taut, then the waves keep knocking the wind out of your sails. I had to continue due south to clear the shoals before turning southeast. I went below to study the charts to see if I could adjust my course... keep in mind, this is with paper charts and my GPS needed LAT and LON inputs so you had to enter each waypoint after using a straight edge on the chart. It didn't take too long until I was chumming the gulf. We turned tail and made our way back. We saw other boats with damaged rigging being towed so I guess it was the best choice. The next day the seas were 15 feet, but with long periods so it was an awesome night sail in my 25' boat. Broad reach with a green mountain on one side that turned into a red mountain on the other side. I will never forget that night! It was the most awesome sailing experience and I hope someday to do it again.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. Wow. That sounds epic. I didn't know there were any mountains down here. CUOTO

[@2020HotShotTruckingLLC]

@@TimBatSea Well, with about 24" of freeboard, 15' seas are mountains! Lol!

[@jacobbuckley8232]

Just saw your channel. What an awesome job. I live in Venice Florida and do alot of offshore fishing in the Gulf. It can get nasty quick.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Jacob and welcome to the channel. CUOTO

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Ward Carrol reference is great. I work with tug crews and you as a group are fearless. Low bow and deck freeboard amazes me what you will operate in. More and more skippers will wait instead of chancing it. I thought 6.5 kts is flying when your rags are up…

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you very much for watching. CUOTO

[@julianstafford7071]

I enjoyed that video Tim, thanks very much. Taking the time to explain some of the technical aspects of the job and why you make the decisions that need making etc. Good education which I why I come to watch. I guess that your tugboat has a lot of stability with it riding deep in the water and no deck cargoes.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Julian and welcome to the channel. Yes. She's low and heavy below the water. But having an upper wheelhouse almost negates that. CUOTO

[@aubreytycer8708]

Welcome to my neck of the woods. I live on Dauphin Island.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching and welcome to the channel. CUOTO

[@ohnomrbill7984]

I appreciate your description of the seas as they were effecting your trip. CUOTO 👍😎✌

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Mr Bill. CUOTO

[@charlieo4489]

Another phenomenon of the Gulf (at least to me) are the tides. As a New Englander you can set your watch to the tide changes. In the Gulf it is anybody's guess IMO. Somewhat benign compared to our tides but still a wonder to me. Great video! Thanks for making it. CUOTO

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Charlie. CUOTO

[@USMMCE]

We were in Charter to the Refinery (no name mentioned) in Pascagoula, Mississippi for many years. We ran from Pascagoula to Tampa with around 240,000 barrels of Gas, Jet and Diesel Fuel. Once we got ballast on our InterCon ATB, life was great, no more towing!

[@TimBatSea]

Lucky! Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@davidmorris7696]

Pretty new to the channel...grew up around tow boats and barges!! Learning some new things!! Stay safe!!

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching and welcome to the channel David. CUOTO

[@netrhyda8761]

Great video Tim!! Thanks for sharing!

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. You've been with me from about the beginning and I appreciate that. CUOTO

[@WmRob]

Reminds of my high school summer job aboard a shrimp trawler. Smooth one day. Washing machine the next.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Rob. CUOTO

[@davidsheffield3551]

thanks tim......and crew.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching David. CUOTO

[@deniermurch8693]

Now that's what I call an interesting video, please don't be afraid to give us differing videos, let us decide what is good, not you think for us. Happy new year.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@jamesterrill1938]

Thanks, do not remember you showing a Gulf video before..

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching James CUOTO

[@shaunolinger964]

Hey Cap'n! Nice to see a little swell out there! You had me thinking it was all a flat calm. I know you avoid the heavier weather cause of the barge... I'm just picking on you. We've got freezing weather coming here the next several days... I'm going to have Atlantic out to see how well she breaks ice. She's an icebreaker hull... we'll see how well it works! Safe travels!

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. Take pictures. That'll be a fun day. CUOTO

[@shaunolinger964]

@TimBatSea I have videos uploading now of today's excursion. She broke ice up to 3/4" thick, then started looking like a sea lion trying to bask in the sun. One short, three videos, with one of those videos from the onboard camera. I hope you enjoy them!

[@paratyshow]

👍✅ Nice video Tim. Love Ward's information and his guests.

[@TimBatSea]

Me too! Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@atsea713]

Its was nasty out here in Houston last night! Gusting to 60 I believe as a front pushed through. Be safe!

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@Old-bold-pilot]

Ya passed right by me, Panama City. Today Jan 9, 2024 tornado and high winds came ashore and damaged the beach and buildings. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. Yes. We made it into Tampa and are waiting out the WX. CUOTO

[@NormanCrossman-h3f]

Be safe out there

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@williamcordle]

I live near the Choctawhatchee Bay near Destin Fl when everything is calm we have some beautiful emerald green water and sugar white sands

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching William. Sounds fantastic. CUOTO

[@GulfSoftwash]

It blew hard here in the northern gulf last night. I’m a merchant mariner out of Biloxi, Mississippi. We had to batten down the hatches for sure.

[@TimBatSea]

Oh man, I bet! Tried and failed, to fly out of Tampa last night. Had to try again this morning. CUOTO

[@harrymock3445]

Awesome video

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Harry. CUOTO

[@AlBracco879]

You should have Keith do a weather forecast 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Great job 👏

[@TimBatSea]

😂😂😂😂 Thank you very much for watching Al. CUOTO

[@mellissadalby1402]

Hi Captain Tim! Glad you made it through the weather OK. The seas look rough but the camera is pretty steady. Good camera! CUOTO

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you very much for supporting the channels Mellissa!! CUOTO

[@airboss2159]

Hey, Tim. Love the videos. I grew up on Staten Island. There used to be a golf driving range right on the Kill Van Kull. Would hit balls with a backdrop of tugs and ships steaming by. I’ve been going nuts trying to find the location on the map of the berth you filmed a few videos at like your basic Seamanship vid. Looks like trees in the background and a rail drawbridge. Where the heck is it (if the location isn’t secret, proprietary or sensitive)?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. I am not aware of one on the Kills. But there is a very famous one on the Hudson close to the Intrepid museum. CUOTO

[@jonwatt678]

The gulf is an interesting place to navigate. I worked seismic survey there for a few years between Pensacola and Galveston as well as offshore in the "blocks". Very familiar with some of the ports, passes on the delta, waterspouts and those pesky wellheads that were unlit and have no reflector on them. I just spent a couple hours looking at charts of many of the old stomping grounds. Thanks for the memories. Stay Safe..

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Jon. That's funny. I was just writing back to a commenter about the well heads. CUOTO

[@mattguldjord1357]

Great video! Calm seas never made good sailors. CUOTO!

[@TimBatSea]

Very true. Thank you for watching Matt. CUOTO

[@garthjones3747]

we get seas like that in the PNW except they toss in a log or two to make it more exciting nice sea colour G

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Garth. Breaking waves, and timber! 😂 CUOTO

[@larrypatty8333]

You must be going to the Chevron Refinery at Pascagoula (if you're picking up petroleum products). That part of Florida is close to the area where I had my only case of sea sickness. We went out on an all day fishing trip and I got real queasy. I ate a sandwich and laid down about 30 minutes and I felt fine after that.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Larry. Please remember that we try not to "directly" mention tugs, companies or customers on here as it gets me in trouble with my employer. CUOTO

[@timothyboone5003]

I have tried to explain to friends before about sleep in rough waters at sea. How it can feel like you are levitating and then being pressed into the bunk as the bow rises over the next wave. For some reason I could sleep so good when we were experiencing those conditions.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you very much for watching Tim. I sleep very well on a boat moving a little, but not as well as you in a headsea. CUOTO

[@lenwhatever4187]

I can tell more about the sea state from the sound than the video. But yeah it is possible to see it in the video too.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@WEHenry]

That will give your angels and calf muscles a work out😅

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. I think after more than 20 years, they're used to it. 😂 CUOTO

[@robg9236]

There's also a lot of confused seamen in the GOM.

[@TimBatSea]

😂😂😂😂 Thank you very much for watching. CUOTO

[@t.c.973]

I just flew over the Gulf tonight. Big storms in the North end. Hope you didn't get caught in those.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. We just got into tampa yesterday and it was not fun at all. CUOTO

[@Seawizz203]

When I’m not watching TimBatsea, I too watch Ward Carrol’s channel. Are you still in the RI area Cap’n Tim?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. No, not until spring time. CUOTO

[@flashcar60]

When the going gets rough: that's when you earn your enormous salary, Tim.

[@TimBatSea]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 Thank you very much for watching. That's a good one. 😂 CUOTO

[@GLuft3]

I can smell that fingerpaint blue!!

[@TimBatSea]

😂😂😂 Thank you very much for watching. CUOTO

[@richmccue4845]

Another great video . Have you had times at sea and said what are we doing out here? Who determines if you should go or not with the weather ? Keep up the great work

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Rich. Oh yes. The Master (captain) has the final say as to go or not go. CUOTO

[@Brazosbranch1]

The Gulf is no fun in the winter. And these EL Niño-year Pacific storms marching across from East to West every few days don’t help. Here’s hoping you and Chris are tipping one in a warm tropical bar by the time you get this.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you very much! I really appreciate that. Pilots on the plane from Tampa to NYC timed out last night and flight got cancelled. But I hope to be with Crisálida by noon today. CUOTO

[@ralphaverill2001]

Great video! Thanks for the lessons on waves, depth, cable length, and general sea life traversing the Gulf of Mexico. Were there any gulf shrimp flopping on the deck after one of those bigger waves broke over the bow?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Ralph. There may have been, but with that much water coming onto the deck, everything gets washed overboard. CUOTO

[@shaunolinger964]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I saw green water over the bow at least once. Those short steep wind waves can get rowdy down there. My parents had a sailboat they took down to the Bahamas regularly... Mom said Dad had to take a sea sick pill and go to sleep crossing the Gulfstream. That confused wave action made him sick as hell. Shallow water fun!!

[@wetsuit5]

I was wondering what that purple area was warning of and then at the end I could read it. Assuming no notice to mariners as to any launches.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. Not sure what purple part you are referring to. CUOTO

[@alexanderstewart6523]

In OZ we call that wave pattern "Slop"

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Alexander. CUOTO

[@willjeffery2661]

Might that that be Navy Blue Tim?

[@redcauthen771]

Yea just about the color of the T shirt he was wearing 😊

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Will. I was thinking it was something different. CUOTO

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Red. CUOTO

[@1958johndeere620]

I like the ocean, but I like being home more.

[@TimBatSea]

😂😂😂😂 Thank you very much for watching John. CUOTO

[@kermitthemutantlevitatingf7836]

My uncle dragged me out on a fishing charter from Destin on a 72 ft boat in weather like this and it was miserable

[@TimBatSea]

😂 Thank you very much for watching and welcome to the channel. CUOTO

[@jimb4033]

Hi Tim, Great view of the confused seas. We are on the Great Loop waiting in Panama City to cross over to Florida's west coast. Lot of delay due to seas like that. Curious what day you left Tampa?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Jim. I shot that video a few weeks ago. We are currently in Tampa and I don't expect the tug will get underway before Thursday. CUOTO

[@roneike7858]

Looks like a similar situation today. We are awaiting some heavy weather on the east coast of Florida today. Tornado watches have been issued already.

[@Benglator1]

The Gulf of Mexico is known as "The tiller killer" for a reason.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Ben. CUOTO

[@UQRXD]

Wind is shifting.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@tomjoseph1444]

I myself have spent a fair amount of time in the Gulf. My brother's job (marine salvage) often he has to push a construction barge up and down the coast and he has talked about just how sporting it can get out there. He likes the Atlantic side much better. My cousin used to fish the middle ground on his own in a 30 foot boat for a week or so at a time. No thanks.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching and welcome to the channel Tom. CUOTO

[@davidfink4270]

I recently watched a video about a ship with a prop shaft driven generator. Obviously this won't work when the ship is docked or at anchor. Your thoughts?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching David. Power is not free. If you take it from the shaft, you steal it from the propeller. Boats like ours change the speed and direction of the shafts often, so that too would be an issue. CUOTO

[@GLuft3]

Why do you take the route along shore instead of cutting across? Guessing it’s safer, but curious.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching and welcome to the channel. It really depends on weather. CUOTO

[@armandosantana3797]

How many times can I like this video? 😢

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you very much for watching Armando. CUOTO

[@chrissimmonds4898]

I stay on my inland vessel lol.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Chris! Good call! CUOTO

[@walterchapin33]

Sleep? What a challenge.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Walter. I have found that when tired enough, you find a way to sleep. We all tend to sleep much better underway than at the dock due mostly to the main engines drowning out all the other sounds. CUOTO

[@bigunone]

Curious is the crewman still on the barge?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. Yes. It's an ocean going barge. CUOTO

[@rdfl]

Generally, does the barge crew get a smoother ride, verse the tug?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. Yes. Generally that is the case. CUOTO

[@tomhurley3938]

Perfect Tim. I've been looking at that part of the country for sailing. Similar conditions here in SF bay with shallow water, strong winds and a short period chop, but without the warmer, blue water. I didn't understand the relevance of the "blocks" re choice of routes. Would crossing them be akin to trespassing?

[@jaquigreenlees]

yup, crossing a fore-shore lease without lease holder's permission is trespassing. We have a number of them here on the Inside Passage in BC as well, though not for oil drilling but for anchoring of tugs and loads to wait out weather. The other common one is fish farms. Fun stuff, buy a completely off grid and undeveloped property you have to use a boat or sea plane to reach and with a fore shore lease your property taxes are covered.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Tom. I'm not familiar with what happens in Canada, and I don't want to disagree with what Jaquigreenlees wrote below. But you can cut through the block lease areas in the Gulf of Mexico, but at your own risk. There have been broken pipes uncharted that stick out just above the surface of the water. I've never seen these, but have always been warned about them. Plus, the rigs aren't charted and can move, so it's best for us to stay in the prescribed fairways. CUOTO

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Jaquigreenlees. That place sounds like heaven! I was not aware of those restrictions up north. CUOTO

[@jaquigreenlees]

@@TimBatSea it's an unenforced restriction unless there is a tug needing to anchor to wait out weather, then it boils down to give them the space. A couple of spots it's an actual dock rather than an anchorage that the tow boat companies have leased and it's free to use if a tug doesn't need it. They grab the leases for safety for their ships and crews but don't want to endanger pleasure boaters if they need it and no tug around needing it.

[@harryfatcat]

How do those conditions feel to the barge crew? Better or worse?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Harry. They are usually spared. CUOTO

[@kenlee5376]

I’m confused as to why it is a problem to go thru those blocks. What am I missing?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. There are unmarked well heads and other instructions. CUOTO

[@Graveltrucking]

Yeah you're safer hugging the shoreline than getting out into the gulf, the camera probably doesn't show it you'd be darting and diving in those kind of seas. Not very deep must be a long gradual shoreline. Around here you get not too far off the shore its 50-100.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@raw123yt]

Do you ever get seasick?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. I'm sure there was a time when I was little that I got sick, and there are certainly times now that I don't feel 100 percent. But in general, no. I am blessed in that I I don't get seasick. CUOTO

[@raw123yt]

Thanks@@TimBatSea

[@yungmackeveli017]

Are y’all hiring ? Any entry level positions?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching and welcome to the channel. Yes. Everyone is hiring. But you need to jump through a few hoops. I made a video about 3 years ago to help. Link below. And if it is something you still want to do, I can hook you up with John at MarinerCedencials.com and he will do most of your paperwork for you. CUOTO kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5S0fIaGfLR1kLM

[@oldgrumpy4601]

Who does your route planning?

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. The master (Captain) does the route planning. CUOTO

[@Orxenhorf]

Pascagoula? If you see the First Self-Righteous Church, watch out for squirrels.

[@TimBatSea]

😂😂😂😂 Thank you very much for watching. CUOTO

[@georgelawton9075]

I can see all of the seas. It looks very sloppy 😮

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching George. CUOTO

[@boblister665]

I will take that over the North Atlantic in Jan.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you very much for watching Bob. You might be alone in that. The north Atlantic has big nasty seas, but the gulf will eat a man's optimism faster than the North Atlantic. But let's not test that out. 😂 CUOTO

[@donholden7111]

What, you don't like a good G Forse nap?

[@TimBatSea]

😂😂😂 Thank you very much for watching Don. CUOTO

[@dhalz4152]

Yea, but I bet the Gulf guys get to the NY harbor and have their own issues!

[@TimBatSea]

😂😂😂 perhaps. Thank you for watching. CUOTO

[@edswider9309]

Tim how deep is the water by you

[@edswider9309]

In the gulf

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Ed. It varies. But the northern route is very shallow, 20 to 60 feet. CUOTO

[@edswider9309]

For your boat that’s shallow

[@evielknievel4972]

Have you ever seen anything you cant explain out at sea? Let me know on one of your videos if you have. So that you dont have to write.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. We tend to see many things we are unsure of, but there is never a shortage of options. 😂 CUOTO

[@normtyneships194]

Really informative as my physics background came into play when you were talking about the wave period. With weather systems being huge, does the almost 'enclosed' shape of the Gulf of Mexico have an effect on the behaviour of the sea? Stay safe when things are being thrown around on board; not easy and definitely not comfortable. CUOTO

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you very much for supporting the channels Norm! I am sure the shape of the gulf has something to do with the odd waves but I think the lack of depth of water does too. CUOTO

[@2020HotShotTruckingLLC]

The waves that are generated by a storm at the other end of the gulf keep going until they hit shore. When the wind changes, new waves are generated in a different direction. When waves from two directions interact with each other, the result is what we call confused seas. You have the normal waves from each direction, then you have high high waves where the two peaks coincide, as well as low lows where the troughs coincide. Then you have flat spots where one high coincides with another low. And the timing is erratic because of the difference in the periods. It makes for a miserable day if you are sailing!

[@seanmurphy2302]

Those seas are as bad as a woman. No fighting it.

[@seanmurphy2302]

I've been hacked! That wasn't me.

[@TimBatSea]

😂😂😂😂😂 No problem. CUOTO

[@TimBatSea]

😂

[@dickdaley9059]

Tim, you may have been loading jet fuel at NORCO up the river and bringing it to Tampa International . AHL (American Heavy Lift) had the contract for a while before closing. CUOTO 🇺🇸⚓️

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching Dick. Please remember that we try to not directly name tugs companies or customers on here as it gets me in trouble with my employer. CUOTO

[@firstfreeone]

Fantastic images, Tim. A question though. Why is the windscreen wiper blade not touching the windscreen? Is the wiper ever used? travel Safe.

[@TimBatSea]

Thank you for watching. We use the wiper (putting it down) only in very heavy rain. The rest of the time, it is best left up. CUOTO