The Pilot

Marine Pilots guide really big foreign boats up and down the Inside Passage. This launch takes the Pilot out to meet the boats as they enter the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Anything over 350 tons has to have a Pilot on board. Treacherous waters on the Inside Passage. Absolutely riddled with deadly rocks and shoals. You really have to know what you're doing to get right the way through in one piece.

Tied to the dock it doesn't look like much, but it's got monstrous everything on board. Monstrous engines, monstrous flood lamps .... and some big boys. It shreds itself a path through the water and you can see it out on the the Strait, even if you can't hear it.

The launch drives out to massive ships in all weather, pulls up along side, ship crew lets a peg ladder down,The Pilot steps off the launch, onto the ladder and climbs up and on board! All at a rate of knots!

Fun sort of work if you can get it.