I'm not sure that those waves were 4m, but it gave you a bit of a bounce! Still, I've seen much better, and always preferred to ride on _Freshwater_ when there was a good swell running. Seeing 5m waves crashing over the top deck windows (back when the top deck was fully enclosed) and feeling the ship (Real Manly ferries were always known as "Seven Mile Ships") crash down into a "roller" was always fun! What I suggest is you get a good microphone with wind protector and video the trip back from Manly across Sydney Heads when there is a really strong southerly wind blowing. Go on _Freshwater,_ as she always seemed to give the "best ride" for that sort of thing! (I half grew up riding Manly Ferries, and can clearly remember riding _"Baragoola, North Head, Lady Wakehurst"_ and even _"Lady Northcott"_ (There is a video or two of her in her final days somewhere on my channel) as well as _Freshwater, Queenscliff, Narrabeen,_ and _Collaroy_ on Manly services (I saw the later three enter service!!!). I had the pleasure once, around 30 or so years ago, of riding on _Collaroy_ down to Port Kembla, getting a (Leyland) Leopard (1525) to Wollongong station, and going back to Sydney behind steam loco 3642!

@coolsoap8

3 ай бұрын

It sounds like it was a fantastic time to have been travelling on Sydney's transport system, it's a shame that almost every vehicle in Sydney is the same now... Emeralds and River class for ferries, Waratahs for trains, Urbos and CAF rubbish for the trams, but at least buses still have massive variety. The waves in this video weren't 4m, they were around 3.5m, but I made the scummy choice of rounding it up to 4m. Last year's swell season was really depressing, so I wasn't able to get any good swell footage, resulting in me getting overexcited over even a mild swell (as this video's title shows). In 2022 I got some fantastic swells on the MV Collaroy before her withdrawal. I got to ride on her outdoor areas in 6 and 7m swells on multiple occasions, although I wasn't filming videos by that point, so now I can only remember those experiences in my memory. I got some good swells on MV Freshwater too, but I always found MV Collaroy to be better, this is due to her additional weight (causing her to slam harder into the waves), and her protruding anchor design on the no.1 end which would send spray everywhere when submerged. After crossing the heads on a return trip on MV Collaroy one 6 or 7m day, I went inside the vessel where I was met with heaps of passengers clapping and cheering for my survival 🤣. I spent the rest of the trip back to Circular Quay under the hand dryer in the bathroom trying to dry off before I left the ferry. Thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed it even though you didn't see what you thought you were going to.

@tobys_transport_videos

3 ай бұрын

@@coolsoap8 I grew up on Sydney Harbour, among other places of transport interest. I guess I saw the last of the "cool stuff." Ferries-wise I saw and rode _Baragoola_ and _North Head_ in regular service. I was almost born on the _South Steyne!_ I saw the entire _Freshwater_ class of ferries enter service (in blue and white with red vinyl seats and large opening windows). I saw the very last of the wooden "K class" ferries such as _Kanangra_ and _Karabee._ I saw _Karabee_ sitting down in the stern (back end) racing back to Circular Quay after the ferry race on Australia Day in 1984, then saw her sitting on the harbour floor, having sunk upon arrival! *Buses,* I saw (and have driven some of) everything (except AEC Regal's) after the green double deckers. I loved (Leyland) Leopards, Worldmasters, and Atlanteans! I drove all types of Sydney Merc from Mk1 to Mk5 at some point, as private buses, some straight out of State Transit service! O305G Merc Bendy's could be fun!!! I have driven briefly green AEC double deckers and AEC Regals, but always preferred Leyland stuff, that being what I remembered as a kid. *Trains:* I didn't quite see the end of NSW steam, but did see SMR 10 class at Hexham from about 1984 to 1986. I saw all NSW classes of diesel loco in service in some way except 79, 40, 41, and 43 class. I rode Red Single Deck sets as normal, everyday trains, stood in open doorways, and loved it!!! 😍😍 Most transport today is too similar to the next operator in the case of buses, and largely impractical in terms of modern ferries. Waratahs, Oscars, Tangarbages, etc, are all bins to me. It's got to the point now where it's all memories and a few models here and there. Keep doing your videos, take relevant advice, and try!!! 🙂

@coolsoap8

3 ай бұрын

Having grown up in southeast Sydney, I remember seeing MK3 - MK5 mercs all the time from Randwick and Port Botany depots (I also remember the O305Gs). I honestly haven’t really been too interested in any of the old deckers or most pre-WW2 buses, but this is probably because I grew up with and remember the PMCs and older Custom Coaches buses, but I still appreciate the fantastic vehicles that came before them. More recently I’ve grown to appreciate older NSW diesel locos, and I wish I would’ve grown up with the red sets, even if they had safety issues and they were falling apart, they really stood the test of time. As built, the Freshwater class were internally just large, double-ended First Fleet class ferries with the white panelling, sliding windows and of course, the comfy red vinyl seats. The First Fleeters got refurbished a few years ago making them pretty much new again, but only the MV Alexander has been left in original condition. Whenever I travel on MV Alexander now, it just reminds me of every experience I had on a Sydney ferry in my early youth. I remember seeing the MV Lady Herron and MV Lady Northcott in service, and I remember before the Emerald-class ferries existed. Thank you so much for your suggestions and support, and even more for sharing your fantastic stories with me. Hopefully we’ll actually see a 4M swell this year, or even better a 6M swell. Thanks ☺️

There are some good views hope you had fun. The bumpy ride looks fun⛴🌊 my favourite bump was at 7:04

@coolsoap8

6 ай бұрын

I spent a bit of time under the bathroom hand dryer after that trip back 😂. Nothing beats going on the Manly ferry on a rough day, it’s better than going to wet n’ wild lol

@HotheadWill

6 ай бұрын

Facts @@coolsoap8

Very nice, was waiting for this one! Hopefully this summer is a bit different to winter and we get some more good swells over the coming weeks. One question, is your phone okay?

@coolsoap8

6 ай бұрын

Yes. I wasn't expecting it to survive, so hats off to Apple for producing a sturdy phone. 📱🍎

@northernriverstransportvlogs

6 ай бұрын

@@coolsoap8 Amen!

There are no 4 meter waves in this video.

@coolsoap8

6 ай бұрын

How far through did you watch?

My swell boat!!!

I went yesterday it wasn’t that bad, but the Emerald class was jumping around

@coolsoap8

6 ай бұрын

That's nothing out of the ordinary 😂

@northernriverstransportvlogs

6 ай бұрын

The emeralds will bounce around in the wash of a sailboat mate 😂

@Auburn21444

6 ай бұрын

Personally, I don’t like emerald class. The freshwater class are more iconic to Sydney but when the freshwater not running, I take my fast ferry

@northernriverstransportvlogs

6 ай бұрын

@@Auburn21444 The Emeralds aren't the worst but I agree. What's the point in one when you've got the other?

What rough sea ?

@coolsoap8

6 ай бұрын

Maybe if you watched the whole video you’d see me get drenched.

Far from 4M swell. More like 2M.

@coolsoap8

4 ай бұрын

According to WillyWeather, it was 3.5m and I rounded it up to 4M because otherwise nobody would watch the video.

@thedolphin5428

4 ай бұрын

@@coolsoap8 Willy weather is a BOM THEORETICAL PREDICTION issued a day in advance, not an at-sea, in the moment reality. And shame on you exaggerating if for clicks.

@coolsoap8

3 ай бұрын

@@thedolphin5428 No, as far as I'm aware, WillyWeather updates are regular, and they are close to accurate most of the time. Videos don't often show how big the waves really were, and I am certain that they were 3 - 3.5m. Yes I said it was 4M, but at least I know it's shameful and I admit that I did clickbait a little.

@tobys_transport_videos

3 ай бұрын

For both of you: I grew up (partly) on these ferries amongst other transport modes, and even rode hydrofoils, with _Curl Curl_ being my favourite. My father was a Deckhand on the Manly Ferries most of his working life (I won't mention his name). The forecast for wave height isn't going to be what you actually get crossing Sydney Heads. At wave heights of 4-5m, the ferry is "dipping its bow" into the waves and throwing them over the top deck. At 6-7m high they would be close to, or actually *hitting* the wheelhouse. That came from my father, who would often "take the wheel" (he was qualified) under supervision of his Skipper (Captain), so over many years of being on the Manly Ferries, he saw this and when I saw him at work on odd occasions I would sometimes get a few stories told! 😃

@coolsoap8

3 ай бұрын

In rough seas, waves and their spray hit the wheelhouse a lot of the time. When the swells get that big they often close the outside decks to passengers. The Freshwater-class crew normally consists of 6 people; the master, the engineer, 3 deckhands, and the greaser (engineer/deckhand hybrid). One of the 3 deckhands normally does the helm when underway, so the master is the lookout and also docks the vessel at wharves. When the master prepares to berth at a wharf, the deckhand on helm goes downstairs to tie up or operate the top deck gangway. The engineer stays in the engine room at all times unless relieved by the greaser, who when not in the engine room will perform normal deckhand duties. Engineers must be in the engine room manning the backup controls when berthing at wharves, and while this happens the greaser ties up on deck and usually operates the lower deck gangway.