CYW 064 How it Works

Basically the cable is strung up stream of the two terminuses.  The ferry is attached to the cable.  A rudder on the boat keeps it pointed upstream and at more or less a 45 degree angle to the current.  Since the water cannot push the boat downstream (due to being lashed to the cable), the current makes the boat move towards the opposite shore.  Upon reaching that shore, the rudder changes the pointing of the boat 90 or so degrees (from 45 degree across the current one way, to 45 degrees across the current other way) so the ferry then moves across the stream the other way.  QUITE ingenious – “free” transport in areas with a fairly swift and dependable stream. (See https://digg.com/video/how-reaction-ferries-work)