# That whirlpool in Japan, how powerful?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-whirlpool-in-japan-how-powerful/574353>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 12, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-whirlpool-in-japan-how-powerful/574353 "2011-03-12T00:27:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-whirlpool-in-japan-how-powerful/574353/1 "2011-03-12T00:27:59Z")

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_[That](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709856)_ whirlpool in Japan. Caused, according to a BBC presenter, by currents of water flowing at different speeds.

I had thought that as authoritative a source as [Mythbusters](http://www.tv.com/mythbusters/killer-whirlpool/episode/806229/recap.html?tag=episode_recap;recap) had disproved the notion that a boat could be pulled under by a whirlpool, but the BBC reckoned that without aid from its engine, a boat seen passing over the whirlpool would be sucked down. I think they may have suggested to the sea bed itself.

Would a fishing boat crew have had anything to fear from that whirlpool.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-whirlpool-in-japan-how-powerful/574353/2 "2011-03-12T01:26:19Z")

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It doesn’t look to me like there’s a significant downflow in the center of that.

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**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-whirlpool-in-japan-how-powerful/574353/3 "2011-03-13T07:24:39Z")

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That downward force would have to exceed the buoyancy of the vessel, no?

Or, the whirlpool would have to have such a speed that the force would push the water in the vortex out, making a “hole”, that a ship would “fall” into.

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**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-whirlpool-in-japan-how-powerful/574353/4 "2011-03-13T07:33:20Z")

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> [@electronbee](#):
>
> That downward force would have to exceed the buoyancy of the vessel, no?
> 
> Or, the whirlpool would have to have such a speed that the force would push the water in the vortex out, making a “hole”, that a ship would “fall” into.

I doubt a raft would sink in that.

The whirlpool was impressive in size and neat to see but there was no “suction” apparent that would sink ships.

I think at the worst a boat would get caught in it and could not motor out.

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**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-whirlpool-in-japan-how-powerful/574353/5 "2011-03-13T11:41:25Z")

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Unpowered boats can certainly get caught in whirlpools. Being sucked under isn’t the problem. Losing control and hitting rocks or other hazards, that’s the problem.