How not to read bridge clearance

[jackdale]

Brand new boat

https://youtu.be/o695S2-VzS0

[Muckle Flugga]

Ha ha ha…. OOOPS

I love how he just seemed to carry on regardless…

[Muckle Flugga]

Now this IS how to clear a well judged bridge.

Note the ensign old bean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epz6BBZm__0

[Panope]

I pass under a bridge that is published to be adequate of clearance for Panope. First time I was paranoid so I oriented the boat parallel to the bridge and let the current (1 knot) carry us under with the idea that if contact was made, the boat might just lean over rather than dis-mast. Guess that tactic would not work with a catamaran.

Steve

[Oshian]

Originally Posted by Muckle Flugga

Now this IS how to clear a well judged bridge.

Note the ensign old bean.

Nice way do pass the bridge

[a64pilot]

I'm surprised at how fast he was moving, I sweat bridges, even when I know I will clear and slow down.
I guess he never even thought about clearance?

[Boatguy30]

Only way to really be sure. Best is to tie off to the side fenders and climb the ladder on the bridge to sight it. Otherwise go real slow. Been there done that on many bridges in FL that are actually lower than published data.

[svHyLyte]

One problem with bridges in Florida are the lights that hang down from the underside of the bridges to mark the centers and sides. Friends of ours with a 62' mast banged into the center light fixture on the underside of a supposedly 65' (minimum) clearance bridge in Sarasota, Fl last year. That cost them their radio antenna, wind instruments, and masthead lights...

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

-----many bridges in FL that are actually lower than published data.

Which ones? I've never found any with the possible exception of the bridge just north of Peanut island near lake Worth.

[Boatguy30]

Several in ft Myers, trirail across new River S branch. Hit them all.

[WindwardPrinces]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Which ones? I've never found any with the possible exception of the bridge just north of Peanut island near lake Worth.

There are a couple of bridges near Destin that are reputed to be shorter than their 50' advertised height (The Destin bridge, the Fort Walton bridge). If I were close to 50', I wouldn't risk it.

The Brooks bridge even has a marker beside it that usually registers the height as 48'. There are some construction materials hanging on the bridge that reduce the height.

[AD28]

The light at the Bob Sikes (Pensacola Beach ICW) bridge is lower than the bridge girders by about 2 feet. Don't ask me how I know.

[Jdege]

One thing to add to the fail - that's a bridge between two islands.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ma...8efc4e747ca993. Going around either island would have added 30 miles to the trip.

[YachtBroker]

Agreed about the lights hanging down on the bridges in Florida. We keep our Catalina 350 at Legacy Harbour in downtown Ft Myers and the two bridges we have to clear average 54'. We're 51'-5" to the tip of the VHF antenna and it looks like we're going to hit those lights every time!

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by YachtBroker

Agreed about the lights hanging down on the bridges in Florida. We keep our Catalina 350 at Legacy Harbour in downtown Ft Myers and the two bridges we have to clear average 54'. We're 51'-5" to the tip of the VHF antenna and it looks like we're going to hit those lights every time!

The eyes can fool you. The clearance on the overhead transmission lines at Montague Harbour are 38 meters. Going in one night a newbie crew member caught sight of thw balls and was convinced we would hit them.

Even in daylight I have seen concern.