cape may canal bridges

[Islandmike]

Tomorrow I will be going through the cape may canal, the charts say fixed bridge is 55 feet at mhw. However, I was in the west marine today and the guy said it is 54? With my mast I am at 53.5 ft, does anyone think this will be a problem. This guy has got me a little paranoid; I will be going through about an hour before high tide. Thanks for any help or first hand information anyone may have.

[imagine2frolic]

Have you checked the chart? How about going a low tide?

[Vasco]

You should be fine Mike unless there's an exceptionally high tide. I f you're really worried wait till half or low tide. I talked two of my buddies that were going to go around outside into going through the canal. They both made it although their vhf antenna tinked a bit. A Whitby 42 and a Morgan 382.

[hanschristian38]

We left our VHF antenna at the bridge at low tide. Hit bottom and top at the same time.

[MyTime]

If it really is that tight ...another thing to keep in mind...Make sure there is no wake from another boat that could push you "up" through the bridge as you are going under.

[Vasco]

It's so narrow at the bridges that only one boat at a time gets through.

[Islandmike]

Thanks for all your replys, we made it through...but only by the skin of my teeth. The little wire sticking up from my wind vane hit on both bridges. The twang it made was unnerving... We have made it through the c&d canal and are now ancored on the Bohemia River, it is beautiful. Again thanks for all you replys. I cant believe it we have made it to the Chesapeake Bay!!!! Yeah.

[Vasco]

Bet you're feeling better. Where are you headed?

[Agur's Wish]

Good for you! Go up to St. Micheals and have some Oysters Rockefeller for us. When we bought the boat 12 years ago we spent Thanksgiving on the Chesapeake and there was a great restaurant in St. Mike's, right behind the marina that had a Friday night buffet that was to die for. And by the way, we went outside from Lewes (?) to Cape May because of the bridge.

[Randall]

i cant think of what it felt like it had to look like it was going to hit i dont know thats a heck if a chance.

[kismet]

low, or un-experienced bridge passings are unnerving. it always looks way too close. I would advise referencing the coast pilot books in the future..better advice than you will find at Home Depot or West Marine.

[bill352]

Originally Posted by kismet

low, or un-experienced bridge passings are unnerving. it always looks way too close.

That's no lie. I went through there last year on a friend's boat knowing the bridge clearance, knowing the mast height, and knowing that we had ten feet of clearance, at least. A perfectly seamanlike evolution, and that's the way it turned out.

And yet, the way it looked approaching the bridge - well, I still have sphincters that will never be the same. I can't imagine what it must look like with no clearance at all.

[David Anderson]

Can you stop in Spicer Creek Canal going east and
wait for low tide to to get under the 55' bridge.
My mast ht 55', draft is 5'? Looks like 5' swings in
the tide. (Beneteau 37)

[Pearson 39-2]

I'm curious: Why would you risk the damage when the clearance is that close? The canal does not shorten the trip by much at all and adds plenty of stress. In most weather conditions, the trip around Cape May is easy and much more pleasant than barely scraping by, or in the case of your 55' air draft plus windvane and VHF, uncertain at best. Why not go outside?

[Roniszoro]

Originally Posted by Pearson 39-2

I'm curious: Why would you risk the damage when the clearance is that close? The canal does not shorten the trip by much at all and adds plenty of stress. In most weather conditions, the trip around Cape May is easy and much more pleasant than barely scraping by, or in the case of your 55' air draft plus windvane and VHF, uncertain at best. Why not go outside?

I had the same thought. It wouldn't take much to lose ones wind instruments, anchor light and VHF antenna. For what? To save 4 hours? Highly questionable seamanship in my opinion.