Mast Height Restrictions: Mobile to Chicago

[mountholly]

Hello folks, I am bidding on a job that I've not done before. Does anyone know of any of the lowest bridge clearances?
Up the Tenn-Tom, down the Ohio, up the Mississippi and then up the Illinois, to one of the two lake Michigan entrances. Also , I'm estimating a month up and 15 days back (to and from Naples,FL) Thank you.
Captain Ladd

[GordMay]

See McDonough Marine's "Mileage Charts and Waterway Maps"
McDonough Marine


The lowest bridge that cannot be avoided on the Great Loop/Great Circle Route is 19.1 feet at mile 300.6 on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal after the Chicago River/Sanitary and Ship Canal and the Calumet Sag Channel join south-west of Chicago. This is the AT&S Railroad Bridge which is shown on the charts as a swing bridge. It is inoperable and no longer opens. THERE IS NO WATER ROUTE AROUND THIS FIXED BRIDGE FOR GREAT LOOP CRUISERS.

Pier 11 Marina, Chicago, at mile 323.2 Cal-Sag Channel, has a 60-ton travelift to 20' wide, 773-468-9605. They may un-step masts and lower radar arches.

From Lake Michigan the Chicago River flows through downtown Chicago and becomes the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The lowest bridge through this route is 17 feet at mile 320.4, an inoperable bascule railroad bridge. The other route, the Cal Sag Channel, has a bridge height restriction of 20-something feet.

Either way you must be able to clear the 19.1 feet fixed bridge mentioned above which is down river of both channels.

Tennessee River/Tenn-Tom Waterway has lots of bridges at 52 feet vertical clearance.

[Scot McPherson]

This is a great question, and I would like to ask it agian, but specific to launching into the Mississippi River from Le Claire, IA and floating down to the Gulf of Mexico. I am building a sailboat, and I am concerned about mast clearances. Does anyone know where to look this information up? I'd prefer to get an answer from say the Army Corps of Engineers rather than a forum poster. No offense to anyone, it's just a matter of getting there and saying, "But so and so said I'd make it"

Thanks Muchly,
Scot

[zeehag]

paper charts show bridge clearances. they do not show current or traffic on the mississippi...goood luck.

sailboatowners.com has a member named captain chuck creel. he is a retired towboat cpt --ask him ....he knows.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by Scot McPherson

I'd prefer to get an answer from say the Army Corps of Engineers rather than a forum poster. No offense to anyone ---
Scot

Scot - Can tell you are new to the site.
Most of us here think Gord knows more than the Corps of Engineers.

[Fishman_Tx]

Think? I KNOW he does.
Actual clearances are going to be relative to the water level as well and may change quickly (as this IS spring). Search the net, the data is out there.
Just to get you started....
Mississippi-Illinois Rivers Bridge Clearance Calculator
Navigation Information Connection
Menu

BTW, that 19.1 is running 15 right now....

My Dad was an old river rat for 35 years working tugs on that route.

Tried to get a good screenshot of the calculator results...

[Fishman_Tx]

Also,
Rock Island District - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Navigation Information Connection
Navigation Conditions

Gord, you need to share some of that EXTENSIVE database you got there. I need some of that!

[Scot McPherson]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Scot - Can tell you are new to the site.
Most of us here think Gord knows more than the Corps of Engineers.

Lordy Lordy, comment of mine had nothing to do with Gord. He answered a question related to Chicago to Gulf. I asked a question about Le Claire to Gulf, which follows a different river for a good distance. And hey, what's the harm in asking for authoritative sources?

Anyway I appreciate the answers I got, thanks muchly.


Scot

[peteh007]

Hi Folks
Im a sailor and an app writer - for iPads and the like.
I was thinking that perhaps a Map based App showing all the river and ICW bridge clearances, on a Map, and a routing capability that would show you where you'd bump your mast - for a given mast height and for a given route.... might be useful? and highlighting some yards that can Step masts for folks. ie. to help Sailboaters do the great Loop for example? Would this make sense for anyone? I'd make it such that anyone can ad their bridges and clearances, etc.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by peteh007

Hi Folks
Im a sailor and an app writer - for iPads and the like.
I was thinking that perhaps a Map based App showing all the river and ICW bridge clearances, on a Map, and a routing capability that would show you where you'd bump your mast - for a given mast height and for a given route.... might be useful? and highlighting some yards that can Step masts for folks. ie. to help Sailboaters do the great Loop for example? Would this make sense for anyone? I'd make it such that anyone can ad their bridges and clearances, etc.

Unless you tie it into current river levels, I don't see where it offers much advantage. The charts show the bridge clearances (the are even free chart apps with charts already available). Lots of sites and guide books cover mast clearance. Plus once you get past the lowest bridge, you generally will clear the rest.

Of course, if you add in current river levels you better have a good disclaimer as river levels can change quickly and if your app makes a mistake, you could have some angry users.

To the OP: what kind of job are you bidding on and what is our experience? If you are doing commercial work moving boats, you need to be licensed...if you have a coast guard license, I'm surprised, you didn't just pull up the freely available electronic charts and check the clearance?

[peteh007]

Thanks Much.
OK I wont bother to write it.. it wold take a few weeks and I don't want to waste time.. too many other apps to write

Question: If i have a 62ft mast, and start in FL heading up the ICW to make the loop, back down the Mississippi, where do I remove my mast and where can I put it back on? DO you know from your charts or experience?

Or what is the best 'app' to find the answer to this?

Thanks for your feedback!!

Cheers
Peter

[FSMike]

Peter -
Google
Great Loop Cruisers Association (GLCA)
and
captainjohn.org

[MC2019]

I think I will stick to delivering boats in the left coast .....