Sooo, currently my boat is in the Port of Los Angeles. There's 2 ways out of the port, the long way and the short way. The short way has 2 bridges that must be raised to gain access out.
We approached the bridges behind a tug boat feeling very lucky because bridges always open faster for commercial vessels.
It's 2 bridges side by side. A car bridge and a train bridge. The usual mix. The train bridge is only a few feet off the water, but the car bridge does have some clearance.
Well, the tugboat radioed the train bridge (which is first), and after it raised went under the car bridge with inches to spare.
I hailed the car bridge and asked them to open for us and the lady replied that there was currently 39 feet of clearance available.
"Hmm", I thought. "The boat has a 30 foot mast, it's definately NOT 9 feet from the waterline to the mast step, I see the sign in the water and the water level is actually down to 40 feet for bridge clearance, let's go for it!"
Oh, when I do stupid things...
My anchor light, stern light, and nav lights are all together in this one doodad on top of the mast.
Correction: WERE all together in one doodad on top of the mast.
It's gone now.
Took a minute for us to get the top of the mast unstuck from the bridge rafters.
Oh, Monkeys.
We turned around and headed back to the dock.
I was bummed because I had just finished shaking the boat out (just bought it 3 months ago), and was now ready to do cosmetic things like brightwork and repainting the sport stripe.
Now I'm 2 steps behind.
AND I LIKED THAT DOODAD!
My buddies sailing with me wanted to blame the bridge operator for suggesting that we could make it. I had to tell them that she was just trying to make it easier by not making us wait for the bridge to open if we didn't have to.
It is my fault 100%.
I was too concerned with how nice it would be if we could easy breezy make it under the bridge without thinking what the consequences would be if we didn't clear it.
It'll be $50-$150 for a new doodad, and about $50 to get Pam (our 90 pound rigger here at the marina) up the mast.
The worst is that I can't night sail until it's fixed (which I do alot).
The best is that now I know to take no less than 45 feet for overhead clearance!
And, I own a boat
Don't make assumptions, and don't rush things.
It's the same moral to almost every sailing story.
And don't be afraid to take charge with the bridge operator and get what you need. They only have to press a few buttons.
We approached the bridges behind a tug boat feeling very lucky because bridges always open faster for commercial vessels.
It's 2 bridges side by side. A car bridge and a train bridge. The usual mix. The train bridge is only a few feet off the water, but the car bridge does have some clearance.
Well, the tugboat radioed the train bridge (which is first), and after it raised went under the car bridge with inches to spare.
I hailed the car bridge and asked them to open for us and the lady replied that there was currently 39 feet of clearance available.
"Hmm", I thought. "The boat has a 30 foot mast, it's definately NOT 9 feet from the waterline to the mast step, I see the sign in the water and the water level is actually down to 40 feet for bridge clearance, let's go for it!"
Oh, when I do stupid things...
My anchor light, stern light, and nav lights are all together in this one doodad on top of the mast.
Correction: WERE all together in one doodad on top of the mast.
It's gone now.
Took a minute for us to get the top of the mast unstuck from the bridge rafters.
Oh, Monkeys.
We turned around and headed back to the dock.
I was bummed because I had just finished shaking the boat out (just bought it 3 months ago), and was now ready to do cosmetic things like brightwork and repainting the sport stripe.
Now I'm 2 steps behind.
AND I LIKED THAT DOODAD!
My buddies sailing with me wanted to blame the bridge operator for suggesting that we could make it. I had to tell them that she was just trying to make it easier by not making us wait for the bridge to open if we didn't have to.
It is my fault 100%.
I was too concerned with how nice it would be if we could easy breezy make it under the bridge without thinking what the consequences would be if we didn't clear it.
It'll be $50-$150 for a new doodad, and about $50 to get Pam (our 90 pound rigger here at the marina) up the mast.
The worst is that I can't night sail until it's fixed (which I do alot).
The best is that now I know to take no less than 45 feet for overhead clearance!
And, I own a boat
Don't make assumptions, and don't rush things.
It's the same moral to almost every sailing story.
And don't be afraid to take charge with the bridge operator and get what you need. They only have to press a few buttons.
