Best way to get under a low bridge

[woodster]

It would be super cool to have a mast head remote camera viewable from cockpit mounted furano 10" screan that when switched from GPS to radar then to camera uses the joystick on unit to change x and y axis maybe even have usb port to capture data and WiFi to broadcast pict to phone you could check bridge hight then swing around point at cockpit and watch boat from office on work days

screw that get out of the office and go sailing

 

[CarlN]

Rich,

If you haven't done so, it would be a good idea to confirm your "air draft". An easy time to do this is when you go up the mast to take down the windvane. Take a 50'' steel tape with you. Measure to the boom goose neck. Next, swing the boom out over the water and level it with a carpenter's level. Then measure from the boom to the water surface. Finally, measure the height the boot stripe is above the water. It may be 2"+ less when the boat is fully
loaded for your trip.

Being sure of your height will make the early bridges much less stressful.

Carl

 

[Rich Stidger]

Rich,

If you haven't done so, it would be a good idea to confirm your "air draft".

Good idea. I will do that next week when I replace my wind transducer.

 

[Jacktar]

This is probably an urban myth but is funny anyway. A sailboat was approaching a drawbridge in an unnamed city in sw florida. The bridge tender was apparently busy watching the game (it was a sunday) on his portable tv and did not see the boat. Following the protocol of threes the boater tooted his horn 3 times, no action. He rang his bell 3 times. no action. He fired 3 flares while repeating the audibles too, still nothing. By now quite a crowd was gathered at the approaches watching the boat circle and signal over and over. No luck with VHF or CB, and this was before cell phones and you cannot get a phone number for the bridges anyway. Finally the frustrated captain put 3 evenly spaced rounds from his shark rifle through the upper top of the bridge tenders
shacks window. The gates came down, the emergency siren sounded and the bridge began to rise.
a

 

[justsomeguy]

This is probably an urban myth

Ya think? And why shoot a shark?

 

[Scotty C-M]

Because the shark won't open the damn bridge!!

 

[justsomeguy]

Because the shark won't open the damn bridge!!

Quit acting silly.
You don't need no stinking "shark rifle".

 

[All U Get]

Just went through Old Lyme Draw in Ct., you better have the name right or they don't open.

 

[seadaddler]

In Florida there is a guy who uses plastic 55 gallon barrels filled with water on one side to heel boat over to clear under railroad bridge on East coast.
Nick

 

[S/V UsCa]

That was Pretty Cool

 

[Sailm8]

You know the camera idea got me thinking. You really can't tell until too late with a camera but a laser like they use to shoot a level line in construction, that could paint a spot on the superstructure would really be great. Push a button at the helm and look for a line on the bridge. No line, go on through. Maybe it could toast the birds that roost on the top of my mast too.

 

[rajhnsn]

Now that's a good idea.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Do you really think that a line would be very visible during the day while looking up at a bright sky? Interesting alternative, but I wonder if it would work in practice?