Bridge Clearence
- Thread starter Izzy
- Start date
On the water. I am looking at properties in the Port Charlotte Florida area. Some have a bridge between the dock and the harbor. I was just wondering if anyone had experience with lowering the mast to go under a bridge? And if so what is the lowest bridge I could get under?
Be sure to check the water depth on the entire route to the harbor. Many of our friends have trouble in the winter with a north wind and low tide getting out. Ask the people who live there. The agents have no clue or won't say. A friend our ours had trouble with a rock in the canal and a 4 foot draft.
Izzy,
Are you referring to the type of clearance on the M26C video, where it shows the boat using the mast raising/lowering system with the gin pole to pass under a bridge to get to/from a sailing area? If so, awhile back I took an imprecise measurement of it. Remember that to get the mast all the way back to the stock crutch, you have to take the boom off the mast. If you do that, the clearance is about 11 feet. If not, it's a little harder to gauge, depending on how far you can lower the mast without putting pressure on the gooseneck and the sail.
Are you referring to the type of clearance on the M26C video, where it shows the boat using the mast raising/lowering system with the gin pole to pass under a bridge to get to/from a sailing area? If so, awhile back I took an imprecise measurement of it. Remember that to get the mast all the way back to the stock crutch, you have to take the boom off the mast. If you do that, the clearance is about 11 feet. If not, it's a little harder to gauge, depending on how far you can lower the mast without putting pressure on the gooseneck and the sail.
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Sorry I don't know the height and there are several bridges on W Marion. Have you considered launching at Lashley or Ponce park. The bridge at 41 is 43-45 feet at Lashley. Also many people rent out their empty docks for very reasonable rates. Others keep them on U storage lots on trailers and launch where ever they want.
Ya it looks like I might have to keep it on the trailer. I had hoped to find a property that would allow access to the harbor without any bridges, at a price I can afford. I just don't have enough equity in my house to do that. I talked with Bo at Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club, and the slip rates are $8 a foot per month. More than I want to spend. The search continues.
Bridge clearance is about 13 feet. Mast down, on bow pulpit and crutch, I'm sure you could get under this bridge, but note it Is miles from port Charlotte. Also there is access to deep water both north and south of this bridge. No reason to go under it.
Frank is right, there are several bridges on W Marion. All about 13 feet, not all with open water both
Th sides.
If you can't find what you want for what you want to spend in Port Charlotte, you certainly won't find it in Punta Gorda. Also, in the Punta Gorda Isles subdivision, you will not be able to keep your boat on a trailer.
tough problem to have.. that looks like a great area.
I used to trailer my 26S for about 1/2 mile to the launch ramp with the mast bolted on at the bottom but laying in the crutch and had to go under the telephone wire shown in the picture. I did a rough measurement on the wire yesterday.. about 14.5 foot. I think I may have had a foot or so clearance.
Since my boat was on a trailer for my "data point" above, it would be lower if on the water and you can always lower the crutch.
I think you might be right on the edge for a 13 foot clearance..
I used to trailer my 26S for about 1/2 mile to the launch ramp with the mast bolted on at the bottom but laying in the crutch and had to go under the telephone wire shown in the picture. I did a rough measurement on the wire yesterday.. about 14.5 foot. I think I may have had a foot or so clearance.
Since my boat was on a trailer for my "data point" above, it would be lower if on the water and you can always lower the crutch.
I think you might be right on the edge for a 13 foot clearance..
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Thanks for the information Bill. We are looking mostly at Port Charlotte, I saw one or two in Punta Gorda in our price range. That was why I asked about the bridge there. We may have to look further inland and do the trailer or rent a dock. We still have to sale our house here in Gray Court first.
Ruth and I helped a former Mac owner move his Watkins from mid-state on the ICW to Port Charlotte the summer of 2012. He was keeping it just off the Charlotte Harbor with no bridges and easy quick access for I think a little over $200 a month. The guy he was renting dock space from had 2 docks. Not sure if he is still there or not and don't know the name of the person who owns the house but could point it out on a Google map if you were interested.
Actually the $8 a foot for a slip there seems cheap to me. I thought people were telling me they were paying $600-$700 per month for a 30+ foot boat a month but maybe I didn't hear that right. We pay $7/ft. in a yard there,
Sum
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Actually the $8 a foot for a slip there seems cheap to me. I thought people were telling me they were paying $600-$700 per month for a 30+ foot boat a month but maybe I didn't hear that right. We pay $7/ft. in a yard there,
Sum
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Sum, location, location, location. some liveaboard slips near port everglades go for 650-1k, (hendrix isle), and 250/mo for just a slip 1 hour up the river.
-on fixed bridges, my GUESS is around 8' is reasonable. probably 4' from waterline to cabin top, and another foot or 2 for the mast if its lying on the cabin. (you can cut the crutch or have 2).
but watch for a tight turn before or after the bridge.... and hopefully no big wake traffic.
I notice 'no-wake' has much different meaning in Ft lauderdale (where you have miles of canals), and in miami/keys.
-on fixed bridges, my GUESS is around 8' is reasonable. probably 4' from waterline to cabin top, and another foot or 2 for the mast if its lying on the cabin. (you can cut the crutch or have 2).
but watch for a tight turn before or after the bridge.... and hopefully no big wake traffic.
I notice 'no-wake' has much different meaning in Ft lauderdale (where you have miles of canals), and in miami/keys.