Draw Bridge Etiquette

[Kings Gambit]

Well, I admit it would not be my first choice of something to do or to attempt. Skippers should always use common sense and good judgement. But, we're discussing in part what tenders are expected to do when circumstances arise on federal navigable waters which IMHO is to open on demand, if they are manning a demand drawbridge. My job is to pass under the bridge w/o hitting anything on the way.

 

[MitchM]

the municipal or federal authorities on whose locks, right of ways or roads the facility or drawbridges lie generally have jurisdiction and authority over its operation. so what powers the municipal authorities give themselves and their bridge operators varies greatly by state or municipality. add to that the french canal worker's attitude of 'we run this place and we don't have to listen to you, you have to listen to us. ' -- well, i'd always be extremely polite hailing them on CH 13 telling them i'm a sailboat but under engine power , do you need me to drop my sail in this 3 knot wind ? and listen to what they say... by the way if there's a medical emergency like the above accident, put out a general (CH 16) or 13 call advising USCG and the bridge of your ability to stand by and render assistance. any MD's nurses or EMTs on the water can respond. often we can get there by boat more quickly that the land cruisers in their ambulances who then have to figure out how to actually get to the boat and off load the patient. as a licensed EMT i carry a lot of 1st aid gear in my boats that might be helpful-- BP cuffs, collars, splints, trauma packs...

 

[Benny17441]

The law stands as is, the Bridge Tender has wide discretion to interpret it and will probably be upheld by his superiors and any court of law. Just be smart, sensible and courteous to others and drop your sails. We were once headed to participate at the lighted parade in Ft. Laudarle (the Big Daddy) and got held up at one of the bridges by someone who wanted to sail through. The bridge tender said he was not going to open and it took a barrage of coaxing from those waiting to get the purist out of the way. Perhaps in other parts of the country folks are more forgiving but not here.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Must keep perspective here on what might actually be happening. There are many bridges, and thus potentially many situations. If traveling from lower Tampa Bay down the ICW to Sarasota, and then out Big Sarasota Pass (if going out), there was once three drawbridges on scheduled openings; now there are only two since the Ringling Bridge was converted to the Ringling Causeway around 1999 and is now a "high bridge", not a drawbridge. But when we made this transit many times in the 1990's there were the three. If sailing toward south the first one you meet is the Anna Maria Island Bridge; then the Cortez Bridge about 2 n.mi. further. On any wind except from southerly quadrants, one can sail that stretch of the ICW w/o tacking, before and after the bridges. Certainly we're not saying that a SAILOR in a SAILBOAT would be expected to "drop" his sails and motor thru the first bridge, and then either re-hoist and then drop or furl for the second, and then again for the last one (Ringling) 10 n.mi. distant, or be forced to motor the whole route??!! A sailboat CAN SLOW DOWN if it wishes to, to coincide with the next scheduled raising of any bridge. If the sailboat does not make it to the opening at the scheduled time, the tender can (and sometimes does) close it practically in your face. So, you sail away from it and set up for the next opening. I admit that I've used my diesel to punch-it going under the bridges w/sails up, but not b/c it was required of me. The powerboats still have to give way to you if you're under sail in a navigable waterway and you need to maneuver. So, I'm not sure this is an issue requiring an "etiquette" as a solution.

 

[pateco]

Last month, my son and I had the opposite situation happen. Approaching a bridge under power, and having to switch to sail

I have three timed ICW bridges to clear on my way out to the Atlantic Ocean. While motoring up to the first bridge (Atlantic Blvd in Pompano Beach), I announced my intentions to the bridge tender, and got his polite response with timing on his next opening. We loitered around until the opening, and then began through once it was fully open. As we were approaching the fenders, the engine sputtered and died. I tried a quick restart, and got nothing. luckily we had some way on, so I was able to spin her and move mostly out of the channel to avoid blocking the boats behind us in line for the opening. There was a pretty strong outgoing tide, so once out of the way, we began to drift back towards the bridge. I had my son run up and drop the anchor, so we would not impact the bridge, but with the anchor dropped, we were still being blown back into the channel.

At this location the ICW is maybe 3 boat-lengths wide with concrete sea walls on both sides. My rapid work on the engine was not having any luck, and we only had 30 minutes to the next opening. I checked the wind direction, and determined that I could probably sail south on the ICW if I did a lot of jibes. We pulled anchor and unfurled the head sail. Sailed back south to the first open stretch of water (Lake Santa Barbara), and re-anchored out of the way there. This was my first experience trying to sail in such a limited space. While it turned out to be reasonably doable, and I was never in any danger of collision or grounding, I would not wish to do this on a regular basis.

Murphy steps in whenever he sees an opportunity. I am just glad we were prepared enough to handle it.

 

[DayDreamer41]

I have been following this post with much interest, my wife and I purchased a boat this past fall, our dock with the club we joined is upriver where we have to navigate (3) bridges. Given the late purchase I only had the opportunity to motor the boat upriver to our dock once and then once down river to the marina for haul out, there was no traffic on either of these trips, but the Black River can and does get busy especially on the weekends, I wouldn't attempt sailing this narrow river even without other traffic as the bridges are less than a mile apart. The bridges open on signal from May 1 to Oct 31 with one bridge needing to fully closed before the next will open. The rules change for spring and fall operation.
I noticed it was much easier to hold position moving upriver as opposed to down, but I am not certain if this was just due to less cross wind on the upriver experience, I am rather nervous about our next season on how I will do with holding position with a multitude of other craft waiting for a bridge to open, I have heard that this can be a real experience with many impatient folks jockeying for position, making me shiver to even think about it right now.

 

[jssailem]

I am rather nervous about our next season on how I will do with holding position with a multitude of other craft waiting for a bridge to open

You will do just fine. We all start someplace in the process of boat handling. You are ahead of 90% of the new boaters. You are exploring the possibilities and thinking about the situations. Keep it up and when the time comes to untie the lines just do it. All this prep will overtake your fear and the experience will be much easier then the fearful consideration you are giving it.
How can I be sure? Cause I've been there.

It may not be text book perfect. It doesn't need to be. Wear your life jacket and follow the plan you have been thinking about all winter.
Then come back here and share your experience with others.

Merry Christmas

 

[dlochner]

I noticed it was much easier to hold position moving upriver as opposed to down, but I am not certain if this was just due to less cross wind on the upriver experience,

Holding a position against a current is easier than with the current. If you have a 1 knot current against you all you have to do is motor at 1 knot and the boat will stand still. Remember the knot meter is measuring speed through the water, not over ground.

Downstream is a little more challenging as even with the motor out of gear, the boat will be moving at 1 knot downstream. The options are to try and hold position by putting the motor in reverse (and we all know how well our boats motor in reverse), try to anticipate how long it will take to get to the bridge while drifting and give the operator enough notice, or face upstream while waiting for the bridge to open and quickly turn downstream when it opens.

The first couple of times will be exciting, then it will become second nature. Maybe hang a "Student Sailor" sign on the boat....

Dave

 

[DayDreamer41]

It may not be text book perfect. It doesn't need to be.

Thanks John for your vote of confidence, I love your words of encouragement and I get it, after not piloting a sailboat for almost 30 years the wife and I purchased and sailed our new to us Hunter over 500 Nm's from Southern Lake MI to Southern Lake Huron, were there some times of Holy smokes, sure was, but we came out the other side unscaved and better for it.

And A Very Merry Christmas to you as well John!

Maybe hang a "Student Sailor" sign on the boat....
Dave

I like this idea Dave, I just may use it and when folks look I will just smile at them, what they won't know is I am smiling as I am on our boat enjoying the day .........

Merry Christmas Dave

 

[jssailem]

Merry Christmas.
One day I may get to sail in Lake Michigan.
I've been reading about this Great Loop trip.
But first is my circumnavigation of Vancouver Island (about 750nm), then a "Passage to Juneau" and back to Seattle.

But right now it's Christmas with Grandkids. Then perhaps a NewYears sail for a couple of days. If I get time and weather window I'll post pictures.

 

[gettinthere]

Those who insist that they have the right to sail thru bridges at slow speeds are the ones who help get more restrictions added to the bridge schedule.
This applies to slow motoring as well. I have followed behind boats doing 3 knots thru a draw while cars backed up a half mile. Cars with cell phones, cars with voters, voters who angrily call their local representatives and give them an earfull. You think the rep will tell them those pleasure boats have the right to be that way? Nope, he's gonna work to put more restrictions on the bridge whether that works well or not. He needs to he seen as doing something.

If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
We have met the enemy and it is us.

Get thru the bridge as quickly as reasonably possible. Its good manners.

 

[Sandy Stone]

Yep, we have transited the ICW on both sides of Tampa Bay, and it is absolutely like traveling on the highway. I mean like literally having to merge into traffic, and waiting in line at drawbridges. Any sailor who insists on his rights to tack or jibe across the channel or sail thru a drawbridge is not doing the rest of us any favors. There is the letter of the law, and then there is simple courtesy.

 

[Jacktar]

Screw the regs and use common sense. Its not a static bridge, it has to open for you not to bend your boat. Keep your sails up and in control but turn on the engine. Do you seriously want to invoke sail over motor rules in the hope that everybody else boating around you and the bridgetender will comply to keep you from a collision. That is the real etiquette question here, Give the rest of us a break.

 

[jibes138]

Might have missed it in the thread but consider the possibility of bridge failure making it inoperable. You need contingencies when approaching hazardous conditions. Anchor should be ready to deploy, sails ready to hoist in case of engine failure etc.