I am a fairly new boat owner on lake ponchatrain. As my sailing skills improve I naturally want to venture further from my home port of Mandeville. The next step in my evolution is the Gulf. I'm told that I need the names of the bridges in The Rigolets so that when I hail them they'll respond. Please relieve me of my shameless ignorance. Thanks, Larkin P.S. I know how to hail other vessels as well as emergency procedures but I think I missed the part about bridges so any help here would also be greatly appreciated.
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Exactly the Same Way
Use the low power setting on your radio. In Biloxi we often heard folks talking to the Pascagoula or Bay St Louis CSX bridge when they wanted the Biloxi one to open. We also found it worked better to use the cell phone as the bridge tenders would sometimes ignore the radio but always answered the phone. It can be frustrating so take some patience with you. Find a Coast Guard Auxiliary class and you'll pick up that sort of information and most insurance companies will give you a break as well.
Use the low power setting on your radio. In Biloxi we often heard folks talking to the Pascagoula or Bay St Louis CSX bridge when they wanted the Biloxi one to open. We also found it worked better to use the cell phone as the bridge tenders would sometimes ignore the radio but always answered the phone. It can be frustrating so take some patience with you. Find a Coast Guard Auxiliary class and you'll pick up that sort of information and most insurance companies will give you a break as well.
Bridge tenders
Larkin, it's been a while, but if I recall correctly, the bridge tenders are hailed on chanell 11. Of course, a lot of times they are sleeping, so it pays to carry a very loud horn with you so that if they do not answer your hail, you drive up near the bridge and blow the horn (one of those portable horns run by compressed air cans) to wake them up and then try them again on the radio. Sooner or later you can wake them up and get them to open the bridges, but it can sometimes take a while. Good luck.
Larkin, it's been a while, but if I recall correctly, the bridge tenders are hailed on chanell 11. Of course, a lot of times they are sleeping, so it pays to carry a very loud horn with you so that if they do not answer your hail, you drive up near the bridge and blow the horn (one of those portable horns run by compressed air cans) to wake them up and then try them again on the radio. Sooner or later you can wake them up and get them to open the bridges, but it can sometimes take a while. Good luck.
Check your local bulletins
I had a friend that had some work done in Slidell, and kept his boat in the same marina as me for a few days after. When he got ready to leave, he and his wife got up nice and early, and headed out. Found the bridge over 190 wasn't operational, so they had to go back for another week. Best bet is to get a chart for the area, and find all of the bridges, and check before leaving.
I had a friend that had some work done in Slidell, and kept his boat in the same marina as me for a few days after. When he got ready to leave, he and his wife got up nice and early, and headed out. Found the bridge over 190 wasn't operational, so they had to go back for another week. Best bet is to get a chart for the area, and find all of the bridges, and check before leaving.
Bridges
I've gone through many times, its no big deal. It is an active shipping lane and manned 24 hours a day. Use your chart and stay in the channel from Slidel to the Gulf. They dredge the channel to about 50 feet however, It's only a few feet outside. There are three bridges. Slidel Rail Road Tressle, HW 90 Swing Bridge and Riggolese Rail Road Swing Bridge. I cant remember if the hail 11 or 14. Call Northshore Marine and ask for Gerald. He can tell the correct frequency and their phone numbers. Yes phone numbers. If you don't see other traffic going the other way, call them about an hour out. If you dont they may have gone to Wallmart. Where are you going?
I've gone through many times, its no big deal. It is an active shipping lane and manned 24 hours a day. Use your chart and stay in the channel from Slidel to the Gulf. They dredge the channel to about 50 feet however, It's only a few feet outside. There are three bridges. Slidel Rail Road Tressle, HW 90 Swing Bridge and Riggolese Rail Road Swing Bridge. I cant remember if the hail 11 or 14. Call Northshore Marine and ask for Gerald. He can tell the correct frequency and their phone numbers. Yes phone numbers. If you don't see other traffic going the other way, call them about an hour out. If you dont they may have gone to Wallmart. Where are you going?
Clarification
Larkin, let me clarify something. When I lived in Slidell, we used to sail out of Club Chamale, which meant that we had to first get the bridge tender for the Bayou Liberty Road bridge to open that bridge. That was the one that was the most trouble. There are actually four bridges that you will have to have open for you to pass. The other fellow mentioned three of them, but forgot to mention the Hwy. 11 bridge, which is the one that is known to go out and not operate from time to time. As for the railroad bridges, you don't really have to even call them. They are very attentive, and when there is no train coming they simply leave the bridge open. If you are approaching them and they are closed, it means that a train is approaching, and after it passes they will open the bridge anyway. In addition, the tender for the Hwy. 11 bridge is not going to open it when there is a train coming, since those the railroad bridge is right by it. If you approach that one and see the railroad bridge closed, you know that there is is train coming and they will wait until it has passed before they will open both bridges. Also, they are pretty good at the Hwy. 90 bridge, and you don't normally have to wait very long since there is not much traffic. There is plenty of depth, if you stay in the channel, don't go out of it in the Lake Catherine area, since it can be very shallow there. Have a good time!
Larkin, let me clarify something. When I lived in Slidell, we used to sail out of Club Chamale, which meant that we had to first get the bridge tender for the Bayou Liberty Road bridge to open that bridge. That was the one that was the most trouble. There are actually four bridges that you will have to have open for you to pass. The other fellow mentioned three of them, but forgot to mention the Hwy. 11 bridge, which is the one that is known to go out and not operate from time to time. As for the railroad bridges, you don't really have to even call them. They are very attentive, and when there is no train coming they simply leave the bridge open. If you are approaching them and they are closed, it means that a train is approaching, and after it passes they will open the bridge anyway. In addition, the tender for the Hwy. 11 bridge is not going to open it when there is a train coming, since those the railroad bridge is right by it. If you approach that one and see the railroad bridge closed, you know that there is is train coming and they will wait until it has passed before they will open both bridges. Also, they are pretty good at the Hwy. 90 bridge, and you don't normally have to wait very long since there is not much traffic. There is plenty of depth, if you stay in the channel, don't go out of it in the Lake Catherine area, since it can be very shallow there. Have a good time!
Louisiana Purchase
right now I just want to test the waters but eventually I'll be moving to Pensacola. I really appreciate all the help guys. Larkin
right now I just want to test the waters but eventually I'll be moving to Pensacola. I really appreciate all the help guys. Larkin
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