Bridges & Outriggers

[Karl]

I just bought a 32 Hatt 5 months ago that have Lee double spreader outriggers. I took her out Saturday and when I asked for a bridge opening, the bridge tender said I would be reported to the Coast Guard if I didn't take my O/R's down and I cannot cause an "unnecessary" bridge opening. I believe these riggers were installed 10 years ago and are bolted in place, thus, I would have to use two wrenches and some very careful handling to take them down at the bridge with about 30 minutes of work.

I would like to read the regulation that governs this so I know what my obligation is. I called the Fort Lauderdale U.S. Coast Guard by telephone, but they don't know how I could find the regulation and suggested I look it up on the DOT website. I did, but I can't find anything.

Does anyone know where I could find this written regulation or if you know it, am I obligated to have my O/R installation re-engineered to meet this regulation?

Thanks for any info you can give me.

 

[67hat34c]

did they mean tip them back as far as they will go?

 

[dwg]

Here is the regulation. It is not new, but it is being enforced more vigerously.

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...=div6&view=text&node=33:1.0.1.10.59.1&idno=33

 

[Genesis]

For the Rupps you can get collapsable back bars that will allow the riggers to be laid down to below the level of the flybridge.

I've never had a problem in South Florida, but I could only make one trip "under" a bridge with it down - it'd shear off the top and all my electronics (as well as my head if I didn't duck!)

 

[Liquid Asset]

The way the Law reads to me, is that you only have to lower items that can be lowered. If it can not be lowered then, you can request an opening.

What are they going to do next, ask a sailboat to step his mast before going under the bridge?

 

[Karl]

Placing the tips of the O/R back is the normal way of lowering them for passing under a bridge. I did see one boat deploy them, as when fishing, and thought that would be too dangerous.

My riggers are made by Lee Tackle, so I called Lee in Miami. They suggested that I replace the back support with a telescopic support that might enable me to lower them about ten feet, which would be sufficient to get under the two local bridges that would be my problems.

Thanks for the regulation. I did read it and it states: "No vessel owner or operator shall signal a drawbridge to open if the vertical clearance is sufficient to allow the vessel, after all lowerable nonstructural vessel appurtenances that are not essential to navigation have been lowered, to safely pass under the drawbridge in the closed position."

Thanks for your repsonses.

 

[captddis]

I lower my Rupps and leave them down when going under bridges. With them down I can clear 19ft. Around here that is most bridges. It is simple to add another standoff for the lower position. I think the law should be enforced, the amount of unneccessary openings are ridiculous.

 

[34Hatt]

I have too lower mine ever year when I go back to my marina after winter storage. They are lee's I think 21' I made a line up that attach to my handles above or you can use the leg off the tower. It loops around and has a hook that goes to riggers. I just put them in place pior then when I get there I undo the clamps and let them down almost to the gunnels. After 5 years I finally have it down too a science .
Good Info I did not know that one!!!

 

[Avenger]

About two years ago I was fishing on a friend's boat at a 20 ft drawbridge and some clown in, at best, a 28 ft boat, (no flybridge, just a marlin tower from which the clown operated the boat) comes along and sits waiting for an opening. The only thing on his boat that was too tall to get under the bridge was one antenna and even that was iffy. Yet this jerk had to tie up traffic so he could get his ego rush. Other clues about him included the name FISHFINDER on the bow in 2ft letters, loads of bouys, about 20 fishing rods in rocket launchers, 4 gaffs and loads of other fishing gear all neatly on display. The thing that I couldn't figure out was that if he's such a mighty fisherman; why would he spend 15 minutes waiting for a bridge instead of pulling one stick down and going fishing?
I wish they were enforcing that rule when this happened, we would have enjoyed pointing and laughing when he didn't get his opening. I doubt if he would have been offended though, the behavior pattern indicates that he's probably had that happen to him before. , nudge nudge, say no more.