Drawbride Procedures

[madhatter1]

I don't think I am doing anything wrong but tenders always seem to have a beef with me on the intracoastal. 34C with outriggers. I always drop them and never ask for an opening. When there is an opening I can easily make without the bridge staying open any extra time I call the tender, acknowlege that I know they cannot respond to me while they are operating the bridge, and ASK to pass on this opening. Seems 50% of the time they need to tell me I could make it if I dropped my riggers. I can assure anyone that has advise that I never affect the boats that need the opening and never cause the bridge to stay open longer. If that is the case I wait and drop my riggers. Yesterday the wind and seas picked up so much it was too wet to run the gulf home so I came in Passa-Grille and headed North. First bridge had a sail boat about 600' away as I went past them. Looked at the clock at it was on the 20 minute mark. As I got closer to the bridge I saw the gates coming down so the Sail had requested an opening. Bridge opens and I pass through. As I go through the tender yells at me asking if I needed and opening. I respond no, I was just passing through while it was open. Then he starts yelling that I fit if my outriggers are down. Sail is still about 500' from going throuh the bridge. Why me?

 

[Avenger]

Trip with a Chip.

Guy on a powertrip with a chip on his shoulder. While the CG regs do not require an opening for equipment "Not essential to navigation", if it's open anyway or needs to be held for another few seconds what's the difference?

I've seen plenty of people around here get an opening for outriggers, and in one case an antenna that kinda maybe would have touched at high tide with a two foot swell. Fortunately the bridge operators I've delt with have always been pros. Actually, in the case of the antenna I kind of wish they'd been more of a d!¢ k to the guy. Another tripper.

 

[saltshaker]

My experience has been the same as Scrod's. It helps if you let them know that you'd like to pass on their opening. As long as you don't request the opening and you aren't interfering with boats that need the lift, there shouldn't be an issue. I can't tell you how many times I'm fighting current and boat wakes while approaching the opened bridge, and then a 20ft center console comes shooting through the bridge from the other side. Same idiots will pass you and cut in front of you while your trying to transit a bridge opening. Sad that on busy weekends the bridge tenders have to remind boaters who has the right of way. Let the bridge tender know you know what you're doing but would like to slip through with the rest. If that doesn't work then the guy is a jerk and nothing you do will change that.

 

[Avenger]

'zactly.

BTW, courtesey dictates that downtide (downcurrent, for you river-boaters) boats get preference.

It's not a rule in most places, but common sense would dictate. OTOH, common sense is an oxymoron.

 

[saltshaker]

'zactly.

BTW, courtesey dictates that downtide (downcurrent, for you river-boaters) boats get preference.

It's not a rule in most places, but common sense would dictate. OTOH, common sense is an oxymoron.

I'm always amazed how often this doesn't happen. If I'm first in line and running against the current, I'll stay back enough to give the others plenty of room to pass. Unfortunately when running against a real strong current, I always seem to get behind the guy in a 40ft sailboat with a 9.9hp outboard whose making 1.5-2kts WOT.

 

[captddis]

Mike, In a word they are assholes! They will wait for a blowboat 1/4 mile away, yet I hav e been right at the no wake sign and told that I missed the bridge. I sit a the JP bridge ev ery morning when they open for the commecial guys with one SSB antenna up!
A while back I was bringing a Viking to my house that I was taking across the Gulf. The riggers did not have a lower position and they had not been lowered in years. I was by myself and there was a squall line right behind me with lightning hitting the water. I explained that I could not easliy leave the helm and that the riggers were stuck. His response was " my bridge is stuck".
I fought the riggers and had to keep returning to the bridge as the boat was drifting towards the shoals. Finally got them down and lashed with rope only to have the PRICK open the bridge for the gambling boat.

The tender at the old Clearwater Memorial bridge used to refuse to open for a customers 55 Hatt with a fixed signal mast. We sent pics and measurements to the CG. The CG told the tender to open the bridge for him without delay. He still used to argue with him and tell him to "try" to make it. It took three letters from the CG and a personal visit to get him to stop arguing.
Total jerks loaded with class envy.
On my boat I lower the riggers when I leave and put them back up before I dock. Works well.

 

[madhatter1]

I always had no problem with the old Johns pass bridge. I fit under the new one. I was never asked to lower the riggers and I think that they just knew that with the width, angle, current,and boat traffic that this was not a good option. Guess those were the good old days. I only ever caught crap from the ICW tenders. I just don't understand what their beef is. At least structure C tender job is doomed. When span 1 is complete it is the halfway point for drivers but for us the project is complete.

 

[Freeebird]

'zactly.

BTW, courtesey dictates that downtide (downcurrent, for you river-boaters) boats get preference.

It's not a rule in most places, but common sense would dictate. OTOH, common sense is an oxymoron.

Actually, in terms of "river-boaters", it is a rule that an upstream vessel give way to a downstream vessel which obviously has less control. I had to laugh when I read Dave's post about a tender suggesting "try it". I've heard that suggestion too... in the dark. When I asked who would pay if we didn't quite make it, I got an opening.

I'll never forget running across that one bridge tender north of Venice (can't remember which bridge) who apparently fell asleep on his "watch". Horns, VHF's and spotlights had no effect whatsoever. Some guy ended up tying his boat to the bridge and climbing up top to wake the guy. As best I remember, it was around 4AM.

 

[Pascal]

I find most of the bridge tenders on the east coast / AICW to be fairly courteous

These days Parker bridge in west palm is absolutely the worst of the worst... You can just hear the blend of Ebonics and union member government employee attitude... I can usually just squeak under so I rarely have to deal with her...

 

[saltshaker]

I find most of the bridge tenders on the east coast / AICW to be fairly courteous

These days Parker bridge in west palm is absolutely the worst of the worst... You can just hear the blend of Ebonics and union member government employee attitude... I can usually just squeak under so I rarely have to deal with her...

There is a bridge that I have to pass going in and out. Years ago I had a problem with a new bridge tender who thought I could fit. I needed 19.5ft with everything lowered. At low tide the bridge clearance is 15ft but you actually get 20ft if you're dead center. With the current there are standing waves 90% of the time. After arguing with him one day he finally opened the bridge. He reported me to the CG who sent someone to my boat to inspect. They measured 20ft and agreed the bridge needed to be opened for me. After that the bridge tender would delay responding to my calls and regularly would only open one side of the bridge if I was the only boat there. I've been going through that bridge for over 15 years and that was the only jerk that ever gave me problems. Fortunately he was only around for one year.

 

[MikeP]

"...was the only jerk that ever gave me problems"

He probably got a better offer from the TSA .

 

[labrador]

Jack, must be the Rumson to Sea Bright bridge you are talking about. Brought my boat up from Daytona last year and every bridge we came to had the most professional tenders I've ever had! Not once did I have any hint of a problem. Have to open in New Bern to get out when the boats there and the Beaufort bridge now for the summer slip. ALWAYS have polite conversations with the tender saying, after I tell him we're clear, Y'all be safe out there. Must be something in the N.C. air.
Skip

 

[saltshaker]

Jack, must be the Rumson to Sea Bright bridge you are talking about. Brought my boat up from Daytona last year and every bridge we came to had the most professional tenders I've ever had! Not once did I have any hint of a problem. Have to open in New Bern to get out when the boats there and the Beaufort bridge now for the summer slip. ALWAYS have polite conversations with the tender saying, after I tell him we're clear, Y'all be safe out there. Must be something in the N.C. air.
Skip

It was the Sea Bright bridge. Every other bridge tender has been great. Most always wish you well and have held the bridge or the opening when I was cutting it close.