The ICW with a Tall Mast

[Cheechako]

I did it from Wrightville Beach SC to Lauderdale. mast was one foot shorter than the posted bridge height. (64?) After that go outside. My bendy VHF antenna hit a few girders!

[AnchorageGuy]

[/QUOTE]


I just confirmed my charts. The Hatteras Canal bridges are 135 feet. THis canl cuts off the pass around the outside. It is recommended to plan you passage based on tide so you are travaling downstream.[/QUOTE]


Curious as to where this canal is with 138 foot bridges that allows someone to go inside at Hatteras? Chuck

[Kettlewell]

I just confirmed my charts. The Hatteras Canal bridges are 135 feet. THis canl cuts off the pass around the outside. It is recommended to plan you passage based on tide so you are travaling downstream.

I have no idea what this person is writing about. If you have a height of more than 65 feet you have no option but to go outside around Cape Hatteras. You could possibly go in and out using various inlets, but you won't be able to go far on the ICW as the fixed bridges are 65 feet max.

[AnchorageGuy]

That's kinda what I thought too, but hey, who knows, maybe a new route has opened up. Chuck

[four winds]

I'm guessing the poster was noticing the horizontal clearance listed on the charts, not the vertical clearance.

[Tbrad]

Hmm. Like the two Polish pilots that flew over JFK. Captain looked down at the runways and said; shoot, we can't land here. The runways are too short. Copilot replied; Yeah but my gosh they sure are wide!

[Nicholson58]

My bad. I was remembering the Cape Cod canal, the only part we can run. The rest of the ICW is pretty much 63-65 feet except less passing through Okechobe.

I took the trip vicariously last year while one of my mates helped transport a Cat from Virginia to West Plam. They had SPOT, Cell phone and occasional internet. I could "explore" ahead of their path, follow weather and suggest routs & on-shore excursions and on the water crab shacks etc. They passed under just fine at 60 ft. but could not make the St Lucie bridges at Port Mayaca.

[Nicholson58]

I saw a 78 foot yacht at the boat show in Miami many years ago with carefully designed on-deck gimbled mast foot and hinged chain plates. The pins were arranged all in line so the mast could be lowered by the crew using the windlass. The owner said he and his wife could drop it to run the ICW in less than 30 minutes. Pilot house top had heavy gallows on top to rest the stick.