You have just acquired that new 40' yacht and are all set to start cruising. You can't wait to take her out on the ICW and take her south. This has been your vision and it is at long last coming true. You previously spent some time learning your new boat, her mechanical systems, her plumbing, her electronics; you think you are all set. And what about navigating in the ICW? That 25' sport fishing boat you upgraded from to your new trawler gave you plenty of training, didn't it?
Most of you new to boating may or may not know there are particular rules to understand when approaching a bridge. Even as many of the older bridges have been replaced with higher draw bridges of sixty-five feet, there are still a lot of lower draw bridges to contend with on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Some of these draw bridges are as low as eight feet.
Before you get going, there are several details to consider. On that 25' vessel, bridges weren't a concern; you were not high enough to matter. But this forty foot boat will require draw bridges to go up enabling you to go pass through them.
So what are the rules when you are approaching a bridge? To start with, check your chart to check what the vertical height is of the bridge. You should be familiar with the height of your yacht too. You can also reference one of the cruising books where they present bridge information. As you move toward the bridge, you need to look for the tide marker on the right side of the draw bridge at the water line to validate if your trawler or motor yacht can safely clear the bridge at the midpoint without having it open. If you are able to, proceed at a slow pace and travel through the midpoint of the span. Please note that you are obligated to lower antennas and outriggers if that will allow you to safely go under the draw bridge without it opening; numerous draw bridge tenders will refuse to open if you have them raised.
If you can't safely clear the bridge in its down position, you have got to then look to see if it will open on request or if there is a set timetable. Nearly all draw bridges have the timetable posted if there is one. If there is a set timetable, you must wait. You can also locate this information in the Dozier's Waterway Guide. You shouldn't linger until the last minute to plan your strategy so I would advise reading the waterway book in advance. This will allow you to time your arrival at the bridge at the scheduled opening hour.
If it opens on request, raise the draw bridge tender on your VHF radio. Bridges in a good number of states monitor VHF channel 13 while bridges in South Carolina and Georgia monitor channel 9 and bridges in Florida monitor both channel 16 and 9. Only call the tender when you can spot the bridge as he will not do anything until he confirms you will be there for the opening. The tender will also delay in opening a bridge if there are several vessels traveling all together; he will wait until every single one of the yachts is set to go through directly. When the bridge is open, proceed at an idle speed. If you are going beneath the draw bridge with other vessels, remain a safe distance from them; there are currents and turbulence near draw bridge pilings. Sustain a no-wake speed until you have passed signage telling you to resume normal safe operation.
It is customary to call and express thanks to the bridge tender on the VHF for his aid; some just wave as they pass.
Most of you new to boating may or may not know there are particular rules to understand when approaching a bridge. Even as many of the older bridges have been replaced with higher draw bridges of sixty-five feet, there are still a lot of lower draw bridges to contend with on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Some of these draw bridges are as low as eight feet.
Before you get going, there are several details to consider. On that 25' vessel, bridges weren't a concern; you were not high enough to matter. But this forty foot boat will require draw bridges to go up enabling you to go pass through them.
So what are the rules when you are approaching a bridge? To start with, check your chart to check what the vertical height is of the bridge. You should be familiar with the height of your yacht too. You can also reference one of the cruising books where they present bridge information. As you move toward the bridge, you need to look for the tide marker on the right side of the draw bridge at the water line to validate if your trawler or motor yacht can safely clear the bridge at the midpoint without having it open. If you are able to, proceed at a slow pace and travel through the midpoint of the span. Please note that you are obligated to lower antennas and outriggers if that will allow you to safely go under the draw bridge without it opening; numerous draw bridge tenders will refuse to open if you have them raised.
If you can't safely clear the bridge in its down position, you have got to then look to see if it will open on request or if there is a set timetable. Nearly all draw bridges have the timetable posted if there is one. If there is a set timetable, you must wait. You can also locate this information in the Dozier's Waterway Guide. You shouldn't linger until the last minute to plan your strategy so I would advise reading the waterway book in advance. This will allow you to time your arrival at the bridge at the scheduled opening hour.
If it opens on request, raise the draw bridge tender on your VHF radio. Bridges in a good number of states monitor VHF channel 13 while bridges in South Carolina and Georgia monitor channel 9 and bridges in Florida monitor both channel 16 and 9. Only call the tender when you can spot the bridge as he will not do anything until he confirms you will be there for the opening. The tender will also delay in opening a bridge if there are several vessels traveling all together; he will wait until every single one of the yachts is set to go through directly. When the bridge is open, proceed at an idle speed. If you are going beneath the draw bridge with other vessels, remain a safe distance from them; there are currents and turbulence near draw bridge pilings. Sustain a no-wake speed until you have passed signage telling you to resume normal safe operation.
It is customary to call and express thanks to the bridge tender on the VHF for his aid; some just wave as they pass.
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