How to get 80 ft of mast under 65 ft of bridge.

**warthog** · 09-25-2011, 08:29 AM

**Gordyman** · 09-25-2011, 08:34 AM

BRILLIANT!!!! Now THAT'S problem solving.

**iceman** · 09-25-2011, 08:53 AM

Nice. Kinda makes you wonder why it was so important to get past the bridge though.

**Tippster** · 09-25-2011, 09:39 AM

Free wings at the Rusty Scupper Happy Hour!

**flatlander#2** · 09-25-2011, 09:42 AM

Get the weights ma!

L7 · 09-25-2011, 09:45 AM

How does he get it over and how did he bring it back not to mention the fine tuning the heel just before going under? Some sort of water ballast system on either side of the boat? Can he use his prop power/motor to offset direction change of the keel and heel the boat while going straight? Which sailors know?

**skiballs** · 09-25-2011, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Tippster

Free wings at the Rusty Scupper Happy Hour!

That doesn't look like Baltimore to me .

doughboyshredder · 09-25-2011, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by L7

How does he get it over and how did he bring it back not to mention the fine tuning the heel just before going under? Some sort of water ballast system on either side of the boat? Can he use his prop power/motor to offset direction change of the keel and heel the boat while going straight? Which sailors know?

Did we just watch the same video?
Comprehension skills much?

**Ted Striker** · 09-25-2011, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by L7

How does he get it over and how did he bring it back not to mention the fine tuning the heel just before going under? Some sort of water ballast system on either side of the boat? Can he use his prop power/motor to offset direction change of the keel and heel the boat while going straight? Which sailors know?

Never done that to go under a bridge, but have done something similar to un-ground a boat. It goes something like this... Fill the sacks with water. Use either a small boat or dinghy or spinnaker pole to get the bags away from the boat (but in this case he probably just made a turn to swing them). Once underway, it's a matter of adjusting the lines from the cockpit and making small rudder inputs. He brought the sacks back by winching in the lines running from the cockpit.

Aside from nerves of steel, which this guy obviously had, you really want to be sure about your math.

**St. Jerry** · 09-25-2011, 05:43 PM

I think that's the same music from 2-Girls-1-Cup.

**Simplicity** · 09-25-2011, 05:53 PM

Yeah, that's cool and all, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXHsNmQehr4

**BirdRock** · 09-25-2011, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Nice. Kinda makes you wonder why it was so important to get past the bridge though.

In and out of your marina/berth to open water.

**iceman** · 09-25-2011, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by BirdRock

In and out of your marina/berth to open water.

So he's going to do that every time he wants to go for a sail. Hmm. No.

I'm sure there's a reasonable answer but that's not it.

L7 · 09-25-2011, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by doughboyshredder

Did we just watch the same video?
Comprehension skills much?

If you look below your non answer you'll see someone actually able to comprehend the question and answer it probably because he has some grey matter. Apparently you cover for this deficiency by just slamming everyone else.

Just to recap einstein, yes I watched the video and saw the weight off of the mast that KEPT THE BOAT AT THAT ANGLE. Some comprehension skills of your own would help you realize I wasn't asking how he kept that position but HOW HE GOT TO THAT ANGLE and kept a straight line. Thank god someone with a brain comprehended and didn't just pretend they knew something they didn't. Instead they did know and shared.

**Tye 1on** · 09-25-2011, 09:15 PM

Brings back a hazy but funny memory of a sail out Ft Walton Beach at a parrothead party. Think maggots with funny hats. 'Captain' was a bit clueless on how carefully you want to follow channel markers. Sandstuck with tide going out. Got pulled out by a powerboat hooked to the main halyard at mast top. Could have gone way bad. Wasn't my card on the deposit, so I kept drinking, and am still.

**warthog** · 09-26-2011, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by iceman

Nice. Kinda makes you wonder why it was so important to get past the bridge though.

Boat yard on the ICW- most boats can get under the 65 ft bridge, apparently this one can't.
I guess they have one hell of a good boat yard to go through all that.

If you watch the video, they guy just steers the boat to get the bags back. It looks like he prolly did the opposite to get them there.

Think about this though. If those bags sink more than half way, he loses all that weight. They will be lighter in water, and the keel will pop the mast straight up. Makes you realize how big his nuts really are.

L7 · 09-26-2011, 07:57 AM

It's hard to believe his steering finesse is so refined he can fine tune the weight of the water bags against the weight of the boat. I can sort of see the steering now but from the perspective of a following boat it's hard to spot. Guess it would have been easier to see if filmed from the bridge or land.

The dropping the weight too low is a nice final touch in case it wasn't tense/exciting enough to do already. I wonder if his boat insurer approves the technique?

doughboyshredder · 09-26-2011, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by L7

If you look below your non answer you'll see someone actually able to comprehend the question and answer it probably because he has some grey matter. Apparently you cover for this deficiency by just slamming everyone else.

Just to recap einstein, yes I watched the video and saw the weight off of the mast that KEPT THE BOAT AT THAT ANGLE. Some comprehension skills of your own would help you realize I wasn't asking how he kept that position but HOW HE GOT TO THAT ANGLE and kept a straight line. Thank god someone with a brain comprehended and didn't just pretend they knew something they didn't. Instead they did know and shared.

Sorry, I just thought it was obvious.

**Beaver** · 09-26-2011, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by warthog

Think about this though. If those bags sink more than half way, he loses all that weight. They will be lighter in water, and the keel will pop the mast straight up.

No it won't, it will equalize because as soon as it begins to pop out guess what, its out of the water and heavy again. There will be a little drag on the ballast in the water so it will pull it down a little farther

**Beaver** · 09-26-2011, 11:55 AM

To get the boat back upright he used a rope tied to the upper bag. He pulled it towards the mast and the boat righted itself.

**BigDaddy** · 09-26-2011, 12:12 PM

We sailed up the inland waterway one summer and encountered many odd bridges. Charts listed the bridge clearances, etc. and you had to sometimes be very careful to hit dead center at low tide.

In Georgia though, we came to a RR bridge, where an attendant came out of a little hut with a 6' bar. He then stuck it in a fitting, and started doing a circle around the center. Slowly the bridge swung to the side and after 10-15 minutes, we were able to pass cleanly.

He turned and then walked the other way as we continued. I kind of doubt that's still there, but it was very memorable.

**Ted Striker** · 09-26-2011, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

So he's going to do that every time he wants to go for a sail. Hmm. No.

I'm sure there's a reasonable answer but that's not it.

My speculation would be moving the boat for the season, or delivery to a new owner.

It'd be a hellava trip down the ICW with an 80 ft mast since the "minimum" fixed-bridge clearance is 65' at high tide (quotes because some bridges predate the mandate).

**Lurch** · 09-26-2011, 02:12 PM

I'm amazed the mast doesn't snap with that kind of horizontal load being placed at the top of it.

**Ted Striker** · 09-26-2011, 02:18 PM

^^^ they are remarkably strong, and there are stays (steel wires) that run from the bow and gunwales (sides) to add support. Even though the load of the main sail acts on the whole length of the mast, the load from the forward sails i.e. jib, spinnaker, etc., act on the the top (or close to it).