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Railroad Bridge Snafu

Posted by Jake Patrick on 6/5/2023, 10:47 am

Hey y'all!

We just moved into the neighborhood about a week or two ago and took our new Haynie out this last weekend. We got under the bridge fine (cleared by 2-3") on the way out around 7 am. The tide was supposed to be going out the rest of the day starting at 8:30 am, but the strong south wind I guess prevented that tidal movement from being as large as it was supposed to be and actually made the tide higher than when we went out.

On the way back in, the aluminum-fabricated grab bar nailed the bottom of the bridge and almost whipped the back of the boat into the pilings. Luckily we escaped with a little paint on the grab bar being stripped off. Very Lucky.

I am sure everyone is tired of hearing about the bridge having most likely talked about it ad nauseum for as long as you have been in the neighborhood. Everyone probably has their own methods for seeing if they can get under the bridge with respect to their own specific boat. But, has anyone ever discussed installing a tidal gauge on the pilings to allow for a little more predictability/stress mitigation with respect to getting under this bridge? I think it would be a big benefit to everyone that gets close to hitting it.

I will most likely remove the grab bar and install a windshield that can quickly clip on and off for this very reason, but still think a lot of people could make their lives easier if we installed a gauge on the pilings. It is already stressful enough dealing with the tide ripping perpendicularly to the openings between the piling if you have a large boat like we do.

Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu

Posted by Dan H on 3/31/2025, 3:47 pm, in reply to "Railroad Bridge Snafu"

Bridge / water height gage installed.

Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu

Posted by bryan on 6/10/2023, 2:18 pm, in reply to "Railroad Bridge Snafu"

There was a tide gauge but is got ripped off by a boater smashing into it. Jake email me, I can tell you how to figure out if you can make it under the bridge while you are at your dock. euwerb@gmail.com

Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu

Posted by Buckshot on 6/11/2023, 12:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu"

I think Jake wants to know the clearance on the way back inside. I do too. I know, before I lower my boat into the water, whether or not I can clear the bridge, but it is easier to read the numbers as I approach the in side.

Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu

Posted by bryan on 6/10/2023, 2:12 pm, in reply to "Railroad Bridge Snafu"

There was a tide gauge but is got ripped off by a boater smashing into it.

Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu

Posted by JC on 6/5/2023, 3:56 pm, in reply to "Railroad Bridge Snafu"

Be sure you are looking at real-time tide info from the NOAA Tides & Currents webpage so you can see what’s really happening out there as opposed to what is predicted. I always check that before going out and returning. We used to have a gauge on the bridge.

Question to BVFC, is the gauge part of the repair?

Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu

Posted by George on Pompano on 6/5/2023, 1:26 pm, in reply to "Railroad Bridge Snafu"

This is the link to the hardware. Keehui 316SS Marine Grade Boat Pipe Connector, Stainless Steel Folding Swivel Coupling Tube Pipe Connector Boat Hardware Fitting for (22mm) 7/8inch Tube

Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu

Posted by George on Pompano on 6/5/2023, 1:24 pm, in reply to "Railroad Bridge Snafu"

I was able to cut my grab rail and installed hardware that allows me to remove two pins and fold it down. I also converted the windshield to removable. The hardware can be found on amazon.

Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu

Posted by Tommy on 6/6/2023, 6:14 am, in reply to "Re: Railroad Bridge Snafu"

There is usually a numerical gauge there . It tends to get ripped off by over zealous "captains" on holiday weekends

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