Sedan Bridge Looper boat?

SeadawgVB

SeadawgVB

Active Member
Jul 8, 2013
411
Tidewater Virginia
Boat Info
2004 480DB
Engines
QSM11
When I bought my 360DA, it was purchased as an "interim" boat with the thought process of learning the ropes (pardon the pun) when it comes to larger power boats. Marinas, Navigation, boat handling, etc, etc. Then after a few years, find the right boat for us to do Americas Great Loop.

It is now time to start looking. (The Admiral doesn't like the mattress, so time for a new boat!)

Here's the question(s): Which Sedan Bridge boats have people on Club Sea Ray Completed the Loop on? Considering the 19' 6" fixed bridge on the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal, this is the absolute maximum above waterline.

If you did the Loop on your Sedan Bridge, did you have to remove the radar and / or other electronic up top?

I'm still about 4-5 years out, but I expect to need a couple of seasons to learn the new boat, work the bugs out and get it setup to my liking.
 
FYI: Sea Ray has the 500/520 DB’s at 20’-2” I believe that’s to the hardtop before accessories.
 
John Martin (GIMME TIME) will surely chime in here. Joe, I routinely go under a bridge in Sturgeon Bay that is marked at 21 feet right now with more than 10" clearance to accessories. I just put my VHF antenna down. I'd have to crawl up on the hardtop and drop a tape measure down. Maybe I'll verify this weekend. Mike
 
Boat Guy said:
It's crazy that you base your boat decision on one bridge, but I understand....One of the bridges I waited for in the ICW that was 12' and opened on the hour was changed to a 63' fixed...It is nice not having to wait...
Click to expand...

If you want to do the Great Loop and not the Great U-turn, you gotta fit under that bridge!
 
Havana Shamrock said:
FYI: Sea Ray has the 500/520 DB’s at 20’-2” I believe that’s to the hardtop before accessories.
Click to expand...

My buddy has a 550DB, and the drawing shows 18' 3 7/8" from waterline to top of hard top. Of course horns, radar, Glomax, sat TV are all bolted to the hardtop.

I know I've seen some references to the Great Loop on here a time or two, I'm pretty sure some folks have done it already.
 
I've never seen the appeal of Chicago....Speak up if you want to correct me....Crime / politics / cold / no ocean nearby / etc....

But, the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal actually takes the cake of disgust....The whole canal is marred with crap, literally...

When Chicago had a crap problem, instead of fixing it themselves and building the infrastructure they simply figured out they could build this waterway and release their crap down river to be someone else's problem....So they did...and it contaminated the waterway below....Kind of like how they deal with things today.

Got to ask...Why don't they simply build a higher bridge? What is the name of this bridge?
 
I wouldn't get out of the electric chair to go to Chicago!!!!! ;)
 
My nav light up top is my tallest point. I barely fit under the front edge of my slip. We measured it at 19' 2" last weekend.

Bennett
 
Boat Guy said:
I've never seen the appeal of Chicago....Speak up if you want to correct me....Crime / politics / cold / no ocean nearby / etc....

But, the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal actually takes the cake of disgust....The whole canal is marred with crap, literally...

When Chicago had a crap problem, instead of fixing it themselves and building the infrastructure they simply figured out they could build this waterway and release their crap down river to be someone else's problem....So they did...and it contaminated the waterway below....Kind of like how they deal with things today.

Got to ask...Why don't they simply build a higher bridge? What is the name of this bridge?
Click to expand...
He mentioned it in his 1st post:

Here's the question(s): Which Sedan Bridge boats have people on Club Sea Ray Completed the Loop on? Considering the 19' 6" fixed bridge on the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal, this is the absolute maximum above waterline. No other way out of Lake Mi heading south I think.
 
That's correct - the 19'6" bridge on the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal. There also is a low bridge on the Erie Canal that limits which way you can go, but you can still continue the Loop.

My 400DB is 17'4" from the anchor light mast to the waterline. I am planning to do the loop in a few years after I retire. I specifically looked at my 400DB and checked the height before I purchased it.
 
Steve S said:
That's correct - the 19'6" bridge on the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal. There also is a low bridge on the Erie Canal that limits which way you can go, but you can still continue the Loop.

My 400DB is 17'4" from the anchor light mast to the waterline. I am planning to do the loop in a few years after I retire. I specifically looked at my 400DB and checked the height before I purchased it.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I'm doing now!!!
 
[QUOTE="SeadawgVB, post: 1068658, member: 31925"Here's the question(s): Which Sedan Bridge boats have people on Club Sea Ray Completed the Loop on? Considering the 19' 6" fixed bridge on the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal, this is the absolute maximum above waterline.
If you did the Loop on your Sedan Bridge, did you have to remove the radar and / or other electronic up top?[/QUOTE]


We did the loop with our 400DB. We did not have to remove anything in order to complete the loop. The top of the radar dome is 16.5’ above the water line. The light is a little over 17 but is easy to lower on the move from the bridge.
The boats that came after the 400, the 420 and the 44 could loop also. After those, I am not sure.
I know loopers who have done it in 420 ac’s and the 390 and 480 Motor yachts. There may be others.
 
Steve S said:
That's correct - the 19'6" bridge on the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal. There also is a low bridge on the Erie Canal that limits which way you can go, but you can still continue the Loop.

My 400DB is 17'4" from the anchor light mast to the waterline. I am planning to do the loop in a few years after I retire. I specifically looked at my 400DB and checked the height before I purchased it.
Click to expand...

You can also do the western Erie Canal with the 400 by laying the radar mast on the arch. The first time was a bear, I think the factory used 5200. I keep saying that I’m going to put a hinge on it, but just don’t seem to get around to it. We do it in about 1/2 hr now so not too big of a deal. We can do it right along the way, no special tools needed. We use the western Erie to travel east. It’s less hassle to put down the radar than to deal with the Welland Canal.
C35B7AA8-F463-4937-B19D-10B8FEF72FC0.jpeg


6374E528-E960-4617-A546-F4A6C2FF6057.jpeg
 
Boat Guy said:
Guys, respectfully, I did see the info in the first post....Yet, when I search "19'6" bridge on the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal" I'm not seeing it... I see reference to it, but no bridge...That's why I asked for a name...
Click to expand...
No worries, I haven't been there yet. Word is it is at "mile 300.6" on the Ship Canal.
 
my3sons said:
You can also do the western Erie Canal with the 400 by laying the radar mast on the arch. The first time was a bear, I think the factory used 5200. I keep saying that I’m going to put a hinge on it, but just don’t seem to get around to it. We do it in about 1/2 hr now so not too big of a deal. We can do it right along the way, no special tools needed. We use the western Erie to travel east. It’s less hassle to put down the radar than to deal with the Welland Canal.
View attachment 72038

View attachment 72040
Click to expand...
YEAH, this is what I'm talking about!!! First hand experience on Club Sea Ray.
 
Boat Guy said:
I've never seen the appeal of Chicago....Speak up if you want to correct me....Crime / politics / cold / no ocean nearby / etc....

But, the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal actually takes the cake of disgust....The whole canal is marred with crap, literally...

When Chicago had a crap problem, instead of fixing it themselves and building the infrastructure they simply figured out they could build this waterway and release their crap down river to be someone else's problem....So they did...and it contaminated the waterway below....Kind of like how they deal with things today.

Got to ask...Why don't they simply build a higher bridge? What is the name of this bridge?
Click to expand...
Ouch. Back in the day, Chicago wasn't that bad. :) The sanitary & ship canal takes treated wastewater down stream and allows barges to a from the lakes to the rivers. So while disgusting, it isn't just "crap" and it's important economics. Reversing the Chicago River via the canal has helped keep the lake front water clean and the beaches doable.

The bridge is an old Santa Fe railroad bridge at mile 300.5. It's a swing bridge that no longer opens. It's right here in Lemont, IL. https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6788782,-87.9998997,68m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
 
Boat Guy said:
Guys, respectfully, I did see the info in the first post....Yet, when I search "19'6" bridge on the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal" I'm not seeing it... I see reference to it, but no bridge...That's why I asked for a name...
Click to expand...
Sorry, I wasn't trying to be a smart alec. It's all I've ever heard it called. Mike
 
Golfman25 said:
Ouch. Back in the day, Chicago wasn't that bad. :) The sanitary & ship canal takes treated wastewater down stream and allows barges to a from the lakes to the rivers. So while disgusting, it isn't just "crap" and it's important economics. Reversing the Chicago River via the canal has helped keep the lake front water clean and the beaches doable.

The bridge is an old Santa Fe railroad bridge at mile 300.5. It's a swing bridge that no longer opens. It's right here in Lemont, IL. https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6788782,-87.9998997,68m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
Click to expand...

Perhaps you would like to read this...

https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-river-tour/how-chicago-reversed-river-animated

I've know about the limitations of height due to some bridge over the ICW for years. Though, I never looked into it until now...Kind of makes me scratch my head that this limitation hasn't been rectified. It looks like the railroad bridge is still used and they don't want to fund raising it..
 
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