280 DA bridge clearance?

[srt8mag]

2006 280 DA with 4.3's and generator. Does anyone know the distance from waterline to top of light and/or tv antenna on top of the arch?

 

[Presentation]

11' and over is ideal.

10 1/2' is "hold your breath" close. At 10 ½’ a random wake or wave at the wrong time will cause you to hit. I have done it many times but do not recomend you do as I do.

I have a radar on top of the arch in the center and the glowmax off to one side.

Put your antenna down. Put your anchor light down.

 

[srt8mag]

Are you 10.5 with your radar?

 

[Presentation]

Are you 10.5 with your radar?

Yes

My Radar dome is not on a post. It’s attached directly to the arch.

 

[Henry Boyd]

We can get under 9.5' (no radar & light and antenna down). Bella probably rides higher than your boat (no gen & single engine). You can download the sales spec sheet on your boat and it should have a dimensional drawing.

Henry

 

[srt8mag]

This is great news. Thanks much.

 

[Presentation]

Henry,

Do you have a TV (Glowmax) antenna?

9' 6" sounds low.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Doug,

No TV, just the anchor light and a RAY 125 GPS antenna off on the side.

We have a couple of drawbridges here that won't/can't open immediately on demand because of road and rail traffic issues so we have learned we can get through when the marker boards are between 10 and 9. I'm also talking about no wake minimum headway speed as well.

What are you getting your height measurement from?

Henry

 

[Presentation]

What are you getting your height measurement from?

Hey Henry,

I hear you loud and clear about not wanting to wait for bridges.

Between Oshkosh and Winneconne we have 5 vehicle bridges that open. They open in the middle, meaning the bridge splits in half and opens upward. At the very edge is a light that hangs down. Each light has a pole, like a piece of pipe, and a cable. The pole hangs straight up and down. The pole is attached to the bridge via a swivel. Then a cable goes from the light to the bridge, further in. I assume this cable is so the lights do not bang into one another as the lights sway in the wind or from bridge movement.

I snagged a cable one time. I snagged it on our anchor light. My anchor light was straight up at the time. The dumb captain (me) forgot to put it down.

I was able to backup then continue forward inches to one side and clear. The markers on the side of the bridge had the clearance at 10’ 6”. Back at the dock I put my anchor light up to see how far it sticks above the radar dome, the next highest item on our boat. The anchor light is higher but not much higher, about 5"-6” maximum. Keep in mind that I snagged, not just touched the cable.

Later I went under this bridge with the anchor light down and cleared, barely.

So I know I need 10’ 6” and this leaves me less then 5” to spare, more like 3”. 3” is a very small clearance.

Note: I did not get out a tape measure and check the bridges markers. I assume them to be correct.

How long is my light pole? I don’t know. About 1’ I suppose. I don’t think its much over if it is over 1’ so if I had no radar and had the light pole down I would estimate the top of the arch would touch at 9’6”, or possibly clear a fraction of a inch.

 

[Half Off]

My rule of thumb is 11' minimum, why take the chance of an unexpected wave.

 

[Woody]

My trusty SR literature says 8'91/2" waterline to top of arch.

 

[dpvandy01]

Any ideas on the height while on a trailer?? Ball-park of course knowing that every trailer is jigged differently, heavy duty tandem axel vs tri axel etc.... I'm yet to order my trailer from Loadmaster but I wanted to get a close approximation

 

[Sundancer]

My rule of thumb is 11' minimum, why take the chance of an unexpected wave.

You're looking for bridge clearance advice and Half Off posts 11 Feet. You gotta go with it and wonder where he got the name!! That's some S O U N D advice!!!

 

[Presentation]

My trusty SR literature says 8'91/2" waterline to top of arch.

8' 9 1/2" - thank you.

What literature?

 

[280 SeaRay]

dealers (sales folks) will have a little black book with this information. You could also call SeaRay customer service for this information. I know that my 280DA is around 13' 6" tall on the trailer anchor light down... to the top of the TV antenna..... but that does not help with your bridge clearance number. Good luck.

 

[Woody]

Any ideas on the height while on a trailer?? Ball-park of course knowing that every trailer is jigged differently, heavy duty tandem axel vs tri axel etc.... I'm yet to order my trailer from Loadmaster but I wanted to get a close approximation

I have a tri-axle Eagle trailer. The keel is 19" off the ground. When I trailer the boat I always remove the glowmax and lay the light down. Keel to top of arch is supposed to be 10'7" + 19" = 12'2". I also add 3" for the glowmax base. I figure my boat on my trailer is 12'6". Note: I have not actually verified this by measuring, but I intend to. I do think if not right on it is at least very close. You'll find that tri-axle trailers of the same brand/capacity are lower than the tandems(not alot). This is due to different wheel/tire size and springs.

 

[Woody]

8' 9 1/2" - thank you.

What literature?

Some dimensions are in the books that come with the boat. But I also have the little black book(actually they're not always black).