I'm an IDIOT - Low Bridge, High Boat

T

Troubadour

New Member
Jul 30, 2008
52
Boston, MA
Boat Info
270AJ
Engines
6.2MX BIII
Well, I made my first rookie mistake on the new boat... While moving through the locks into the Charles River in Boston, I failed to realize that the antenna was much taller than I thought it was... I was following a 260DA and even thought about it at that point that his antenna had plenty of space to spare... Only problem is my antenna was mounted to the top of the arch rather than the side. Needless to say I sheered off the top 4 inches of the antenna. I'll only make that mistake once. I was more concerned with the tight space and oncoming traffic and forgot to lower her. It only took me 30 mins to rig a new antenna and it actually works better than before as I used a much better connector than was there previously.

Lesson learned - pay better attention to stuff above, below and on all sides of the boat. Live and learn.
 
Ahh, it was only 4 inches... At least thats what my wife tells me. :lol::grin::lol:

Thanks for shearing. :thumbsup:
 
My parents were vacationing in the Upper Chesapeake and thought they could get under the movable bridge at the northern end of Tilghman Island without waiting for it to open. They almost made it....1" too high....luckily it only cracked the radome cover, but to this day that's the "Oops Bridge".

Glad your "Oops" was minor, too.
 
Yeah, better the antenna than ripping the arch off... :smt021:grin:
 
Did a similar thing two weeks ago... lost 3 inches of my VHF antenna. I haven't replaced it yet, I merely put a beautiful ring of electric tape around the top of the antenna, and a glob of silicone to seal the broken top. It looks like the butt end of a hockey stick now...

And since I did it, I've noticed a few other antennas around our marina with the same black electric tape ring at the top - it is nice to be in a group of idiots instead of a single moron...
 
Been there, done that. We have a low railroad bridge to clear every time we go out. Clearance is usually between 11 and 13 feet depending on the tides. On a very high tide, we can’t get out period.

Broke the antenna early in the year, just plain forgot to lower it. Don’t forget anymore!

With the radar on the arch and I am fully loaded with fuel and water my clearance from the top of the radar to the water line is 11’ 4” so 11’ 6” is the lowest I will chance
 
If only you had your antenna swept back to a 45 degree angle, this never would've happened!:lol::lol::lol:
 
When I cross under a bridge which may be close, I always ask the admiral to take a look at the antenna as I get close to it and ask her to make sure we'll clear it. I know by the time she makes that determination it would be much too late should we not clear it, but I figure it can't hurt to have someone else to partially take the blame!
 
festivus44 said:
If only you had your antenna swept back to a 45 degree angle, this never would've happened!:lol::lol::lol:
Click to expand...

That's what we do here.... just don't take a picture of your boat with the antenna swept back and post it on this site:smt101
 
At least you are moving s-l-o-w-l-y on the water. I was recently known for locking-up truck and trailer brakes @ about 40 mph before passing under a low railroad bridge. My wife said - isn't that bridge low (11' 6") My reply - its OK the boat windshield is 10' 3" on the trailer. She said - Didn't you leave the bimini frame up......Hang on kids.....Lock'emmmmm-up.......:smt119:smt119:smt119 As it was the town lied about the bridge height - I very slowly proceeded under and cleared by mere inches. However, if I hadn't stopped, Murphy's Law would have dictated different results.....

Sorry to hear about your mishap. Some days it just goes with the boating experience.....:smt101.

tginz
 
I know a guy who broke his antenna running under a bridge. Went right out and bought a new antenna and put it on the back seat of his car, hit the power window button and snapped it right off. His new antenna didn't even make it to the boat. Bought yet another one. Pretty amazing he even told the story.
 
Yeah, I didn't want to compound one issue into another. The silver lining was that I found a major cut in the existing coax to the old antenna, I was able to cut that out and make sure i had a solid connection.
 
What was it, the train bridge at the old locks or the BU bridge( an old train bridge) futher up river...
I have to go through those every time I go out...
My ant's are swept back...LOL!!! festivus44&hack4alivin I am gonna post a pic anyway...LOL!!!
 
It was the rt 28 bridge next to the "old lock" that is also a draw bridge. Let's just say it was raining rust when I went under it. The antenna knocked anything up there that was loose. I thought at first kids were throwing crap at us, but soon realized I was the moron. Oh well! The new docks along the Esplanade are really nice by the way.

Brian
 
Troubadour said:
Well, I made my first rookie mistake on the new boat... While moving through the locks into the Charles River in Boston, I failed to realize that the antenna was much taller than I thought it was... I was following a 260DA and even thought about it at that point that his antenna had plenty of space to spare... Only problem is my antenna was mounted to the top of the arch rather than the side. Needless to say I sheered off the top 4 inches of the antenna. I'll only make that mistake once. I was more concerned with the tight space and oncoming traffic and forgot to lower her. It only took me 30 mins to rig a new antenna and it actually works better than before as I used a much better connector than was there previously.

Lesson learned - pay better attention to stuff above, below and on all sides of the boat. Live and learn.
Click to expand...

Been there, done that, cost me a new antenna.
 
Troubador, now you can add "much better antenna connector" to your upgrade list.
 
Ya, those docks are really nice...
You should head out on Saturday nights next season, they have concerts there every w/e... Lots of big names.
They have the Friday Night Flicks there too on Fridays, obviously, that's fun too.

The ride upstream at night (sunset) is nice too... nice cocktail cruise, the scullers are gone by then, usually ;)
 
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