Need some old Salts to chip in here. Headed south to Mobile, AL from Knoxville Tn. At the moment I'm wondering if it’s possible to get a boat with a 50’ mast down the Tennessee and through the Tombigbee to the Gulf. I have saw the use of water bags or water filled barrels to lean the boat enough to clear low bridges. Im wondering if it would be worth the effort to try or if I should suck it up and carry it and deal with the limited space on deck. Then re-step in Mobile. A couple years ago a replica ship of Columbus’ Pinta sailed up to Chattanooga I know its mast height was 52’ but I couldn’t get an answer of how they got the boat under bridges. Any serious suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!
This link may be of some help. https://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Portals/46/docs/recreation/OP-CO/tenntom/pdfs/nav/bridges.pdf
This is the “Leaning” video I watched many times some years ago: Sailboats are made for these loads on the mast and the rig, and the rudder is made for keeping good steering while slow and “leaned”. (But the loads are supposed to be spread evenly along the mast from a mainsail taking a load during a beam reach, or cross-wind for you lazy power boaters) The weak spot may be the attachment on top of the mast. Better have a yard AND a rigger prepare for that kind of sailing, instead of your redneck buddy asking you to hold his beer while he ties 3,000 lbs of sand bags to your VHF antenna. I have also heard of a main halyard being used to tilt a sailboat over to get it un-stuck from a grounding in the Bahamas. Or so I have been told, never experienced it myself of course..
While I worked SeaTow in B Bay; Yes, we leaned them over this way and drug them off of many a bar and beach.
You worked B. Bay in the past? We sailed there since 1999, probably a hundred times or more, a favorite and easy destination, like a bathtub.. It can blow 30 knots from the East and it is still pleasant cruising in the Bay with a bug-free anchorage at Coon Point from the East breeze and the upper Keys protection from the fetch.
I have lived and worked S fl thru my life. Lots of it pleasant. Lots of it knot. Keep coming back to my swamps. Safer here. Worked KB SeaTow for about a 18 months, 21 years ago. Relief operator for 4-5 days, every other other week. Now that was fun. Was down there when Miami froze(21-22 years ago). Was south of KB bagging a boat off of the grass beds that night. Did not want to come out of the water. Do you remember that barge in front of the Marine Stadium isle? The 55er tied to it, was my office. Used to hang in a hammock looking up at those condos across from us just thinking, they pay millions of dollars just to look down at us on this barge. Owner finally sold and finally moved that barge long after I left. Oh, my boss, his father was a past commodore and ongoing po-pa at KBYC. That made life a lil more comfortable also. Beat the shower rooms at SouthEast or Rickenbacker.
Uh, no.. You mean the Marina Stadium at Virginia Key? We anchored there many times and got kicked out occasionally when there was a rowing competitions the next morning, we usually complied.. After a few years we quit doing Virginia Key, discovered No-Name harbor instead. All good, wish I was back there, not sure what we are doing up North here in Palm Coast..
You were to nice a guy, many told the shell crews to FO and got aweigh with it. We were just on the outside. SouthEast marine is now called Marine Stadium Marine (how original). Google Earth still has vintage views of my 55 tied to that barge. I remember NoName on the south end. Josie and I still anchor off of the old Nixion's dock when we stop over. Never a dull moment still watching the SFBs cut that sand bar short south of there.
I ve moved to Miami (from st Barths) back in 93. Shipped my little 25 footer over. It was fun. Nowadays, you can’t even get into marine stadium on a week end and it’s tight on some week days.. same with no name harbor. The only decent spot left is Eliot as it’s a within Biscayne National Park where Jetskis and charters are not allowed
Yup, Elliot Key, see my blurb above: Coon Point is at Elliot, a favorite anchorage for 20 years + for us.
Columbus Day Regatta? Next month: https://www.tmorra.com/next/Columbus+Day+Regatta Been at Elliot a few times for that event, but it got too wild for us, 3 killed and 50 arrested for drunk driving, literally a clown show.
Like a tow truck on the roads, we picked up and stored the arrested boats. Got an eyeful and made great bux. Shame on the clown show these days. 20 years ago it was not that bad.
It was really rough up to about 15 years ago when authorities started cracking down. The even started bringing a barge with shades to keep both the lost swimmers and those arrested awaiting transportation to the county jail… we haven’t been there in about 10 years, not sure how it is these days.
So with a 50’ mast on Id probably have to do some leaning assuming it’s another 7’ of boat before getting to water line.
No idea, basic off the shelf stuff like heavy duty water bags, tied to a main-halyard, tied to electric winches and lots of balls (or) experience. Yes, doable and a low-tech solution. (Better have a good helmsman onboard)
