Westport 130' Yacht going through Ft Lauderdale's New River (really nice video)

That was very nicely done, thanks.

Very enjoyable digital cruise. The hi-speed run was fun! Thanks for posting.

Very well done and interesting, always good to see things from a another perspective.

Criteria for getting towed?

Great video!

Obviously as boat size increases there are times when having tow vessels make sense, but I'm not familiar with the criteria used for calling them in for yachts this size. Any captains want to provide a summary? Factors I can think of might include regulations, weather, local knowledge, insurance requirements...

Thanks in advance for providing a little education!

At 1:40 seconds, was the film slowed down for the Florida Bend?

Can it have something to do with the Manatee Zones?

The speed is well below Manatee hunting velocity.

It has all to do with good judgement, "discretion being the better part of valor" and a recognition of and balancing of the exposure to risk that trip involves.

The bridge and immediate left turn at the 1 minute mark .......... well it didn't look possible considering the length of your vessel. Sweet Video!!!!

Very well done indeed. How long is the trip in real time?

Great Video of a Beautiful Trip

From the starting point to where the New River hits the Intracoastal is 5.5 miles or to the fuel dock from beginning is 6.2 miles. So an hour give or take to make the trip. My guesstimate from casual observation is that very few boats under 100' use towing. Between 100' and 130' roughly 30% of the yachts use towing to make that trip. When you get past 130' the percentage begins to increase with length. In previous threads people have commented that insurance has something to do with using tugs in tight spaces. If you make the trip during peak tide flow you also have to deal with significant current. Here the trip is described in detail: http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/marinas-waypoints/11282-navigating-new-river-ft-lauderdale-fl.html#post77857

Thanks for the info Disco. That seems to be one of the few threads I have not come across yet

I was talking to a tow guy just the other day and he said that when being towed, any insurance issues/claims due to damage during transit are under the towing company. That may be one reason they use tows. Also, the river gets tight the further in you go, like heading to Cable or Roscioli yards.

Thank you again, that is great.

Knowing the route, it is fun to experience it at ski-boat speed. Wonder if the skipper dug in deep for a huge slalom roostertail, washing onto the overpass.

It's about $1000 each way to get towed up/down the river as I recall. Much cheaper than an insurance claim.

great video

Nice video!

Definitely also gives an appetite to visit Fort Lauderdale, especially by boat.

Bruno

Sweet video, cruise speed shot very cool.

Very cool scenery. Ft. Lauderdale seems to have more boats than the netherlands

Why they have/need the towing boat? Only insurance reasons? I think they can maneuver with the bow thruster through the small curves.