We hinged everything on the Sunseeker. A bit different way but same basic effect. Top cleared with no issue, even Chicago. A lot of Hatteras' have had hinged arches.
Of course our heights were barefoot so we still must watch our airdraft even more carefully when wearing our shoes. Rodger pointed out varying water levels and the Erie and Oswego vary a lot. Boat loads can be several inches too. And then there are waves. Pretty much guaranteed a wake just the time you're easing under the lowest bridge.
Thanks for the information, I did call Hatteras before asking the question here but the person I need to obtain the info from was not there for at least a week. I plan on calling back as I'm certain they have the build plans and they were fantastic with the older 56 in my care. I'm really not concerned with anything on top of the hardtop, we can remove that without issue and plan to alter everything to hinge back like the photos Roger provided. What I was mostly seeing was if anyone here had some experience with one of these going through because I've actually only ever seen two around the Great Lakes. From what I have seen, all of the Skylounge / enclosed bridge models all have pretty close to the same basic structure, obviously what is up top differs from owner to owner. I really appreciate all of the input this far. Thank you.
As a rule whenever I have to get under a bridge, if it s going to be within a foot I use a spotter. I do this pretty often going up the Miami River, a favorite sightseeing trip... we can clear most of the bridges up to mid tide but considering how poorly maintain the tide gauges are, i use a spotter either on the bow or behind the Skylouge. Just not worth taking a risk.
Barefoot, I used to be a tad over 6'8". So in shoes, I for sure had to watch my AirDraft. Gravity has been winning and I don't hit my head on real door jams as often. Hair does not grow on scalp scars that well.
If you think its close, always have a spotter on the bow! We mostly were worried we wouldn't make it under the bridges on the Erie / Oswego Canal system to get to the Lakes without having to go around the horn. Just in case anyone was wondering, I did receive the measurements from Hatteras today on the particular boat we are most interested in.
That's nice but still only gives you a method to calculate the draft. Basically tells you the top of the hardtop is 12'4" above the bulwark, so measure the bulwark distances and add 12'4". That assumes the boat sitting at a certain angle in the water too. Even assuming that the range is within those charts, all it tells you is if you remove all electronics, and you have the boat full of people, fuel, and water, then it will probably clear the Erie and Oswego route if all pools are at standard elevation and it will definitely not clear some of them if they are at maximum elevation. So, still a "possible" but you'd have to have the boat in perfect weight and then check bridges and pools carefully. 40 pools can be at a somewhat normal elevation and you can then hit two that are very high. Rodger, what is the air draft of the Pacific Mariner that regularly goes through? I'd guess under 20'? As to the spotter, definitely needed, but still for them to prevent you hitting, conditions have to be perfect.
Not sure what his air draft is but the Captain showed me pictures going under the bridge in Oswego and cleared it by one inch.
Well, if their height at max pool is 20', then 19' 11". I know it's something between 19' and 20' because they can clear the Erie and Oswego, but not Chicago.
Here's the canal system's official guide from which that is taken. https://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/bridgeheights.html The one additional piece of information is it tells you where the gage is located.