As I see it the extra HP against a very fast current allows the engine to reach higher RPM hence keeping the boat at hull speed and not dropping back
Horrifying Experience
- Thread starter hmason
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As I see it the extra HP against a very fast current allows the engine to reach higher RPM hence keeping the boat at hull speed and not dropping back
Egregious
Guru
That bridge is bad. I had to apply nearly full power to keep control against the current once. It was white knuckle for sure. Another time I was heading through Elliot Cut just south of Charleston, current against me, and there's a guy in a jon boat anchored in the mouth of the cut where the current is strongest. I'm making a huge wake just to maintain headway and control and throws one guy right out of the boat when our wake hits him. Dumb people... P.S. he was OK, nobody hurt.
Fletcher500
Guru
The craziest place I have ever seen for bridge currents was the Golden Gate. A vast amount of water is trying to escape through a small opening on an Ebb. The titdal model they have in Sausalito? Is fun to see.
Respect to the pilots and commercial folks who run through there on smaller boats.
Respect to the pilots and commercial folks who run through there on smaller boats.
markpierce
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As I see it the extra HP against a very fast current allows the engine to reach higher RPM hence keeping the boat at hull speed and not dropping back
My boat can readily maintain hull (maximum with well less than 80 HP) speed through the water regardless of the current. Doesn't yours?
OP
OP
hmason
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Plus you can see my house running between the Wonderwood bridge and the Atlantic Blvd bridge!
Hmm I would have stopped for a cold one had I known. I sure needed it. I saw an Alaskan heading north as I was entering New Smyrna. Was that you?
caltexflanc
Guru
Stop that!
He would miss a beautiful natural part of Florida.
Which he won't see when he gets to the concrete jungles further south.
Plus you can see my house running between the Wonderwood bridge and the Atlantic Blvd bridge!
There's a nice area between Palm Valley and St Augustine and we liked to anchor off Pine Island in the oxbow. That's about it, been there done that.
BruceK
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The main problem is anticipation, especially if you are a "virgin" to the particular bridge or set of circumstances. And the circumstances can vary greatly. It would be good if we could distill some basic lessons out of the thread, but seems it is each place, and each tide, breeze, or combination, which creates the hazard. Local area knowledge, expert operator, must be big pluses, high vigilance and observation always, and knowing when we can expect hazard. As with many things, it`s the unexpected which gets you.
Experience counts for a lot,I suspect some responses will appear automatic, but in fact be well based on experience. I suspect it was that (or sheer ass) which saved Howard and others from the unexpected.
Experience counts for a lot,I suspect some responses will appear automatic, but in fact be well based on experience. I suspect it was that (or sheer ass) which saved Howard and others from the unexpected.
caltexflanc
Guru
I don't recall any issues going through there, perhaps we were always close to slack the couple times we did. Of course, no barge either. For you Active Captain aficionados is this marked as a hazard? If not, why don't you?
psneeld
Guru
As I see it the extra HP against a very fast current allows the engine to reach higher RPM hence keeping the boat at hull speed and not dropping back
Nope, boat speed through the water is just that, current or not.
menzies
Guru
Nope, she is tied up until we head for St Augustine on Nov 17th for the start of Night Of Lights.
Then Abacos in March through April, Chesapeake June through August.
Marlinmike
Guru
We have a similar situation by us with Shinnecock Locks on Long Island, certain parts of the day they leave the locks open and the water really flows through, bouncing off walls etc. When no traffic I can throw down the tabs and give it a good amount of throttle, but if I'm going through on a weekend and other boats around there is a heck of a lot of wheel movement on my part.
Glad you made it through safe and sound!
Glad you made it through safe and sound!
MurrayM
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AusCan
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A full displacement boat won't maintain hull speed over ground against a strong current, regardless of how much horsepower it has.
Mark, your extra horsepower may may make up the speed lost in a light current, but with a 10 knot current, you would be going backwards.
sbu22
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Tip of the hat to MurrayM. Go see http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/school-hard-knocks-33998.html
markpierce
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Should have been done at the time of the boat's blessing/launching.
markpierce
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Yes, but I was speaking of speed through water. Yes, it is possible to maintain hull speed and go backward because of an opposing fast current.
Sparks5501
Veteran Member
Thank you for sharing your experience. That is something I wasn't aware of. We have not been where there is a lot of current.
menzies
Guru
I am taking my little 11' Novurania tender through there later this morning to lift at the ramp to have the trim motor replaced. Thankfully I will be running with the current this time. Should be a blast!
nemier
Senior Member
Unfortunately, I got about 40 of them,,,
Think I'd need a Man-of-the-cloth on hand if I was going to divulge though.
cappy208
Guru
A suicide knob on the wheel is most helpful in this case. My boat has one on salon helm. It is much easier to throw the helm faster with it than from up top which doesn’t have one. I have found myself going down to salon for tight maneuvers just to be able to use it.
I have SN on bridge helm. Not on salon helm. Then again... 99.9% of my time is piloting from bridge. SN's are great. for boating! Have one on our runabout too!
jdud133
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We went through here today. The current was against us and the admiral applied almost all the power we had to make it through. We were heading south and just before we entered beneath the bridge was the most challenging. The current was throwing the bow around like it was nothing.
menzies
Guru
We did yesterday as well on Sonas on our way to St Augustine. It was brutal. The Admiral started off on the fly bridge with me but ran below and grabbed a fender ready to throw it where it might be needed. They need to get that work completed quickly.
Are you in St Augustine?
Choices
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