IG 44 Trawler Bridge Clearance

[DBG8492]

I searched, but didn't find any good answers. I know "it varies by boat," but it doesn't typically vary by feet, it varies by inches unless something really drastic has been done.

We are looking at n IG 44 (pic below). Broker said that the owner stated that the bridge clearance with the hard top is 22 feet - but I can't see it in that pic. The distance from the water to the back of that hardtop looks less than the distance from the water to the top of the radar arch on our Marine Trader and that was 18.5 feet with the radar dome installed.

Does anyone know what the average bridge clearance is on the IG 44? I would measure it myself, but the boat is 500 miles from me and if there's zero chance it's under 19.5, then I'm not wasting the drive there and back. I figured someone here might know.

 

[BruceK]

The IG Owners Manual for my IG36 included displacements and heights for a number of IG models. I don`t have mine anymore but you could check where the owner found that figure. Hardtop may be higher than the factory bimini. Then there`s aerials, but they can be adjusted for bridges(if you remember).

 

[Comodave]

I would ask the broker how that number was generated. If he can’t give you a definite answer then ask him to go measure it as you want to come look at the boat, if he isn’t willing then move on to the next boat, but explain to him why you will not come look at the boat.

 

[DBG8492]

I would ask the broker how that number was generated. If he can’t give you a definite answer then ask him to go measure it as you want to come look at the boat, if he isn’t willing then move on to the next boat, but explain to him why you will not come look at the boat.

Yeah, that's what I ended up doing. They said the owner said they measured it before listing it - and that they would go back out and personally measure it next week to verify.

 

[Delta Riverat]

I can tell you it's not 22 feet on your boat. It wasn't that on mine (same boat) even measured to the top of the anchor light on the mast. And you don't have a mast.

 

[ranger58sb]

Maybe the "22 feet" included the VHF antenna mast height?

-Chris

 

[Bmarler]

Looks more like 16-18 feet, depending on if there’s anything mounted to the hard top.

 

[Jeff F]

What's your 19.5 constraint? If it's a one-time thing like the dreaded Chicago fixed bridge you could drop the hard top.

That said, I'd bet it's not more than 19'.

 

[DBG8492]

What's your 19.5 constraint? If it's a one-time thing like the dreaded Chicago fixed bridge you could drop the hard top.

That said, I'd bet it's not more than 19'.

Yeah - I'm going to wait until they get back to me, and if it's anywhere close, I'm going up there to check for myself, and yes, if necessary, I will consider dropping the top just to make the bridge if the boat fits all our other wants and needs for post-loop living.

But I'm thinking she's under 19.5 already and will be very shocked if it comes back differently.

 

[jgtrucking]

I am 27' to the top of the mast, but with the mast down I am 16'8" to the top of the canvas. Your hard top looks slightly taller but I would bet still under 17' 6" for sure!

 

[DBG8492]

I am 27' to the top of the mast, but with the mast down I am 16'8" to the top of the canvas. Your hard top looks slightly taller but I would bet still under 17' 6" for sure!

This is super valuable info - thank you, sir!

Nice boat and blog, by the way

 

[SIBERNUT]

I would take a known value on the picture and extrapolate. Like the height of the glass in the pic, or the portlight. If glass is 20" on that boat, do " X" number of " glasses" waterline to top.

 

[DBG8492]

I would take a known value on the picture and extrapolate. Like the height of the glass in the pic, or the portlight. If glass is 20" on that boat, do " X" number of " glasses" waterline to top.

Heh - I actually did that already. That's what started me down the road to questioning the height reported by the broker.

I loaded that pic into Gimp, used a copy of the stanchion closest to the aft corner of the hard top as a "measuring stick" figuring it was about 36" then I pasted as many as it took to get from the hardtop to the waterline. Each red dot is one "stick." There are six of them and the last one at the bottom seems to hit the waterline right about where I marked it with a white line. So - somewhere between 16 and 18 feet.

 

[DBG8492]

Got word from the broker today. The tallest point on the hardtop is 18 feet, not including the radome.

So, we won't be able to transit through downtown Chicago without taking the top off or figuring out a way to lower it under 17'5". But if that's the only thing we will miss, then I'm good. We could take a tour boat through there if we really want to...

We are going to go take a look once the weather lets up.

Thanks everyone!

 

[ranger58sb]

Got word from the broker today. The tallest point on the hardtop is 18 feet, not including the radome.

So, we won't be able to transit through downtown Chicago without taking the top off or figuring out a way to lower it under 17'5". But if that's the only thing we will miss, then I'm good. We could take a tour boat through there if we really want to...

On another site, a poster there said recently the Loop bridge height is 19'3" and his boat (like ours, nominally 18'4" air draft) got through after filling completely with fuel and then only lowering his masthead light (which is on a swivel). Said he didn't have to do anything about his radome.

-Chris

 

[DBG8492]

On another site, a poster there said recently the Loop bridge height is 19'3" and his boat (like ours, nominally 18'4" air draft) got through after filling completely with fuel and then only lowering his masthead light (which is on a swivel). Said he didn't have to do anything about his radome.

-Chris

I'm assuming that is the railroad bridge on the Illinois Waterway, not the Cermak Road bridge on the downtown Chicago route.

I understand that the Illinois Waterway bridge is 19.7' or so, and the one on the downtown route is 17' (or 17 plus up to six inches, depending on who you talk to).

We would definitely be good for the Waterway bridge, but not the downtown route. However, like I said, if we can't, we can't - the rest of the trip will be worth it.

Having said that, I also read somewhere else that if you can clear 18'6", you can go through downtown Chicago to the Cermak bridge, then turn around and go back - it's 1 hour each way, so a 2-hour round trip. That might be worth it.

 

[ranger58sb]

I'm assuming that is the railroad bridge on the Illinois Waterway, not the Cermak Road bridge on the downtown Chicago route.

I understand that the Illinois Waterway bridge is 19.7' or so, and the one on the downtown route is 17' (or 17 plus up to six inches, depending on who you talk to).

We would definitely be good for the Waterway bridge, but not the downtown route. However, like I said, if we can't, we can't - the rest of the trip will be worth it.

Having said that, I also read somewhere else that if you can clear 18'6", you can go through downtown Chicago to the Cermak bridge, then turn around and go back - it's 1 hour each way, so a 2-hour round trip. That might be worth it.

Ah. Didn't realize there are two bridges, and didn't understand the distinction.

-Chris

 

[tstrawler]

I searched, but didn't find any good answers. I know "it varies by boat," but it doesn't typically vary by feet, it varies by inches unless something really drastic has been done.

We are looking at n IG 44 (pic below). Broker said that the owner stated that the bridge clearance with the hard top is 22 feet - but I can't see it in that pic. The distance from the water to the back of that hardtop looks less than the distance from the water to the top of the radar arch on our Marine Trader and that was 18.5 feet with the radar dome installed.

Does anyone know what the average bridge clearance is on the IG 44? I would measure it myself, but the boat is 500 miles from me and if there's zero chance it's under 19.5, then I'm not wasting the drive there and back. I figured someone here might know.

View attachment 160992

My 44 Kong & Halvorsen is 18' with the radar

 

[Comodave]

Got word from the broker today. The tallest point on the hardtop is 18 feet, not including the radome.

So, we won't be able to transit through downtown Chicago without taking the top off or figuring out a way to lower it under 17'5". But if that's the only thing we will miss, then I'm good. We could take a tour boat through there if we really want to...

We are going to go take a look once the weather lets up.

Thanks everyone!

If you go fast enough it will make it under…

 

[Chip W]

I searched, but didn't find any good answers. I know "it varies by boat," but it doesn't typically vary by feet, it varies by inches unless something really drastic has been done.

We are looking at n IG 44 (pic below). Broker said that the owner stated that the bridge clearance with the hard top is 22 feet - but I can't see it in that pic. The distance from the water to the back of that hardtop looks less than the distance from the water to the top of the radar arch on our Marine Trader and that was 18.5 feet with the radar dome installed.

Does anyone know what the average bridge clearance is on the IG 44? I would measure it myself, but the boat is 500 miles from me and if there's zero chance it's under 19.5, then I'm not wasting the drive there and back. I figured someone here might know.

View attachment 160992

In response to your question about the height of the IG 44 boat you are interested in buying, I am the owner of that boat. I just measured the height and to the best of my ability, it measured 16.5 feet. I put the hard top on a number of years ago. The owner’s manual shows a height of 17 feet before the hard top was installed. It originally had a tower, which I assume was the 17 foot height. The radar dome, the weather direction/ wind speed instrument, and the anchor light are on the top. I couldn’t measure them but would estimate 2 feet. However, I have taken the weather instrument off getting into a covered slip and the anchor light could be removed as well. The broker measured the height to be 18 feet. Thank you for your interest.

 

[DBG8492]

In response to your question about the height of the IG 44 boat you are interested in buying, I am the owner of that boat. I just measured the height and to the best of my ability, it measured 16.5 feet. I put the hard top on a number of years ago. The owner’s manual shows a height of 17 feet before the hard top was installed. It originally had a tower, which I assume was the 17 foot height. The radar dome, the weather direction/ wind speed instrument, and the anchor light are on the top. I couldn’t measure them but would estimate 2 feet. However, I have taken the weather instrument off getting into a covered slip and the anchor light could be removed as well. The broker measured the height to be 18 feet. Thank you for your interest.

Hey Chip - thank you for this!

Just so you know - we're planning (if the weather cooperates) to head up there this weekend and see her. We're about 400 miles south of there, otherwise, we would have been up a lot sooner because we really like the look and layout of this boat. Just been difficult between the weather and the holidays.

16.5 is better for us than 18 - but 18 was doable.

Thanks again!

 

[Chip W]

Thanks for your response. Glad you’re coming up to take a look at her. I hope the height works out ok. I have had the boat for 26 years and couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Hope you like her.