Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

[striker1211]

This whole thread is hypothetical so please don't laugh... I have a bridge on a chain of lakes that my windshield is just 2 inches too low for. The bridge is right in the middle of the chain. I have been toying with the idea of taking the windshield off, but I really like the functionality of it. I must say I dislike hitting a june bug with my forehead at 35 mph. Anyway, I have searched for a bracket of some type to quickly remove the (glass) windshield and I do not think they exist. My solution is to find some type of ballast to get the bow down. I am pretty sure the motor will clear it. The only ample source of ballast I can figure is water. Is there some sort of collapsible container that could store the water and disperse it across the floor safely? I would need about 75 gallons. I would be willing to buy a separate 12V high GPM pump just for this purpose (plus i could use it as backup). Is there a simpler solution to this problem that I am missing? I would just flood the bilge area but that does not seem too wise... thoughts?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

I think every wakeboard boat has a bladder system like that with a pump. McGregor sailboats had a system like that too.

 

[striker1211]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

I think every wakeboard boat has a bladder system like that with a pump. McGregor sailboats had a system like that too.

I just saw a system on youtube a guy watch pitching. Looks a bit more involved. I now realize I need to lock the bags or buckets that I use in position so if they started rolling the boat would not capsize.... the research continues...

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

Just bring a couple heavy girls with ya! Get ya under that bridge and have lots o fun too! eace:

 

[Chris_94_Sprint_TX]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

There are some bladders here at onlyinboards under ski boat accessories and category fat sacks

Chris

 

[roscoe]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

This whole thread is hypothetical so please don't laugh... I have a bridge on a chain of lakes that my windshield is just 2 inches too low for. The bridge is right in the middle of the chain. I have been toying with the idea of taking the windshield off, but I really like the functionality of it. I must say I dislike hitting a june bug with my forehead at 35 mph. Anyway, I have searched for a bracket of some type to quickly remove the (glass) windshield and I do not think they exist. My solution is to find some type of ballast to get the bow down. I am pretty sure the motor will clear it. The only ample source of ballast I can figure is water. Is there some sort of collapsible container that could store the water and disperse it across the floor safely? I would need about 75 gallons. I would be willing to buy a separate 12V high GPM pump just for this purpose (plus i could use it as backup). Is there a simpler solution to this problem that I am missing? I would just flood the bilge area but that does not seem too wise... thoughts?

If you have 2" of clearance, whats the problem?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

I don't know if I'd recommend it or not but I have heard of people flooding the bilge with a certain amount of water to increase bridge clearance.... 2" shouldn't take much and afterwards the bilge pump would pump it out

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

What kind of boat, and are you absolutely sure your water levels are stable enough so say its 2.000" inches?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

You could modify the windshield bracket with a piano hinge so it can be folded down. Of course that only makes sense if you plan to traverse that bridge on a regular basis. You have any antennas that need to be folded down?

The ballast idea (except the "girl" method) is a dumb idea, and very likely a safety issue.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

what size and type of boat are we talking about here

 

[nimmor]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

I'd look into the hinge ideal mentioned.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

I'd just pull the drain plug for a few minutes and lower the boat enough to get through, then run the bilge pump...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

I'd be getting the fat sacks if it were me. Easy to position, and with a 12V pump, you could fill/empty the sacks very quickly. What kind of boat are we talking about here, and how low of a bridge are we talking about?

 

[agallant80]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

All of these ideas sound fine until you get under the bridge and a wake comes. Unless there is a vast amount of boating pleasure on the other side of the bridge I would forget about it.

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

Yeah, I'm with him ^. Is there a boat launch somewhere on the other side? I really wouldn't want to risk the damage. You're boat is gonna be movin' around a bit, so tight clearances can't guarantee safe passage. What ya got for a boat here?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

Just depends on the conditions at the time of crossing, and the width of the bridge. Simple two-lane bridge with good visibility to traffic on the other side? Sure give it a shot. As a matter of fact, there is a bridge near our lakehouse that we regularly pass under which has about 7' of clearance, but the bigger cruisers (radar arches) can't get through which makes it a great fishing/skiing area due to the restriction on boat size. I have watched a large boat creep within an inch of the bottom of the bridge while the occupants ducked/pulled the boat through by hand, lol.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

You can get ballast bags that hold more than 1000# and won't roll anywhere. Besides, you would only have water in it for the distance of the bridge channel. Then you empty it a stow it, unless you take up wake boarding. You can also fill cup an old waterbed mattress. The pumps drop over the side to fill the bag and attach to the bag to pump them out.

 

[Chris_94_Sprint_TX]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

All of these ideas sound fine until you get under the bridge and a wake comes. Unless there is a vast amount of boating pleasure on the other side of the bridge I would forget about it.

Didn't think about this issue. I would only risk this passage with maybe a bass boat if no ramps exist on other side or even a sandy/rocky area where my truck could not get traction, NEVER want to risk safety for anything.

Chris

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

Can I come and take movies? Sounds like a great YouTube misAdventure

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: Good idea, bad idea? Plan to get under a low bridge....

Can I come and take movies? Sounds like a great YouTube misAdventure

I'd like to see your movie please. lol