Clearances

[seandwyer]

Hey Folks,

I've been meaning to do some sailing in areas where the access is a ramp up river where several bridges need to be motored beneath. I've been looking on the web and can't see anywhere that the coastguard or some such reliable agency has a bridge clearance listing. I know one or two of the bridges I'm talking about have markings showing height etc, but I don't know about a few others. Does anyone know of a listing where I might find this info?

Thanks

[UCanoe_2]

Sean, I don't know how much help this will be for your area, but NOAA nautical charts show clearances under bridges, power lines, etc. The heights are measured from high tide, so at low tide you are sure to have more room.

Many years ago I had a set of charts for the Ohio River. They were published by the US Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for river navigation improvements. I don't positively remember these charts showing bridge clearances, but I think they must have. Nobody wants to knock the stack off a towboat pushing a bunch of barges.

You might also check with your state highway department. Somewhere they ought to have specifications and plans for the bridges.

[seandwyer]

Hey - no, this is all good stuff. I'd not considered NOAA - I was on the Coast Guard site yesterday and there were only specs for really big bodies of water. I'm looking at putting in on the Licking river just a bit south of the Ohio - I know barges come down there, but I don't know that they are quite as tall as I am so I want to make sure before I clang into a bridge. I figure I must be about 27 or more feet from the surface of the water. I found a chart for the OH, but those bridges all have graduated markings on the piers so you always know where you stand, and usually you have 40' or more.

Thanks!