AdnamsGirl Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 From the Great Yarmouth Mercury today ...... I hope it's not another one of Clive's! http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/boating_holidaymakers_stuck_under_bridge_at_st_olaves_1_1469163 Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Ouch!!! From memory I think there is only about 8 feet at high tide?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boycee Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 An eyewitness friend of mine tells me it was Starfire the 42ft centre cockpit boat from Alpha craft with a fixed canopy Boycee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranworthbreeze Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Hello NorfolkNog, The St Olaves bridge is 8 ft 4 inches at average high tide, we have been under it at low water once with just 2 inches to spare (we need 9ft 8 inches). Regards Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Thanks Alan, that explains it! Just been looking at Starfire in the Hoseasons brochure and I would guess it needs around 8ft 3 to 8ft 6, so no wonder it got stuck if it was near high tide! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boycee Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 You are right Howard Alpha centre cockpits need 8ft 6" with the roof up.Apparently the roof was badly damaged and she was stuck for almost an hour, although the crew were quite close to the bank when rescued,but she could not be freed until the tide had turned sufficiently Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I sometimes wonder............ I cannot believe that there isn't an air-height limit plate near the instrument panel and there are certainly tidal gauges both sides of the St Olaves bridge... I know Clive (and I presume the others) are quite phlegmatic about it all.. but...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teadaemon Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 It's definitely not just hirers. A couple of years ago I was stood on Ludham Bridge and spotted a very nice newish aft-cockpit cruiser with a green canopy heading towards the bridge. I did think they looked a bit high, but assumed the helm might know what they were doing. As they went under the bridge, it became very apparent from the tearing noises that they didn't, and after getting momentarily stuck, the boat emerged from under the bridge, the canopy now with added ventilation from a number of tears. One wouldn't like to speculate, but the way the boat then proceeded to weave up the river, one might suspect that the helm's judgement was somewhat compromised in some way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodall_m1 Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 It's definitely not just hirers..... the boat emerged from under the bridge, the canopy now with added ventilation from a number of tears. One wouldn't like to speculate, but the way the boat then proceeded to weave up the river, one might suspect that the helm's judgement was somewhat compromised in some way... Speculation ? And how good are you at steering when the crew are giving you grief over your silly mistake and how much it is going to cost to fix whilst hitting you around the ears with a rolling pin to make sure you get the message. ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donnygeoff Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Investagative journalism at it's best....... They spoke to a person who only heard about it, this person then came to the conclussion that the boat was too big for the bridge..... and... After the journalist left he missed a big fight as another person said that the boat was NOT too big, but the tide was too high for it to fit under...allegedley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hylander Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 The tide is very high at the moment or rather it was about an hour ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I was at Littlehampton yesterday and noticed the tide on the Arun approx half a mile inshore was the highest I've ever seen there on 30 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranworthbreeze Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 The tides may be high at the moment but all bridges have height boards well in advance of the bridge and at high tide these can be easily read unike at low tide where the boards are worn. If the boat does have a plate showing the air draft it is not rocket science to know if you can get under the bridge. As I have said our air draft is 9ft 8 inches and usually we gauge for 10 foot clearance, when coming down river through Yarmouth if we can see 7 full rungs of the ladders at the Yarmouth yacht station we can get through the bridges, this is a good guide for us and being as the height boards going down river are few and our worn out at the bottom of the boards you can not see the height in time for the bridges. Regards Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broads01 Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 St Olaves bridge can catch out the unaware. It gets much less publicity than the Potter Heighams and Wroxhams of this world but add in high tide and it can be very tricky. I had a dodgy moment there on Distant Horizon (which needs about 8 ft 3 as I recall) 3 years ago. I coasted towards the bridge as gently as I could, but going with the tide ended up drifting through diagnally with about an inch to spare. I vowed to give the bridge more respect after that experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExUserGone Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 For those less experienced helms here's a good trick to remember when heading for a low bridge on the tide, turn and reverse through so you can pull away from it much easier and have far greater steering control, you throttle forward with less speed than the tide is running at so the boat goes backwards very slowly and controlled, it's the same idea as mooring into the tide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diesel falcon Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 If he was going down river it,s very easy to miss the height gauge, as it,s rather like a speed camara..you only see it when it,s too late! and it,s in diabolical state of repair,the next one,s on the bridge with the tide running on a spring very easy to get it wrong and then it,s too late,and if a novice as he was there,s big signs saying don,t turn near the bridge!!. There,s normaly 8 ft 6 on a normal tide at high water..less on springs the tide runs at about 3 knots aswell. I see boats coming down tide from the bridge and belt past at 8mph right past my berth so it,s from first hand knowledge i am actually thinking of taking numbers as a little tired of nearly spilling my drinks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quo vadis Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Its only weak lemon drink Trev it wont stain the carpet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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