jillR Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boat ... ights.html The clearance measurements for bridges given are at Average High Water during the summer Bridge ..................Clearance ...Width .......Description VHF ...........................metric imp metric imp Acle...................... 4.00 ..12' ..23.7 ..78' .....Fixed road Beccles Road Old* ......1.98 ..6' 6" 12.6 ..41' 6"... Fixed road* Beccles Bypass New ....3.66 ..12' ..28.9 ..95' .....Fixed road Breydon Fixed ..........3.96 ..13' ..................Fixed spans 12 Breydon Road Lifting ..3.5 ..11' 6" ................Lifting span 12 Haddiscoe New Cut ....7.32 ..24' ..12.1 ..40' .....Fixed road Lowestoft Harbour ..... 2.2 ..7'1" .................Lifting road 14 Ludham ..................2.6 ..8' 6" ..5.4 ..18'..... Fixed road Norwich Carrow ........4.27 ..14' ...12.5 ..30' ....Lifting road 12 Norwich Foundry .......3.05 ..10' ...16.4 ..54' ....Fixed road Norwich Novi Sad ......4.87 ..16' ...16.5 .........Swing pedestrian 12 Carrow Norwich Trowse ........3.05.. 10' ...12.9 ..30' ....Swing rail 12 Postwick Viaduct ......10.7 ..35' ...................Fixed road Potter Heigham New ..2.31 ..7'7" ...22.4 ..73' 6" .Fixed road Potter Heigham Old* ..1.98 ..6'6" ..................Fixed road* Oulton Broad, Lake Lothing 4.57 ..15'.............Swing rail Oulton Broad Mutford .2.4 ..7' 10" ..6.4 ...21' .....Lifting road 14, 73 Reedham ..............3.05 ..10' ....16.6 ..54' 6" ..Swing rail 12 St Olaves ..............2.44 ..8' .....23.9 ..78' 6"....Fixed road Somerleyton ............2.6 ..8' 6" ..16.4 ...54' .....Swing rail 12 Thorpe Rail (each) ....1.83 ..6' .....................Fixed rail Wayford ................2.13 ..7' .....6.1 ...20' ......Fixed road Wroxham Rail .........4.57 ..15' ....14.3 ..47' ......Fixed rail Wroxham Road*....... 2.34 ..7 '6".. 8.00 ..26'6" ....Fixed road* Yarmouth Haven .......2.9 ..9' 6" ...26.8 ..88' ......Lifting road 12 Yarmouth Acle Road ...2.13 ..7'.... 21.3 ...70' .....Fixed road Yarmouth Vauxhall ....2.13 ..6' 9' ..30.4 ...100'.... Fixed foot Air draught when Breydon tide gauge zero Breydon Haven Bure / Vauxhall 18' 1" 12' 9" 12' 2" Bridge Pilots At Potter Heigham you must use the bridge pilot from Phoenix Fleet boatyard. Pilot service available 8.30am-6.00pm, depending on tide and weather conditions. Telephone 01692 670460. height gauges ... http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/riverlevels/120738.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Hi Jill Very useful info, many thanks. Also the Potter pilots use a mobile - number is 07 990 686 097 Also most hirecraft must use the pilot at Wroxham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Details of Wroxham Pilot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 The NSBA website has photos of them too.... http://www.thegreenbook.org.uk/home/bridges.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 That’s really useful if you’re new to the Broads – at least you know what to expect! Nice one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Howard, Hi So are there NO pilots for private boats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodall_m1 Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 The NSBA website has photos of them too.... http://www.thegreenbook.org.uk/home/bridges.asp A very useful link, Strowager, it shows potential skippers what to expect at each bridge. It would be useful if it stated that the clearences given are at "average" high-water levels, and hence will be greater at low-tide, and lower at high-water springs. e.g Yarmouth Vauxhall is 6' 9" but 12' 2" when Breydon Tide Gauge reads zero. Of cousrse the real fun comes when you approach them on a spring tide (low water lower than average, high water GREATER than average) and get through OK going one way and then find yourself caught on the return passage. Still Dilham is a nice place to moor up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 It would be useful if it stated that the clearances given are at "average" high-water levels, and hence will be greater at low-tide, and lower at high-water springs. It's a funny thing, but in all of my Broads guide books, (quite an anorak collection too, modern and historical ), no-one has been brave enough to publish low water clearances, and many were printed before our "claim culture" evolution. I guess it's much safer to publish minimum bridge clearances and let people use vague average rise and fall figures to calculate their own low water maximum clearances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Howard, Hi So are there NO pilots for private boats? Hi John Not at Wroxham, no but I believe the Potter pilots will take private craft but not sure what the fee is. Having said that you couldn’t have bought a better ‘Broads’ boat and I suspect you have more chance than most in getting through. As I’m sure you know (granny, eggs and all that) the bridge gauges at Wroxham are pretty pessimistic and as long as you remember the offset and don’t be put off by the ‘gallery’ it’s a breeze. (but don’t go in the Shed first) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Howard, Hi I'm blaming my wife and daughter for this! (They took me down to the Pub for the night) At 7.30 when I posted that I probably wasn't at my brightest and thought it was a notice for Potter Pilots... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 And in fact we did go to Coltishall earlier this year after a night in The Shed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I'm blaming my wife and daughter for this! (They took me down to the Pub for the night) You lucky person John!!!! Understand perfectly - been there, got T shirt etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 edited in by jill for reference bridge phone numbers ........... Reedham 01603 675372 Somerleyton 01502 730510 A bit hit and miss I know but...... Assuming 6' 6" clearance at AHW, what does this drop to at LW with the current river conditions? Our V20 is 7' 6" with the canopy up and 6' 6" with it down. The screen won't fold down so 6' 6" is the best I can get . My only fear is that if I do get through, I won't get back some 3-4 days later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodall_m1 Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 A bit hit and miss I know but...... Assuming 6' 6" clearance at AHW, what does this drop to at LW with the current river conditions? Our V20 is 7' 6" with the canopy up and 6' 6" with it down. The screen won't fold down so 6' 6" is the best I can get . My only fear is that if I do get through, I won't get back some 3-4 days later. If my memory serves me right Potter is 6' 6" at AHW to the CENTRE of the arch. I often wish that they would give the bridge heights at say 4' left and right of centre on arched bridges as that is usually the bit of the boat that is going to hit or miss... I don't think that there is actually much tidal movement at Potter anyway and I am sure that "expilot" commented on one post that they prefer to go through against the tide to give better handling at a slow SOG. I would say that, even with a private boat, use the pilot as they know how to shoot the bridge, and can tell you whether it will fit or not. Saying that the only time that I have managed to get a hire-boat through Potter the pilot still managed to scrape the bridge with the aft grab rails on the return trip. (is it time to change your avatar photo, I looked at it and thought no chance! I then remembered that you had got the V20) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Yep, I should change my avatar but the Fairline 40 reminds me of the good (very good) times . We'll play it by ear and see what the pilot thinks on the day - thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 I often wish that they would give the bridge heights at say 4' left and right of centre on arched bridges as that is usually the bit of the boat that is going to hit or miss... The radius often had me wondering too, so I posted this on another forum a few months ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Now that's what I call good info - nice post Strowager. Think I'll still use the pilot though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Think I'll still use the pilot though . Absolutely ! As you can see, I covered it in disclaimers. I did it to satisfy my curiosity, and see how much it differed to an old Hamilton's Guide scale drawing from many years ago. It shows how close the gauge is, bearing in mind a squarish peg going through a round hole ! No substitute for the Pilot whenever the levels are tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webntweb Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 Is it still the case that private boats can't use the pilot at Wroxham Bridge? Roy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRascal Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 Roy I believe this is the case on the grounds that the pilot's indemnity insurance would not cover damage caused to a private boat being taken through the bridge so a blanket 'hire boats only' policy exists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webntweb Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 Thanks Robin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob48 Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 very useful information , the good lady and i are planning on going to the Rising Sun at Coltishall, plenty of room under Wroxham bridge for us at 7'6" Crown Gem is only 6'9" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadScot Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 2 minutes ago, Bob48 said: very useful information , the good lady and i are planning on going to the Rising Sun at Coltishall, plenty of room under Wroxham bridge for us at 7'6" Crown Gem is only 6'9" Hi Bob, With that boat you should have a very good chance of also getting under Potter Heigham bridge with the Pilot. I also think your boat is lower than the 6ft9" stated Iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob48 Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 i thought she looked a little bit shorter that 6' 9" but i get the impression they can be deceptive , Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) The 7' 6" is the height to the top centre of the bridge from the water level and NOT the clearance for a boat. The height gauge gives the 'true' boat height for passage through based on average width, about 8'. I have seen 'true' clearance of 7' 6" on several occasions and I'm waiting for it to be that again when I'm down to take our new boat through for the first time to see what I can then safely take her through at. She's 6' 10" exactly at the gauge height and is the tallest boat we've owned. The average gauge reading is around 6' 9" to 7' but can differ a lot more each way than that so depends on the day, AND if you need to get back!! Edited May 10, 2016 by BuffaloBill 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.