Florida Bridges

In my experience, no problems from Biscayne Bay to Stuart, all inside. meet in time for the scheduled openings and all usually goes well unless repairs or some other hold up going on. The ones that open on demand sometimes take a bit longer to waken up the bridge tender.

I just run outside and avoid them, even if I have to wait a day or two for weather to pass by, it's still cheaper and faster than running inside. The only stretch I do inside is the Norfolk/Beaufort NC stretch, and taking the Pamlico Sound route so I only have to deal with the bridges around Norfolk. Heck, it would only be a 5 hr run in most the boats I take if it wasn't for them. The real time killer on the inside route are the slow bell zones and all the sailboaters running inside under power who cry if you leave them a wake. WTF is up with that anyway? You're a sailboat, stick it offshore and sail it. Another annoyance is that they are all on 16 instead of 13 where they should be.

As for getting the bridges to cooperate with you, I find it has a lot to do with attitude. "XXXX Bridge, Bank Holiday south bound looking at you, when would be your next opening?" Regardless of what any book or sign says, the bridges do not open "on demand", they open "on request". A subtle but important difference. I have even managed to get bridges to open off schedule for me by asking really nicely.

LOL We picked up one of my guys new 61' Viking SC Nov 07 in AC and the owner decided to ride down with us... I have pictures of him throwing up off Frying Pan Shoal after 1/2 a day of running in 8-10s off the beam. His buddy (another one of my guys) asked him how it was, "Never again!" LOL, it's a good method to keep them from coming along since neither of them want to spend the time to come down the inside.

Funny about the doc number, I've never once in 20 years had a bridge ask me for it.

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I agree with you totally on the Titusville bridge. Never see a car and he always has a problem opening. Also the N. Daytona bridge. She has an attitude and wants you to know she's boss.

Report them to the D.O.T. like my buddy did when the Boynton Beach bridge started calling him all kinds of names and they'll have a NEW boss, but it won't be opening the bridge.

Titusville was real good to me this last trip. Just missed the opening but he brought me through a side opening that gave me enough clearance. Surf City was my PITA and my friend's the day before. Once you get to Palm Beach just work on your meditation routine. Ohmmmmmmmmmmmm. Ohmmmmmmmmmm. You're getting nowhere fast anyway.

Been asked for the name often, although I usually give it when requesting the opening and again when thanking the tender. Never been asked for the Doc. #. You are not required to lower you rigging to avoid an unnecessary opening. Simply explain that you don't have the crew or ability to safely accomplish the task. Mostly though, remember that you're dealing with a guy with a pretty boring job who deals with a lot of arrogant people and has the ability to stop you cold. Also remember that the bridge tender's priorities are 1) commercial traffic, 2) road traffic and only then 3) rich boys with their toys. A little sugar and humility usually goes a long way.

Soo, the sailboaters should not cry if you wake them? OR they should be on the outside in stormy weather just so you could go even faster? Or both?

Well, if that is the case, then you know where to find them: 16....

The speed that sailboats travel at is usually close to that which most power boats should travel at on the icw, except of course, safe operating speed zones, all approaches to bridges are slow speed , no wash, so, what's the problem with sailboats speeds??
I get just as frustrated waiting and going slow but, hey, the fun is in getting there otherwise buy a go fast job and run the outside.

I'd be thrilled if they were tied bow to stern instead of a running a 1/4 to 1/2 mile apart so you could pass them all on one shot. Hey, I'm allowed a few fantasies. Failing that it would be good if they slowed below 6 kts. and slid into your wake so the pass could be done quickly without throwing a wake on them. Channel 13 is for bridge to bridge communication. 16 is for hailing and distress. If someone only monitors one channel I'd prefer it to be 16 since that's where I'm calling if I have an emergency.

The problem with sailboaters is that most of them have no clue and no etiquette and never monitor the VHF radio. If I am running at 25 knots in a 65' Motoryacht, I will call them on the vhf radio and they don't answer. I then come off of plane and slow down to displacement speed before I get to their stern. They travel at 6.5-7.5 knots. At this point they should have enough sense to slow down to 4 knots, so I can pass them at 6 knots and not WAKE them. But NO, they never slow down, forcing me to pass them at 8-9knots throwing a wake to get past them, they then get pissed about a 12" wake which cannot be helped unless I want to follow behind them the entire day at 7 knots, then they proceed to turn on their VHF (which should be on at all times) and curse me out. The problem is, 85% of them don't have enough sense that THEY need to slow down to 4 or even 5 knots, so that I can pass them without giving them a wake. Not to mention as NY CAP said, they travel in groups of 3-6 sailboats yet are always 1/4 to 1/2 a mile apart.

I one time had a guy in a 70' sailboat call the marine patrol because I passed him at 25 knots in a 35' express on a bay throwing a 18" or less wake 200 yards off of his side. I got on the radio and explained to him that I was in a boat half his size, throwing a 15" wake, and passed over 200 yards off of his side.

Nothing in the USCG regs says that I have to be courteous to them and slow down at all as long as my wake does not create any damage or is a safety issues to the people on board or the vessel. But I am courteous.

It would behoove every boat owner who has to deal with bridge openings to ride along just once with a professional skipper and emulate him/her: as noted earlier, one requests the opening and mentions the bridge in name, IDs the vessel (type & size as well as name is helpful, esp. in traffic) and does so in a crisp, concise fashion.

Mom was right...please and thank you can be helpful.

for example, this is my usual opening request

" Las Olas blvd Bridge, Las Olas Blvd bridge, this is "Free Spirit" northbound requesting your 2:15 opening please" if there is a lot of traffic I will add "I am the 3rd yacht northbound 75' MY"

A good Captain I know tells the bridge tenders "How about you come down here and run the yacht, and I'll go up there and run the bridge, how does that sound?" when they give him a hard time about not opening.

Better hope he doesn't ask to exchange 1040s as well.