Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

How common is this? I know it has been the law in Pinellas County (Fla) for a
number of years but in Lee County it is a mixed bag. If you exclude the bridges
that are in congested docking areas where everything is no wake, we have 2 main
ones near me (New Pass and Big Carlos Pass). Big Carlos is idle speed under the
draw span, New Pass is "Normal Safe".
Is there any logic to this?
BTW if I read the sign correctly, anywhere else under the Big Carlos bridge is
Normal Safe too but you might get a 4 oz pyramid sinker and a few hooks in your
face

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

On 10 Sep 2003 00:40:01 GMT, reg (Gfretwell) wrote:
How common is this? I know it has been the law in Pinellas County (Fla) for a
number of years but in Lee County it is a mixed bag. If you exclude the bridges
that are in congested docking areas where everything is no wake, we have 2 main
ones near me (New Pass and Big Carlos Pass). Big Carlos is idle speed under the
draw span, New Pass is "Normal Safe".
Is there any logic to this?
BTW if I read the sign correctly, anywhere else under the Big Carlos bridge is
Normal Safe too but you might get a 4 oz pyramid sinker and a few hooks in your
face
=============================

I believe there are two reasons: One is safety (reduced congestion
and wakes in a narrow passage). The second reason would be to
minimize wake erosion to the bridge structures.

Obviously the degree to which these are real issues depends on the
individual bridge, length of span, depth and width of channel, size
and speed of typical boats, etc. It's definitely not a one size fits
all type of judgement but unfortunately that's the way the rules
always end up. And then of course there's the infamous "manatee"
issue invented by the Save the Manatee club. Do manatees live and
congregate near bridges or just the people who watch them?

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
How common is this? I know it has been the law in Pinellas County (Fla)
for a
number of years but in Lee County it is a mixed bag. If you exclude the
bridges
that are in congested docking areas where everything is no wake, we have 2
main
ones near me (New Pass and Big Carlos Pass). Big Carlos is idle speed
under the
draw span, New Pass is "Normal Safe".
Is there any logic to this?
BTW if I read the sign correctly, anywhere else under the Big Carlos
bridge is
Normal Safe too but you might get a 4 oz pyramid sinker and a few hooks in
your
face

Slow might be a decent thing, to give fishermen time to reel their lines out
of the way, or even deal with a fish on the hook, which can be tricky from a
bridge. Who needs the law for this kind of consideration?

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

Slow might be a decent thing, to give fishermen time to reel their lines out
of the way, or even deal with a fish on the hook,

These regulations seem to be for the draw span where fishing is prohibited.
BTW I have never seen a fisherman on a bridge give the least consideration for
a boater. You are lucky if they don't try to hit you. It reminds me of rednecks
shooting at signs on the side of the road.
You are certainly a target if you fish near a bridge from a boat.

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
How common is this? I know it has been the law in Pinellas County (Fla)
for a
number of years but in Lee County it is a mixed bag. If you exclude the
bridges
that are in congested docking areas where everything is no wake, we have
2
main
ones near me (New Pass and Big Carlos Pass). Big Carlos is idle speed
under the
draw span, New Pass is "Normal Safe".
Is there any logic to this?
BTW if I read the sign correctly, anywhere else under the Big Carlos
bridge is
Normal Safe too but you might get a 4 oz pyramid sinker and a few hooks
in
your
face

Slow might be a decent thing, to give fishermen time to reel their lines
out
of the way, or even deal with a fish on the hook, which can be tricky from
a
bridge. Who needs the law for this kind of consideration?

I always thought it was mandatory. Nevertheless, I always go slow...because
you never know when some yahoo on a jet ski is going to pop out around a
corner.

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

I always thought it was mandatory. Nevertheless, I always go slow...

The sign says "idle speed" but that is a relative term when you are in a 12 kt
tide.
If you were truly "idling" you would be going about 7 knots backward.

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

It says "Idle Speed- No Wake". I agree that you're gonna make a wake going
against a fast current, however.

"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
I always thought it was mandatory. Nevertheless, I always go slow...

The sign says "idle speed" but that is a relative term when you are in a
12 kt
tide.
If you were truly "idling" you would be going about 7 knots backward.

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
I always thought it was mandatory. Nevertheless, I always go slow...

The sign says "idle speed" but that is a relative term when you are in a
12 kt
tide.
If you were truly "idling" you would be going about 7 knots backward.

That's probably why the signs say "idle speed", not "idle RPMs".

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

That's probably why the signs say "idle speed", not "idle RPMs".

That sounds like an interesting argument, ever tried it on a cop?
I have never seen any enforcement at the Big Carlos bridge but I can imagine an
over zealous deputy trying to enforce "no wake" in a flood tide. (FMP/FWC does
seem smarter than that ... usually)
This bay is draining about 400 square miles of sheet flow through 4 passes.
When you have 17 inches of rain in a month that is a lot of water going under
the bridge. As I said, it was 12 knots the other day on my GPS. That was what
got me thinking about the sign. I was moving at ~3000 RPM, just to keep
headway.

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

Geez. At 12 knots, you could have tied a rope to the bridge, threw on a
pair of waterski's, and popped up on plane.


"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
That's probably why the signs say "idle speed", not "idle RPMs".

That sounds like an interesting argument, ever tried it on a cop?
I have never seen any enforcement at the Big Carlos bridge but I can
imagine an
over zealous deputy trying to enforce "no wake" in a flood tide. (FMP/FWC
does
seem smarter than that ... usually)
This bay is draining about 400 square miles of sheet flow through 4
passes.
When you have 17 inches of rain in a month that is a lot of water going
under
the bridge. As I said, it was 12 knots the other day on my GPS. That was
what
got me thinking about the sign. I was moving at ~3000 RPM, just to keep
headway.

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

I guess it depends on the judge you get. :-) In my last two visits to local
courts, I've won minor skirmishes. And I'm not a trial lawyer, either. Just
be armed with facts.

Considering how poorly we pay Coast Guard people, you could probably buy an
expert witness in return for a gift certificate to the nearest Bennigan's.

"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
That's probably why the signs say "idle speed", not "idle RPMs".

That sounds like an interesting argument, ever tried it on a cop?
I have never seen any enforcement at the Big Carlos bridge but I can
imagine an
over zealous deputy trying to enforce "no wake" in a flood tide. (FMP/FWC
does
seem smarter than that ... usually)
This bay is draining about 400 square miles of sheet flow through 4
passes.
When you have 17 inches of rain in a month that is a lot of water going
under
the bridge. As I said, it was 12 knots the other day on my GPS. That was
what
got me thinking about the sign. I was moving at ~3000 RPM, just to keep
headway.

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
Considering how poorly we pay Coast Guard people, you could probably buy
an
expert witness in return for a gift certificate to the nearest
Bennigan's.

If the teenager on the local RIB is an expert I am a professor. At 6 years
(65-71) I have more time in the USCG than most of the guys at Station Ft
Myers.


Great, as long as the judge is inclined to not consider the accused to be
biased. Circular reasoning, but hey...that's what judges do. :-)

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

Point Ybel is not the same as Big Carlos Pass. They're near by, but the Big
Carlos Pass bridge span is a lot narrower constriction...causing much faster
current flow. Try going in/out of Hickory Pass on a strong tide!




"LaBomba182" wrote in message
...
Subject: Slow/idle speed under bridges?
From: reg

As I said, it was 12 knots the other day on my GPS.

Wow! Ten times or more the predicted speed!?

Point Ybel (0.4 Mi. NW of), Florida Current
10 September 2003 - 11 September 2003
Point Ybel (0.4 Mi. NW of), Florida Current
26.4567° N, 82.0183° W

2003-09-10 03:51 EDT -0.00 knots Slack, Ebb Begins
2003-09-10 06:02 EDT -0.60 knots Max Ebb
2003-09-10 07:11 EDT Sunrise
2003-09-10 07:59 EDT 0.00 knots Slack, Flood Begins
2003-09-10 11:01 EDT 1.22 knots Max Flood
2003-09-10 12:36 EDT Full Moon
2003-09-10 14:26 EDT -0.00 knots Slack, Ebb Begins
2003-09-10 18:17 EDT -1.47 knots Max Ebb
2003-09-10 19:38 EDT Sunset
2003-09-10 21:22 EDT 0.00 knots Slack, Flood Begins
2003-09-11 00:03 EDT 1.06 knots Max Flood
2003-09-11 03:56 EDT -0.00 knots Slack, Ebb Begins
2003-09-11 06:36 EDT -0.73 knots Max Ebb
2003-09-11 07:11 EDT Sunrise
2003-09-11 08:44 EDT 0.00 knots Slack, Flood Begins
2003-09-11 11:39 EDT 1.27 knots Max Flood
2003-09-11 15:07 EDT -0.00 knots Slack, Ebb Begins
2003-09-11 18:52 EDT -1.28 knots Max Ebb
2003-09-11 19:37 EDT Sunset
2003-09-11 21:44 EDT 0.00 knots Slack, Flood Begins
2003-09-12 00:17 EDT 1.07 knots Max Flood

A bit hard to believe. But I'd like to see that. Is it still going out
that
fast? Maybe I'll run down and check it out.

Capt. Bill

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

Subject: Slow/idle speed under bridges?
From: reg

BTW is that a prediction or a measured flow?

Predicted, I believe. Thanks for the links.


Capt. Bill

Slow/idle speed under bridges?
 

These USGS flow stations only look at volume of water entering the estuaries
from upland but that will relate to current. The upstream stations (North
Estero river branch etc) are flow monitors and the ones in the bay and closer
to river mouths look at the other factors like salinity and dissolved oxygen.
If you look at the graph on site 02291610 (a mile up the Estero River) you can
watch the salt water wedge come and go on the tide changes. It swings from
almost zero salt to 18PPT or so (the Gulf being 38 or so). In the winter when
the flow rates are down that will consistantly be above 16.