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

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?

"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 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.

"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.

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.

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.

"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".

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.

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.