RE: Tickling bridges with antennas....

Archives
1

Posted by Scott Forgey (jsforgey@…>)


I know mine on my F-32 is less than 54’ because the 17th
Street Causeway bridge in Ft. Lauderdale is 55’ and I still have a mast!

Yesterday was a really high tide and the antenna just barely
missed.

Everyone always looks up and waits for the crash. Fun to
watch.

Scott Forgey
21362 Summertrace Circle
Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179
skype: sforgey1

“Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there is only
what’s missing!”

W. Erhard



From:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Herman and Gail Schiller
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 2:17 PM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Tickling briges with antennas…

\




My F-28 brochures state 4’6", but
measurement says
4’10" Herm

At 12:03 PM 7/27/2008, you wrote:

I never actually used a tape to measure the total height of antenna
above the waterline, but used 49 feet for clearance requirements on our
F30.

You can put the number together as follows:

F30 Mainsail luff length (front edge) is 35 feet 3 inches. It would
easy to measure from the tack, where the sail attached to the
forward end of the boom, down to the water…and to eyeball the
distance from the top of the headboard ring to the top of the
highest masthead fittings (maybe an antenna). Total should add up
to about 48 feet, plus or minus.

Mauri Pro Sailing lists the sail dimensions of all Freedoms at:

http://www.mauriprosailing.com/techinfo/boatspecs/Rig%20F.htm

Freedom 25 luff length is 29.2 or 30 feet, depending on rig.

One the other end of things, the draft spec from Freedom is often
quoted as 4’ 6". That number shows up in their lovely brochure for
the shallow draft model. Our boat measured very close to 4’ 11"
from the bottom of the keel to the bottom of the lower factory
waterline stripe. Freedom cheated a bit on the numbers…(but
otherwise built a great boat this is holding up very well…so I
forgive them)

Fargo
ex F30 #12

— On Sun, 7/27/08, Lola Jackson <lolaltd@…>
wrote:
From: Lola Jackson <lolaltd@…>
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Tickling briges with antennas…
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008, 11:19 AM

My F30 says 47…Lola

----- Original Message ----
From: mbb05055 <mary.bigelow@ hotmail.com>
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2008 11:10:16 AM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with antennas…

Does anyone know the F30 bridge clearance? I can’t help out the F25
with the same question. Maybe somebody can help me. I think its
around 54’ but not really sure. I have never seen it in the specs.
(I suppose that some day I could try to measure up the component parts)

We are about to leave Maine to sail up to Bay of Fundy and St John New
Brunswick and then up the St John River which is a fine place to sail.
I am not truly worried; more like curious. I do know we tickled the
underbelly of the Jonesport (ME) bridge with out antenna at near low
tide (!) Not quite as bad as it sounds. Russell (dh) brilliantly
backed up to the bridge very gently under power so we could easily
pull away if we had to. Still pretty memorable… .

Mary

F30 Corydora
Belfast ME


\

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date: 7/27/2008 4:16
PM


No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date: 7/27/2008 4:16 PM

2

Posted by katorpus (jrb@…>)

There is nothing more deceptive than the appearance of the proximity
of an overhead obstruction to the mast head of a boat that you are on.

I’ve heard conversations between numerous boats wherein the first to
approach a bridge required significant encouragement from one behind
to go under a bridge

“I don’t think I can clear this bridge”
“You’ve got it, easy”
“Are you SURE”
“Yeah, plenty of room”
“Doesn’t look like it from here”
“I’d turn around if I wasn’t under sail and in a channel”

etc. etc. etc.

(upon clearing the bridge)

“I guess you were right”
“Man, you had 5’ of clearance from where I could see”

I used to sail a Hobie 16 on Lake Travis (near Austin, Texas). There
was an electrical transmission line that stretched (a long way)
across the lake, with a huge tower on each bank. I absolutely refused
to go under it until I saw a MUCH larger sailboat “make it”. I had
that feeling EVERY time I went under it. The minimum distance from
the bottom of the arc of those lines to the lake surface (when full
to the spillway) was…I kid you not…One Hundred and Sixty Four
FEET.

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “Scott Forgey”
<jsforgey@…> wrote:

I know mine on my F-32 is less than 54’ because the 17th Street
Causeway
bridge in Ft. Lauderdale is 55’ and I still have a mast!

Yesterday was a really high tide and the antenna just barely missed.

Everyone always looks up and waits for the crash. Fun to watch.

Scott Forgey

21362 Summertrace Circle

Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179

skype: sforgey1

“Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there is only what’s
missing!”

                 W. Erhard

From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Herman and
Gail
Schiller
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 2:17 PM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Tickling briges with antennas…

My F-28 brochures state 4’6", but measurement says
4’10" Herm

At 12:03 PM 7/27/2008, you wrote:

I never actually used a tape to measure the total height of
antenna
above the waterline, but used 49 feet for clearance requirements
on our
F30.

You can put the number together as follows:

F30 Mainsail luff length (front edge) is 35 feet 3 inches. It
would
easy to measure from the tack, where the sail attached to the
forward end of the boom, down to the water…and to eyeball the
distance from the top of the headboard ring to the top of the
highest masthead fittings (maybe an antenna). Total should add up
to about 48 feet, plus or minus.

Mauri Pro Sailing lists the sail dimensions of all Freedoms at:

HYPERLINK
"http://www.mauriprosailing.com/techinfo/boatspecs/Rig%
20F.htm"http://www.ma
uriprosailing.com/techinfo/boatspecs/Rig%20F.htm

Freedom 25 luff length is 29.2 or 30 feet, depending on rig.

One the other end of things, the draft spec from Freedom is often
quoted as 4’ 6". That number shows up in their lovely brochure for
the shallow draft model. Our boat measured very close to 4’ 11"
from the bottom of the keel to the bottom of the lower factory
waterline stripe. Freedom cheated a bit on the numbers…(but
otherwise built a great boat this is holding up very well…so I
forgive them)

Fargo
ex F30 #12

— On Sun, 7/27/08, Lola Jackson <HYPERLINK
"mailto:lolaltd%40yahoo.com"lolaltd@…> wrote:
From: Lola Jackson <HYPERLINK
"mailto:lolaltd%40yahoo.com"lolaltd@…>
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Tickling briges with antennas…
To: HYPERLINK
"mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup%
40yahoogroups.com"FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.
com
Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008, 11:19 AM

My F30 says 47…Lola

----- Original Message ----
From: mbb05055 <mary.bigelow@ hotmail.com>
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2008 11:10:16 AM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with antennas…

Does anyone know the F30 bridge clearance? I can’t help out the F25
with the same question. Maybe somebody can help me. I think its
around 54’ but not really sure. I have never seen it in the specs.
(I suppose that some day I could try to measure up the component
parts)

We are about to leave Maine to sail up to Bay of Fundy and St John
New
Brunswick and then up the St John River which is a fine place to
sail.
I am not truly worried; more like curious. I do know we tickled the
underbelly of the Jonesport (ME) bridge with out antenna at near
low
tide (!) Not quite as bad as it sounds. Russell (dh) brilliantly
backed up to the bridge very gently under power so we could easily
pull away if we had to. Still pretty memorable… .

Mary

F30 Corydora
Belfast ME

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:
7/27/2008
4:16 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:
7/27/2008
4:16 PM

3

Posted by Bob Weeks (rweeks6508@…>)


I have an official letter from Freedom
stating the mast height from the waterline is 47’ 6”, this was sent
out to correct a error in some of their specification documentation.

Bob





From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of katorpus
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 5:53
PM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re:
Tickling bridges with antennas…




There is nothing more deceptive than the appearance of
the proximity
of an overhead obstruction to the mast head of a boat that you are on.

I’ve heard conversations between numerous boats wherein the first to
approach a bridge required significant encouragement from one behind
to go under a bridge

“I don’t think I can clear this bridge”
“You’ve got it, easy”
“Are you SURE”
“Yeah, plenty of room”
“Doesn’t look like it from here”
“I’d turn around if I wasn’t under sail and in a channel”

etc. etc. etc.

(upon clearing the bridge)

“I guess you were right”
“Man, you had 5’ of clearance from where I could see”

I used to sail a Hobie 16 on Lake Travis (near Austin,
Texas). There
was an electrical transmission line that stretched (a long way)
across the lake, with a huge tower on each bank. I absolutely refused
to go under it until I saw a MUCH larger sailboat “make it”. I had
that feeling EVERY time I went under it. The minimum distance from
the bottom of the arc of those lines to the lake surface (when full
to the spillway) was…I kid you not…One Hundred and Sixty Four
FEET.

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com,
“Scott Forgey”
<jsforgey@…> wrote:

I know mine on my F-32 is less than 54’ because the 17th Street
Causeway
bridge in Ft.
Lauderdale is 55’ and I
still have a mast!

Yesterday was a really high tide and the antenna just barely missed.

Everyone always looks up and waits for the crash. Fun to watch.

Scott Forgey

21362 Summertrace Circle

Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179

skype: sforgey1

“Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there is only what’s
missing!”

W. Erhard

From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Herman and
Gail
Schiller
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 2:17 PM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Tickling briges with antennas…

My F-28 brochures state 4’6", but measurement says
4’10" Herm

At 12:03 PM 7/27/2008, you wrote:

I never actually used a tape to measure the total height of
antenna
above the waterline, but used 49 feet for clearance requirements
on our
F30.

You can put the number together as follows:

F30 Mainsail luff length (front edge) is 35 feet 3 inches. It
would
easy to measure from the tack, where the sail attached to the
forward end of the boom, down to the water…and to eyeball the
distance from the top of the headboard ring to the top of the
highest masthead fittings (maybe an antenna). Total should add up
to about 48 feet, plus or minus.

Mauri Pro Sailing lists the sail dimensions of all Freedoms at:

HYPERLINK
"http://www.mauriprosailing.com/techinfo/boatspecs/Rig%
20F.htm"http://www.ma
uriprosailing.com/techinfo/boatspecs/Rig%20F.htm

Freedom 25 luff length is 29.2 or 30 feet, depending on rig.

One the other end of things, the draft spec from Freedom is often
quoted as 4’ 6". That number shows up in their lovely brochure
for
the shallow draft model. Our boat measured very close to 4’ 11"
from the bottom of the keel to the bottom of the lower factory
waterline stripe. Freedom cheated a bit on the numbers…(but
otherwise built a great boat this is holding up very well…so I
forgive them)

Fargo
ex F30 #12

— On Sun, 7/27/08, Lola Jackson <HYPERLINK
"mailto:lolaltd%40yahoo.com"lolaltd@…>
wrote:
From: Lola Jackson <HYPERLINK
"mailto:lolaltd%40yahoo.com"lolaltd@…>
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Tickling briges with
antennas…
To: HYPERLINK
"mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup%
40yahoogroups.com"FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.
com
Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008, 11:19 AM

My F30 says 47…Lola

----- Original Message ----
From: mbb05055 <mary.bigelow@ hotmail.com>
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2008 11:10:16 AM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with antennas…

Does anyone know the F30 bridge clearance? I can’t help out the F25
with the same question. Maybe somebody can help me. I think its
around 54’ but not really sure. I have never seen it in the specs.
(I suppose that some day I could try to measure up the component
parts)

We are about to leave Maine to sail
up to Bay of Fundy and St John
New
Brunswick and then up the St John River which is a fine place to
sail.
I am not truly worried; more like curious. I do know we tickled the
underbelly of the Jonesport (ME) bridge with out antenna at near
low
tide (!) Not quite as bad as it sounds. Russell (dh) brilliantly
backed up to the bridge very gently under power so we could easily
pull away if we had to. Still pretty memorable… .

Mary

F30 Corydora
Belfast ME

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:
7/27/2008
4:16 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:
7/27/2008
4:16 PM

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1577 - Release Date: 7/28/2008 6:55 AM

4

Posted by lance_ryley (lance_ryley@…>)

I used to keep Bright Star at a marina out in Winthrop, near Logan
International. To get into boston harbor proper, you had to pass one of
the busier landing runways. The channel runs right past the end of the
runway. There were two ‘dangers,’ one real and one probably imagined.

The real danger was that if the runway was being used for takeoffs, on
powerup the jets would often send waterspout geysers across the
channel - you could feel hot exhaust if you didn’t time things just
right, and I heard a story (unconfirmed) that a boat was dismasted in
just that way.

The (probably) imagined danger was the landing pattern. I swear there
were times when I thought I would be dismasted by a jet as it made a
low approach. Again, you’d feel the exhaust, and looking up was just
downright scary, but as has been pointed out, distances are deceptive
when looking straight up a mast.

Lance
— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “katorpus” <jrb@…> wrote:

There is nothing more deceptive than the appearance of the proximity
of an overhead obstruction to the mast head of a boat that you are on.

5

Posted by katorpus (jrb@…>)

Lance

I have no doubt that a boat could be dismasted in the way you’ve
described. The aviation guys refer to that as “wake turbulence” and
it follows any moving aircraft in a “downward and outward” path
(mostly from the wing tips) until it dissipates. Any number of light
aircraft have been wiped out by the wake turbulence from a big jet
when they get “too close” behind one…and sometimes, “too close” can
be after the thing is out of sight (depending on altitude).

One day about 10 years ago, I was sailing my “other boat” in Aransas
Bay (near Corpus Christi, which has a significant military presence.

This boat is all of 12’ long. (MX-Ray with mylar sail and neon pink
spinnaker (which wasn’t up) and the whole thing weighs 100 lbs). Even
though the hull is bright yellow & white, I didn’t provide a whole
lot of “visual target”.

Out in the middle of the bay, relatively light air…I hear a
Godawful noise and look up to see five navy Seahawk helicopters
approaching in V formation…low enough that the rotor wash was
blowing white foam off of what little waves there were…in a
circular pattern…five intersecting circular patterns…I actually
think they were using the visual rotor wash to perfect their
formation flying.

They were headed straight at me…about the time I started thinking
how unfriendly that was, the lead chopper picked up a little altitude
and “centered” me going past. I felt it…but didn’t go over. I was
too busy controlling the boat to wave, although I did give them
a “mental one-finger salute”.

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “lance_ryley”
<lance_ryley@…> wrote:

I used to keep Bright Star at a marina out in Winthrop, near Logan
International. To get into boston harbor proper, you had to pass
one of
the busier landing runways. The channel runs right past the end of
the
runway. There were two ‘dangers,’ one real and one probably
imagined.

The real danger was that if the runway was being used for takeoffs,
on
powerup the jets would often send waterspout geysers across the
channel - you could feel hot exhaust if you didn’t time things just
right, and I heard a story (unconfirmed) that a boat was
dismasted in
just that way.

The (probably) imagined danger was the landing pattern. I swear
there
were times when I thought I would be dismasted by a jet as it made
a
low approach. Again, you’d feel the exhaust, and looking up was
just
downright scary, but as has been pointed out, distances are
deceptive
when looking straight up a mast.

Lance
— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “katorpus” <jrb@> wrote:

There is nothing more deceptive than the appearance of the
proximity
of an overhead obstruction to the mast head of a boat that you
are on.

6

Posted by Herman and Gail Schiller (hschiller2@…>)

I was on board the sloop Clearwater when it went under the
Newburgh-Beacon bridge that carries I-84 across the Hudson River.
Although that bridge is about 185’ above water, from the point of
view on deck, I thought she’d hit for sure. There’s something about
the presence of the mast that fools the eye’s depth perception. Herm

At 05:53 PM 7/28/2008, you wrote:

There is nothing more deceptive than the appearance of the proximity
of an overhead obstruction to the mast head of a boat that you are on.

I’ve heard conversations between numerous boats wherein the first to
approach a bridge required significant encouragement from one behind
to go under a bridge

“I don’t think I can clear this bridge”
“You’ve got it, easy”
“Are you SURE”
“Yeah, plenty of room”
“Doesn’t look like it from here”
“I’d turn around if I wasn’t under sail and in a channel”

etc. etc. etc.

(upon clearing the bridge)

“I guess you were right”
“Man, you had 5’ of clearance from where I could see”

I used to sail a Hobie 16 on Lake Travis (near Austin, Texas). There
was an electrical transmission line that stretched (a long way)
across the lake, with a huge tower on each bank. I absolutely refused
to go under it until I saw a MUCH larger sailboat “make it”. I had
that feeling EVERY time I went under it. The minimum distance from
the bottom of the arc of those lines to the lake surface (when full
to the spillway) was…I kid you not…One Hundred and Sixty Four
FEET.

— In
mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup%40yahoogroups.comFreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
,
“Scott Forgey”
<jsforgey@…> wrote:

I know mine on my F-32 is less than 54’ because the 17th Street
Causeway
bridge in Ft. Lauderdale is 55’ and I still have a mast!

Yesterday was a really high tide and the antenna just barely missed.

Everyone always looks up and waits for the crash. Fun to watch.

Scott Forgey

21362 Summertrace Circle

Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179

skype: sforgey1

“Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there is only what’s
missing!”

W. Erhard

From:

mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup%40yahoogroups.comFreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com

[mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Herman and
Gail
Schiller
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 2:17 PM
To:

mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup%40yahoogroups.comFreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Tickling briges with antennas…

My F-28 brochures state 4’6", but measurement says
4’10" Herm

At 12:03 PM 7/27/2008, you wrote:

I never actually used a tape to measure the total height of
antenna
above the waterline, but used 49 feet for clearance requirements
on our
F30.

You can put the number together as follows:

F30 Mainsail luff length (front edge) is 35 feet 3 inches. It
would
easy to measure from the tack, where the sail attached to the
forward end of the boom, down to the water…and to eyeball the
distance from the top of the headboard ring to the top of the
highest masthead fittings (maybe an antenna). Total should add up
to about 48 feet, plus or minus.

Mauri Pro Sailing lists the sail dimensions of all Freedoms at:

HYPERLINK

"<http://www.mauriprosailing.com/techinfo/boatspecs/Rig%>http://www.mauriprosail
ing.com/techinfo/boatspecs/Rig%

20F.htm"http://www.mahttp://www.ma

uriprosailing.com/techinfo/boatspecs/Rig%20F.htm

Freedom 25 luff length is 29.2 or 30 feet, depending on rig.

One the other end of things, the draft spec from Freedom is often
quoted as 4’ 6". That number shows up in their lovely brochure for
the shallow draft model. Our boat measured very close to 4’ 11"
from the bottom of the keel to the bottom of the lower factory
waterline stripe. Freedom cheated a bit on the numbers…(but
otherwise built a great boat this is holding up very well…so I
forgive them)

Fargo
ex F30 #12

— On Sun, 7/27/08, Lola Jackson <HYPERLINK
"mailto:lolaltd%40yahoo.com"lolaltd@…> wrote:
From: Lola Jackson <HYPERLINK
"mailto:lolaltd%40yahoo.com"lolaltd@…>
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Tickling briges with antennas…
To: HYPERLINK
"mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup%
40yahoogroups.com"FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.
com
Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008, 11:19 AM

My F30 says 47…Lola

----- Original Message ----
From: mbb05055 <mary.bigelow@ hotmail.com>
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2008 11:10:16 AM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with antennas…

Does anyone know the F30 bridge clearance? I can’t help out the F25
with the same question. Maybe somebody can help me. I think its
around 54’ but not really sure. I have never seen it in the specs.
(I suppose that some day I could try to measure up the component
parts)

We are about to leave Maine to sail up to Bay of Fundy and St John
New
Brunswick and then up the St John River which is a fine place to
sail.
I am not truly worried; more like curious. I do know we tickled the
underbelly of the Jonesport (ME) bridge with out antenna at near
low
tide (!) Not quite as bad as it sounds. Russell (dh) brilliantly
backed up to the bridge very gently under power so we could easily
pull away if we had to. Still pretty memorable… .

Mary

F30 Corydora
Belfast ME

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:
7/27/2008
4:16 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:
7/27/2008
4:16 PM

7

Posted by Ian Goodwin (igood0ne@…>)
Talk about tickling bridges! I have a 62 foot mast and regularly travel the ICW where the highest (new) bridges are 64 feet. We don’t attempt to go under those bridges unless the height as shown at the water line is at least 64 feet. Every one of those 64 foot bridges we go under looks like we are going to hit for sure. The antenna often bends as we go under. We go under slowly and watch the tides.

----- Original Message ----From: Herman and Gail Schiller <hschiller2@…>To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comSent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 8:18:41 PMSubject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Tickling bridges with antennas…

I was on board the sloop Clearwater when it went under the Newburgh-Beacon bridge that carries I-84 across the Hudson River. Although that bridge is about 185’ above water, from the point of view on deck, I thought she’d hit for sure. There’s something about the presence of the mast that fools the eye’s depth perception. HermAt 05:53 PM 7/28/2008, you wrote:>There is nothing more deceptive than the appearance of the proximity>of an overhead obstruction to the mast head of a boat that you are on.>>I’ve heard conversations between numerous boats wherein the first to>approach a bridge required significant encouragement from one behind>to go under a bridge>>“I don’t think I can clear this bridge”>“You’ve got it, easy”>“Are you SURE”>“Yeah, plenty of room”>“Doesn’t look like it from here”>“I’d turn around if I wasn’t under sail and in a
channel”>>etc. etc. etc.>>(upon clearing the bridge)>>“I guess you were right”>“Man, you had 5’ of clearance from where I could see”>>I used to sail a Hobie 16 on Lake Travis (near Austin, Texas). There>was an electrical transmission line that stretched (a long way)>across the lake, with a huge tower on each bank. I absolutely refused>to go under it until I saw a MUCH larger sailboat “make it”. I had>that feeling EVERY time I went under it. The minimum distance from>the bottom of the arc of those lines to the lake surface (when full>to the spillway) was…I kid you not…One Hundred and Sixty Four>FEET.>>— In ><mailto:FreedomOwn ersGroup% 40yahoogroups. com>FreedomOwnersGroup@
yahoogroups. com, >“Scott Forgey”><jsforgey@. …> wrote:> >> > I know mine on my F-32 is less than 54’ because the 17th Street>Causeway> > bridge in Ft. Lauderdale is 55’ and I still have a mast!> >> >> >> > Yesterday was a really high tide and the antenna just barely missed.> >> >> >> > Everyone always looks up and waits for the crash. Fun to watch.> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > Scott Forgey> >> > 21362 Summertrace Circle> >> > Boca Raton, FL 33428> >> >> >> > 561.445.5179> >> > skype: sforgey1> >> >> >> > “Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there
is only what’s>missing!”> >> > W. Erhard> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > From: > <mailto:FreedomOwne rsGroup%40yahoog roups.com>FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com> > [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Herman and>Gail> > Schiller> > Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 2:17 PM> > To: > <mailto:FreedomOwne rsGroup%40yahoog roups.com>FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com> > Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with antennas…> >> >> >> > My F-28 brochures state 4’6", but measurement says> > 4’10" Herm> >> > At 12:03 PM 7/27/2008, you wrote:> >> > >I never actually used a tape to measure the total height of>antenna> > >above the waterline, but used 49 feet for clearance requirements>on our> > F30.> > >> > >You can put the number together as follows:> > >> > >F30 Mainsail luff length (front edge) is 35 feet 3 inches. It>would> > >easy to measure from the tack, where the sail attached to the> > >forward end of the boom, down to the water…and to eyeball the> > >distance from the
top of the headboard ring to the top of the> > >highest masthead fittings (maybe an antenna). Total should add up> > >to about 48 feet, plus or minus.> > >> > >Mauri Pro Sailing lists the sail dimensions of all Freedoms at:> > >> > >HYPERLINK> > > “<http://www.mauripro sailing.com/ techinfo/ boatspecs/ Rig%>http://www.mauripro sailing.com/ techinfo/ boatspecs/ Rig%>20F.htm"http://www.mahttp://www.ma> > uriprosailing. com/techinfo/ boatspecs/ Rig%20F.htm> > >> > >Freedom 25 luff length is 29.2 or 30 feet,
depending on rig.> > >> > >One the other end of things, the draft spec from Freedom is often> > >quoted as 4’ 6”. That number shows up in their lovely brochure for> > >the shallow draft model. Our boat measured very close to 4’ 11"> > >from the bottom of the keel to the bottom of the lower factory> > >waterline stripe. Freedom cheated a bit on the numbers… (but> > >otherwise built a great boat this is holding up very well…so I> > >forgive them)> > >> > >Fargo> > >ex F30 #12> > >> > >— On Sun, 7/27/08, Lola Jackson > “mailto:lolaltd% 40yahoo.com” lolaltd@. …> wrote:> > >From: Lola Jackson > “mailto:lolaltd% 40yahoo.com” lolaltd@. …>> > >Subject: Re:
[FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with antennas…> > >To: HYPERLINK> > "mailto:FreedomOwne rsGroup%>40yahoogroups. com"FreedomOwner sGroup@yahoogrou ps.> > com> > >Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008, 11:19 AM> > >> > >My F30 says 47…Lola> > >> > >----- Original Message ----> > >From: mbb05055 <mary.bigelow@ hotmail.com>> > >To: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com> > >Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2008 11:10:16 AM> > >Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with antennas…> > >> > >Does anyone know the F30 bridge clearance? I can’t help out the F25> > >with the same question. Maybe somebody can help me. I think its> > >around 54’ but not really sure. I have never seen it in the specs.>

(I suppose that some day I could try to measure up the component>parts)> > >> > >We are about to leave Maine to sail up to Bay of Fundy and St John>New> > >Brunswick and then up the St John River which is a fine place to>sail.> > >I am not truly worried; more like curious. I do know we tickled the> > >underbelly of the Jonesport (ME) bridge with out antenna at near>low> > >tide (!) Not quite as bad as it sounds. Russell (dh) brilliantly> > >backed up to the bridge very gently under power so we could easily> > >pull away if we had to. Still pretty memorable… .> > >> > >Mary> > >> > >F30 Corydora> > >Belfast ME> > >> > >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> > No virus
found in this incoming message.> > Checked by AVG.> > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:>7/27/2008> > 4:16 PM> >> >> > No virus found in this outgoing message.> > Checked by AVG.> > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:>7/27/2008> > 4:16 PM> >>>

8

Posted by Scott Forgey (jsforgey@…>)


When the new bridge (54’) at 17th Street
Causeway finally got done (Government projects, ugh) the first time we went
under I timed the tide and slid under foot by foot. I sent one of
my kids up the mast to get a good look.

I was sure it was going to hit, but we missing the antenna by a
good 5FT at low tide…and the marker seemed right on. Whew.

Not so fortunate was a guy from Israel who bought a hunter
38. He was a bit cavalier, hit the bridge and brought the rig down…horrible
mess. I asked him what happened. He said he just bought the boat
and didn’t know the height but it ”looked good” to him.
Wow. I wonder what happened to him. He said he was going to learn
to sail on the way to the Bahamas and then sail it back to Israel.

Scott Forgey
21362 Summertrace Circle
Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179
skype: sforgey1

“Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there is only
what’s missing!”

W. Erhard



From:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Ian Goodwin
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 1:31 PM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Tickling bridges with antennas…

\





Talk about tickling bridges! I have a 62 foot mast and
regularly travel the ICW where the highest (new) bridges are 64
feet. We don’t attempt to go under those bridges unless the height as
shown at the water line is at least 64 feet. Every one of those 64
foot bridges we go under looks like we are going to hit for sure. The
antenna often bends as we go under. We go under slowly and watch the
tides.



----- Original Message ----
From: Herman and Gail Schiller <hschiller2@…>
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 8:18:41 PM
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Tickling bridges with antennas…

I was on board the sloop Clearwater when it
went under the
Newburgh-Beacon bridge that carries I-84 across the Hudson River.
Although that bridge is about 185’ above water, from the point of
view on deck, I thought she’d hit for sure. There’s something about
the presence of the mast that fools the eye’s depth perception. Herm

At 05:53 PM 7/28/2008, you wrote:

There is nothing more deceptive than the appearance of the proximity
of an overhead obstruction to the mast head of a boat that you are on.

I’ve heard conversations between numerous boats wherein the first to
approach a bridge required significant encouragement from one behind
to go under a bridge

“I don’t think I can clear this bridge”
“You’ve got it, easy”
“Are you SURE”
“Yeah, plenty of room”
“Doesn’t look like it from here”
“I’d turn around if I wasn’t under sail and in a channel”

etc. etc. etc.

(upon clearing the bridge)

“I guess you were right”
“Man, you had 5’ of clearance from where I could see”

I used to sail a Hobie 16 on Lake Travis (near Austin, Texas). There
was an electrical transmission line that stretched (a long way)
across the lake, with a huge tower on each bank. I absolutely refused
to go under it until I saw a MUCH larger sailboat “make it”. I
had
that feeling EVERY time I went under it. The minimum distance from
the bottom of the arc of those lines to the lake surface (when full
to the spillway) was…I kid you not…One Hundred and Sixty Four
FEET.

— In
<mailto:FreedomOwn ersGroup% 40yahoogroups. com>FreedomOwnersGroup@
yahoogroups. com,
“Scott Forgey”
<jsforgey@. …> wrote:

I know mine on my F-32 is less than 54’ because the 17th Street
Causeway
bridge in Ft. Lauderdale is 55’ and I still have a mast!

Yesterday was a really high tide and the antenna just barely missed.

Everyone always looks up and waits for the crash. Fun to watch.

Scott Forgey

21362 Summertrace Circle

Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179

skype: sforgey1

“Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there is only what’s
missing!”

W. Erhard

From:
<mailto:FreedomOwne rsGroup%40yahoog roups.com>FreedomOwnersGroup@
yahoogroups. com
[mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Herman
and
Gail
Schiller
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 2:17 PM
To:
<mailto:FreedomOwne rsGroup%40yahoog roups.com>FreedomOwnersGroup@
yahoogroups. com
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with antennas…

My F-28 brochures state 4’6", but measurement says
4’10" Herm

At 12:03 PM 7/27/2008, you wrote:

I never actually used a tape to measure the total height of
antenna
above the waterline, but used 49 feet for clearance requirements
on our
F30.

You can put the number together as follows:

F30 Mainsail luff length (front edge) is 35 feet 3 inches. It
would
easy to measure from the tack, where the sail attached to the
forward end of the boom, down to the water…and to eyeball the
distance from the top of the headboard ring to the top of the
highest masthead fittings (maybe an antenna). Total should add up
to about 48 feet, plus or minus.

Mauri Pro Sailing lists the sail dimensions of all Freedoms at:

HYPERLINK

"<http://www.mauripro sailing.com/ techinfo/ boatspecs/ Rig%>http://www.mauripro
sailing.com/ techinfo/ boatspecs/ Rig%
20F.htm"http://www.mahttp://www.ma

uriprosailing. com/techinfo/ boatspecs/ Rig%20F.htm

Freedom 25 luff length is 29.2 or 30 feet, depending on rig.

One the other end of things, the draft spec from Freedom is often
quoted as 4’ 6". That number shows up in their lovely
brochure for
the shallow draft model. Our boat measured very close to 4’
11"
from the bottom of the keel to the bottom of the lower factory
waterline stripe. Freedom cheated a bit on the numbers… (but
otherwise built a great boat this is holding up very well…so
I
forgive them)

Fargo
ex F30 #12

— On Sun, 7/27/08, Lola Jackson <HYPERLINK
“mailto:lolaltd% 40yahoo.com”
lolaltd@. …> wrote:
From: Lola Jackson <HYPERLINK
“mailto:lolaltd% 40yahoo.com” lolaltd@. …>
Subject: Re: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with
antennas…
To: HYPERLINK
"mailto:FreedomOwne rsGroup%
40yahoogroups. com"FreedomOwner sGroup@yahoogrou ps.
com
Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008, 11:19 AM

My F30 says 47…Lola

----- Original Message ----
From: mbb05055 <mary.bigelow@ hotmail.com>
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2008 11:10:16 AM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup ] Tickling briges with antennas…

Does anyone know the F30 bridge clearance? I can’t help out the
F25
with the same question. Maybe somebody can help me. I think its
around 54’ but not really sure. I have never seen it in the
specs.
(I suppose that some day I could try to measure up the component
parts)

We are about to leave Maine to sail up to Bay of Fundy and St
John
New
Brunswick and then up the St John River which is a fine place to
sail.
I am not truly worried; more like curious. I do know we tickled
the
underbelly of the Jonesport (ME) bridge with out antenna at near
low
tide (!) Not quite as bad as it sounds. Russell (dh) brilliantly
backed up to the bridge very gently under power so we could
easily
pull away if we had to. Still pretty memorable… .

Mary

F30 Corydora
Belfast ME

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:
7/27/2008
4:16 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.6/1576 - Release Date:
7/27/2008
4:16 PM




\


\

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.7/1580 - Release Date: 7/29/2008 5:26
PM


No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.7/1580 - Release Date: 7/29/2008 5:26 PM

9

Posted by Scott Forgey (jsforgey@…>)


Wow.

We get a bit of a rip coming in Miami (at the worst 5
knots) and I have sat and motored against the wind for half an hour making no
progress. Not much tide, really….a foot or two. When I was in
NZ, the boats in one part lay on their side in the mud…then there were
the mud eels. Yikes.

Scott Forgey
21362 Summertrace Circle
Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179
skype: sforgey1

“Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there is only
what’s missing!”

W. Erhard



From:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Thomas Wales
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 9:41 AM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Tickling briges with antennas…

\




Scott,
You really can’t call them tides then, can you?
There are places here in the northeast that get pretty
exciting during the ebbs and flows. Entering Woods Hole can be
pretty exciting. It’s the first place I ever saw a nun pulled
underwater by the current. I remember exiting York Harbor ME with
the tide. We asked for advice on how to get out safely and followed
instructions. We were told not to worry when the boat turned
sideways at the bend in the York River, “you’ll straighten out by and
by…” We did, but it certainly felt odd driving a sailboat sideways.
And then you’ve got the Bay of Fundy…
TW
Pemaquid, ME

At 05:20 PM 8/1/2008, you wrote:

My life now seems easy. We merely have 1-3 foot tides.

Scott Forgey

21362 Summertrace Circle

Boca Raton, FL 33428

561.445.5179

skype: sforgey1

“Nothing is ever wrong in the universe, there is only what’s
missing!”

W. Erhard

From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com

[mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of mbb05055
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 4:32 PM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Tickling briges with antennas…

The bridge in Jonesport, Maine has no markings and the tides vary from
9 to 12 feet there and we did not have a tide table for Joneport
itself (though we did for other ports not far away) so we had to
estimate the timing of low tide, though we knew the height of the
tide. I remember we were getting a little impatient waiting for low
tide and probably didn’t wait long enough. The chart shows the bridge
as 39’ which is mean high water, right? Lucky we only twanged the
antenna!

Wonderful to have an actual specification (47’6") for the F30. That I
will write in clear lettering in my photocopied F30 manual. To that I
will add something for the antenna and a generous fudge factor.

So true about not being able to tell by just eyeballing!

This whole discussion has been wonderful.
Thank you all. God willing, we are heading for St John River, NB on
Tuesday morning with adequate knowledge of necessary bridge clearances

Mary
F30 Corydora
Belfast Maine

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.10/1585 - Release Date:
8/1/2008 6:39 AM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.10/1585 - Release Date:
8/1/2008 6:39 AM

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.12/1589 - Release Date:
8/3/2008 1:00 PM

\

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.12/1589 - Release Date: 8/3/2008 1:00
PM


No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.12/1589 - Release Date: 8/3/2008 1:00 PM