Was wondering whether anyone had first hand experience in going under the Iron Cove bridge at Drummoyne and picking people up from the public jetty off King George Park (south side).
I spoke to Maritime and they said at high tide it is 12.3 metres clearance. Specs of my Northshore 27 say mast height is 10.36 metres.
Sounds a bit close if you consider the base of the mast might 2 metres from water level (deck mounted).
navionics says its 10m. looks low. i probably wouldnt do it. Im gonna carry my laser around this xmas when going under bridges so im going to first hand get the heights to the mm.
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..
navionics says its 10m. looks low. i probably wouldnt do it. Im gonna carry my laser around this xmas when going under bridges so im going to first hand get the heights to the mm.
That's clever. Is it a specialised expensive type of laser or something that might be worth buying just for the boat?
yeah i use em for my job measuring up houses, but just realised that i can use it for bridges and measuring my own mast , which im gonna do on thur evening. its easier to do at night so you can see the red dot. Based on what some people said here on the forum im gonna play it real safe and measure the bridges im going under later in the week, in the dinghy before i take the yacht through. This particular laser has a range of 30 metres and is $220. swiss technology and very good. Its from sydney tools/vek tools. You can get some sonar ones that are very cheap but i wouldnt bother with them. Bunnings have some too - makita etc. The real good ones are at least $200 i think. Probably wouldnt buy one if it werent for my job, but i think its going to be handy this time up the hawksbury even anchoring. You know at night when you cant see nothing and you dont know how close you might be to another boat or rocks etc. (i dont have instruments)
hey bro seriously, im a the boat the next few days, right near there. If ive got time, ill do it. need to do a lil sea trial aye :)
It will be worth finding out what the actual clearance is. Is it 10m or 12 metres? I don't know what the tide are like in that area, but don't forget that bridge clearance heights are clearances above HAT (Highest Astronomical Tide).. In other words, in normal tidal conditions (no flooding for example), it's worse case scenario.
If you approach the bridge quite slowly and when just going under it your wind bird, tri light and VHF ariel fall on the deck, you will know that your mast just clears the bridge. 
I've forgotten the actual measurement, but on a 28'er with an 11m (if I recall correctly) mast we needed less than half tide, if I recall correctly. I thought it was less than 12m.
I used to sail at Dobroyd Aquatic Club, one of the friendliest clubs around. Years ago we were sitting having a post-race chat when someone on a Catalina 42 or something tried to get under the bridge and failed completely. No one could work out why they ever thought they could possibly make it at any state of the tide. I'm just glad I wasn't under the mast as it fell.
Re the jetty- is the shore deep enough there? At the sailing club jetty I don't think you can ever get underneath the bridge with your mast AND get alongside the jetty - if the tide is high enough for one it's too low for the other. I think the jetty at the south-western end is similar.
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said...
hey bro seriously, im a the boat the next few days, right near there. If ive got time, ill do it. need to do a lil sea trial aye :)
Ripper mate 
Select to expand quotecisco said...
If you approach the bridge quite slowly and when just going under it your wind bird, tri light and VHF ariel fall on the deck, you will know that your mast just clears the bridge.
Hehe..yeah, don't think I would be trying that. That bloody Hella anchor light cost a fortune. Literally. ;)
Select to expand quoteChris 249 said...
I've forgotten the actual measurement, but on a 28'er with an 11m (if I recall correctly) mast we needed less than half tide, if I recall correctly. I thought it was less than 12m.
I used to sail at Dobroyd Aquatic Club, one of the friendliest clubs around. Years ago we were sitting having a post-race chat when someone on a Catalina 42 or something tried to get under the bridge and failed completely. No one could work out why they ever thought they could possibly make it at any state of the tide. I'm just glad I wasn't under the mast as it fell.
Re the jetty- is the shore deep enough there? At the sailing club jetty I don't think you can ever get underneath the bridge with your mast AND get alongside the jetty - if the tide is high enough for one it's too low for the other. I think the jetty at the south-western end is similar.
Yeah, see what you mean. Might have to brave the jetty at the Drummoyne sailing club when picking people up over Christmas holidays.
Its not really in your hood but northwood ferry jetty is 1 i use to pick up. Only has about 2 ferries a day. theres a jetty north side city side of iron cove bridge. Also balmain?? Based on what chris said with his first hand experience and noting depth/tide i reckon it would be stressful. im going to boat now to so some work so ill do a little detour on my cockatoo is circuit, drop anchor and measure in dinghy. 12m from maritime and 10 m navionics. ..quite a difference.
The dock at Balmain Sailing Club now has a part of their dock open to the public (council kicked in some of the funds). It's the new part with a couple of pens in it (not the older looking wooden ramp part). Water St, Birchgrove is the closest street.
Iam sorry keen...my boat jobs acounted for 12 hours plus weather and i just didnt get to leave the moorong.
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..
Iam sorry keen...my boat jobs acounted for 12 hours plus weather and i just didnt get to leave the moorong.
no worries, I don't think it sounds a very good option reading some of the other posts ie the depth of water at the jetty
thx anyways
Drummoyne SC is an option but! as it is very shallow at low tides, be careful! On Tuesday night there was an Endevour 26 tied up there at the lowes low tide.
The other two options are the Woolwich Marina which has a public jetty but it is a bit of a lee shore in strong southerly, south easterly winds.
The second one is on the Birchgrove side at the end of King street next to the swimming pool.
It is the best spot around by far. The jetty is the same type as at King George park (Callan park).
