tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post1529133624025797860..comments2024-01-30T22:21:15.700-05:00Comments on Cruising the ICW with Bob423: Cape May - at Utsch's MarinaBob423http://www.blogger.com/profile/09269810283567498286noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-65610554570493460312017-10-22T13:45:07.936-04:002017-10-22T13:45:07.936-04:00Maria, did you get your question answered satisfac...Maria, did you get your question answered satisfactorily? Bob423https://www.blogger.com/profile/09269810283567498286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-38699271475761324582017-10-21T16:54:11.914-04:002017-10-21T16:54:11.914-04:00Maria, the formula does just that by using the NOA...Maria, the formula does just that by using the NOAA tide station at the western end of the canal. You can see all the links on my blog site under “Links: Weather, Surveys, Buoys, Tides”. One entry will be the link for the Cape May tide station which I’ve separately included below.<br /><br />https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=8536110<br /><br />PS, I’ve used the formula for the past eight years for Fleetwing with a 55 ft, 3 in mast. In one case I had the boat behind me call over VHF, “Stop! You’re going to hit!” This was before they had height boards on the bridges so it was more an act of faith that the formula was correct. As to the warning, I passed easily under the bridge. When looking up at the bridge from the boat, you would swear you’re going to hit - but you won’t if you used the formula correctly. Bob423https://www.blogger.com/profile/09269810283567498286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-39542546737771887452017-10-20T20:57:25.572-04:002017-10-20T20:57:25.572-04:00Is there a way to predict the clearance BEFORE one...Is there a way to predict the clearance BEFORE one arrives at the bridge?<br /><br />I understand the formula, but from where would I get the information for 'tide' and 'water levels above tide'?<br />Marianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-39814846828878861222017-10-04T09:19:59.447-04:002017-10-04T09:19:59.447-04:00On Wednesday Oct 4 someone else posted that they w...On Wednesday Oct 4 someone else posted that they were hoping to have repairs done by the end of the day. Seems to be a dynamic situation. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17635399826059782102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-10403651740774531382017-10-04T08:43:04.996-04:002017-10-04T08:43:04.996-04:00Dawn, the formula for determining the clearance un...Dawn, the formula for determining the clearance under the Cape May canal bridges that I’ve worked out over the last 8 years is:<br />Clearance = 58 ft - tide - (water level above tide) <br /><br />The tide is read off the nearest tide station, in this case the Cape May harbor station which read 0.4 ft at yesterday’s dead low.<br />The water level above tide is obtained from the NOAA station at the entrance to the canal at the west end. At yesterday’s dead low, it measured the water level to be 0.6 feet above the predicted (per tide tables) tide height. A link to the water level website can be found under ICW Tios on my blog site.<br /><br />Putting the numbers into the equation yields:<br />58 ft - 0.4 - 0.6 = 57 ft which is what you saw on the height board. <br /><br />Dawn, thanks again for collecting the information. The more data points I have, the more confidence we can have in the correctness of the formula for determining clearance under the Cape May canal bridges.<br /><br />The details of all this figuring are on pages 66 - 68 in my book; 2017 ICW Cruising Guide. Bob423https://www.blogger.com/profile/09269810283567498286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-80327292747967696372017-10-04T07:07:49.982-04:002017-10-04T07:07:49.982-04:00We went through Cape May canal yesterday at dead l...We went through Cape May canal yesterday at dead low, the fender boards are not readable after the 53 mark, but on the north bound side it showed 57 feet. No boards at all on the 2nd bridge. Near the ferry terminal favor the ferry side of channel, the red nuns were aground when we went by. As luck would have it no ferries where coming or going until we exited canal.Dawn Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16239774003829790447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-25053909258115710242017-10-03T22:40:13.769-04:002017-10-03T22:40:13.769-04:00John, thanks for the info, I hadn’t heard that yet...John, thanks for the info, I hadn’t heard that yet. This is really some year!!Bob423https://www.blogger.com/profile/09269810283567498286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-63871235434688676852017-10-03T20:16:26.576-04:002017-10-03T20:16:26.576-04:00Just a heads up: someone posted on active captain ...Just a heads up: someone posted on active captain Facebook today that the surf city swing bridge is out of commission for at least 2 weeks. <br />John Tyrellnoreply@blogger.com