hmason
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2013
- Messages
- 2,812
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Lucky Lucky
- Vessel Make
- Pacific Mariner 65
Yesterday while cruising south to FL from CT I had the most frightening boating experience I have ever had in 53 years of boating and boat ownership. I was in FL and had just crossed the St. John's river southbound. I entered the continuation of the ICW at Pablo Creek. The current was against me at a pretty good clip. Ahead was a fixed bridge, the Wonderwood Expressway Bridge.
A construction barge was anchored under the bridge blocking about 50% of the clearance through the bridge. A small bowrider was coming through the bridge with the current and I gave it the right of way. The current through the bridge was intensified by the barge blocking half of the clearance. A no wake sign was posted. That bowrider almost flipped over as the current shot it through like a cannon ball. It was a miracle that the passengers weren't ejected. A heart stopping experience. But wait, there's more.
Now it was my turn. I proceeded against ththe current at a slow pace. Almost immediately my bow was thrown toward the barge. I reacted without even thinking about what I was doing. In seconds I was about to hit the barge. I spun the wheel, applied power and the bow swung toward the bridge fender. I spun the wheel the other way and cut the power. I got hit from behind by my own wake and was accelerated through the bridge.
I hit nothing but in my mind I was hitting everything. I know that Neptune smiled upon me. It took me quite awhile to feel normal again. About a half hour later the CG broadcast a warning of hazardous conditions at that bridge. I will never forget this event, not ever.
A construction barge was anchored under the bridge blocking about 50% of the clearance through the bridge. A small bowrider was coming through the bridge with the current and I gave it the right of way. The current through the bridge was intensified by the barge blocking half of the clearance. A no wake sign was posted. That bowrider almost flipped over as the current shot it through like a cannon ball. It was a miracle that the passengers weren't ejected. A heart stopping experience. But wait, there's more.
Now it was my turn. I proceeded against ththe current at a slow pace. Almost immediately my bow was thrown toward the barge. I reacted without even thinking about what I was doing. In seconds I was about to hit the barge. I spun the wheel, applied power and the bow swung toward the bridge fender. I spun the wheel the other way and cut the power. I got hit from behind by my own wake and was accelerated through the bridge.
I hit nothing but in my mind I was hitting everything. I know that Neptune smiled upon me. It took me quite awhile to feel normal again. About a half hour later the CG broadcast a warning of hazardous conditions at that bridge. I will never forget this event, not ever.
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