Boat balls

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Sep 24th, '11, 09:10

Just be sure your oil pump will work while motoring with the rail in the water.

http://messingaboutinboats.typepad.com/ ... ridge.html

Jim Walsh · Post by **Jim Walsh** » Sep 24th, '11, 09:21

We are left to wonder if it actually worked.

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Sep 24th, '11, 09:35

You'd need about 35 degrees of heel, with no margin for error.

There's no verification that the mast height or the bridge height are in fact accurate.

bottomscraper · Post by **bottomscraper** » Sep 24th, '11, 10:04

Jim Walsh wrote:We are left to wonder if it actually worked.

I guess so, if you watch the whole video they make it. That takes "boat balls" bigger than I have.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Sep 24th, '11, 12:32

That took more than the set hanging from the mast.

Raymond · Post by **Raymond** » Sep 27th, '11, 08:35

One of the comforting aspects about visiting the Cape Dory Board was that it was one of the few places online where I could go and not have to contend with grown men joking about their private parts.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Sep 27th, '11, 10:06

Whoops, sorry, but it was just way too easy and my sense of humor is not all that grown up.

I too have always been impressed by the civility demonstrated on this board. There is so much meanness on the internet that the CD message board stands out like an oasis.

What I could have said was that the bridge passing was a very impressive combination of ingenuity, seamanship and bravado.

If they had used a flooded dinghy the thought would have never entered my mind, Steve.

Carl Thunberg · Post by **Carl Thunberg** » Sep 27th, '11, 14:14

Of course the trigonometry and the mechanics work, and it was well planned and executed, but it goes against every natural instinct. This captain was able to set aside all those natural fears and keep a level head and trust the physics. It's thinking like this that got us to the moon.

I would have liked to have seen how he got those counterweights out there the first time. I really hope this whole thing wasn't staged for the camera.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Sep 27th, '11, 16:02

[quote="
I would have liked to have seen how he got those counterweights out there the first time. I really hope this whole thing wasn't staged for the camera.[/quote]

As the weights were lifted out of the water it induced a bit of heel. If you watch the second video it looks as if the weights were actually held in with lines to some winches. Ease the lines at deck level and more heel is increased. Bring them back closer to center and the boats rights itself.

This all makes me think how easy it would be to induce a major amount of heel to a grounded vessel without trying to set a kedge. If some lifting straps were available for the dink you could attach a halyard, flood the dink and heel the boat by winching it in.

No messing with trying to row out an anchor or retrieving it after you had floated free. You could also chose which way you wanted to heel the boat instead of having to set an anchor towards the deep side.

I hope I never need this information but I will keep it in the back of my mine if the need should ever arise, Steve.

barfwinkle · Post by **barfwinkle** » Sep 27th, '11, 16:33

I have a friend and slip neighbor who has seriously contemplated this very process for the past several months, as his mast will not clear the bridges as he heads for the Gulf of Mexico.

Sadly, he does not possess the "dinghy" to try the procedure thus he has his mast lying on deck as he prepares for departure.

Fair winds from Oklahoma's Gateway to the Sea.

Oswego John · Post by **Oswego John** » Sep 27th, '11, 17:15

Posted: Tue 9/27/11 6:09 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometimes a simple solution to a problem is right in front of your eyes but you just don't see it. I just never thought of that. It sounds like an easy way to do it and I will try it.

As another member wrote "Sometimes the answer is right before your eyes.

How true. How very true.

Why not do what others do? Let some air out of your hull like they do with tires.

OMG, did I really say that?

O J

ronkberg · Post by **ronkberg** » Sep 27th, '11, 17:43

Your solution is so simple that I will bet that no other CD owners have ever been so creative. I wish I had a bridge to pass under such that I could try your simple solution.

Keep It Simple Stupid !!!!

My wife and I are LOL

Ron

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Sep 27th, '11, 18:55

Oswego John wrote:Why not do what others do? Let some air out of your hull like they do with tires.

Hmmm....

My mast is about 40 ft and I draw 4 ft. To reduce the height by 10%, I'd need to double the draft. And you're thinking this is simple?

seajunkie · Post by **seajunkie** » Oct 8th, '11, 10:31

When I was boat shopping there was a Catalina 30 with a mast too tall to get under the bridge to get to the ocean. Apparently the owner used marine salvage bags that he fitted to one side of the boat. He would inflate them to tilt the boat enough to go under.

I bought a boat with a tabernacle.

mike ritenour · Post by **mike ritenour** » Oct 12th, '11, 11:01

I think that vid was taken on their way to Lake Okeechobee, near Port Mayaca.
A guy there has a small business renting the ballast bags.
Rit

The Cape Dory Board

Boat balls

Boat balls

outcome?

Re: outcome?

Was That It Was

You have to admire the guy.

Re: You have to admire the guy.

Bridges

Low Bridge

OJ wins with "KISS"

Re: Low Bridge

FLA ICW