Drayton CSX RR bridge

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
1

Question for you Ashley River folks?..we were traveling up the Ashley River and wanted to go up to the plantations. When we came to the CSX RR bridge it was in the down position and there wasn’t enough clearance for us to get under it. We were thinking about trying to go through the side piers, but it looked to narrow and low for us to get through. What do you do when you’re on the river above the bridge and the bridge is down and you need to get back down river? I signaled with our boat horn, but nothing happened. Is it a random thing, you just wait until the bridge opens? What do you do??

tom

2

I think you just keep signaling. They may not hear you or are sleeping or whatever. They take their sweet time

2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
President, Summerville Saltwater Anglers

3

Yes signal and wait. If it is down it either means there is a train coming or lightning in the area. Or it is after 11 pm, in which case you are screwed.

There is a phone number for the drawtender’s office also and usually the guys are pretty nice about letting you know ahead of time what their estimated schedule looks like.

I know from experience that you can fit a 18’ Sea Hunt through one of the side piers but it is no fun.

quote:
Originally posted by Bolbie

…the harbor was slick as an eel pecker.

4

I don’t know that bridge, but can tell you a RR bridge story.

Last year my wife and I took a boat trip from our place close to the Savannah River, about 50 river miles above Savannah, to Cape Fear, NC. All packed and loaded for 2 weeks of boat traveling, son dropped us off at the ramp and took the truck home. I noticed the river was higher than normal.

5 miles down river we got to the first RR bridge, which I’ve never had a problem getting under in the past, tight but never an issue. Not this time. Eased up to and eyeballed it, no go, no way. My wife gave me a look that hurt[:0] Sign on bridge says for opening, call 1-800-… with 24 hours notice.

I pulled away away from the bridge, current was real strong, got out the toolbox and took the VHF and GPS antennas off the T-top and eased up to the bridge again, pointing up current, idling in forward but slowly moving backwards. Got right up close and determined everything would clear except the rod holders, welded on. Still needed 8 more inches.

Wife gave me another look that hurts, asks what now, go home? I tell her, heck no, we are spending the night in Beaufort, and I’m going under that bridge. Told her to move anything she wanted to keep dry to high ground. What now she asks? I told her I was going to sink the boat and drift under the bridge. Which is when she called me a crazy SOB. Heck, after 40 years of marriage I figured she already knew that.

I pulled all the plugs, glug, glug, glug, eased back to the bridge agai,n pointing upriver in forward but drifting slow back. As soon as we sank enough to clear I let the boat drift under it, then put in the plugs, pumped the boat and we were on our way again. And she finally smiled, and again called me a crazy SOB. 10 miles later we got to another one just like it, and I sank it again, and we spent the night in Beaufort :smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

5

Cracker, there is a fine line between “Crazy SOB” and “Genius”!

2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
President, Summerville Saltwater Anglers

6
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry

I don’t know that bridge, but can tell you a RR bridge story.

Last year my wife and I took a boat trip from our place close to the Savannah River, about 50 river miles above Savannah, to Cape Fear, NC. All packed and loaded for 2 weeks of boat traveling, son dropped us off at the ramp and took the truck home. I noticed the river was higher than normal.

5 miles down river we got to the first RR bridge, which I’ve never had a problem getting under in the past, tight but never an issue. Not this time. Eased up to and eyeballed it, no go, no way. My wife gave me a look that hurt[:0] Sign on bridge says for opening, call 1-800-… with 24 hours notice.

I pulled away away from the bridge, current was real strong, got out the toolbox and took the VHF and GPS antennas off the T-top and eased up to the bridge again, pointing up current, idling in forward but slowly moving backwards. Got right up close and determined everything would clear except the rod holders, welded on. Still needed 8 more inches.

Wife gave me another look that hurts, asks what now, go home? I tell her, heck no, we are spending the night in Beaufort, and I’m going under that bridge. Told her to move anything she wanted to keep dry to high ground. What now she asks? I told her I was going to sink the boat and drift under the bridge. Which is when she called me a crazy SOB. Heck, after 40 years of marriage I figured she already knew that.

I pulled all the plugs, glug, glug, glug, eased back to the bridge agai,n pointing upriver in forward but drifting slow back. As soon as we sank enough to clear I let the boat drift under it, then put in the plugs, pumped the boat and we were on our way again. And she finally smiled, and again called me a crazy SOB. 10 miles later we got to another one just like it, and I sank it again, and we spent the night in Beaufort :smiley:

C

7

If you can’t get Mohamed to the mountain…

Trust me, you aren’t the first one to call me crazy :sunglasses: And really it’s not as crazy as it sounds. I built this boat and know exactly what she can and can’t do. One thing I know is it can’t sink. It actually took more than just pulling the plugs to sink it far enough to clear. She will only settle about 4-5 inches with the plugs out, depending on the load. Once she settled as far as she would, I put in plugs, took the bait pump hose loose from the tank and pointed it in the cockpit and filled it up some more. Got to force this boat to sink.

Not saying that’s a good idea to try it with just any boat though, probably not.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

8

That is BRILLIANT!!! No wonder you have so much good advice for all that ask! Love this guy!

As far as the Drayton Hall bridge. Keep blowing your horn at him… Might take a few minutes, but he will open it… Eventually.

Edit: Larry, I finally finished my little project that you gave me some guidance on a while back. I’ll send you some after photos to “hopefully” get your “wink” of approval.

j

17 Malibu CC
88 'rude

9

If you had seen the look that Mrs. Cracker gave me, when she thought her long planned vacation was at a quick end because of my poor planning, you would have got under that bridge too :wink: :smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

10

I bet that poor woman has lots of stories

11

If they don’t respond to the boat horn, try your whistle. They normally will at least come out and tell you if there’s a train coming, etc. If that doesn’t work the third opening from the right heading upstream (not including the small openings closest to the marsh where the concrete is thicker) is wider than the others. Would only attempt it against the tide, though. I know that was a convoluted description, but you will see what I’m talking about if you get close enough.