About 4 or 5 years ago, a trucker arrived at the Nordic Tug factory in Burlington, WA to pick up a brand new NT37 for delivery. The factory was not comfortable with how he wanted it loaded on the trailer, thinking it was too high. They told him so but since it was his truck, loading was his responsibility. Well, off he went. He did not get all that far from the factory before he, the truck and part of the NT37 went under an overpass. The top of the pilothouse was torn off. The boat had to go back to the factory for an extensive rebuild. Luckily this was not my NT37 which arrived across the country unharmed.
How NOT to tow...
- Thread starter localboy
- Start date
Pat -
You wouldn't have been the first to come in contact with that RR overpass, and I'm sure won't be the last either.
I was a marina attendant at Shilshole while in college. We leased a rotating garbage truck -- the vendor would drop a new one off each week, and leave us with an empty. We would collect the dumpsters off each dock, and then leave the full truck for exchange.
High on the front end of the rear container was a large, very solid gear; part of the loading, or compressing, or dumping mechanisms on the truck. We didn't pay too much attention to it, but from direct experience, we now know that the cab of the truck fits under the bridge, but the gear mechanism does not!
That must have been one quick stop; the RR bridge escaped virtually unscathed. I wondered how many -G's the driver might have experienced?
The approved route was south and east through Ballard -- the drive thought he'd take a 'short cut', north under the RR, and then up the hill. A supervisor was called, and the driver was fired on the spot.
UW MED SCHOOL PARKING GARAGE:
As a grad student I often parked adjacent to the med school. The lower levels had very limited clearance -- even in a car I felt like ducking my head every time.
My advisor drove a pickup, which felt even tighter, but still had adequate clearance. But he told me of another faculty member that installed his camper in anticipation of a holiday weekend. It took a few milliseconds for him to recognize the strange sound as he drove into the garage. By the time he hit the breaks his truck was inside the garage. The camper, however, was now sitting on the ground just outside the garage.
Oopsie!
iggy
You wouldn't have been the first to come in contact with that RR overpass, and I'm sure won't be the last either.
I was a marina attendant at Shilshole while in college. We leased a rotating garbage truck -- the vendor would drop a new one off each week, and leave us with an empty. We would collect the dumpsters off each dock, and then leave the full truck for exchange.
High on the front end of the rear container was a large, very solid gear; part of the loading, or compressing, or dumping mechanisms on the truck. We didn't pay too much attention to it, but from direct experience, we now know that the cab of the truck fits under the bridge, but the gear mechanism does not!
That must have been one quick stop; the RR bridge escaped virtually unscathed. I wondered how many -G's the driver might have experienced?
The approved route was south and east through Ballard -- the drive thought he'd take a 'short cut', north under the RR, and then up the hill. A supervisor was called, and the driver was fired on the spot.
UW MED SCHOOL PARKING GARAGE:
As a grad student I often parked adjacent to the med school. The lower levels had very limited clearance -- even in a car I felt like ducking my head every time.
My advisor drove a pickup, which felt even tighter, but still had adequate clearance. But he told me of another faculty member that installed his camper in anticipation of a holiday weekend. It took a few milliseconds for him to recognize the strange sound as he drove into the garage. By the time he hit the breaks his truck was inside the garage. The camper, however, was now sitting on the ground just outside the garage.
Oopsie!
iggy
OH My....
Vertical Clearance can ruin your day. :roll:
Story #1
While working at the ABC TV station before the days of direct deposit pay we were allowed to use our lunch time to cash our checks at the local bank. One of our engineers used a microwave news truck to make his run for the 'gold'. Being in a hurry he did not check the clearance of the overhang at the bank's drive-thru and wripped the covering, along with all the lights out. He did not even stop as he drove off and left a trail of overhang and microwave antenna and mast parts on the driveway and road back all the way to the TV station.
He didn't report this to anyone but was confronted by the chief engineer after the bank had called. Boy, what a story the other stations had with this, especially with the rolling billboard these trucks display with their call letters on their sides. He did not last too long after that.
Story #2
Beware of overhead power wires as you travel or with your antennas.
We had another like truck raise its 50' mast into some 12000volt power lines that blew out all 4 tires and all the equipment in the truck. Luckily the driver was not injured, but managed to jump clear of the truck without touching it before she hit the ground with her feet.
A C-Dory won't have a mast or antenna that high, but I have encountered a launch ramp where the building's main power line went across the ramp approach. This ramp did have a 'small sign' warning the sailboaters to not raise their mast before launching. If I had my 8' antenna elevated on the old runabout, I possibly could have come in contact with it. (Local knowledge did enhanced awareness.)
The old addage; ALWAYS LOOK UP before driving under unknown coverings, branches and obstacles. Check your clearances for the whole route.
Art
Vertical Clearance can ruin your day. :roll:
Story #1
While working at the ABC TV station before the days of direct deposit pay we were allowed to use our lunch time to cash our checks at the local bank. One of our engineers used a microwave news truck to make his run for the 'gold'. Being in a hurry he did not check the clearance of the overhang at the bank's drive-thru and wripped the covering, along with all the lights out. He did not even stop as he drove off and left a trail of overhang and microwave antenna and mast parts on the driveway and road back all the way to the TV station.
He didn't report this to anyone but was confronted by the chief engineer after the bank had called. Boy, what a story the other stations had with this, especially with the rolling billboard these trucks display with their call letters on their sides. He did not last too long after that.
Story #2
Beware of overhead power wires as you travel or with your antennas.
We had another like truck raise its 50' mast into some 12000volt power lines that blew out all 4 tires and all the equipment in the truck. Luckily the driver was not injured, but managed to jump clear of the truck without touching it before she hit the ground with her feet.
A C-Dory won't have a mast or antenna that high, but I have encountered a launch ramp where the building's main power line went across the ramp approach. This ramp did have a 'small sign' warning the sailboaters to not raise their mast before launching. If I had my 8' antenna elevated on the old runabout, I possibly could have come in contact with it. (Local knowledge did enhanced awareness.)
The old addage; ALWAYS LOOK UP before driving under unknown coverings, branches and obstacles. Check your clearances for the whole route.
Art
I was trailering my 22 cruiser onto the ferry in Canada and the loading crew tried to send me up the wing to the second level (clearance about 7.5 ft) I stopped, he came over and started yelling about how HE does the traffic directing, etc. and I have to follow HIS orders.
I pointed to the boat on the trailer and said I require 9.5 feet of overhead clearance. He looked, grumped, and waived me forward to the lower level with the trucks and buses.
Later, I was standing in front of the rig and I realized that if I was standing too close to the front of the van, I could not see the actual height of the boat.
After that I made a sign that said "TRAILER IS 9.5FT HIGH". and held it against the inside of the windshield when boarding ferries.
Rental trucks have a sign in the cab that says what the overhead clearance requirement is. Might not be a bad idea for trailering any tall rig.
I pointed to the boat on the trailer and said I require 9.5 feet of overhead clearance. He looked, grumped, and waived me forward to the lower level with the trucks and buses.
Later, I was standing in front of the rig and I realized that if I was standing too close to the front of the van, I could not see the actual height of the boat.
After that I made a sign that said "TRAILER IS 9.5FT HIGH". and held it against the inside of the windshield when boarding ferries.
Rental trucks have a sign in the cab that says what the overhead clearance requirement is. Might not be a bad idea for trailering any tall rig.
The only similiar thing we've done (thank GOD!) was both M and I both forgot we had our VHF antena up when returning to Everett; I do a walk around and hadn't noticed since the camperback top was deployed/open. Well, that overpass to Marysville took off the top 6". :x Nothing else damaged except my pride. :roll: The antena still worked but looked like crap, so I replaced it. From looking at that ovepass, it appears I'm not the only one to do it. :|
journey on
New member
Pat, in answer to your embarrassing moment in having to back up, we'd all like to mention that backing up is a lot less embarrassing than having to pull the boat out, explain everything to the police and insurance and then having it fixed.
Next time (and there will be a next time,) tell everyone how lucky you were AS you're extricating yourself.
Boris
Next time (and there will be a next time,) tell everyone how lucky you were AS you're extricating yourself.
Boris
starcrafttom
Active member
when i was driving cement for cad man a boom pump operator raised the boom into a power line. not only did it blow most of the tires and all the electronics in his truck but it got the mixer truck that was backed up to the pump and two of the guys that were near it. the cadman driver was a good 10ft away and it came up thru the ground and hit him in the foot. knocked him to the ground. all the asphalt around the truck melted.
Just more things I see driving around:
What's wrong w/ this picture?
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
You should've seen how the boat moved on the trailer. I hope they are NOT going far....it was darn right dangerous. :roll:
One more; different boat, same "mentality"...
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
What's wrong w/ this picture?
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
You should've seen how the boat moved on the trailer. I hope they are NOT going far....it was darn right dangerous. :roll:
One more; different boat, same "mentality"...
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
My first sailboat was a Cape Dory 25. My brother and I lifted in up the river in Charleston. Never before did we have to worry about bridge clearance, we had been power boaters. We hit the bridge at about 4 kts, so hard that water shot up a couple feet out the cockpit scuppers. A lesser built boat and the mast would have been by-the-board.
At least the bridge didn't fall on us.
At least the bridge didn't fall on us.