Wolfeboro Back Bay bridge clearance

[JAS]

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Does anyone know if a small center console can fit under back Bay Bridge in Wolfeboro? I would like to be able to get into back bay, but also like center consoles for their comfort. If so, any suggestions for s small center console boat that will clear the bridge? Has anyone ever modified a 15' Montauk Whaler or a small Carolina skiff so the windshield and grab rail is low enough to clear and if so, how? Thanks, this is my first post on this forum.

[DBreskin]

Originally Posted by JAS

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Does anyone know if a small center console can fit under back Bay Bridge in Wolfeboro? I would like to be able to get into back bay, but also like center consoles for their comfort. If so, any suggestions for s small center console boat that will clear the bridge? Has anyone ever modified a 15' Montauk Whaler or a small Carolina skiff so the windshield and grab rail is low enough to clear and if so, how? Thanks, this is my first post on this forum.

I've seen a 15' center console boat fail to clear the bridge due to a high grab rail above the windshield. As the previous posters have indicated, clearance is just over 4 feet at full pool so whether you can clear the bridge depends on your bridge clearance. I can usually pass under the bridge in my 20' bowrider in July or August but probably not in June when the water is high. Last August the water was so low I could almost stand up when passing beneath the bridge, but my prop was hitting bottom.

I know of a couple of Sawmill slip holders that are unable to get out of Back Bay in June when the water is high.

[Scott_In_NH]

Hi,
One other interesting fact with the Back Bay Bridge is the arch on the
lake side is 2 inches lower at the middle.

I have a 1987 4Winns 211 Liberator.

In June 2013 or 2014, we went under the bridge from the Back Bay heading out to Wolfeboro Bay. I had to put someone way up in the cuddy cabin to drop the bow enough for the windshield to clear.

We cleared with about 1/2 inch to spare in the center. When we got to the other side, the arch was hitting about 1.5 to 2 inches down on the windshield.
And the wind was blowing in, and as we tried to back up, we got spun sideways. We had to spin the boat pushing against the roof of the bridge to spin back. Lots of fun.

Now I check the side posts of the Back bay docks to see where the water is
before I launch.

Scott

[8gv]

What if the hull was temporarily flooded enough to get a few more inches of clearance?

I suppose a bladder would be needed to keep the water out of trouble.

[WoNHUSA]

I called Sawmill Marina and was told that the clearance was 56" on one side and 55" on the other. I believe I was told (and based on the previous post) that the Wolfeboro Bay side of the bridge is the lower of the two. Good info to have...

[Sammy]

I'm selling my 2001 Glastron GX185, I've never had a problem getting under the Back Bay Bridge if you're interested.

[Bizer]

Originally Posted by WoNHUSA

I called Sawmill Marina and was told that the clearance was 56" on one side and 55" on the other. I believe I was told (and based on the previous post) that the Wolfeboro Bay side of the bridge is the lower of the two. Good info to have...

I re-measured the Wolfeboro bridge on Tuesday and again came up with 4.2 feet.

• Distance from water to top of stones next to sidewalk: 120" (10.0 ft)
• Distance from top of opening to stop of stones: 63" (5.25 ft.) (The bridge's height at the time, not corrected for the lake's datum, was 4.75 feet)
• Lakes height at the time: 3.79 (0.53 feet below full lake datum of 4.32 feet)
• 10.0 - 5.25 - (4.32 - 3.79) = 4.22 (+/- 0.1)

I did confirm that the clearance on the north side is about 2 inches higher, but we are most interested in the lowest clearance. Again, I do not know or remember whether there is an obstruction under the bridge that would reduce the clearance.