Height Clearances - The Hull Truth

Leeworm · 10-14-2009, 07:47 PM

Good Evening All;

I was just curious if any of you have dealt with low height clearances towing your boat in residential neighborhoods. My boat sits 12'4" which is more than 12" below the 13'6" DOT height restriction. My question is have any of you had a run in with local utility companies about raising thier overheads feeds or with local governments to maintain tree grooming along public streets. I see delivery trucks and school buses constantly "fighting" with low branches and it's only a matter of time before I take out someone's cable or phone on my street.

donnie144 · 10-14-2009, 08:56 PM

Some areas require that the utility companies keep a 13'5" clearance for emergency vehicles. If you have a problem I would start there. But it's my understanding from a trucking company that if there are cables hanging low and they catch your load it's there problem. But good luck in getting them to fix your boat. But the bottom line check your cities websites for their ordinances.

welder · 10-14-2009, 11:10 PM

The max height for Normal trucks is 14' . Electric wires , 300 volts or more ] have to be 18' over a road way and 22' over a Highway.

The lines that are most hit are the Phone and Cable as they are under ours [ Elec. ]

Trees should be at least 14' because normal NON PERMIT loads can be up to 14'.

I'm the Electrical Sup. for the City I work for here in Texas. Your City may be Different [City codes can Vary]

For more Info. look in the NEC [ National Electric Code ]

To answer your question , at 12' you should not be hitting anything on a PUBLIC STREET or HIGHWAY unless it is marked and you ignored the sign.

vettnman · 10-14-2009, 11:32 PM

You would be amazed at how many town and cities don't cut tree branches. I drive a "straight'(6 wheeler) truck that has a height of 12'4". You should see all the scratch marks down the side of the body from tree limbs. Good luck in whatever you do and let us know what happens

kerno · 10-15-2009, 01:23 AM

My garage door is 11 feet high, so the boat has to be a couple inches less. But every trip to the ramp involves leaves, branches and seed pods in the boat.

Leeworm · 10-15-2009, 04:30 AM

Hey Welder;

I have already taken care of Entergy because the overhead feed to my house was hanging at a "p*ss poor" 9'6". Within 30 minutes of that phone call they sent a service truck to take up the slack. I guess when you have a product that can kill your customers it pays to be prompt. LOL. Kudos to you and all the other linemen that keep us energized.

Let me just say that I hate older streets, like mine. The streets on either side are newer with underground utilities. They just look so much cleaner. My street looks like some giant spider laid a web over the street.

bwguardian · 10-15-2009, 08:56 AM

Actually here in Texas relative to low tree limbs...it is the responsibility of the home owner. If they don't keep them maintained at 13'-6" and are over the property line into the right of way the City or power company has the authority to cut them...this was evident after Ike. I also know a guy here that took legal action against a home owner after sustaining damage from low limbs. I am finishing up my boat that sits at 12'-8" and am concerned about getting it to my house because of all the low limbs.