BARNEGAT BAY BASH 2013

[Bob23]

Thanks, Curtis:
   I once was stopped for having our pet African Grey parrot towing my CP 23 on the parkway. I let the parrot do the talking which confused the officer. He didn't know who to ticket, me or the bird!
   I'm sure we are all violating one law or another. Here in NJ, the State Police have so much to think about that I doubt that they care if the tow vehicle is commercial or not. Heck, I'm in violation everyday I drive to work: my truck has passenger plates but is lettered for my business.
Bob23

[MKBLK]

Curtis,

When trailering a small boat (CP16), do you know how EZPass may be affected? I've pulled through EZPass lanes a couple of times and have never gotten a "letter". I assume that they ignore small single-axle trailers behind non-commercial vehicles (in my case a Volvo SW).

And I second "and don't trailer with it kicked up". Aside from the danger to following vehicles, it probably puts a heck of a strain on the transom.

Marty K.

[Smier]

EZpass cannot determine if you are towing a trailer or not.  However, if the toll road you at traveling on charges more for a trailer in tow, you are still supposed to be paying the rate for the vehicle and trailer.  Some roads, like the Pa turnpike charge you by weight, when you drive thru the toll booth you cross a small set of scales, but others charge by the number of axles.  You will only get in trouble if your ezpass tag doesn't register correctly with the sensors, then they use photos of your vehicle and its license plates to verify your ezpass account and bill you accordingly.  My wife received a ticket on the Garden State Parkway for the license plates not matching the account after we bought a new car, we called and updated the account and they dropped the ticket and billed us the $.50 we owed them.  Long story short, you should be fine!  I am going to try and make it this year hopefully!

[curtisv]

The restrictions on commercial to GSP north of exit 105 (Tinton Falls).  There is no good alternative south of there.  No one wants commercial trucks taking Route 35 any longer than they have to to deliver to shore communities.  North of there Route 1 & 9 is a viable alternative for large commercial trucks.

Like I said, I was just curious as to what the regulations were and how the enforcement differs.  I have only done the GSP one way after I bought my CP23 and towed her out of NJ.  I used EZ-Pass and wasn't sure if I would get a ticket later.  I didn't get a ticket.

Again, parroting what I read on the Internet.  Some have got tickets but seemed to have pushed too far over the length or width limit.  Could be an issue for a CP27, but I don't know.  Anyone with direct experience?

Curtis

Ps- These days I only trailer 3.5 miles (one way) and never leave town and do that twice a season to launch and retrieve.

[MKBLK]

Curtis and  Smier- Thanks for your feedback on EZPass. I wasn't really concerned and figured that worst case scenario would be an additional charge on my account. Life is too short to worry about EZPass tolls anyway. 99% of the time, I'm not pulling the trailer. About a year ago, returning from Barnegat Bay, I decided to bypass the tolls on the Route 1 bridge over the Delaware in Trenton, NJ. I towed the boat through Morrisville, PA and the road was so bad (a main road at that) that I broke the trailer's axle (the axle wasn't great to begin with, but...). The road still hasn't been fixed. The axle could now support a Sherman Tank! 

Marty K.

[CaptRon28]

I've towed several boats on the southern portion of the GSP. Before the 20 foot Horizon, I towed my 28 foot Telstar trimaran and a Catalina 250. Both rigs were substantially heavier than what is apparently allowed. The Telstar and trailer weigh about 6500 pounds and the wing keel C250 with trailer was over 7,000. A 6300+ pound Avalanche (with Florida plates) was the tow vehicle, bringing my combined GVW up to around 13,000. The 20 foot Avalanche pulling 38+ feet of trailer and boat (Telstar) is also supposedly over the limit. Note that both of these boat/trailer combo's are 8 1/2 feet wide, also an issue. Never had a problem. The unusual folded trimaran almost always gets a very long look by the troopers, but I think they're trying to figure out what it actually is -

[Bob23]

   Well fellow Bash-ites, we're less than 2 weeks away from this stellar Compac event so I hope you're gettin' ready! The trailering discussion below is interesting. I recently towed my Force 5 up to Red Bank to the new owners house. While size/weight obviously wasn't an issue, a normally 75 cent toll cost me $2.25 for the truck and very little single axle trailer! I think the $1.50 toll was $4.50! For a boat that I could put on the roof of my truck! Oh well....
   There seems to be 6 boats on my list below but I've had more inquirys than that so.... anyone additional care to sign in here on the Official Barnegat Bay Bash 2013 Roll Call so we know who's coming:

   Fortunately because this is such a loosely scheduled event, there is not much planning to be done on my part. It might be fun to host a race but seeing how there's no dock to return to, it might be tricky determining a winner. Of course, if we all departed the same time on Sunday, that would most certainly turn into a race.
   If any of you guys bring dingys or kayaks, Tice's is a great place to explore. A very rustic bayside shoreline exists and the powers that be seem to want to keep the place quite natural, As JT and Marty can attest. Looking forward to seeing everyone there. If you haven't gotten your shoe phone # to me, you might want to just in case of last minute changes. The last update you'll see here will probably be Friday morning August 09 as I plan to arrive sometime around mid-day Friday to secure a quiet and deep enough location.
   Till then mates, Ciao!
Bob23

[Eagleye]

Thanks for the update, Bob.

When you went through the tolls did you use the EZ-Pass or did you do the cash pay?
I will plan on leaving upstate NY very early on Friday.  My friend may not be able to go along so it is possible I will be single-handing this trip. 

Looking forward to the adventure!!
Allen

[Bob23]

Allen:
   I don't have Sleezy-pass. Cash only. Here in NJ they had a lot of techno problems with Sleezy-pass when they first implemented it. I decided I didn't want any more government intrusion into my life in even the least way. They have since improved it but I'll stand my ground. I don't use the toll roads all that often.
Bob23

[Bob23]

Weather update:
   About now I start looking at the long range forecast even though I know darn well that it's unreliable this far out. But that being said, it's looking to be a great weekend with Accuweather giving us plenty of sun on Saturday and Sunday. We'll see just how Accurate Accuweather really is!
Bob23

[MKBLK]

Fingers are crossed. Rain gods should be appeased as of today. Just drove down from Rutherford to Trenton, a submarine would have been more suitable.   Going sailing Saturday. Should be a good trial run for next week's BBB-2013.

Marty K.

Weather for Saturday (the 3rd) didn't pan out very well. Sunday promises to be real nice... unfortunately, no crew for Sunday. Bummer. But, next weekend should be great, can't wait! Looks like I'll be soloing. Anybody need a ride?

[Smier]

Looks like it should be some nice sailing according to the wind forecast. 

http://www.windmapper.com/forecast/Barnagat_light

[Bob23]

   Hey thanks for that site, Smier. I never knew about it but I'll add it to my weather favorites! I like that North wind for Sunday...and easy sail back to my home port. But because we are so close to Barnegat Inlet, the local conditions can vary greatly. Sometimes they seem to thumb thier nose to the weather forecasts and do what they darn well please.
   A nice plus to the Tice's Shoals location is no mosquitos! It's strange because there is salt march located not to far away. Maybe it flushes out with the tide before the critters can hatch off.
Bob23

[Mike K]

Bob, thanks for the boat listing and scouting the ramp at Southwinds marina.  If the weather holds up, sounds like there's going to be a good turnout!

In addition to my Legacy, my nephew Tim will be sailing there in his new (to him) 1980-something CP16.  Sorry, I don't even know his boat's name!
So our group will consist of 4 people and a little dog.

-Mike '13 Legacy

[Bob23]

Well mates:
   This is shaping up very nicely. The long range forecast is not bad, with a chance of t storms on Friday but that won't affect most of us. I'll be sailing on Friday and it will really be a bummer if I get struck. Heck, I'd miss the Bash!!!
   Here is the Official As It Gets BBB 2013 Roster: If I've missed anyone, feel free to edit this list.
Bob        Bob23              CP 23 Koinonia
JT           jthatcher          CP 23 Adagio
Marty     MLBLK              CP 16  Pegasus
Mike       keougmi           CP Legacy Santosha
Allen      eagleeye          CP Eclipse  Madame Z
Bob        ??                     CP 16 Nauti
Ron        romei               CP 16 Salty Dawg (gaff rigged cat boat)
Tim         ??                    CP 16   ??  (Mike's nephew)

So it looks like 8 wonderful Compacs will converge on Tice's Shoals next weekend. This should really be a bash...pun intended. Stay tuned for more BBB news as it unfolds. I think I mentioned this before but you'll know my 23: It'll have a large American flag flying from the backstay and a white anchoring sail also from the backstay.
Bob23