[quote=tominpa]The height of power lines over navigable channels is mandated by law and codes. 69 feet of clearance is appropriate for 501 to 700 KVA lines, and the clearance is based on the mean high water (MHW) which is based on several years of the highest tide marks. Unfortunately, those codes are silent on minimum recommended clearance for watercraft to those lines. It will be interesting to hear what others on the forum say, or you might call the Coast Guard and see if they have recommendations.
Depending on your boat, you are probably under 40-feet total height and should have no problems with the 69 foot clearance, and the actual height is likely higher unless you are passing under the point of lowest sag at the highest tide.
I could not find hard guidance for minimum clearance to sailboats or other vessels, but for power lines of 345 - 700 KVA, the OSHA mandated clearance (1926.1411(b)(5)(ii)) is a minimum of 16-feet. [url]https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1411[/url] The only other consideration I would personally make is to avoid crossing under in rain or fog.[/quote]
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