Cruising the Intracoastal Waterway
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Transcript of Cruising the Intracoastal Waterway
Cruising theIntracoastal Waterway
Norm & Kathy Blinn
Ebb Tide II - Our Duffy37
Outline
Getting ready to goManaging the WaterwayUnderway on the ICW
Living Aboard – Long TermPersonal items:
Not too much clothingLaptop computer and cell phone
Extra boat spares:Second anchor and rodeImpellers + head repair partsWiper blades, bulbs, flashlight batteries
Dry Storage Boxes
Living Away From HomeCommunicating:
Internet – Wi-Fi card, boosted antenna, shore accessIncoming E-mail – Downloads are easy Sending E-mail – Use provider’s website
Paying bills:Use bank’s electronic bill paying serviceUse biller’s websites - due dates & amountsCheckbook/stamps/envelopes - if mailing
Need cash? - Use Debit Card at ATMsMail:
Home mailbox monitoringForward to marina or Post Office General Delivery
Navigation AidsEssential equipment:
Electronic chartplotter & depth sounder Tide info - embedded or Eldridge Tide & Pilot
ICW Guides:The Intracoastal Waterway (Jan & Bill Moeller)Managing the Waterway (Mark & Diana Doyle)
Paper charts:Intracoastal Waterway Chartbook (J. & L. Kettlewell)MAPTECH Chartkits:
Norfolk, VA to Florida (Region 6)Florida East Coast and the Keys (Region 7)
Other Helpful GuidesSkipper Bob publications (www.skipperbob.net):
Marinas along the Intracoastal WaterwayAnchorages along the Intracoastal Waterway
MAPTECH Cruising Guide - FloridaInternet sites:
Salty Southeast Cruisers Net (www.cruisersnet.net)Weather/sea states (www.wunderground.com)
Follow the Yellow MarksICW navigation markers have yellow triangles or squares
above daymark/buoy numbersICW may use red or green marks to your starboardHere’s the rule:
Always inland (Mountains)
Always offshore (Islands)
ICW Marker
Navigating Underway
ICW Underway RoutinePlan a daily travel distance (6 hours is good)Underway in daylight only!Check the tides Travel during mid to high tide:
lower South Carolina & GeorgiaNear ocean inlets
First-timers – stop in marinas each nightBe flexible – expect delays
Aground – Five Foot Tide Range
Bridges and PassingBridges:
Time your arrival - minimize wait timesDo not crowd the bridge – keep maneuvering roomDown-current boats have right-of-way
Passing etiquette:VHF 16 call – no answer – use horn signalOne whistle – right rudder, pass on other boat’s starboardTwo whistle – left rudder, pass on other boat’s port side
Tow Boats and Barges:Less maneuverable – follow their leadCall on VHF 13 first, then VHF 16, then VHF 9
Traffic from Opened Bridge
Passing Other VesselsPleasure Boats:
VHF 16 call – no answer – use horn signalOne whistle – right rudder, pass on other boat’s
starboard sideTwo whistle – left rudder, pass on other boat’s port
sideTow Boats and Barges:
Less maneuverable – follow their leadCall on VHF 13 first, then VHF 16, then VHF 9Never pass without verbal contact
Towboat and Barge in NC
ICW FactsRuns from Norfolk, VA to Miami, FL1090 statute milesPlanned minimum depths:
12 feet to Ft. Pierce, FL10 feet to Miami
Dual responsibility:Depth – Army Corps of EngineersNav Aids – US Coast Guard
ICW Map & DistancesStatute miles by state :
Virginia - 34
North Carolina - 307
South Carolina – 235
Georgia – 138
Florida - 541
Norfolk to Key West- 1245
ICW RealitiesBottom is always changing:
Natural shoaling by ocean inletsStorm and hurricane effects
Planned depths are not maintained:Commercial usage gets priority for dredgingNo depth maintenance from Hilton Head Island
to Georgia/Florida border (161 miles)Coast Guard is over-worked:
Places temporary buoys when ICW bottom shiftsNeglects faded nav markers and damaged ranges
FY 2008 ICW Dredging FundsCongress appropriated - $13.28 million
North Carolina - $5.5MSouth Carolina - $2.18MGeorgia - $1.87 MFlorida - $3.74M
Time since last dredging:Georgia - Six yearsSouth Carolina – Two years
Georgia contract slipped to 2009Hells Gate Cut will be dredged in springtime
When to Start the TripLeave early & stay late:
SNOWBIRDS - Southbound in September - Northbound in May
November - December departures:Shorter daylight hoursMorning fogLow sun angles – reflected glare
Bahamas visits:Best in April or May
Cruising “Outside” to FloridaThree legs - 2 days each at 6 knots – approx 545 NMHampton Roads, VA to Southport, NC
Thimble Shoals Channel “CB” to Cape Hatteras – 105 NMCape Hatteras “R12” to Cape Fear River “CP” – 130 NMGreatest distance - offshore below Hatteras - 40NM
Southport, NC to Charleston, SCCape Fear “CP” to Charleston Sea Buoy “C”- 107 NM
Charleston, SC to Fernandina Beach, FLCharleston “C” to Saint Marys River “R2” – 143 NM
ICW - Norfolk to Great Bridge, VAMile Marker Zero:
Elizabeth River Red 36 in NorfolkNorfolk to Great Bridge (MM 12) - 3 hour tripNorfolk bridges :
2 vehicle - hourly openings2 railroad – variable openings Rush-hour restrictions (7-9 AM, 4-6 PM)
Great Bridge Lock & Bridge coordinate hourly openings
Norfolk’s Dominion Boulevard Bridges
Great Bridge, VA to Coinjock, NCFree overnight tie-up between lock and bridgeAfter leaving Great Bridge :• 2 vehicle bridges - half hour openings • 1 railroad bridge - variable openings • Rush-hour restrictions
Currituck Sound has no tide:Wind - affects depths, current and wavesStay in channel - shallow outside
Coinjock (MM 51) – 2 marinas
Inside Great Bridge Lock
Great Bridge Bridge
Upper North CarolinaAlbemarle Sound crossing - 12 miles:
Gets nasty if wind is blowingWestward-building shoal by Alligator River Bridge
(MM 84)Find Green 1 visually - follow marks to bridge
Alligator River leads to 21 mile-long canal Good marina stops:
Alligator River Marina - MM 84Dowry Creek Marina - Belhaven - MM 132
Alligator River-Pungo River Canal
Upper North Carolina (Cont)Protected water - before/after Neuse RiverNeuse River crossing - 27 miles
Actually is southern Pamlico Sound Gets rough if wind blows
Good overnight stops: Oriental, NC (MM 181) - 2 marinas + free pierMorehead City, NC (MM 205) - several marinas
Morehead City – 3.5 foot tidal range
Lower North CarolinaMorehead City (MM 205) – 3.5 foot tide Going south - tidal range increases to 5 feet ICW runs between barrier islands and coast:
Many ocean inlets – honor temporary buoysExpect a slow trip:
4 BridgesCamp LeJune Firing range (MM 235-240)
Cape Fear River - strong tidal currentsSouthport, NC (MM 310) – 3 marinas + free dock
Shrimpers aground by New River Inlet
Dolphins near New River Inlet
Upper South CarolinaMoving south – tidal range increases from 5 to 7 feetThe “Rockpile” (MM 349–352):
Securité call on VHF 13 and 16No turn-around room Passing/meeting is difficult
Marinas:Dock Holiday’s (MM 348)Wacca Wache (MM 384)Georgetown’s Boat Shed Marina (MM 403)
Red 16 in the Rockpile
Red 16A in the Rockpile
Lower South CarolinaMulti-night stops:
Charleston City Marina (MM 469) – 3 nightsDowntown Marina - Beaufort (MM 536) – 2 nights
Hilton Head Island:Skull Creek No-Wake zone (MM 553-557) – $900 fineMarina - Harbour Town Yacht Basin (MM 564)
Known shallow spots – mid to high tide only:Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff (MM 517)Ramshorn Creek (MM 569)Fields Cut (MM 573)
Charleston City Marina’s Mega-Dock
Georgia – an ICW challenge138 meandering miles (MM 576-MM 714)Tidal range – 8 feetNo depth maintenance since 2002Worst shallow spots:
Hells Gate Cut (MM 602) - dredging in spring 2009North end of Jekyll Creek (MM 683)
Marinas: Kilkenny Creek (MM 614) – primitiveJekyll Wharf ( MM 684)
Best bet – go outside:St Catherine Sound (MM 618) to St. Mary's River –
60 milesSaves 35 miles and avoids many shallows
Florida – Finally!Fernandina Harbor Marina (MM 717) Fernandina to Key West - 528 milesICW is well maintained:
Indian River - 200 miles - 10 feet deep channel Lots of “skinny” water outside channel
Tropical weather starts at Palm BeachDelray Beach to Miami:
Many bridge waits and no-wake zonesGo “outside” at Boca Raton or Ft. Lauderdale
Fernandina Beach, FL Sunset
Good Florida Overnight Stops“Old Florida” Towns:
Fernandina, Melbourne, Cocoa, New Smyrna Historic:
St. Augustine & Cape CanaveralBig Cities:
Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale & Miami Florida Keys
Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Key West
Miami Bayside Marina
Leaving Miami
Prop-Fouling Hawser
Miami to Key WestTwo routes (160 miles):
Biscayne & Florida Bays – shallow, more protectedHawk Channel – deeper, inside outer reef
Stopovers – make reservations in winter:Key Largo (MM 1142) - Marina Del MarIslamorada (MM 1163) - many marinasMarathon (MM 1194) - many marinas
Boot Key Harbor - 226 mooring ballsKey West (MM 1245) - Galleon Marina
Hawk Channel Marker
Key Largo’s Channel
Moored in Key Largo
Boot Key Harbor Mooring Field
Approaching Key West Harbor
Key West Harbor Entrance
Key West Harbor
Inside Key West Harbor
Galleon Marina Approach
Key West – Galleon Marina
Meeting a Manatee
Manatee Drinking Fresh Water
Manatees Move Slowly
Semi-Tame Heron
Dinner Time for Feral Cats
Key West Sunset
Weather in the KeysWinter:
Warm & breezyActive water, fast-moving storms
Summer:Hot & humid Calm winds & water
Best weather reporting:Weather Underground Web address –www.wunderground.com
Storm Arriving in Key West
Sunset after the Storm
Final Thoughts
An ICW trip is a grand adventureDon’t rush - savor the experienceMake multi-day stopsBring your bikes