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