Heading To Florida in 2026 - New Years Resolution - Advice ?
- Thread starter spadaforaj
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The Classic time to head south from the Chesapeake is right after the Annapolis Boat Show, arriving in Norfolk at Mile O around Halloween. On our first trip south weather held us up several times and we arrived in Norfolk on Nov 1. On the second trip, I took a leisurely sail to Solomons, returned home for a week, and still arrived in Norfolk on Nov. 1.
As for being cold, that's a crap shoot. On our first trip, there was lots of cold, near freezing temps in Oriental and frost on the boat in Southport. Last year, I left Dowery Creek in T Shirt and shorts for a long day motor to Beaufort. We only had a small ceramic heater, so we looked for marinas during cold snaps.
Yes there is. However, there is some controversy about using Bob's Tracks. For the most part, the track is simply not necessary and those following it too closely are often on the wrong side of following navigation rules. It also leads to boats passing on the wrong side of the channel or the wrong side of another boat when overtaking.
On the other hand there are a handful of real trouble spots on the ICW due to shoaling. Using the Track in those spots is very helpful in negotiating those shoals. Following his FB group is also helpful as information is updated regularly on all kinds things from missing buoys to disabled lift bridges.
Charts from Navionics and C-Map include the Magenta Line which is the "official" ICW route and is accurate enough along with the visual aids to navigation to navigate the ICW except in a few known trouble spots. We have C-Maps on a B&G Chartplotter which is the primary source of navigation information. I also have Aquamaps on my iPad and MacBook (M1 model) that are used for planning. The iPad with Aquamaps is used when we are near one of the trouble spots. Using this system, we had no difficulty navigating the trouble spots. The shallow spots on the ICW are sand or silt and soft. The few times we slowed to polish the keel's bottom it was due to being distracted or not paying attention to the channel markers.
Don't bother purchasing the Waterway Guide books. For about $10 a month you can get online access to them. The information online is more up to date than the book and doesn't take up any shelf space on the boat. Most of the marinas along the way use Dockwa, might as well open the account and upload your insurance info now, no cost to join.
That's a really good question. When I ran up the ICW, I was sailing with another guy who was really technology savvy and neither of us could figure out how to bring the Bob tracks in as a route. It's not the same as a track. We were running several systems at the time - none of them the Raymarine you have - and found the system we preferred at the time was OpenCPN. But I don't have my OpenCPN integrated into my autopilot. That's a whole other project on my to-do list...
I'd suggest that part of your preparation for this trip would be to work out how to have the bob423 long tracks at least easily displayed so you can follow them and better would be to have them integrate right into your autopilot. I feel that would make running the ICW significantly more pleasurable....
If you currently don't have either heat or AC in your boat then you are looking at space heaters. In that case you are pretty much stuck with electric. A few years ago I found a propane space heater that stated it can be used indoors without venting but I never used it so don't have first hand knowledge of them.
As you will be motoring pretty much full time on the ICW, you could potentially run an electric space heater off your boats electrical system but we'd have to talk about your house bank, inverter, alternator etc.
If you are not marina adverse (I am) then as @dlochner says hit marinas to connect to shore power.
dj
As I'm thinking about it, since your draft is almost a foot less than mine. You won't have as many concerns along the ICW as I did. Running the magenta line would have grounded me in several places but you wouldn't have that issue. @dlochner does not have the same constraints as I have. He is closer to your boat except for air draft than I am.
I'm pretty saddened by the controversy that has happen over the bob tracks. They are absolutely fantastic. But I am of the mind set that as the captain of my boat, I am ultimately responsible for the safety and security of my ship, crew and others. All of the aids to navigation are just that - aids. It is the captains responsibility to know when, where and how to use them in the best possible fashion.
dj
The controversy occurred because too many don't take the same level of responsibility as you and I do. Some less skilled operators think the right way to run a route is to set a route from buoy to buoy, feed that to the AP and sit back. On the Hudson River a northbound power boat (about 45') passed us about 50' away throwing a large wake. I called him out on the VHF, his response was telling, he said he was in the right because he was right on course to the next red buoy.
Several months later, he passed me again on the ICW in NC. Again throwing a large wake. Channel 16 was active with people warning boats ahead of this guy. When he passed us, throwing a wake, I realized it was the same boat and called him out by name on Channel 16 on a longish broadcast, repeating the boat's name and mentioning he had done the same on the Hudson River. The next morning when I turned on the VHF the first thing I heard was a CG Boarding Party telling him to prepare for boarding. When he passed me the third time a few hours later he was going much slower, still a little to close and fast, but much better.
Speaking of passing boats and wakes on the ICW, we should probably clarify a "slow pass".
The custom on the ICW and elsewhere in constrained channels is to a "slow pass." A faster boat with a larger wake hails a slower boat (sailboat usually) and asks for a slow pass. The slower boat acknowledges the request and indicates which side the faster boat should pass on (usually port side). When the faster boat comes up to the slow boat, it throttles back to a speed that reduces wake to a tolerable level and the slower boat also throttles back to 1-2 knots. This allows the faster boat to pass quickly and once clear both boat resume their normal cruising speed. Easy, simple, and nobody is slowed down much.
Too many sailors don't get the second part, that they have to slow down too. The powerboat can't pass a sailboat at 6 knots and not throw a wake. Too often I heard sailors give a powerboat grief for going too fast in slow pass while they did not slow down too.
AIS is a great asset in these passing situations, the powerboat can hail the sailboat by name rather than "the white sailboat by marker XXX", a call which often goes unanswered.
The custom on the ICW and elsewhere in constrained channels is to a "slow pass." A faster boat with a larger wake hails a slower boat (sailboat usually) and asks for a slow pass. The slower boat acknowledges the request and indicates which side the faster boat should pass on (usually port side). When the faster boat comes up to the slow boat, it throttles back to a speed that reduces wake to a tolerable level and the slower boat also throttles back to 1-2 knots. This allows the faster boat to pass quickly and once clear both boat resume their normal cruising speed. Easy, simple, and nobody is slowed down much.
Too many sailors don't get the second part, that they have to slow down too. The powerboat can't pass a sailboat at 6 knots and not throw a wake. Too often I heard sailors give a powerboat grief for going too fast in slow pass while they did not slow down too.
AIS is a great asset in these passing situations, the powerboat can hail the sailboat by name rather than "the white sailboat by marker XXX", a call which often goes unanswered.
@dlochner - this is a good conversation. The ICW is a beast unto itself, in a manner of speaking. I had a power boat pass me that did it very well. He called me on the VHF alerting me to his presence. Asked if passing on my starboard was OK. We were coming to a bifurcation and he was asking me which way I was going. Then asked if we needed to adjust speeds. We simply chatted and came up with a plan so we both knew where each was going - he didn't have AIS so I suggested he may wish to consider it..it took a bit before I knew he was hailing me and where he was initially as there were several boats around. Turns out hailing the white sailboat when I was the only sailboat out there helped - but I did have to figure out what motor boat was his...
Glad the coasties had a bit of input on that boat you mention.
I'm sitting reflecting - I don't think I've ever been boarded by the Coast guard (knock on wood). I've had them come along side and tell me to maintain speed and direction while we had a chat. Once coming down the Jersey coast I had one circling my boat for like an hour. I was certain I was going to get boarded but as I run AIS and the weather was horrible, I think they decided it wasn't necessary. But they were clearly scanning me... I've had DNR board me. But I don't even carry fishing poles, bait or tackle of any kind usually as I'm not a fisherman...
dj
Glad the coasties had a bit of input on that boat you mention.
I'm sitting reflecting - I don't think I've ever been boarded by the Coast guard (knock on wood). I've had them come along side and tell me to maintain speed and direction while we had a chat. Once coming down the Jersey coast I had one circling my boat for like an hour. I was certain I was going to get boarded but as I run AIS and the weather was horrible, I think they decided it wasn't necessary. But they were clearly scanning me... I've had DNR board me. But I don't even carry fishing poles, bait or tackle of any kind usually as I'm not a fisherman...
dj
The first time down the ICW it can be a bit daunting, it was much more relaxed on the second trip which I did solo from Annapolis to Brunswick GA.
I've only been boarded by the CG once after exploring a rock pile on the St Lawrence. Some well meaning soul notified them and they sat and waited until I was floating before they boarded. The rock pile was in Canadian waters and they don't rescue boats, only people. They checked my bilge, registration, etc., advised me to wear a PFD to make their job finding my body easier, and even coiled a long line I had used to heel the boat. I was approached once by Border Patrol in the middle of Lake Ontario. They came alongside and asked a few questions and went on their way.
I've only been boarded by the CG once after exploring a rock pile on the St Lawrence. Some well meaning soul notified them and they sat and waited until I was floating before they boarded. The rock pile was in Canadian waters and they don't rescue boats, only people. They checked my bilge, registration, etc., advised me to wear a PFD to make their job finding my body easier, and even coiled a long line I had used to heel the boat. I was approached once by Border Patrol in the middle of Lake Ontario. They came alongside and asked a few questions and went on their way.
Thanks all - yes - mine is the shoal draft. I've done Oriental to the Chesapeake on the inside, using the Virginia cut, and had some ping on the antenna but that is all - is doable for at least that portion I guess Partner doesn't like the outside, so making that accommodation. I would never go around Hatteras on the outside anyway
You don't think Charleston is a good bail out port? I came into Charleston with a storm pushing breaking waves onto my stern. It was a fun ride in although pretty wet.
I also tucked into Cape Fear and anchored in the natural bird sanctuary there while a real snotty one blew threw. Had a chorus of tens of thousands of birds for company. It was really lovely! Albeit rather loud. You could hear the wind howling but it was just above my mast height so we were snug as a bug in a rug, as the saying goes. That one may not be useful for all storm directions though. Sure works in a nor'easter...
dj
So am I.
Now mostly you've talked about going south, I did the route going north.
But between Hatteras and Beaufort you have both Charleston and Cape Fear - what am I missing?
dj
