Has anyone gone through the ICW from either direction? I'm planning a trip around the 1st of November and looking for advice. Which is better the Dismal Swamp or the east cut? Anything would be helpfull. Jim
ICW between Portsmouth and NC
- Thread starter Jim Seamans
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Both !
Jim, I helped my brother bring his boat down from Norfolk, we came down the Dismal Swamp route to the rest area(in N.C.) then I left him on his own. The locks are no problem and the scenery is great.(he said the scenery was much better south of South Mill lock) Make sure they haven`t closed the canal for lack of water. I`ve been in the cut south of Coinjock to the sound then to Manteo, & To E.C., great place to cruise, much to see and do along the way. Hope this helps, Drop me a line at ctiller@coastalnet.com if more info wanted and I`ll try to answer any questions or get the info for you. Later, Cecil s/v Patience `75 Hunter 30
Jim, I helped my brother bring his boat down from Norfolk, we came down the Dismal Swamp route to the rest area(in N.C.) then I left him on his own. The locks are no problem and the scenery is great.(he said the scenery was much better south of South Mill lock) Make sure they haven`t closed the canal for lack of water. I`ve been in the cut south of Coinjock to the sound then to Manteo, & To E.C., great place to cruise, much to see and do along the way. Hope this helps, Drop me a line at ctiller@coastalnet.com if more info wanted and I`ll try to answer any questions or get the info for you. Later, Cecil s/v Patience `75 Hunter 30
Add'l thoughts...
Jim, note the other comment about the Dismal Swamp route being open - sometimes, draught conditions make it impassable. If you're intent is to make miles, consult the wx f'cast as you leave Norfolk and choose the routing that will make the easiest passage in the Sound; it can be rough & unpleasant, and November is when frontal wx will dictate the wind direction. (One route lays a somewhat different rhumb line than the other). If you're partially in a 'smell the roses' mood, definitely consider the DS route, take your time and plan a stop at VA's visitor center site mid-way down the canal. A nice dock allows you a comfortable evening, the visitor's center has an interesting video of the area & its history (which they'll gladly play for you while you enjoy their heat and/or air conditioning), you may meet some other interesting folks also tying up, and the big dividend is an early morning motor down the rest of the canal - it's a wonderful spot but especially so in the mornings. This also puts you thru the bridge and into an Eliz. City (free) dock ahead of the afternoon crowd, altho' in some wx conditions we find the anchorage down river a bit to be more comfortable than being washed about by the river's fetch hitting the dock bulkhead. Enjoy. Just imagine Geo. Washington surveying that area in the 1700's; it's quite a special area.
Jim, note the other comment about the Dismal Swamp route being open - sometimes, draught conditions make it impassable. If you're intent is to make miles, consult the wx f'cast as you leave Norfolk and choose the routing that will make the easiest passage in the Sound; it can be rough & unpleasant, and November is when frontal wx will dictate the wind direction. (One route lays a somewhat different rhumb line than the other). If you're partially in a 'smell the roses' mood, definitely consider the DS route, take your time and plan a stop at VA's visitor center site mid-way down the canal. A nice dock allows you a comfortable evening, the visitor's center has an interesting video of the area & its history (which they'll gladly play for you while you enjoy their heat and/or air conditioning), you may meet some other interesting folks also tying up, and the big dividend is an early morning motor down the rest of the canal - it's a wonderful spot but especially so in the mornings. This also puts you thru the bridge and into an Eliz. City (free) dock ahead of the afternoon crowd, altho' in some wx conditions we find the anchorage down river a bit to be more comfortable than being washed about by the river's fetch hitting the dock bulkhead. Enjoy. Just imagine Geo. Washington surveying that area in the 1700's; it's quite a special area.
Ditto....
I agree w/ Cecil, both are nice... each has its pro & cons... Dismal Swamp Canal... great scenic canal, 2 locks, free dockage at NC Visiters Cntr. (just S. of NC line), and free dockage in Eliz. City....plus, very nice people along the way. but...the canal's controlling depth is 6 feet and... ck the lock schedule on the internet... you probable can't make it to South Mills in time for the last lock, so this route will take one day longer than going to ... Coinjock.... which is is a good days run from Portsmouth. There, you will find dockage, fuel, water, and a nice restraunt. So, if you're in a hurry, go via Coinjock, if you've got a little more time, get off the beaten-track and go down the historic Dismal Swamp Canal.... Either way its a nice stretch of the waterway.... I'll be there myself in late Oct. Buck.. s/v L'Attitude
I agree w/ Cecil, both are nice... each has its pro & cons... Dismal Swamp Canal... great scenic canal, 2 locks, free dockage at NC Visiters Cntr. (just S. of NC line), and free dockage in Eliz. City....plus, very nice people along the way. but...the canal's controlling depth is 6 feet and... ck the lock schedule on the internet... you probable can't make it to South Mills in time for the last lock, so this route will take one day longer than going to ... Coinjock.... which is is a good days run from Portsmouth. There, you will find dockage, fuel, water, and a nice restraunt. So, if you're in a hurry, go via Coinjock, if you've got a little more time, get off the beaten-track and go down the historic Dismal Swamp Canal.... Either way its a nice stretch of the waterway.... I'll be there myself in late Oct. Buck.. s/v L'Attitude
In NJ
In NJ you can go in the Manasquan river and then turn south as you see the opening into the ICW channel. Make sure you radio the Bridge tender on the short stretch between the Manasquan River and the Metedeconk River. You will need to "go thru at slack tide" or risk getting taken by the current and clashing with the tower bridge. Once you are in the "chute", your are pretty much committed. Ensure you radio contact the bridge tender to aggange a lift "in advance" of entering the ICW channel "at neutral tide". Boats have been dismasted for bad timing. After you negotiate that its not bad thru the other southerly bridges to AC. At bit shoally as you get into the lower Barnegat Bay and rather slow go in narrow channels in southern areas. Good luck Jim McCue
In NJ you can go in the Manasquan river and then turn south as you see the opening into the ICW channel. Make sure you radio the Bridge tender on the short stretch between the Manasquan River and the Metedeconk River. You will need to "go thru at slack tide" or risk getting taken by the current and clashing with the tower bridge. Once you are in the "chute", your are pretty much committed. Ensure you radio contact the bridge tender to aggange a lift "in advance" of entering the ICW channel "at neutral tide". Boats have been dismasted for bad timing. After you negotiate that its not bad thru the other southerly bridges to AC. At bit shoally as you get into the lower Barnegat Bay and rather slow go in narrow channels in southern areas. Good luck Jim McCue
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