Is it possible and feasible to motor down the ICW during the night time without running aground? reply fast if you can thanks
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Yes it's possible, the depth in the channel between the markers is the same at night as it is during the day + or - tidal effects. I guess the question is can you see the markers at night to be able to stay between them. I would say it depends on what section of the ICW are you talking about. A good chart plotter can help you navigate the channel while a depth sounder can help you stay in it. We regularly do the ICW on the east coast of Florida at night but our main concern there is the hours for the manning of the bridges. I would imagine that out in the sounds of North Carolina in the middle of nowhere it would not be prudent to attempt it without local knowledge.
Is certainly possible
It is certainly possible to do so, but not recommended by many. And as Benny said, local knowledge is many times required. I can think of several places on the east coast, around the inlets, where the channel shifts constantly, and they move the can markers as needed. The cans are not usually lit, and would be very difficult to see at night. In other areas, most of the ICW goes through lots of shallow places, and even a little out of the channel and your aground.
It is certainly possible to do so, but not recommended by many. And as Benny said, local knowledge is many times required. I can think of several places on the east coast, around the inlets, where the channel shifts constantly, and they move the can markers as needed. The cans are not usually lit, and would be very difficult to see at night. In other areas, most of the ICW goes through lots of shallow places, and even a little out of the channel and your aground.
I have motored the ICW from Houston Tx to New Orleans at night (different sections at different trips) and found it to not be a problem. There is a good bit of commercial traffic and we communicated with the big boys and the traffic centers (Morgan City La.) early and often so there were no close calls. The channel is deep and well marked.. NOW that said, last year based on those experiences, we tried to do the ICW north from Ft. Lauderdale and gave up after one night, north of Jacksonville because of tricky channels and tricky currents and shallow spots that were not marked.. Sooooo with an experienced crew, you can probably do the central gulf coast but I go with the general consensus that the east coast ICW is not do-able at night..
I've done the Great lock bridge to Hampton at night, and it was no problem, called the bridges and they were helpfull and they adviced the next bridge operator of our passing... the Norfolk area was more demanding as there are many lights on, you have to pay more attention to those.... Check the scheduled operation hours...
I've done the Great lock bridge to Hampton at night (2006), and it was no problem, called the bridges and they were helpfull and they adviced the next bridge operator of our passing... the Norfolk area was more demanding as there are many lights on, you have to pay more attention to those.
Check the scheduled operation hours. The chanels are well marked for night navigation.
Marco
Check the scheduled operation hours. The chanels are well marked for night navigation.
Marco
We have done the ICW from Houston to The Keys a couple of times and the Atlantic ICW from the Chesapeake to the Keys 12 times. You might get by motoring at night on the Gulf Coast. Motoring the Atlantic ICW at night is a very, very bad idea. The channels shoal, flotsam in the water anywhere, misplaced markers, anchored boats with no lights, commercial traffic that does travel at night, bridges that only open for commercial traffic at night and a whole myriad of other considerations make this a very foolish idea no matter what others might tell you. Every guide book and every experienced ICW traveler will tell you the same thing. Those that do travel after sunset that have any experience have done so out of necessity and never out of convenience and usually only to get to the anchorage. It is of course your boat and your crew so if you want to take unnecessary chances with both than take the advise of some and go for it. Chuck
The NC sections can be tricky at times. I have only traveled at night on short stretches that I am very familiar with and using a very powerful light to spot the unlit daymarks.
Y'all have covered much of this, but throw this on pile as well: Do not try to follow a tug, etc. Those guys' propwash brings up bottom trash (limbs, trees, line). We live in Great Bridge and see incredible floating debris daily! Most of the time, we tow it to the bank, if we can get a line on it.
All of the above is true....but no one has mentioned Crab Pots in some areas. If you are going through parts of the Chesapeake Bay at night the Crab Pots are nuts and like floating mine fields. Even a good eye with a good spot light won't see them all and, especially in parts of Virginia, the Channel Markers mean nothing to the person setting out the pots.
icw at night
Atlantic ICW at night?
Only if you absolutely have to, unless you draw < 2 ft and
have a flat bottom. GPS will position you within ten feet, but
the electronic chart (C-map at least) will frequently show your
position on high ground. Which means, when the depth sounder
starts howling you may not even know which way the deep water
is. In daylight you can guess, but in NC, SC and GA and at low
tide even then the choice is not always obvious, particularly because
daymarkers are only a rough guide to deep water.
Of course, the tricky spots are (still) few and far between, but getting
hung up with an ebbing tide is no fun.
But if you absolutely have to: Go ahead, you are not likely to hit
any rocks.
Atlantic ICW at night?
Only if you absolutely have to, unless you draw < 2 ft and
have a flat bottom. GPS will position you within ten feet, but
the electronic chart (C-map at least) will frequently show your
position on high ground. Which means, when the depth sounder
starts howling you may not even know which way the deep water
is. In daylight you can guess, but in NC, SC and GA and at low
tide even then the choice is not always obvious, particularly because
daymarkers are only a rough guide to deep water.
Of course, the tricky spots are (still) few and far between, but getting
hung up with an ebbing tide is no fun.
But if you absolutely have to: Go ahead, you are not likely to hit
any rocks.
Norfolk to Beaufort, NC
I did the Norfolk, VA to Beaufort, NC section in 44 hours once, running overnight. We went aground 11 times, in both day and night. There was no serious damage. The draft was 7 feet.
I don't recommend it. It was not fun, it was work, and we had a crew of 4. I would not do it in my own boat, but the owner was in a hurry.
Todd
I did the Norfolk, VA to Beaufort, NC section in 44 hours once, running overnight. We went aground 11 times, in both day and night. There was no serious damage. The draft was 7 feet.
I don't recommend it. It was not fun, it was work, and we had a crew of 4. I would not do it in my own boat, but the owner was in a hurry.
Todd
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