I'm planning on retiring in a few years and would like to travel down the ICW. Our plan is to stop and visit some small towns and stay over night on the hook. I would be in no hurry to get to wherever we are heading, just to travel and sail. I would like to jump out to the ocean and do some coastal sailing along the way. Have any of you done this or are in the process now? I would like to find more info on this so if anyone has any blogs or message boards for this please let me know. I've searched the archives and have found some info but would like to get as much as I can. Currently I have a Mac 25 and love it, but would upgrade in size and weight. Thanks, Mac
Intra coastal waterway
- Thread starter Mac
- Start date
- Status
There are a few 'waterway guides' that outline just what you are planning.
Skipper Bob's "Anchorages Along the ICW" Guide and Skipper Bob's "Marinas Along the Intracoastal Waterway (listing of prices, etc.) are probably the two most used guides for the ICW - but are 'text' reports of bridges, known shoaling, favorite places to anchor etc. mile by mile.
Doziers "Waterway Guide" is another valuable source for area descriptions and local highlights.
For the Chesapeake - Shellenbergers "Gunkholers Guide to the Chesapeake" and Chesapeake Bay Magazine's "Chesapeake Bay Guide"
The ICW (and the Chesapeake) is a great place for going into small towns and gaining the local flavor. MD, VA, NC, SC and GA, especially in the small town, you will find genuinely friendly people and plenty of places to anchor. The 'northern neck of VA', especially Deltaville VA, and then entire state of NC have to be the 'friendliest'. The 'wilderness' of the tidewater' & 'low country' is stunningly beautiful with lots of wildlife and quiet creeks, etc. either on or just off the ICW .... would take one many years to cover this area adequately by boat.
The tides (9+ft.) and currents in some place to 3+kts (and shallow spots) in SC and GA can be a problem ... if you are in a hurry and cant wait to 'ride the wave of the tide'.
Many 'first class' all weather inlets can be found if you want to 'go outside'; but, if this is your first trip on the ICW and enjoy nature and friendly people then you can always go outside in Florida (Fernandina) and come back in at the Hawk Channel and continue down to the keys (missing all the 'ugliness' and pretension). Ocean Inlets can be dangerous in the 'wrong' weather .... recommend "Inlet Guide - Southeastern US", Jeff Dodge, White Sound Press as most 'gummint' charts exclude details of almost all inlets.
Florida will have little anchorages, and is mostly 'urban' from Vero Beach (great place for boaters) down to below Miami ... the ICW there just a concrete lined box with wall to wall houses with few places that permit anchoring due to the 'bulkheaded' ICW in an 'over-developed' area. That area of the ICW, especially on weekends, is simply over-crowded with many rude and discourteous boaters - Viva Yo !!!! Outside of Florida boats will slow down when passing out of good manners and courtesy, in Florida they use slow boats as slalom poles.
Between Palm Beach and Ft. Lahdeedahderdale there are over twenty bascule bridges and if you cant keep your speed up to 7 to 7.5 knots, you will simply not be able to pass on their strictly scheduled openings (you need a guide to find exactly when these bridges open).
Volusia County FL, seems to use out of state boaters passing on the ICW as a prime target prey species for revenue income .... be sure your overboard sanitary thruhulls are 'wired shut' and expect their excuse for a Buford T. Justice, Deputy Sheriff, to come along-side at any time for a boarding/inspection and general wholesale intimidation by a genuine legal thug.
A chartplotter with the LATEST charting is almost a necessity on the ICW but will only be reliable 98% of the time .... then you have to 'believe those temporary marks'.
Skipper Bob's "Anchorages Along the ICW" Guide and Skipper Bob's "Marinas Along the Intracoastal Waterway (listing of prices, etc.) are probably the two most used guides for the ICW - but are 'text' reports of bridges, known shoaling, favorite places to anchor etc. mile by mile.
Doziers "Waterway Guide" is another valuable source for area descriptions and local highlights.
For the Chesapeake - Shellenbergers "Gunkholers Guide to the Chesapeake" and Chesapeake Bay Magazine's "Chesapeake Bay Guide"
The ICW (and the Chesapeake) is a great place for going into small towns and gaining the local flavor. MD, VA, NC, SC and GA, especially in the small town, you will find genuinely friendly people and plenty of places to anchor. The 'northern neck of VA', especially Deltaville VA, and then entire state of NC have to be the 'friendliest'. The 'wilderness' of the tidewater' & 'low country' is stunningly beautiful with lots of wildlife and quiet creeks, etc. either on or just off the ICW .... would take one many years to cover this area adequately by boat.
The tides (9+ft.) and currents in some place to 3+kts (and shallow spots) in SC and GA can be a problem ... if you are in a hurry and cant wait to 'ride the wave of the tide'.
Many 'first class' all weather inlets can be found if you want to 'go outside'; but, if this is your first trip on the ICW and enjoy nature and friendly people then you can always go outside in Florida (Fernandina) and come back in at the Hawk Channel and continue down to the keys (missing all the 'ugliness' and pretension). Ocean Inlets can be dangerous in the 'wrong' weather .... recommend "Inlet Guide - Southeastern US", Jeff Dodge, White Sound Press as most 'gummint' charts exclude details of almost all inlets.
Florida will have little anchorages, and is mostly 'urban' from Vero Beach (great place for boaters) down to below Miami ... the ICW there just a concrete lined box with wall to wall houses with few places that permit anchoring due to the 'bulkheaded' ICW in an 'over-developed' area. That area of the ICW, especially on weekends, is simply over-crowded with many rude and discourteous boaters - Viva Yo !!!! Outside of Florida boats will slow down when passing out of good manners and courtesy, in Florida they use slow boats as slalom poles.
Between Palm Beach and Ft. Lahdeedahderdale there are over twenty bascule bridges and if you cant keep your speed up to 7 to 7.5 knots, you will simply not be able to pass on their strictly scheduled openings (you need a guide to find exactly when these bridges open).
Volusia County FL, seems to use out of state boaters passing on the ICW as a prime target prey species for revenue income .... be sure your overboard sanitary thruhulls are 'wired shut' and expect their excuse for a Buford T. Justice, Deputy Sheriff, to come along-side at any time for a boarding/inspection and general wholesale intimidation by a genuine legal thug.
A chartplotter with the LATEST charting is almost a necessity on the ICW but will only be reliable 98% of the time .... then you have to 'believe those temporary marks'.
On the ICW are you supposed to stay to the right like while on the road in a car while other boats are coming toward you?
Very good reply by Rich H
Not much to add to what rich has stated. I have done this trip down the east coast twice, and found the skipper Bob's guide to be the best all round guide, and the easiest to use. You will find marinas all along the way that will have not only all needed facilities, but loaner cars, loaner golf carts, or some form of transportation to get you to wherever you need to go. Lots to see and enjoy in the ICW, but be prepared for lots of motoring. If you go over to the gulf coast, you can either go around the keys, or across the Okeechobee waterway. The gulf coast is not nearly as well developed, marinas are a lot more scarce, and they generally don't have loaner transportation, but it is a much more laid back environment, much less crowded, and for me, much more enjoyable. As your departure date nears, be sure to post up and make plans to meet some of the very nice and helpful folks on this board. Many will offer transportation, dockage, and probably a few 12 oz. curls.
Not much to add to what rich has stated. I have done this trip down the east coast twice, and found the skipper Bob's guide to be the best all round guide, and the easiest to use. You will find marinas all along the way that will have not only all needed facilities, but loaner cars, loaner golf carts, or some form of transportation to get you to wherever you need to go. Lots to see and enjoy in the ICW, but be prepared for lots of motoring. If you go over to the gulf coast, you can either go around the keys, or across the Okeechobee waterway. The gulf coast is not nearly as well developed, marinas are a lot more scarce, and they generally don't have loaner transportation, but it is a much more laid back environment, much less crowded, and for me, much more enjoyable. As your departure date nears, be sure to post up and make plans to meet some of the very nice and helpful folks on this board. Many will offer transportation, dockage, and probably a few 12 oz. curls.
Thanks everyone!
Rich, thanks for the very informative information. This is a great site and I'm looking forward to posting my adventures. NIce and Easy, the curls sound great! Mac
Rich, thanks for the very informative information. This is a great site and I'm looking forward to posting my adventures. NIce and Easy, the curls sound great! Mac
Usually yes, except when you need deeper water for a deep draft boat. Then you simply call the approaching boat on VHF channel 13 and express your need and to get agreement ... 99% of the time will be agreed when not in Florida; inside Florida expect no answer, no agreement, expect to get sprayed, waked and receive dirty looks (if they look at you at all).
Worldwide procedure when passing bascule bridges: The boats with the current BEHIND them usually go first (so they dont have to do a 180 to maneuver to keep still in the current, as its usually easier for boat with the current on the bow to remain easier in a constant position). In Florida it is the practice for all boats to squeeze-out all other boats trying to position themselves for the bridge opening and then ALL boats (simultaneously in two directions and four or more abreast) squeeze through when the bridge opens .... ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Viva Yo !!!!!!
Rich, I'm beginning to believe some of the people from Florida have migrated to Cape May, NJ. Or perhaps it's the other way around? If you haven't had the pleasure of running the Cape May Canal on a Sunday afternoon, feel lucky. The canal has a railroad swing bridge that under normal conditions accomodates one boat at a time. The power boys will cut you off at the last moment just to get ahead of you. Had one fool come through on plane leaving everyone rocking and damn near into the bridge. Absolutey no courtesy whatsoever. Pretty typical of most South Jersey inlets and canals. Won't be an issue for us any more as we have a new boat with a taller stick and will have to go around the point to get in.
The only thing I would add is to make sure you're keeping track of bouys/markers on your chart or chart plotter so you know where you're at.
ICW marks are red toward land, green toward sea and are marked with yellow triangles and squares. Where channels marked "red, right, returning" cross the ICW it can get confusing if you're not checking the chart. There's one spot behind Long Beach Island that has probably bought the local Sea Tow operator a new house.
Check out http://www.coastalsailing.net/Features/FeatureArticles/ICW/IndexICW.html
ICW marks are red toward land, green toward sea and are marked with yellow triangles and squares. Where channels marked "red, right, returning" cross the ICW it can get confusing if you're not checking the chart. There's one spot behind Long Beach Island that has probably bought the local Sea Tow operator a new house.
Check out http://www.coastalsailing.net/Features/FeatureArticles/ICW/IndexICW.html
Rich, I was VERY disappointed in your remarks-
It's true, you won't get an answer in Florida on ch 13, but not because we're rude. We have a different communication system here. Radios aren't standard equipment, so we make due.
When 2 boats are in close proximity (bridge, narrow channel, beachfront bar, etc.), we fire our gun 3 times. The other boat will fire 3 times, the loudest gun has right of way. When the sound is too close to call, the better aim wins!
Welcome to the state that allows deadly force for minor offenses- our crime rate is way down!
cup
It's true, you won't get an answer in Florida on ch 13, but not because we're rude. We have a different communication system here. Radios aren't standard equipment, so we make due.
When 2 boats are in close proximity (bridge, narrow channel, beachfront bar, etc.), we fire our gun 3 times. The other boat will fire 3 times, the loudest gun has right of way. When the sound is too close to call, the better aim wins!
Welcome to the state that allows deadly force for minor offenses- our crime rate is way down!
cup
And all the time
And all this time I thought that Fl. bridges monitored and answered ch. 9. But I do like the loudest gun/best aim approach.
And all this time I thought that Fl. bridges monitored and answered ch. 9. But I do like the loudest gun/best aim approach.
Rich, as any other place we have local custom, you either get on board or be miserable complaining forever. Believe me, changes will not be made for you.
It would be like shooting ducks. How much do you have to lead them to get the shot to where they will be. Could we get paint balls filled with white paint and rotten fish. Those gulls are a damn nuisance!
Its not just Florida that rudeness is the norm. Take 'any' large overcrowded metropolitan area in the world - NYC, LA, Paris, Rome, etc. and the people seem to be entirely trapped inside of their own existence with little regard for anyone else .... probably a primitive/vestigal survival trait of the human species showing through.
Just for fun sometime .... walk down the streets of NYC or other cramped city and make eye contact with someone - and then the watch the abject terror of the response.
Just for fun sometime .... walk down the streets of NYC or other cramped city and make eye contact with someone - and then the watch the abject terror of the response.
Rich, I agree that there are areas of the country and world where people are a bit intense but I find, regardless of where I'm at, that eye contact accompanied by a nod or a smile will get you a like response. Unfortunately we don't approach each other on the water through eye contact and that's where the problem comes in. We lack the opportunity to demonstrate body language that would telegraph we're uncomfortable with the other person's approach. That results in horn blowing, hand gestures and short tempers, especially in certain metro areas. I too had become frustrated with the lack of courtesy on the water. After thinking about it I decided I would be as courteous as I could be and ignore those who chose not to return the favor. If it gets to be too much for me then it's time to sell the boat.
Mike
Mike
- Status