We took a trip once in the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. We staged out of Washington, NC. We sailed into Okracoke where we were held over by weather for an extra couple of days. The trip was very nice but I could not see it as a good venue to keep a boat for the long haul. I have a nephew in the USCG Elizabeth City and he keeps his boat in the Chesapeake Bay.
Moving to NC?
- Thread starter Saxacussionist
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update
Sax,
You asked for an update so here it is:
We left Charleston for Wilmington. Really couldn't get out of Wilmington fast enough! To be fair, we didn't get into the downtown area but did spend a day between the downtown and Wrightsville beach area. It reminded us of San Jose, anything you ever wanted to buy probably could be found in the massive number of strip malls. Getting around was a pain as many of the roads were multiple lanes with medians and very busy with traffic. We looked around by the water in Wrightsville beach area and noticed the sailboat to powerboat ratio was close to 1 sail for every 100 power. We started to drive to Southport but realized that a 45 minute commute in heavy traffic was not what we are looking for. We turned around and headed straight for Beaufort, NC! So far we like the atmosphere of Beaufort but don't have much hope of finding the jobs we're after here.
For us Charleston looks like it will fit our living need the best. We found a quiet, clean, affordable and out of the way marina just a short commute(15 min.) from downtown.
Hope you find what you're looking for, we think we did.
Sax,
You asked for an update so here it is:
We left Charleston for Wilmington. Really couldn't get out of Wilmington fast enough! To be fair, we didn't get into the downtown area but did spend a day between the downtown and Wrightsville beach area. It reminded us of San Jose, anything you ever wanted to buy probably could be found in the massive number of strip malls. Getting around was a pain as many of the roads were multiple lanes with medians and very busy with traffic. We looked around by the water in Wrightsville beach area and noticed the sailboat to powerboat ratio was close to 1 sail for every 100 power. We started to drive to Southport but realized that a 45 minute commute in heavy traffic was not what we are looking for. We turned around and headed straight for Beaufort, NC! So far we like the atmosphere of Beaufort but don't have much hope of finding the jobs we're after here.
For us Charleston looks like it will fit our living need the best. We found a quiet, clean, affordable and out of the way marina just a short commute(15 min.) from downtown.
Hope you find what you're looking for, we think we did.
Welcome to South Carolina!
What Marina will you be using? I'm trying to think of one 15 min from downtown and the only one that doesn't involve going under a low (at least for me at 64.5ft air draft) is the one over at Patriot's point but there may be some I never explored. They have a water taxi from Patriot's point over to the city. Make sure that if you do have to go under a bridge that doesn't open from your prospective marina that you can clear the bridge at something other than just low tides. Our tidal range here in Beaufort is about 8 feet or so. In most of Charleston its about 6 feet or so. Since Charleston is where the Ashley, Cooper, and Wando Rivers meet the range isn't as high but the current can be quite strong, up to 2 1/5 knots ebb current at times.
They have a good little airport in Charleston with Southwest as a major carrier there so the prices are pretty competitive to get to the Northeast if you're so inclined to see the snow (NOT). You will find Charleston pretty crowded during the summertime when the tourists flock to Charleston so you won't be wanting to go downtown to much then. In some areas downtown Charleston during tourist season is like being in Downtown Disney World but its something you can get used to in time. Depending on where you live, traffic can be a bear but that is location dependent. Not sure of what kind of job you're looking for but Charleston has a lot more available than Beaufort. There is a huge (I mean huge!) Boeing plant near the airport and all the other suppliers/support companies that come along with that. There are also port facilities, chemical companies, and of course the paper mills. Try not to live in an area that is prevailing downwind from the paper mills if you can.
You'll enjoy the South as long as you're not in a hurry but as a Sailor I would expect that wouldn't be a problem. You'll need to learn to eat grits if you don't already like them - they are great with shrimp! You'll also learn that "sweetea" is one word and if you want it unsweetened you'll have to tell them specifically. Fast food is only "sorta fast" down here too, but we kind of like the slower pace (but we're both retired.)
Welcome,Spindrift, to South Carolina! We love it here in Beaufort SC and I know you will love Charleston - it has a lot to offer. I was stationed on Submarines in Charleston, was married there and did a lot of single handed and "date" sailing on a San Juan 21 that I kept at the now "defunct" Charleston Naval Base. Sure wish that marina was still there! Had some good times out on the boat and its where I "hooked" my bride to be. When we came back about 5 years ago Charleston was a little too crowded so we came a little further south to Beaufort.
What Marina will you be using? I'm trying to think of one 15 min from downtown and the only one that doesn't involve going under a low (at least for me at 64.5ft air draft) is the one over at Patriot's point but there may be some I never explored. They have a water taxi from Patriot's point over to the city. Make sure that if you do have to go under a bridge that doesn't open from your prospective marina that you can clear the bridge at something other than just low tides. Our tidal range here in Beaufort is about 8 feet or so. In most of Charleston its about 6 feet or so. Since Charleston is where the Ashley, Cooper, and Wando Rivers meet the range isn't as high but the current can be quite strong, up to 2 1/5 knots ebb current at times.
They have a good little airport in Charleston with Southwest as a major carrier there so the prices are pretty competitive to get to the Northeast if you're so inclined to see the snow (NOT). You will find Charleston pretty crowded during the summertime when the tourists flock to Charleston so you won't be wanting to go downtown to much then. In some areas downtown Charleston during tourist season is like being in Downtown Disney World but its something you can get used to in time. Depending on where you live, traffic can be a bear but that is location dependent. Not sure of what kind of job you're looking for but Charleston has a lot more available than Beaufort. There is a huge (I mean huge!) Boeing plant near the airport and all the other suppliers/support companies that come along with that. There are also port facilities, chemical companies, and of course the paper mills. Try not to live in an area that is prevailing downwind from the paper mills if you can.
You'll enjoy the South as long as you're not in a hurry but as a Sailor I would expect that wouldn't be a problem. You'll need to learn to eat grits if you don't already like them - they are great with shrimp! You'll also learn that "sweetea" is one word and if you want it unsweetened you'll have to tell them specifically. Fast food is only "sorta fast" down here too, but we kind of like the slower pace (but we're both retired.)
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Not there yet
While we're not there yet we did really like our visit. Now all we have to do is sell the Catalina, sell the house, find jobs, and purchase the Pearson 424 that we've looked at. We have the plan, now we have to execute it!
We found the St Johns Yacht Harbor on St John's island to be a really nice place. It's clean, affordable, well kept, really nice facilities, and much quieter than the other marinas we looked at in the Charleston area. The only drawback that we saw was having to pass through a draw bridge to get out to the Charleston harbor. We figure that if we can't make it back through after a sail, we'll have our "house" with us so we can just drop anchor and wait over night to get back through. An inconvenience but as with sailboats, there's always a compromise.
While we're not there yet we did really like our visit. Now all we have to do is sell the Catalina, sell the house, find jobs, and purchase the Pearson 424 that we've looked at. We have the plan, now we have to execute it!
We found the St Johns Yacht Harbor on St John's island to be a really nice place. It's clean, affordable, well kept, really nice facilities, and much quieter than the other marinas we looked at in the Charleston area. The only drawback that we saw was having to pass through a draw bridge to get out to the Charleston harbor. We figure that if we can't make it back through after a sail, we'll have our "house" with us so we can just drop anchor and wait over night to get back through. An inconvenience but as with sailboats, there's always a compromise.
Congrats Spindrift! I think I will add Charleston and Beaufort SC to my list of options to check out when I get back out that way.
Keep in touch - I'm sure there are more than a few people wondering how things will be going for you!
Brad
Keep in touch - I'm sure there are more than a few people wondering how things will be going for you!
Brad
I forgot about St. Johns Yacht Harbor -great place
I completely forgot about St. Johns Yacht Harbor marina on the Stono River. It is a great place! We stopped there on our trip down from Annapolis to Beaufort. Clean facilities, very friendly staff. You'll have to deal with Elliott Cut where the currents can be wicked (up to 3 kts) approaching the draw bridge so make sure your anchor is ready to deploy in case you lose power. I've seen it happen and it isn't pretty if the anchor is not ready! Its not as far as I remember from there to Charleston Harbor but we were on the end of a long day coming from the north and had to wait for the bridge so it just seemed like a long way. Drive distance to downtown is only about 15 miles, as you said. Don't know why I didn't remember that marina - its a good one. Hope you get all the things lined up to make your move down here, you won't regret it.