ukmctc
Well-Known Member
Many thanks for the insight and information given, and the PM's an intersting set of posts. We will have our visas all sorted prior to departure from UK. Thanks again to all who posted.
USA intercoastal waterways
- Thread starter ukmctc
- Start date
Dockhead
Well-Known Member
It's shallow!! Buy the towing insurance - best bargain in all of boating.
Tip #2 - have a good anchor, good battery bank, wind/solar/gennie, and a good barbecue - you will be at anchor far more than you are accustomed to being in the UK - and you will love it!
Tip #2 - have a good anchor, good battery bank, wind/solar/gennie, and a good barbecue - you will be at anchor far more than you are accustomed to being in the UK - and you will love it!
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Couple of points - I have heard that in some parts of the route biting flies are a problem - called no see ums IIRC. Anyone confirm?
As for buoyage. Ignore the colours and go by the shapes - cans to port, cones to starboard, just like home!
As for buoyage. Ignore the colours and go by the shapes - cans to port, cones to starboard, just like home!
Seajet
...
Snowleopard,
in his book 'Narrow Dog to Indian River', covering the journey of their UK narrow boat along the Intercoastal Waterway, Terry Darlington makes a lot of mentions of ' no see'ums', they and other nasty beasties - including spiders, gun toting rednecks & alligators - sound like a serious pain !
Can't remember his preventative cure as I've no immediate plans to visit there, but I can recommend the book, along with it's predecessor, 'Narrow Dog To Carcassone', very amusing with a lot of info', sometimes 'between the lines'.
Sadly no I'm not T.Darlingtons's agent before anyone asks, and 'Narrow Dog' refers to the star of the books, the whippet Jim.
njsail
Active Member
I live on the northern part of the US ICW. It's over 1000 miles long and you will find a lot of different experiences along the way. Depth is more of an issue than bridge height. There are places all along the route to anchor. Price varies wildy. Plan your route carefully since there are may parts of the coast that safe harbor is a long way away. I agree with the towing insurance along the route. Boat US is one of the largest commercial operators on the coast I believe.
There are a lot of ICW guides out there that give a lot of insight in to anchorages, beaches, tourist traps, etc. Also search for videos on line to get a visual of what the area looks like. Each state has a different atmosphere and slightly unique feel to it.
On a secondary note. Wherever you decide to go take a look at what the local wildlife is. Parts of the south you don't want to take a dingy to what looks like a nice swimming hole to find it's an Alligator breading grounds. Florida or the Carribean under a full moon at night might seem appealing for a quick dip but sharks like to feed at night. I'm not trying to put a damper on a trip I just wanted to raise awareness to seek some local knowledge. We still swim and have fun all season long. If the australians can swim in the ocean you can certainly do it here.
Enjoy the planning as much as the trip.
There are a lot of ICW guides out there that give a lot of insight in to anchorages, beaches, tourist traps, etc. Also search for videos on line to get a visual of what the area looks like. Each state has a different atmosphere and slightly unique feel to it.
On a secondary note. Wherever you decide to go take a look at what the local wildlife is. Parts of the south you don't want to take a dingy to what looks like a nice swimming hole to find it's an Alligator breading grounds. Florida or the Carribean under a full moon at night might seem appealing for a quick dip but sharks like to feed at night. I'm not trying to put a damper on a trip I just wanted to raise awareness to seek some local knowledge. We still swim and have fun all season long. If the australians can swim in the ocean you can certainly do it here.
Enjoy the planning as much as the trip.
TQA
Well-Known Member
- Joined
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Not sure about no see ums but you will definitely need mosquito screens and bug spray.
Ask me how I know this!
Ask me how I know this!
pelicanpete
Well-Known Member
Just as well to be aware that TowBoat US policy terms are not an 'automatic' free tow if you get grounded. Depending on the level of coverage chosen, you gan get up to 100% coverage for 'soft ungroundings.' If you get stuck 'hard' you are not covered. It's down to you...and they will (in my experience) try to claim salvage! Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.
skipmac
Well-Known Member
Have made the trip from Massachusetts to Southeast Florida and most sections on the west coast of Florida. It is quite a memorable trip and the variety in scenery and culture is amazing, even for a Yank that has seen it all his life.
As previously noted, draft can be an issue in spots. There are just a couple of shoal areas in the northern parts. The most trouble will be in Georgia where the tides run up to 9' (3 meters on your side of the pond) sometimes leaving spots with less than 4' at low tide. The trick there is to pass the shallow sections on a rising tide. Otherwise as long as your draft is under 6' should not be to difficult. Also several resources online that will highlight trouble spots. Activecaptian.com is good. You should also pick up a couple of guide books. Skipper Bob has two, one shows all details on the bridges you pass including clearance, opening times, radio channel they monitor and call name, restricted hours (very important in some areas where bridges close for 2-3 hours during rush hour traffic). Highly recommended. The Waterway Guide is a good overview of the trip and the more congested areas.
You should be aware that the actual ICW starts at Norfolk Virginia and goes south. You will have protected waterway all the way to Miami with just a few areas where you have to cross an open sound or large bag. North from Norfolk you will have to make passages open water but cruising Long Island Sound area: Newport RI, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island should not be missed. Plus you can sail through downtown New York City on the way.
Further south I have anchored out in spots where you could not hear a single sound of civilization. Nothing but frogs and crickets. This is where you will start entering the range of the dreaded NoSeeUms. Yes they do exist and can be quite annoying. You can see them but they are very small, about the size of these ....... They are usually found in the marshy areas and come out about sunset. They are small enough to pass through screens but most stay out. Spraying the screens with repellent will stop almost all of them.
In the US there is an annual exodus up and down the ICW. Boaters spending the winter in Florida head north in the spring for several reasons. Cooler weather, avoiding the hurricane season (but the Northeast is by no means immune) and of course to cruise New England area. Then about Sept-Oct they turn around and head back south.
Costs vary tremendously. From New York north is the expensive zone. Figure USD$2.00-$3.00 or more per night for dockage. Some places like Nantucket even a mooring can be $75/night. From Virginia and south usually $1.00-$2.00/ft per night max. But staying in marinas is not necessary at all. On my last trip I anchored out 5-6 days per week, staying at marinas only when we needed to fuel up, take on water and eat at a restaurant. There are also a few places where you can dock free at city docks or restaurants that let you stay overnight if you eat dinner there.
Come on over and join the fun.
As previously noted, draft can be an issue in spots. There are just a couple of shoal areas in the northern parts. The most trouble will be in Georgia where the tides run up to 9' (3 meters on your side of the pond) sometimes leaving spots with less than 4' at low tide. The trick there is to pass the shallow sections on a rising tide. Otherwise as long as your draft is under 6' should not be to difficult. Also several resources online that will highlight trouble spots. Activecaptian.com is good. You should also pick up a couple of guide books. Skipper Bob has two, one shows all details on the bridges you pass including clearance, opening times, radio channel they monitor and call name, restricted hours (very important in some areas where bridges close for 2-3 hours during rush hour traffic). Highly recommended. The Waterway Guide is a good overview of the trip and the more congested areas.
You should be aware that the actual ICW starts at Norfolk Virginia and goes south. You will have protected waterway all the way to Miami with just a few areas where you have to cross an open sound or large bag. North from Norfolk you will have to make passages open water but cruising Long Island Sound area: Newport RI, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island should not be missed. Plus you can sail through downtown New York City on the way.
Further south I have anchored out in spots where you could not hear a single sound of civilization. Nothing but frogs and crickets. This is where you will start entering the range of the dreaded NoSeeUms. Yes they do exist and can be quite annoying. You can see them but they are very small, about the size of these ....... They are usually found in the marshy areas and come out about sunset. They are small enough to pass through screens but most stay out. Spraying the screens with repellent will stop almost all of them.
In the US there is an annual exodus up and down the ICW. Boaters spending the winter in Florida head north in the spring for several reasons. Cooler weather, avoiding the hurricane season (but the Northeast is by no means immune) and of course to cruise New England area. Then about Sept-Oct they turn around and head back south.
Costs vary tremendously. From New York north is the expensive zone. Figure USD$2.00-$3.00 or more per night for dockage. Some places like Nantucket even a mooring can be $75/night. From Virginia and south usually $1.00-$2.00/ft per night max. But staying in marinas is not necessary at all. On my last trip I anchored out 5-6 days per week, staying at marinas only when we needed to fuel up, take on water and eat at a restaurant. There are also a few places where you can dock free at city docks or restaurants that let you stay overnight if you eat dinner there.
Come on over and join the fun.
ukmctc
Well-Known Member
After reading the comments I don't think grounding will be too much of a problem, we only have a draft of 1.5 mtrs. Sounds like its going to be fun though.
wazza
Well-Known Member
I take it you've seen, or bought 'Waterway Giude' from Doziers. A VERY well detailed set of guide books. We were at the Miami boat show - 'Stricly Sail' and were very impressed with the detail of them, they had everything you could want AND update them over the net..
njsail
Active Member
Another avenue of information is to post question to a very active US based version of YBW regarding local knowledge of the US ICW. You could try: http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/recent-f.php
It's free - good luck
It's free - good luck
skipmac
Well-Known Member
US Forums for ICW information
There are two forums that are quite active in reporting status and problem spots on the US IntraCoastal Waterway. Both show frequent updates from boaters who are actively cruising the waterway and report on water depths, new hazards in the channels, bridge construction, dredging operations and any of the other many things that might impact easy transit for yachts.
http://cruisersnet.net/
https://activecaptain.com/
Both are free and both have the option to show the information superimposed on the latest official US NOAA navigation charts. You will need an internet link to access the sites while underway but that can be done with a cell phone data connection to your laptop. Cell coverage is quite good most of the way but there are a couple of isolated sections where you will find no signal.
There are two forums that are quite active in reporting status and problem spots on the US IntraCoastal Waterway. Both show frequent updates from boaters who are actively cruising the waterway and report on water depths, new hazards in the channels, bridge construction, dredging operations and any of the other many things that might impact easy transit for yachts.
http://cruisersnet.net/
https://activecaptain.com/
Both are free and both have the option to show the information superimposed on the latest official US NOAA navigation charts. You will need an internet link to access the sites while underway but that can be done with a cell phone data connection to your laptop. Cell coverage is quite good most of the way but there are a couple of isolated sections where you will find no signal.
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
Just to add to all the excellent experienced comments.
If you are going North coming from the Caribbean in the spring, it can use up much of your allotted visa time trundling the ICW. There are for example bits through Georgia where it snakes back and forth to cover very little 'straightline' distance.
Dont forget that 'outside', the Gulf Stream could be whizzing you North night and day and you could be enjoying the Chesapeake in one tenth the time and cost of day hopping the ICW.
I have sailed quite a lot of the southern section and mobo'b north a bit too.
Mobos are an absolute pain to BE ON as every sailboat is obsessed with their wake-it is quite difficult to overtake smoothly unless flat out so in restricted speed zones, SailorSam is doing 6kn with his genoa and yanmar, MoboMike at 6.5 kn is dragging half the sea in his wake until he can get clear and back up on the plane....coupled with all the opening bridges and congested bits, the constant accel/decelleration and idling uses a LOT of fuel v innefficiently.
The consequence to SailorSam is that unfortunately you can end up spending some of this wonderful scenic route time sailing in parallel with a stream of noisy mobos in close proximity..
After you have popped over to Canada( visa/time out) before heading back south for winter, then the ICW really scores when the 'Northers' are blowing and the Gulf stream is not a nice place to be.
If you are going North coming from the Caribbean in the spring, it can use up much of your allotted visa time trundling the ICW. There are for example bits through Georgia where it snakes back and forth to cover very little 'straightline' distance.
Dont forget that 'outside', the Gulf Stream could be whizzing you North night and day and you could be enjoying the Chesapeake in one tenth the time and cost of day hopping the ICW.
I have sailed quite a lot of the southern section and mobo'b north a bit too.
Mobos are an absolute pain to BE ON as every sailboat is obsessed with their wake-it is quite difficult to overtake smoothly unless flat out so in restricted speed zones, SailorSam is doing 6kn with his genoa and yanmar, MoboMike at 6.5 kn is dragging half the sea in his wake until he can get clear and back up on the plane....coupled with all the opening bridges and congested bits, the constant accel/decelleration and idling uses a LOT of fuel v innefficiently.
The consequence to SailorSam is that unfortunately you can end up spending some of this wonderful scenic route time sailing in parallel with a stream of noisy mobos in close proximity..
After you have popped over to Canada( visa/time out) before heading back south for winter, then the ICW really scores when the 'Northers' are blowing and the Gulf stream is not a nice place to be.