Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbyp
You have convinced me that I should have a more formal Plan B. I'll spend some of my Sunday looking for 2 or 3 places along the route that I can leave the boat that also have good access to rental cars. Charleston, Hilton Head, anywhere else with a decent sized city or tourist center?
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Not necessarily- Enterprise is ubiquitous, and they'll pick you up! For example, we stayed at Coffee Bluff- south of Savannah, small, off the beaten path, secure, fantastic folks, inexpensive. I wouldn't hesitate leaving the boat there for a side trip in a rental. The Enterprise branch was about 5 miles, 'Sure, we'll come get you!' There are lots of gems just like that up and down the coast. You'll find helpful reviews on AC, you can find Enterprise locations close by on Google maps or Google Earth. Word of mouth, forums, all great sources of obscure local knowledge.
As far as your air draft, measure it. Don't guess, don't use the spec. Get a cheap laser level or borrow one, measure it, then record it or post it by the helm. You'll be doing enough bridges that it will be worthwhile. You can be fined for requesting unnecessary lifts, not saying that it occurs, but I've had bridge tenders question a request. Knowing the actual air draft usually ends that exchange promptly. They will not give you any information that places them in a position of being liable. So if a bridge shows 14 ft on the boards and your air draft is "about 14 ft", can you get under the bridge? Don't ask the tender, they can't advise you. It's just one area you can improve your confidence level and reduce stress by knowing that easy to determine factoid.
Ditto the aversion to a schedule. Easiest path to make a trip a real unpleasant experience, so your plan to have an optional bailout is sound.