ICW Book

[Jmk2000]

Hey all my wife and I aren’t trawler owners yet, still sporting our 21’ HydraSports Walkaround. Anyway we’re beginning to plan a trip down the ICW from Beaufort to Myrtle Beach for next summer when our Daughter is at camp. What’s a good chart book or planning guide would anyone recommend? Thanks in advance. We might go further depending on how far and fast we go but thought to
Myrtle was a good start. Planning on staying in Marina’s along the way.

 

[DavidM]

The Waterway Guide's Atlantic ICW, https://www.waterwayguide.com/ship-store/product/78, is a good mile by mile description of the ICW.

With the advent of tablet navigation apps there is little need for a chart pak of charts. Private publishers sell them and some are strip charts of only the ICW, although NOAA has chart paks for the ICW as well.

If you have a tablet (larger iPhones work as well), either iOS or Android, download Aqua Map or the Navionics tablet app. They provide charts of all waterways inland and coastal. Aquamap and maybe Navionics also give you access to the Active Captain data base of all marinas, anchorages and shoaling spots along the ICW. Get a power cord for your tablet and plug it into your dash cigarette lighter outlet to keep it charged up underway.

For an online web version go to https://activecaptain.garmin.com/en-US/Map and sign in. Map gives you either NOAA or Navionics charts, satellite images or road maps. Click on the stacked pages icon in the upper right of the Map to select which one.

David

 

[GregBrannon]

Bob423's ICW Cruising Guide, updated each year, imparts his experience migrating from New England to Key West and back each year for the past 10 years or so. He supplies local knowledge gained by experience with tips and tools he's learned and used personally to prepare for and make the trip safely. He also comments on the anchorages and marinas he stops at along the way, but I don't believe he tries to document them all.

Best of luck on your trip!

Greg.

 

[ranger58sb]

Chesapeake Bay publications has a book called ICW and Atlantic Coast with "Mile by Mile" navigation. Also, Maptech publishes decent chart books. Can't say these are any better than the Waterway Guide books, but if you want additional sources...

MX Mariner is another tablet app that shows ActiveCaptain markers. NOAA raster charts, versus AquaMap's vector charts... if that matters to you.

-Chris

 

[Woodland Hills]

You can also download bob432’s routes through the shallow spots on the AICW into AquaMap or Navionics, along with the most recent Corps of Engineers surveys. We just arrived in Jax after doing the entire waterway with a 5’+ draft and found the color coded surveys and the routes to be most helpful. We bumped at Lockwood Folly, but that was it..........

 

[ranger58sb]

We just arrived in Jax after doing the entire waterway with a 5’+ draft and found the color coded surveys and the routes to be most helpful. We bumped at Lockwood Folly, but that was it..........

What was tide state when you went through Lockwood?

Happens we hope to be en route Ortega Landing soon...

-Chris

 

[Woodland Hills]

Dead low tide. I wasn’t close enough to the seaward marker, who knew you were supposed to graze it as you went by? Still, it was just a bump as we plowed a groove in the sandbar. Hellgate has been fully dredged recently and they were about 2/3’s of the way done at McClellanville.

We arrived at Lamb’s yesterday afternoon during the Georgia/Florida game.

 

[ranger58sb]

Dead low tide. I wasn’t close enough to the seaward marker, who knew you were supposed to graze it as you went by? Still, it was just a bump as we plowed a groove in the sandbar. Hellgate has been fully dredged recently and they were about 2/3’s of the way done at McClellanville.

Got it, thanks!

-Chris

 

[menzies]

Welcome to Jax folks - spend plenty of money!

Sorry about the chill!

 

[ranger58sb]

Welcome to Jax folks - spend plenty of money!

Sorry about the chill!

I expect what you folks call a "chill" will just be pleasantly balmy to us.



-Chris