Atlantic ICWW anchorage and marina advice

[Capt.Bill11]

Need the most help with the New York area and peoples favorite anchorages and Marinas South of Norfolk. Planning on spending a couple days each in Charleston and Savannah area. I am hoping to make trip in the 6-8 week range(weather permitting).
My wife and I enjoy history, eating, and drinking. We also like to split our time between anchoring and marinas about 50/50. Thanks again for all of the help.

Define NY area? The city, the river, Sandy Hook, all?

For Charlston I'd stay at the city marina. Savannah, I like Thunderbolt.

 

[BandB]

Define NY area? The city, the river, Sandy Hook, all?

For Charlston I'd stay at the city marina. Savannah, I like Thunderbolt.

Agree with you on Charleston. We'd like to say Charleston Harbor, but their treatment of transients has gotten too many negative reviews.

On Savannah, Thunderbolt is very good as well. However, if we only had a day, we'd go on into town. That means River Street, The Savannah Hyatt or Westin Savannah Harbor. The Hyatt and Westin are considerably more expensive than Thunderbolt. The Hyatt is an easy walk to downtown, but don't expect marina type service. The Westin provides a bit better service but need a water taxi to cross to downtown.

 

[psneeld]

See...I like The maritime center on the Cooper River in Charleston...a bit rocky at times but only blocks from downtown. Everything in quick walking distance and easy to pick up the free trolley.


As to Savannah, Isle of Hope is very pretty...reasonable with their 4 nights for the price of 3, and have loaner cars and are generous with them if the transient crowd isn't large.


That's my point to the OP...so many choices based on time, money and personal likes and dislikes....


But if we keep it up for every nice town along the way...they will have their multitude of opinions....

 

[jleonard]

Need the most help with the New York area and .

For me I don't like New York so I usually anchor in Haverstraw Bay (Hudson River, north of Croton Point, North of Tarrytown) then make the run past NYC without stopping.

 

[rwidman]

It's really hard to see and experience a town if you just stay overnight. Plan on two or more nights in a marina if you want to visit a town. Also, the cost is the same whether you pull in at noon or 6:00 PM so try to get there early if you want to visit the town.

 

[FF]

"Need the most help with the New York area"

The Hudson is tidal and can be anchored in north o the City , it really wide.

Either shore NY or NJ is fine BUT both have trains that run along the shore.

You can run the Harlem river and at Hell Gate turn Left and use the worlds fair marina , train ride to Manhattan.

Or continue to City Island (where the slums meet the sea) pick up a slip or a mooring and take an express bus to downtown, in the AM

Best done returning in the PM rush , taking a train and then a bus is not a great idea late at night.k.

There is a marina at 79th street in the Hudson , not inexpensive and exposed to tug boat wakes.

Also a marina behind the Statue of liberty.

Anchoring O nite in front of the Statue or Ellis Island is fine , and the view of the city is fantastic.

Anchor closer to shore and have more than one anchor or deck light.

Behind Sandy Hook is fine and a good deal closer to Atlantic City .

AC (last time I was there had closed the anchorage to assist the revenue collection for the local marina.

Anchoring in Cape May is fine , but an anchor trip line is Mandatory!! , the Coasties use the area to dump old cable .

 

[High Wire]

Anchoring in Cape May is fine , but an anchor trip line is Mandatory!! , the Coasties use the area to dump old cable .

It's not the coasties, it is the dredge companies that have taken up mooring their equipment all over the harbor. Plus there is the old CG boathouse spread over the bottom when contractors did a crappy job performing demo a few years ago. (Excellent fluke structure BTW.) Stay out near the edge of the channel.
I have Side Scan on my CC in CM that shows all of the junk.

 

[Wxx3]

See...I like The maritime center on the Cooper River in Charleston...a bit rocky at times but only blocks from downtown. Everything in quick walking distance and easy to pick up the free trolley.


As to Savannah, Isle of Hope is very pretty...reasonable with their 4 nights for the price of 3, and have loaner cars and are generous with them if the transient crowd isn't large.


That's my point to the OP...so many choices based on time, money and personal likes and dislikes....


But if we keep it up for every nice town along the way...they will have their multitude of opinions....

I was in your spot three years ago.

As PS mentioned above isle of Hope is worth a mention, as is the City of Savannah.

Now as to the rest, I would take your nav route planner, whatever you use, integrate Active Captain into it, figure out 8 hour days (or whatever you think you can do, and use AC to figure your stops)

 

[rwidman]

If you are in a hurry to get from point A to point B, 8 hours or whatever per day is fine. If it's a pleasure cruise and you want to enjoy stops, you may well find that they are less than 8 hours apart. They could be three hours apart. Or four.


There are a few places where possible stops (anchorages or marinas) are two or three hours apart. No reasonable place to stop in between.