Intracoastal Water Way here we come ready or not

If you want to take a long trip as a new boat owner then there probably isn't anywhere as safe, with frequent stops, plenty of boat yards, plenty of other transients, as the East coast ICW.

I would just make sure not to rush (you probably aren't rushing in a trawler anyway), especially in those areas where you may need to pop outside (NJ). Wait for a good weather window.

Other than that, once you hit Virginia, you can stay inside all the way - unless you want to experience outside you won't have to.

Good luck and enjoy. And get a framed print of Mark Twain's famous words for you boat and read it every day!

Oh, and those friends, probably aren't boaters are they? Landlubbers never understand the lure...

Don't worry, you will have a blast. We done it many times and our first trip with our first bait, which was a 40' was from Tampa to Baltimore. One want to learn is to do it. Having experienced boaters on board is a great idea. Take it slow be cautious and have fun. It will be one of your best trips and experiences you will ever have. One suggestion is to plan each day with the end in mind. Where to dock or anchor. There are many ICW books and guide, I would suggest purchasing one. Don't push and take your time, if the weather is bad stay anchored or at the marina on extra day.
Enjoy your trip


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Capt. Don

My wife (no boating experience) and I (limited experience) undertook a similar adventure on the ICW this time last year. It was one of the most rewarding things we've ever done!

Check out This thread, http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s36/icw-your-best-tips-14306.html , along with countless others on this forum may help.

I recommend that you sign up with activecaptain.com it will provide you with great info. Also, download Garmin Bluechart Mobile on your iPad and use the active captain and radar weather that can be overlaid. This served as a backup chart plotter that my wife and I used in navigation and planning. We actually prefer it to the one built into our boat.
Feel free to contact me for help or further explanation.

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s36/icw-your-best-tips-14306.html

Relax and have a great trip.

Take it easy the first week or so, short days in good weather. Save some time to talk to people on the docks who are heading the same way and have made the trip before.
Enjoy the trip!

You did not state what make/model boat you will be traveling in nor the anchor type. That might help in determining the enjoyment that you will be experiencing.

safe travels

Oh, a couple of things you need to remember about traveling in the ICW are to look behind you on a regular basis. For two reasons. Number 1 is to keep an eye out from faster boats coming up behind you can them and ask for a slow pass if they don't call you first. And the second reason, which is the most important reason, is to look back and make sure you are truly lined up inside of the markers and in the channel. It's very easy to get complacent and only look ahead. But remember just because you appear to be in the channel and between the two markers ahead of you doesn't mean you have not strayed outside line between the markers ahead and behind you.

Also if you feel your boat raise up at the bow and start to struggle to move forward, it's telling you you are in shallow water. And that its time to slow down and make sure you are not about to run aground.

Your boat can also tell you you are near the shallow edge of a channel by the fact that your wake on that side will start breaking while the wake on the deeper water side is not. As well as if the edge of the channel is steep you can at times feel your boat trying to push away from it because of the cushion of water between it and the channel bank being compressed and pushing back at the boat.

In other words, if you'll look, listen and feel what your boat is trying to tell you, it can save you from yourself.

You are not crazy -you are Blessed! Enjoy the experience.

I have been on the water for 50years---started age 12--never did the whole ICW trip to Florida.

This is the year for me--departing NJ November 1st.

Have a great trip!

John P

Over the many years that I have been cruising from the Chesapeake to Louisiana I have learned that all areas have their special interest. The Chesapeake is one of the great cruising areas. SW Florida is another. You could spend a season on Long Island Sound as well as the Chesapeake. The Keys are great, but good anchorages and beaches are scarce. Key West is a must do.

I have found that trying to be anchored or in port by 3pm makes for a good day. Any longer than that makes the trip a delivery trip instead of a cruise. If you don't get as far as you planned, all the scenery and ports will be there next time. When you are ready the Abacos are waiting.

How about throwing a setting sail party for all of your worried friends? You can "register" for things like impellers, fuel filters, oil, and other maintenance type items that you may need during the trip. You get free supplies and they get the comfort of know they provided you with many of the common spares needed.

Have fun!

Get a set of radio headsets so that you can communicate when docking.

bayview said:

Get a set of radio headsets so that you can communicate when docking.

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Or at least work out basic, simple hand signals for line handling and anchoring.

I also suggest using a simple number system for your lines. For example. Bow line = line #1, aft leading spring = #2, fwd leading spring = #3 and stern line = #4.

That way the line handler can just flash hand signals to let you know what line is on or off.

See my comments on the "Are we Crazy" thread from same OP and topic. Maybe Mods can combine?

After years on sailboats we upgraded into a trawler (<--- see pic) and our first trip was from Galveston Bay, across the Gulf to Key West. We're in NY Harbor now and will be heading back south in 6 weeks or so. We also brought an experienced friend with us. Learned much along the way, and still are. No other way to gain experience than going out. So if you have a good boat, understand that no "schedule" will work, chose wisely when to wait and when to untie, then go for it! Have fun and enjoy the trip!!

If you make NY/NJ before October 19, let us know. Would love to hear about the trip over a beer, on us. And if you need any work in NJ, Charleston, or Savannah let us know, may be able to steer you into the right people.

With good weather it's all pretty simple.
Your first leg is down the coast of Maine/NH in open ocean, that will probably be your most challenging, but plenty of bail out harbors.
After that just make sure you have good weather and tide for Buzzards Bay, it does get nasty in a blow and/or against the tide.
Short hop into Newport, then a short hop into protected Long Island Sound, and down into the city.
Get a good window for the Jersey coast and around Cape May.
From then on it's all "keep it between the mud banks" all the down.

Have fun, enjoy.

keep us updated with pics

caltexflanc said:

See my comments on the "Are we Crazy" thread from same OP and topic. Maybe Mods can combine?

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Threads combined.

I will be leaving from Lake Erie on Friday headed to Florida, I have done the trip from the NE to Florida somewhere around 30 times.

Capt. Bill talked about looking at the markers behind you which is critical, follow his advise.
My short advise is to say "run to the outside of the curve." The water is normally deeper on the outside of a curve in the waterway, it often shoals on the inside. Never cut from marker to marker on the inside of a curve, take it wide.

The other short tip is to take extra caution wherever the ICW meets the ocean. Shoals develop in these places all the time.

yachtbrokerguy said:

The other short tip is to take extra caution wherever the ICW meets the ocean. Shoals develop in these places all the time.

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Like Matanzas inlet!

"Get a good window for the Jersey coast and around Cape May.
From then on it's all "keep it between the mud banks" all the down."

I must strongly disagree. Having done this trip a numerous times and doing it again this fall, there are numerous other areas that require a sharp eye on the weather and sea conditions. Delaware and Chesapeake Bay can be challenging in the wrong conditions. Some of the worst passages we have experienced happened on Delaware Bay. There are numerous Sounds that deserve caution such as Sapelo Sound and St. Andrews Sound.

It's a fun, fairly easy trip when done carefully but don't underestimate the power of the water in open areas.

Good luck, Howard onboard Magic--keep a watch for us.

hmason said:

"Get a good window for the Jersey coast and around Cape May.
From then on it's all "keep it between the mud banks" all the down."

I must strongly disagree. Having done this trip a numerous times and doing it again this fall, there are numerous other areas that require a sharp eye on the weather and sea conditions. Delaware and Chesapeake Bay can be challenging in the wrong conditions. Some of the worst passages we have experienced happened on Delaware Bay. There are numerous Sounds that deserve caution such as Sapelo Sound and St. Andrews Sound.

It's a fun, fairly easy trip when done carefully but don't underestimate the power of the water in open areas.

Good luck, Howard onboard Magic--keep a watch for us.

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Right on! Throw in Albemarle and Pamlico sounds while you are at it.. definitely places along with your list that merit "waiting for weather". 20+knot winds and "2-3 foot seas" may not sound so bad until you realize it is like running through very closely spaced 2 foot high concrete walls...

Also, the best and most direct route is to go through Cape May, not around it via inlet and canal. And better yet, stop and spend a few days at this delightful destination.

Said with a nasal intonation: "Watch the tram car please..."

Right on. Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds are not to be trifled with. However, by watching weather and there will be plenty of dock talk on the way, they can be very passable. One of the advantages and/or curses is that there will be many boats travelling this time of year. We try to avoid these times because of our faster cruising speeds.

Not much dock talk when you anchor most nights.

Yeah but you'll often hear it on the VHF. People asking for conditions or relaying them out.
Don't be afraid to use this very helpful tool!

This is a great thread with some very good advice. My wife and I leave on our first trip down the AICW on November 1st. We are a bit nervous, but very anxious to start our new adventure. We will be attending a Snowbird ICW Rendezvous in Hampton, VA 15-17 October and hope to learn a lot there as well.


Mike Metts
KK 42-165
Virginia Beach, VA

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caltexflanc said:

Yeah but you'll often hear it on the VHF. People asking for conditions or relaying them out.
Don't be afraid to use this very helpful tool!

Click to expand...

What's the best channel to monitor (besides 16)?

People hail on 16 with their info or request and if further discussion is needed agree to a working channel. While not exactly Kosher, it is common on the ICW to go "up one" to 17 for quick conversations. If one is truly courteous cruiser, and conditions are iffy or visibility bad, advising the world via a securite of the conditions where you are at the moment seem to be appreciated by the CG.

Greetings,
Mr. FW. Usually the bridge channels. In the north it's 13 and in the south it's 9. To the best of my memory BUT I stand to be corrected.

I almost hate to broach this subject, but this is how we do it on Moonstruck. I give adamant instructions that it is the captain's job to place the boat in the proper position. No yelling! Our boat weighs 15 tons. At no time is the mate to place any part of the body between the boat and a pile or dock. Also, no pushing off. These are the times when injuries have occurred. Some injuries being serious such as severed fingers and falls overboard. Also I insist on the mate having on at least an automatic inflatable life vest. We operate our boats in an alien environment. We must respect it.

The EMTs coming to the boat usually means a ruined trip or worse.