72 miles? My route from Manteo to Ocracoke is 57 nm. It's a beautiful day out there today.
In New Bern, we prefer the Galley Store located in the pretty Historic District, with a great pump out very nice docks, wonderful store, high quality power and a much nicer view. No bridge to deal with either.
Absolutely beautiful day yesterday. Forecast was for 1-2 ft but it was calm. It's starting to get a little cool here. We ran with the bridge closed up most of the day.
We've converted over to statue miles since we're mostly on the ICW now. Run yesterday was 67.5 sm, pretty close to 57 km. I was initially planning on running north and west of Roanoke Island which adds 6-8 miles and avoids the long channel run along the east side of Roanoke Is, but the dockmaster at Manteo conviced me the channel was wide and clear. We ran slow - 8.5 mph for the 2 hours it took to clear the channel and get to the open Pamlico. Our boat with it's exposed props and rudder, I take no chances in running aground hence my slow run through the long channel. If I were to do this again I would take the longer route and open her up and let the autopilot get us there.
I don't know about you guys but on long channel runs I sometimes "forget" which side of a day marker I should be on. Maybe I'm just day dreaming or thinking of other things but I constantly have to remind myself to pay attention. Yesterday I forgot and got into 5.5 ft of water before I caught my mistake.
In Oriental we'll try to get one of the free docks, there's 2 now. If we're unable we'll probably anchor out.
By that wake in post # 20 --- looks like you're doing bout 25 knots. That taken at WOT or near to??
Our boat a Carver 355 has a 39' hull and the nose starts to climb at 7.5 kts so that's our max slow speed. It's fully on plane at about 12 kts. We cruise at 2400 rpm which is about 16 kts. I never cruise above 2400 rpm. WOT is 2900 rpm if propped properly. But yes I agree it looks like we're smoken.
TimJet- Sounds like you are in no hurry to get south. You are hitting nearly all the spots around the sounds!!
Have fun!!
We are in no hurry. I retired in September so there's no reason to be in a hurry. I would have liked to have started a littler sooner but it was not to be. We got to the Park Service docks about 1600 yesterday and the attendant said most of the places here in Orcacoke are closed but I shouldn't have any trouble finding a few restaurants open. That's OK we're enjoying this cruise. It's doubtful we'll come this way again so with Debbies concurence we'll see everything we can.
We're planning on staying until Friday perhaps Thanksgiving dinner at Topless Oyster Restaurant. I think they dropped the Topless maybe for good reason.
By the way the Park Service docks here in Ocracoke are a really good deal, not scenic by any means but good docks. The electric is very iffy. 2 of the 4 electric towers on our dock did not work. We had to reposition the boat to find one that worked. The attendant said they all work and any problems are with the boat. Wrong.
Many South bound boats are gathering at the Vero Beach City Marina for the annual potluck Thanksgiving dinner.
One of my favorite marina's north of Palm Beach. We'll be there probably in January.
Picture: On the Pamlico