Looking at doing first run from Galveston

Would like to talk to anyone that has done this

From Galveston to where?

Well that’s what happens when I type to fast. To lake Charles

I have done that by the ICW route.

That’s what am looking at wife doesn’t do any waves very well lol

We did it in 4 days. IIRC, the only trouble we got into was at Stingaree Marina, where we bumped bottom quite a bit trying to get out in the morning. Our draft was 5'.

Here are our logs from the 4 days of the trip.

https://raindogps34.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/leaving-galveston-bay/

https://raindogps34.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/crystal-beach-stingaree-marina-to-sabine-pass/

https://raindogps34.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/at-anchor-taylor-bayou/

https://raindogps34.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/calcasieu-river-anchorage/

I should also add that we found no place that seemed safe to anchor the first night, so stayed in the marina. After the first night, all three of the anchorages were very good anchorages as I recall.

You can tie up at Beaumont Yacht Club also, still rebuilding after flood. We have gone from Beaumont to Dry Tortugas by ICW. Read our bLog, "grandbankschoices"

I also have done this half a dozen times. Beaumont marina is 17 miles (plus a bridge) out of the way. So would suggest either Pleasure island (about 5 miles out of the way) or Sabine Pass port authority (About a mile). Both have fuel.

We have always done Galveston (actually Clear Lake) to Sabine Pass in one day, onto Lake Charles the second day.

From Lake Charles to Ponchatrain is a very lonely run for cruisers. No real Marina's, only industrial fuel docks. Fill up at Lake Charles, after that there is a Shell in Industrial City?, That caters to work boats. Once past Mississippi it is easy.

Monitor push boat channel. Super professional guys, they want to keep you out of their way, and will give any advise you want, even where to anchor or eat.

While not the most scenic area, it is very interesting.

I dread that portion cause the ICW is straight to the horizon, for days, and help is a long way off. At 7 knots you kind of go crazy.

rblades said:

Would like to talk to anyone that has done this

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When?

I did it this time last year. Docked at L-Auberge Casino. Did the trip in one day. It was freezing temps. The casino's freshwater burst so we could not shower that night as my freshwater pump was inoperable. Luckily their power was working because we needed the heat! Wind/waves were a bit dicey entering ICW from Galveston Bay. Other than that had to get used to huge ships, passing, and communicating with them. Didnt see any other pleasure boats. AIS transceiver was a huge help from TX to Nola.

Use Navionics Web App to plot your course quickly to see the general route, miles, etc, online for free...and Garmin Activecaptain Maps to look for fuel/dockage/community info.

Make sure you know your boat's limits including cruising speeds, fuel burn, fuel range (account for reserve), etc. That will help you determine how far you can go and what time you need to leave by to arrive before sunset. I would recommend leaving 2 hours extra time as passing all those ships/barges/tugs adds up!

Choices said:

From Lake Charles to Ponchatrain is a very lonely run for cruisers. No real Marina's, only industrial fuel docks. Fill up at Lake Charles, after that there is a Shell in Industrial City?, That caters to work boats. Once past Mississippi it is easy.

Monitor push boat channel. Super professional guys, they want to keep you out of their way, and will give any advise you want, even where to anchor or eat.

While not the most scenic area, it is very interesting.

I dread that portion cause the ICW is straight to the horizon, for days, and help is a long way off. At 7 knots you kind of go crazy.

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We stayed at Morgan City town docks for our second night. Fueled up at Rio Fuel and Supply. Didn't even have to pay at Morgan City. We called and seemed they were not interested in collecting payment from us and said don't worry about it (again was freezing temps). Finally got water for a nice hot shower. Ended up leaving our outdoor fixtures dripping that night as to not freeze up. I believe we heard gunshots in Morgan City. We ate out at the casino the night before and this night we decided not to venture out and cooked on the boat. There was a friendly couple that had been docked at Morgan City for a few weeks. They were waiting for weather to improve before continuing on-ward. They said Morgan City didnt want payment from them either. I will say to make sure you tie your boat well, use fenders, and make sure its strategically tied so if a huge wake hits your boat is not damaged. We all awoke at 4AM to a massive wake. Thankfully I had deployed extra fenders and tied the stern tight and bow had plenty of room because the couple's boat hit the dock hard. I don't know if it was from a supply ship or what I even hailed on the radio as it was very dangerous. We made it to Lake Pon. for the third night. Was going to stay there then went reverse back to Seabrook Marina.

We did it 2&3 years ago, about Harvey time. AIS would be a huge help, with radar. Once ran from Gulfport to Morgan City in Gulf then ICW to Beaumont, non stop. About three days.

In ICW it is longer, but you can go round the clock with correct crew. If you do run at night, go with a full moon so you can see. Only real issue is fog, barges will stop in fog.

Choices said:

We did it 2&3 years ago, about Harvey time. AIS would be a huge help, with radar. Once ran from Gulfport to Morgan City in Gulf then ICW to Beaumont, non stop. About three days.

In ICW it is longer, but you can go round the clock with correct crew. If you do run at night, go with a full moon so you can see. Only real issue is fog, barges will stop in fog.

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Yeah we decided to stay inside on the ICW because of the freezing temps and crazy wind. We actually almost got trapped because hours before we set sail a high tension power line fell from a storm across the channel from the marina we were departing from.

We did not hit any fog on this leg but did hit a ton on our Nola to Charleston leg.

Rain Dog said:

We did it in 4 days. IIRC, the only trouble we got into was at Stingaree Marina, where we bumped bottom quite a bit trying to get out in the morning. Our draft was 5'.

Here are our logs from the 4 days of the trip.

https://raindogps34.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/leaving-galveston-bay/

https://raindogps34.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/crystal-beach-stingaree-marina-to-sabine-pass/

https://raindogps34.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/at-anchor-taylor-bayou/

https://raindogps34.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/calcasieu-river-anchorage/

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When were you at Stingaree? I was there a month ago, completely shoaled couldn't leave intercoastal. <3ft.

Laguna Harbor, also completely shoaled.

Steve''s landing, parked at corner of ICW, and entrance, 4.5ft, we draw 4ft.

Harborwalk, also shoaled at entrance, still doable with shallow draft boats, if you don't mind doing some plowing a few yards.

Come down to Houma great marina or stay at the dock in my sons back yard free 200yards off the ICW MM62. A boat from Ontario Canada is here now, Jeff ( the owner) can from Ontario down the Mississippi River solo.

Great, thanks. Can you post GPS?

Houma is still a long way from Galveston, so we still need a first day stopping point.

capn_billl said:

When were you at Stingaree? I was there a month ago, completely shoaled couldn't leave intercoastal. <3ft.

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2015. That is crazy about Harborwalk. I would have expected better from them.

If you're leaving from Galveston you may want to go farther on the first day but if not... about a mile after you enter the intracoastal waterway going east there's community called Laguna Harbor Estates. They have great docking area, some with electricity. It's free! The developers keep it available to attract prospective buyers for their properties. They can be reached by phone but no reservation is necessary.

kartracer said:

Come down to Houma great marina or stay at the dock in my sons back yard free 200yards off the ICW MM62. A boat from Ontario Canada is here now, Jeff ( the owner) can from Ontario down the Mississippi River solo.

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Don't miss the Houma hospitality!

MRD said:

If you're leaving from Galveston you may want to go farther on the first day but if not... about a mile after you enter the intracoastal waterway going east there's community called Laguna Harbor Estates. They have great docking area, some with electricity. It's free! The developers keep it available to attract prospective buyers for their properties. They can be reached by phone but no reservation is necessary.

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I would like to go as far as I can even the whole way is possible. Plan to leave about 0600 figure running about 10 mph