Bringing Miss Maggie Home - 58 LRC

[31FlyCruzr]

Running the Intercoastal Waterway in NJ, notice from coast guard 4/5/19

Here's the official word on the topic as of today:
News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 5th District PA Detachment Atlantic City
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Atlantic City
Office: (609) 813-3888
After Hours: (757) 434-6043
PA Detachment Atlantic City online newsroom

Coast Guard urges caution for boaters transiting ICW between Barnegat and Cape May NJ

PHILADELPHIA -- As the boating season draws near, the Coast Guard would like to remind
boaters and mariners to exercise caution while transiting the Intracoastal Waterway between
Barnegat and Cape May, New Jersey.
Twenty aids to navigation pylons, that were damaged by winter ice, have been marked with
wreck buoys to alert mariners to their presence below the water’s surface.
Boaters are reminded that the buoys can shift during tidal fluctuations and are recommended
to transit using the center of the channel where applicable.
“Our primary concern is for the safety of the maritime community and the waterways," said
Capt. Scott Anderson, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay Commander. "Coast Guard Aids to
Navigation Team Cape May has removed six of the original 26 aids which were damaged by
ice, and currently our teams are in planning stages to remove the remaining 20.”
Boaters who believe they encounter an unmarked damaged pylon may report them to Coast
Guard Sector Delaware Bay at (215) 271-4807.

-USCG

 

[JD5652]

Thanks for the heads up Bill.... we were not planning to travel the ICW in NJ ... but always good to be aware ...

Departed Charleston on Saturday at 0600 for a long day (~110 miles) to Myrtle Beach. Had driving rain for the best part of the day. Got held up for about 30 minutes by the bridgetender at Socastee swing bridge becuase the rain was too heavy.... I had never heard of delay to open due to rain and neither had the previous owner which has significant experience running the ICW. We got into Grande Dunes Marina around 1900 only to find a boat in our assigned slip with no room anywhere else in the marina for us. Manuvering was tight inside the south basin and provided me some good experience in close quarters manuvering. Owners of the boat in our slip finally showed up and moved their boat. Had great dinner at Ruth's Chris.

 

[JD5652]

Departed Myrtle Beach Sunday morning 0700 (6/9/19) for Wrightville Beach. A few rocky areas in this area of the ICW. The 58 LRC ran very well all day with no issues. Arrived at Wrightsville around 1600 and stayed at the Bridgetender Marina. Fortunate that we got a fac dock slip on the ful dock just before the bridge. Had dinner at Bridgetender Restuarant.... food was pretty good but not great...

 

[JD5652]

 

[JD5652]

Departed Wrightsville Beach on Monday 6/10/19 at 0700 to catch the hourly opening of the bridge.... Destination Beaufort Town docks in Morehead City. The trip up the ICW was easy going with no issues. But it was cool to have the dolphin escort almost the entire way. It was not an easy docking against the current and wind... have to give a shout out to the dock hands at Beaufort Town docks... they stood by patiently while the "new" captain figured out a strategy to get the boat docked without issue. It was time for re-provisioning at the Piggly Wiggly and to get some great BBQ at Rolands. Beaufort Town dock has a courtest car that can be used at no charge for this type of quick errands.

Beware of the attached pictures as they may make you droll if you're into crazy beautiful sportfishing boats....

 

[JD5652]

 

[JD5652]

Thought I'd give a real time update today... we left Norfolk at 0530 this morning heded to Solomons Island.... we knew the preditced seas were not favorable. After leaving Norfolk harbor... we had some pretty stiff 15 knot winds that built all day. Around 1300 off the mouth of the Potomac we ran into some 20-25 knot winds with confused seas and many steep 4-6's out of the WNW thrown in for good measure. At one point I was seeing more sky than ocean... but the 58 LRC just slogged right through it all.. as of 1500 we were off Point No Point... yep... that's not a typo… and the seas have laid down to 1-2 chop.... we are about 15 miles... or two hours from the Solomons…. stay tuned...

 

[Walter P]

Sounds like you're doing very well with your schedule. What is your average cruise speed?

Solomon's has always been special to me....back in the early 60's we had a boat that was built on
Solomon's Island, MD by Davis & Sons. It was a Cruisalong made of wood and had power from Grey
marine. They are probably long gone as is my old boat but lots of good memories remain.

I also see by your posts (keep them coming) that you really enjoy eating your way North. Makes one
wish I was there as well. Regarding the rough patch at the mouth of the Potomac, that's an area that
always seems to kick up. A bunch of boats including a few 70 footers stayed in port for a couple of
days waiting out the weather because it was so nasty in that entire area several years ago. Your LRC
probably just plowed through like another day at the office.

Once again, thanks for the posts...

 

[Bob Bradley]

Looks like you're doing a fine job of eating your way home. Make sure you're fuel cap is on nice and tight, and tell Karen I said Hi. Oh, and Jeff said to say hello.

 

[JD5652]

Thanks Guys.... I would gestimate that our average cruise speed is about 7-8 knots considereing all the no wake zones so far in the ICW.... now that we are in open water... we can get a little better average. The 58 LRC did just plow right through the slop.... she's a different breed for sure...

Bob - I can asssure you that since that incident.... I double and triple check my fuel caps like I'm OCD... My best to you and Jeff as well.... Karen says hello also... we will see you in August at the Hatt Redezvous in August.

I do enjoy a fine meal.... speaking of which... we arrived at Solomons Harbor Island Marina about 1630 after a long 100+ mile and 12 hour day in sloppy seas... we also lost the port engine alternator along the way.... appears the voltage regulator went out as the system was charging at 50 volts at one time. Simply electrically disconnected the alternator from the charging circuit underway and continued on our way without a hitch.

We were pleasantly surprised that the marina had a great restaurant called Charles Street Brasserie... only including a live piano player/singer that was pretty good. Would highly recommend the restaurant if you're in the area...

Saturday is a short ~50 mile jaunt up to Annapolis to meet with Jim Rosenthal for dinner...

 

[JD5652]

 

[JD5652]

 

[jim rosenthal]

I think the piano player/singer might be one of my bandmates, Joe Martone, possibly. See you all this afternoon.

 

[JD5652]

We departed Solomons Island for Anapolis at 0730 Saturday moring (6/15/19) for the short 50 mile ride to Annapolis Yacht Basin Marina next to the Marriott. Had fair winds and seas for the trip which were well appreciated after Fridays long sporty ride. Gave Miss Maggie a proper wash down to get the rest of Fridays salt bath off of her.

Everyone's favorite Hatteras Moderator Jim Rosenthal came by for an afternoon libation and dinner. Jim graciously helped us out by locating and picking up some duck bill valves for one of the vacuflush heads..... THANKS SO MUCH JIM!

We took the harbor water taxi over the Chart House for dinner. The restaurant is as gorgeous architecturally as the food and drinks..... I give at 4 stars for sure. Ended the night with a cocktail on the flybridge overlooking Annapolis Harbor under a full moon.....

One CRAZY thing happened around 11:30 PM right after I turned in..... I heard what I thought was footsteps in the cockpit. I knew everyone else had turned in for the night.... so I quickly put a pair of shorts on and rushed to the aft deck where I saw a 20-somehting young man.... pretty drunk.... trying to get into the boat.... I confronted him and he quickly left and joined a group of other young 20-somehtings in the parking lot. Needless to say this got the adrenalin pumping and took a while to get back to sleep. It appears he was looking for something to steal... whether it be booze or other stuff. The harbor master the next morning did say that has happened in the past... but very infrequently…. word to the wise.... make sure your boat is relatively secure at night especially in areas you may not be very familiar with.....

Sunday will be a short trip to the C&D canal …. stay tuned....

 

[JD5652]

 

[Walter P]

Great times with good friends.....that's what it's all about.

What's the plan for the C&D canal? Chesapeake City or Summit North for overnight. At 7 or 8 Knots,
it will probably not be possible to make Cape May before dark. Chesapeake City has a few good restaurants
but I'm not sure of Summit North. If you love fresh steamed crabs there is a place called "The Tap Room"
in "downtown" Chesapeake City near the city hall. It's a tiny little town but kind of nice to walk around
especially by the marina. For a more formal restaurant environment, the Bayard House right on the
canal if good and offers nice views of the canal. Have fun, be safe and keep us all posted..........

Walt

 

[JD5652]

Walter-

It is definitely Chesapeake City.... thanks for the dining recommendations.... I will post up what we find....

 

[jim rosenthal]

JD,. great to meet you all- yourself, Jim, and Mark. And that nice inebriated young lady who kept ringing the bell was quite entertaining. I thought for certain we would be fishing her out of the harbor, but her boyfriend evidently managed to see her up the dock without mishap.

Your Hatteras LRC is a jewel- I wish you many happy years with her, and thousands of miles of fair winds and following seas.

Thought about you guys today- it was decent weather here, I was out working on my boat in the afternoon. I hope the good weather saw you to the C&D Canal.

 

[JD5652]

Thanks for the kind words and well wishes Jim.... a pleasure to meet you as well.

We departed Annapolis around 0815 after replacing the duck bills for the VIP cabin vacuflush... it wasn't as terrible a job as I imagined....

On our way up to the C&D.. we got boarded by the Coast Guard for a safety inspection. I have to say the guys are complete professionals... efficient and courteous.

It was short run up the C&D to Shaeffers Marina. The place was rocking (in a fun way) when we arrived. Evidently the whole marina and restuarant was and is still being rebuilt. Rumor has it that three borthers acquired the propoerty pretty reasonably and have invested about $3.5M if the facility. I have to say I was very impressed by the marina service and the restaurant.

Thaat was the lalst of our short run days and we are headed for Atlantic City today.... stay tuned...

 

[JD5652]