Great Bridge Locks problem

[Diver Down]

Note to southbound boaters.... unless something has changed since 0700 today, Nov. 7th, the locks at Great Bridge (Chesapeake), VA are closed for repair of a valve. Divers were sent down two days ago to inspect the valve but no fix yet. The Dismal Swamp "ditch" locks are still open but a long journey back to the ICW at the Albermarle.

 

[Pascal]

It s also a shallow journey thru the dismal swamp, I think 5 to 5.5' is as much as you safely get thru...

 

[Diver Down]

Skooch, how did the lock passage go this morning?

 

[dastahl]

Sorry for the delay. We made it thru the lock at 11:30am on the 15th. They are opening when the tide is high on the south side where that valve works. When the winds and tides raise the water on the Norfolk side they cannot open. But the winds shifted to SW and they opened several times in last few days. You can call the the lock and Active Captain has openings posted. They did not start any work yet but the dock guy said they awarded a contract to access the problem. Should be done for the spring migration.

We are anchored 200 yards off the channel near Bellhaven in zero visibility this morning so I am catching up with my email.

Skooch
Pongo River NC

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

It s also a shallow journey thru the dismal swamp, I think 5 to 5.5' is as much as you safely get thru...

If I remember correctly there is some kind of "go slow" speed requirement in the old canal. Problem is, if you do go slow - and most Hatteras yachts are big and should comply - you will not make it from one end to the next without overnighting in the only designated warf for this purpose, which offers no power, BTW.
All that said, it is however stunningly beautiful and some of the cedar timbers at the locks go back to the days when George Washington authorized the funding of the canal (so I am told).
Regardz