ICW question

[MikeP]

We are considering heading to Charleston/back on the ICW beginning next week. I realize there is a lot of variation but what would be a good expectation of travel time to go down/spend a few days and come back to our marina on Kent Island in the Chesapeake Bay? We would plan to run every day until we got there. I see that the entrance to C-town is at mile 569 of the ICW. For those who have operated on the ICW recently (we have never been on it) , what's a reasonable expectation of miles per day on the ICW?

 

[doc g]

Inside, 100-150 with two sets of eyes watching markers. We are considering heading south this weekend also I would say on plane make Rudee Inlet , next jump Rudee to Oregon and south to Ocracoke. Inside to Morehead and out side the rest of the way ......so four days , making almost 200 the last day ....Pat

 

[Boatsb]

It depends on how you run. At 16 kts you cover more ground than at 8.

At 25 kts you cover even more ground.

At 7 or 8 kts you may only get 50 or 60 miles in a day if there's bridges to wait for.

 

[doc g]

We won't go further than Morehead. We want to hang at Cape Lookout , so if you come by PM us!....Pat

 

[Pascal]

At hull speed 100nm a day is pretty much as far as you can go. If y don't mind burning twice the fuel per mile, you can probably stretch that to 150/160nm

I haven't gone uo north in a few years but usually I d take 5 or 6 days to do norfolk - charleston, okus a day down th Chesie

There are many nice little towns along the way that you may want to enjoy so I think less than 3 weeks for the round trip and a few days in charleston woudl be a waste.

Oriental, moorehead, a day at cape look out, southport, bald head, Georgetown, are all worth a stop and at least a few hours

Bridges and no wake zones are much less an issue than generally thought. You have a few bridges leaving norfolk but if you know basic math you can hit them in sequence without wasting time. Couple more around Wrighstville beach againeasy to time. I once mad uo a list of the no wake zone, I think it was less than 30 nm except for south Florida of course

 

[rwappleton]

@8-10 KTs 60 to 80 miles per day. Really depends on how hard you want to run and where you want to stop. In our almost 3000 miles "IN THE DITCH" shortest days were 38SM longest was 105SM. Never late for happy hour your mileage may vary see dealer for details.

 

[bobk]

Mike,

I'm on trip # 28. I run 8 knots and usually make 70 statute miles per day on the ICW. 100 is doable in the summer, but it is a long day. Not so bad if the admiral will spell you for driving. You will want a current bridge schedule and access to active captain for shoaling information.

Watch the weather forecast. Something is coming up the coast next week.

Bobk

 

[KPTIM]

Hi Mike,
I'm sure you run like we do (no more than 10 knots). Because of no wakes, bridges and facilities you will only make comfortable about 50 to 80 miles a day. One thing to consider if leaving / arriving to mile marker 0 from June 6 to June 23 is that the Norfolk and Western Railroad Bridge at MM 3.6 will be closed for maintenance most all days except for 1 hour a day during the week but open on the weekend. look at this link:

http://www.waterwayguide.com/nav-alert/4-5991/proposed-icw-closures-for-brid

They have just completed new bridges along the first few miles of the ICW through Norfolk, Portsmouth and Chesapeake. With the exception of the RR bridge above you are clear on height all the way to the locks and bridge at Great Bridge at MM 12.

We are getting ready to run down to Beaufort in three weeks (all inside).

Keep us posted on the run,
Tim

 

[magnawake]

Mike,

I'm on trip # 28. I run 8 knots and usually make 70 statute miles per day on the ICW. 100 is doable in the summer, but it is a long day. Not so bad if the admiral will spell you for driving. You will want a current bridge schedule and access to active captain for shoaling information.

Watch the weather forecast. Something is coming up the coast next week.

Bobk

Hit the nail on the head as usual Bob. There's no reason to go fast. Take in the beauty. Watch for bears on the Pongo canal. We did 98 miles one day, left at 0600 and dropped the hook at dark. Its a long day on the ICW, but intertesting sometimes. You can plane through the Sounds and make some time. Theres tons to see if you stop a smell the roses. Many people do what your doing and jet down real fast and miss out on all these treasures. Cape Look out is Great, as well as Ocracoke, Manteo. Its a fun trip.

 

[MikeP]

Great info guys, thanks. I don't think we have enough time left here to do the trip. We are driving back to TX/Mexico on Jun 24 and couldn't actually head south on the boat until next week which would give us less than 3 weeks to do it. Maybe next time...

 

[jim rosenthal]

Why don't you do a shorter trip, kind of as a shakedown? or do some of the Bay? In that amount of time, you could easily tour a lot of the Chesapeake- well worth doing.