Stuart, FL To Racine, WI On A 60MY

[Freeebird]

Going to be running Sadey’s 60MY to Racine via the east coast beginning late April/early May. I’m looking for suggestions for neat marinas/restaurants/attractions to visit along the way as the water above NYC is going to be new for me. Same with the stretch from Norfolk to Jersey as I’m thinking we’ll run outside beginning at Norfolk. No, that Chesapeake/Potomac Slamfest a few weeks ago isn’t influencing that decision. There just wasn’t that much to see, and outside at that point will be more direct.

I did get Dave and Trina’s permission/blessing to make this post as they would like to meet as many of you yahoo’s as possible along the way. Jim might even get another shot at taking me/them to dinner since things didn’t work out last time.

I’m thinking a lot of you follow the Hatteras Facebook page which is much more conducive for posting photos, but I/we will keep you posted here as well. We had a great 8 day cruise on Benedetto to get things started, so this promises to be an epic trip... even if we use both engines.

 

[oscarvan]

That sounds like a cool trip! Don't have a lot of suggestions for you other than to get all the local knowledge you can get regarding the Jersey Shore. Them inlets can be tricky.

 

[edward]

Stop in Elizabeth City ,NC and then up thru the Dismal Swamp Canal , It should be reopened by then,they are working on the lock gates .

 

[Freeebird]

Stop in Elizabeth City ,NC and then up thru the Dismal Swamp Canal , It should be reopened by then,they are working on the lock gates .

I was happy with the ICW route through NC a few weeks ago and don’t see changing that. I would like to show them Ocracoke and Hatteras, so we’ll probably go out Pamlico Sound vs the ICW. Looks like it may be too shallow to run there via Harker’s, but maybe somebody with local knowledge can chime in there.

 

[motoryacht lover]

I was happy with the ICW route through NC a few weeks ago and don’t see changing that. I would like to show them Ocracoke and Hatteras, so we’ll probably go out Pamlico Sound vs the ICW. Looks like it may be too shallow to run there via Harker’s, but maybe somebody with local knowledge can chime in there.

Orcacoke took a big shot from Dorian. I assume if no slip was available you could anchor in silver lake.
I can’t remember the name of the main marina there but look on active captain and give them a call to see if they are operational. Prior to the storm the park docks were OK but shore power was lousy. I think only 30 amp connections.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I'd stick with the ICW over the Dismal Swamp Canal, personally. I have heard it gets shallow in spots.

Happy to take y'all to dinner if we can match up schedules and arrivals etc. Have a good trip regardles.

 

[brettportzer]

We are local to Waterford, NY. Brought our new to us 43DC up from Baltimore last spring.

Something to note about the waters North, but especially WEST of NYC, is that you are of course subject to the canals season.

Last year, we left the dock in Maryland on May 19th, the day AFTER the Erie Canal was scheduled to open for the season.

It did not open for approximately another 3 weeks!

Our trip stops were as follows:

Day 1 - Schaeffer’s on the C&D Canal
Day 2 - South Jersey Marina in Cape May
Day 3 - Cape May, sitting out a windy day
Day 4 - Hoffman’s at Manasquan
Day 5 - Haverstraw Marina, a decent bit north of NYC
Day 6 - Shady Harbor, 10 miles south of Albany

...Day 21 - Lock 1 Marina in Waterford.

If we can be of any assistance with anything when you make the trip, let me know, always cool to catch up with Hatteras people!

Also - happy to be a extra deck hands for the day going through the Flight of Locks.

Our boat is currently napping at Coeyman’s Landing Marina for the winter, to avoid being subject to the canal season at the beginning of the season, but we plan to move back to our permanent spot just on the other side of Lock 1 (Champlain, not Erie) once the canals do open.

Currently scheduled to open May 15th this year.

 

[whoover]

The is a good spot in St Catharines to stop for the night before entering the welland canal if you have to wait. Also a great Italian restaurant a close uber away.
St Catharines is east spot to clear customs if you do the run from Oswego without stopping.

Walt Hoover

 

[JLR]

Going to be running Sadey’s 60MY to Racine via the east coast beginning late April/early May. I’m looking for suggestions for neat marinas/restaurants/attractions to visit along the way as the water above NYC is going to be new for me. Same with the stretch from Norfolk to Jersey as I’m thinking we’ll run outside beginning at Norfolk. No, that Chesapeake/Potomac Slamfest a few weeks ago isn’t influencing that decision. There just wasn’t that much to see, and outside at that point will be more direct.

I did get Dave and Trina’s permission/blessing to make this post as they would like to meet as many of you yahoo’s as possible along the way. Jim might even get another shot at taking me/them to dinner since things didn’t work out last time.

I’m thinking a lot of you follow the Hatteras Facebook page which is much more conducive for posting photos, but I/we will keep you posted here as well. We had a great 8 day cruise on Benedetto to get things started, so this promises to be an epic trip... even if we use both engines.

One other thing to note other than the lock season dates. At that time of the year, there will be tons and tons of floating debris in the Hudson. Watch out for trees, poles, fences etc floating by. Years ago, when I bought my 56 MY in Michigan, we brought it back to New York that time of year. You could literally walk on the trees and poles floating in the Hudson.

 

[Westfield 11]

What is the maximum air draft to get into the Great Lakes through the Erie Canal? Or is it not an issue?

 

[oscarvan]

One other thing to note other than the lock season dates. At that time of the year, there will be tons and tons of floating debris in the Hudson. Watch out for trees, poles, fences etc floating by. Years ago, when I bought my 56 MY in Michigan, we brought it back to New York that time of year. You could literally walk on the trees and poles floating in the Hudson.

Wouldn't that depend on the amount of snow melt? Since there has been almost no snow, there won't be much melt. Of course that can change between now and then.

 

[brettportzer]

Regarding the debris, everyone says that, and they collected an amazing amount of stuff at a lot
of the yacht clubs, etc, up here last spring.

But, we didn’t encounter much during our trip up.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

What is the maximum air draft to get into the Great Lakes through the Erie Canal? Or is it not an issue?

http://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/bridgeheights.html

 

[Freeebird]

What is the maximum air draft to get into the Great Lakes through the Erie Canal? Or is it not an issue?

It’s not an issue except where it’s an issue.

Seriously, we wouldn’t be able to run the length of the Erie Canal and have to turn north. The bridge clearance in Chicago is tighter if we took the river route. That route is much more sensitive where flooding and debris are concerned. Been there, done that. We will have to remove the radar from the arch at a minimum. The Chicago route would likely involve removing the arch.

That along with the difference in scenery is the reason we opted for the east coast route. There is also the closure of the Illinois for lock repair beginning in July. It would be extremely disheartening to see a repeat of last year’s flooding, followed by that closure should we get caught up in flood conditions. Had that happen with a delivery to Chicago last May. Ended up having to truck the boat (not an option here) to Chicago from Kentucky at great expense to the owner compared to what it was going to cost to run on its own bottom.

 

[Westfield 11]

http://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/bridgeheights.html

I’m not familiar with the route, but it looks like much of it had a maximum of 21.3 feet and that it gets much lower, under 20 feet farther along. At what mile marker do you get to the lake?
At any rate we are too tall at 24 feet. I could remove the tv dome and radar array, but there’s not much I can do about the hardtop built onto the radar arch. It’s good information since one of my dreams was to someday take the Erie Canal. I guess I’ll settle for the Hudson River: I still want to see West Point from the water.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

You'll love the Hudson, Erie, Otswego route. Having done both, I can say even with the debris we dodged in the Hudson, it was much more scenic and had much better places to stop along the way.

 

[Freeebird]

You'll love the Hudson, Erie, Otswego route. Having done both, I can say even with the debris we dodged in the Hudson, it was much more scenic and had much better places to stop along the way.

As with us, he’s still going to have to reduce his air draft. The best number I’ve seen is just under 22’, but this claims it’s even lower. Our plan at this point is to leave things in place until we’re close to that bridge, then we’ll pull everything off the arch or possibly remove it altogether. I can see no practical way to hinge it.

If anyone has any ideas along that line, we’re all ears.

http://www.curtisstokes.net/great-loop-boats-for-sale/choosing-great-loop-route.html

 

[oscarvan]

If anyone has any ideas along that line, we’re all ears

How much do you need?

Offer a free 500 foot boat ride to the entire local high school?

Or more realistically full tanks, fuel, water, waste and possibly some plastic drums? 50G is 400 pounds.....

Just thinking out of the box here.

Seriously, there has to be a way to do some engineering/fabrication to hinge the radar arch. Plenty of them out there, this is not new ground. Would be a good investment in case of resale to someone who wants to bring her back to salt water...... Heck, the fuel you save may even pay for it.

 

[31FlyCruzr]

https://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Surveys/Projects/

Here is the link to the recent survey information, they do a pretty good job of updating. This site has NJ and Delaware inlets.

Cape May is a beautiful town and the ocean inlet is the best in New Jersey in my opinion. When I was there I stayed at Utches Marina, but there are many. Coast Guard Training Center is there also.

Atlantic City is another choice, the Farley State Marina is at the Golden Nugget Casino.

This part of the coast has beautiful sandy beaches, and hence we can get our share of shoaling.

Bill

 

[Freeebird]

Thanks for the input, folks. The plan is to run 10 knots and sunrise to sunset. Once I get this thing routed, we can have some mini HOF get togethers along the way. The spacing on the last trip won’t work with this one, given more speed and more daylight, but I’m sure we’ll make a few of them the same.