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Ft Lauderdale to NY

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by Marblehead01945, Mar 21, 2018.

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  1. Marblehead01945, Mar 21, 2018
    #1
    Marblehead01945

    Marblehead01945 Member

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    All,
    I know we've discussed this before but things change and it's that time of year. I'm looking for advice and local knowledge on bringing a 60 footer up from Ft Lauderdale towards the end of next month. Any go-no go areas out of the ordinary or must (fun) stop places? I know its weather dependent but in an ideal world...

    R
  2. Bill106, Mar 21, 2018
    #2
    Bill106

    Bill106 Senior Member

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    A little more info would be very helpful. Things like cruise speed, range, air draft (for inside portions), vessel condition (new to you/unproven?) all will help immensely. The northern migration will be cranking up so inside will be getting crowded! Other than that, Alligator River bridge just opened back up (was closed for almost a month) and Oregon Inlet is a fairly straight shot but has periodic 2 hour closures for new bridge construction.
  3. Marblehead01945, Mar 21, 2018
    #3
    Marblehead01945

    Marblehead01945 Member

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    Good question: 23-25 knots cruise at 70 gallons an hour 581 total fuel so the range is only a couple hundred miles lets say. I think the air draft is around 24ish with all the toys. I am going to measure that exactly next time I am on the boat.
  4. Pascal, Mar 21, 2018
    #4
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Is this a delivery or are you the owner? If you re the owner then the first question is whether you want to enjoy the trip and explore some interesting towns along the way (if so then plan on 2 to 3 weeks inside saving a lot of fuel). If strictly a delivery then you can do it in 8 to 10 days, running inside only if the weather is too rough (except for the Beaufort - Norfolk run) and of course the beautiful (not) jersey shoreline :)

    Running mostly at hull speed will probably save you about 2000 gallons of fuel.
  5. Marblehead01945, Mar 21, 2018
    #5
    Marblehead01945

    Marblehead01945 Member

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    Delivery, no sight seeing.


  6. Bill106, Mar 21, 2018
    #6
    Bill106

    Bill106 Senior Member

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    That's not very much fuel for that kind of burn rate! Figure on a max of 150 mile legs if even that far, some places it's quite a ways from the sea bouy to a marina. I'm more used to running 200+ per day so my usual stops won't be any help but the ones I like;

    Canaveral, easy inlet, Grills for good eats
    St Augustine, Not so easy inlet but Conch House easy to get into and good eats
    Hilton Head Marina,
    Charleston, City Marina or Patriots Point
    Georgetown, docks downtown, long way but SO good eats (see a pattern???)
    Southport, easy inlet and start of shortcut through Snows Cut to Wilmington/Masonboro
    Beaufort, easy inlet, start of "inside passage" out to Oregon Inlet (and home!)
    Ocean City MD, Sunset Marina
    Cape May NJ, South Jersey Marina, easy inlet, good food
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2018
  7. Marblehead01945, Mar 21, 2018
    #7
    Marblehead01945

    Marblehead01945 Member

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    agreed. Thankfully its only a twice a year trip. Everything else is very local.
  8. olderboater, Mar 21, 2018
    #8
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    What size crew? Running day only or 24 hours?

    You only have 7 hours range so a range per fueling of 160 nm or so. By the time you stop and fuel each day, if you're running day only and just you running the boat, then that's probably it for a day. That gets you something like this.

    1. Canaveral
    2. St. Augustine
    3. Savannah
    4. Georgetown
    5. Southport
    6. Beaufort
    7. 8. Norfolk
    9. Cape May
    10. New York

    I'd slow down a bit if it would allow me to cover more miles on some of those days.

    Then there's the issue of sea conditions. Don't know when you plan on doing this. However, the likelihood that you'll find the seas comfortable 10 days in a row for a 60' express type boat are not great. For instance, I could easily see you taking the Chesapeake inside route and some ICW on one or more days. I'd say 14 days would be reasonable but still a bit optimistic. We did it in 7 days averaging 184 nm per day but in a slightly larger boat.
  9. Marblehead01945, Mar 21, 2018
    #9
    Marblehead01945

    Marblehead01945 Member

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    That all makes sense. We're running with 3 crew day only. I agree slowing down can minimize a pit stop here or there.
  10. olderboater, Mar 21, 2018
    #10
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    It can allow you to target a destination one inlet further up the coast. For instance, on the list I did, it would allow Jacksonville instead of St. Augustine perhaps. Then maybe Charleston next. You just need to know your fuel consumption and range at different speeds. Is this a new boat to you? If so, you should assume none of the fuel data is reliable.

    With a crew of three you'd be able to run 10 hours a day (leaving two or three for fueling) vs. 7 if you had more range.
  11. Marblehead01945, Mar 21, 2018
    #11
    Marblehead01945

    Marblehead01945 Member

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    The owner bought the boat last year so he has a fairly good idea of fuel situation but boat speed really is going to dictate that and weather will dictate the boat speed so as someone once said- "it depends" :)

    thank you!
  12. Beau, Mar 21, 2018
    #12
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Are you doing this as a friend, or hired captain? Just curious
  13. Marblehead01945, Mar 21, 2018
    #13
    Marblehead01945

    Marblehead01945 Member

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    its my neighbors boat and doing it as a friend even though I do this professionally. I owe him. I just haven't done the run northbound in several years and this forum rocks for great information on things like this.
  14. Capt Ralph, Mar 21, 2018
    #14
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    So you know the boat and it's range? or speed vs range?
    Problem on night running (our preferred op).
    In a hurry?
  15. Marblehead01945, Mar 21, 2018
    #15
    Marblehead01945

    Marblehead01945 Member

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    Hi Capt Ralph! The owner knows the range vs speed situation as he took the boat down there last fall. I think generally speaking it will be mostly day runs unless the conditions are perfect and we don't mind going slower. In a hurry? It's going take as long as long as it takes. We're not going to beat ourselves or the boat up and we're going to do it safely. I don't want to get this thread too far off course as what I really wanted to know essentially is if there were some go, no go places along the way people would recommend. I'm open to hear about them.
  16. Capt Ralph, Mar 21, 2018
    #16
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    In a few months, the seasonal winds will drift off and clock from the south east. Watch your seas forecast to see when this starts.
    From Liquordale to lake worth would be your first jump for shake down and to verify range.
    Next Ft Peirce, Skip Canaveral and aim to Ponce inlet if your range proves good. If not, bunker in Canaveral and make for Ponce then.
    Aim for Jax, Savannah, & Charleston. Hilton Head is a C F still and to be avoided.
    I have not been north of Charleston in 25 years so I can not offer anything north of there.
    Wait for your weather offshore since it's changing (clocking) around soon. Track your fuel and test your range vs load carefully. You may surprise your self that a few RPM off may extend your range big time.
    Josie and I run 10 over the bottom either way, day / night. Makes for D R easier. Amazing your range north bound off shore. On average, at 10, cut it in half southbound.
    From Liquordale, just get out of the ditch till at least Lake Worth or Jupiter to save your mind from no wake zones and other *** holes.
    If your not familiar with St Lucie inlet, Don't do it with a rage tide/current. That first Bar will really wake you up, if not polish a wheel. Ft Peirce should be your target from Lake Worth.

    The ditch the rest of the way up is not so bad.
    You will hear banjos in the back ground from Tits'ville to New Smyera while in da ditch, but don't stop or give the music any mind.

    Get close to Jax and thirsty, We can help..
    ,rc
  17. Capt Ralph, Mar 21, 2018
    #17
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    So, how large of a canoe are you driving? power and fuel capacitys?
  18. chesapeake46, Mar 22, 2018
    #18
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    I like the way you think !
  19. captainwjm, Mar 22, 2018
    #19
    captainwjm

    captainwjm Senior member

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    If you stop in Fort Pierce, go to the FP City Marina. Great folks, cheap fuel available 20 hours a day. Several good places to eat within walking distance. Our favorite is 12A Buoy next to the bridge.
  20. Pascal, Mar 22, 2018
    #20
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Fort pierce also has a commercial fuel dock thats much cheaper. Same with Fernandina beach

    Skip coming in at at lake worth, go for Ft pierce instead, the ICW between Lake Worth and St lucie is no better than between FLL and Lake worth

    As others mentioned it can be quite a distance coming in from offshore in some locations, skip these if possible for quicker entry and access to fuel

    I havent done the run to new england in about 5 years but i did the round trip 5 years in a row beofre that. MIA NY was usually 13 to 14 days mostly inside and mostly at hull speed (70') with maybe 30 to 60 minutes on plane a day. Personally i prefer running slow for longer hours instead of hurrying up and end up the day early. Its more relaxing, less wear and tear on the boat and you save a lot of money
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