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ICW Trouble Spots

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by NYCAP123, Mar 31, 2021.

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  1. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    A friend has a few boats to move north this spring and I'm looking for any trouble spots along the ICW, especially the Florida leg. Salty Southeast Sailor (Cruisers Net) used to publish a list of trouble spots that was continuously updated by boats making the transit but I can't seem to find it anymore. Does it still exist and if so does anyone have the link? Thank for any help you can give.
  2. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Cruisersnet.net

    Also Waterway Guide publishes similar, likely more complete today.

    Active Captain is a good resource as well.

    Then of course don't overlook Notices to Mariners.

    All in all, when in doubt, talk to some tow captains.
  3. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    About a month or so bought my boat from Hilton Head to Stuart. We ran outside to Fernandina and then inside the rest of the way. I try to work with the tides whenever possible. The worst spot was right after you cross the St Johns river and the Chanel has changed yet their are markers up directing you to the wrong way. There is a guy on YouTube that provides very good info from active captain. I believe his name is Bob 123 and he shows you how to download his course on to different platforms it was very helpful and kept me out of trouble although I almost blew it at the St Johns not believing. Let me get home from work and I will tell you how to get him on YouTube.
    captainwjm likes this.
  4. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Got those. Notice to mariners is hard to keep track of except for the most recent notices since you have to scroll through a lot and although it gives the what and where it doesn't advise. After giving a quick glance over those sites it looks like Waterway Guide https://www.waterwayguide.com/explo...2665921&zoom=14.282949561222079&mode=navAlert is probably the best resource and easy to use. Go to the map, click on the hazard symbol and a bunch of good info and advice comes up. DK how rapidly they upload info, but they do the the date of the reports. Thanks.
    daydreamer4 and captainwjm like this.
  5. Cruz

    Cruz Member

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    If your friend is on Facebook, have him search for the ICW Cruising Guide group. Bob (known as Bob423 and referenced earlier in this thread), the gentleman who runs the group is also Waterway Guide's ICW editor and is, for many, the ICW guru of the moment. He has been traveling the length of ICW annually and tracking the shifts for many years. He is very thorough in keeping the problem spots updated on Waterway Guide and within the FB group which has an ongoing, fluid conversation about what's happening in realtime on the ICW including dredging updates, bridge issues and all other waterway related items.

    Another great tool for us and many is the app Aqua Map. With their "Master" version you get chart overlays of the latest USACE surveys (with age references). It also shows Waterway Guide and Active Captain markers which are incredibly useful when you're planning or underway. We have found Aqua Map and the resources offered by Bob to be invaluable and they have been a big part of our problem-free migrations for the past few years.
    captainwjm likes this.
  6. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    I am not on facebook but Cruz is right on with Bob423 and Aquamap with the Master version. Best money I have spent in a while.
  7. Cruz

    Cruz Member

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    And I should be clear, the FB group is certainly not critical to the mix, but it does provide added value in a good exchange of info on problem areas and issues related to the ICW in realtime once you weed through the non-pertinent stuff. Every evening while traveling we review the Active Captain and WW Guide markers for the next day's route, make notes accordingly and generally have everything we need to know for what to expect or what to avoid.
  8. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Good info members. Thanks. Keep it coming. A lot of boats should be heading north over the next couple of months. If you're among them this would be a good place to post about problem areas you run into.
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Icw from St. John’s to Fernando a beach is bad.

    snows cut to masonboro inlet is very bad right now. Icw from Beaufort, nc to Norfolk is no problem.
  10. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Excellent info
  11. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Also just did Brunswick,ga to Charleston. Nothing noteworthy except for mud river in Georgia Is mostly shallow. From snows cut to masonboro inlet, favor the west side. Isle of palms also has been very shallow, but I ran the outside from Charleston to cape fear River (Southport)
  12. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Yep those spots have always had issues. Add in I believe it's by 56A in Carolina Beach. I dinged a prop there one year in mid-channel. We had to drop the hook for an hour around Isle of Palms with Valhalla and wait for the tide. In fact outside from Charleston to Beaufort is always preferred. Mud creek takes care. There's plenty of water but it's all in the middle and that's where they put the crab traps. Low tide through there really tells the story. My friend's current plan is inside to Mayport and then cut across to Charleston or Hilton. That route also avoids Georgia's flies.:cool: I was also met with a huge wall of flies coming in Georgetown one spring. They're not bad by the docks, but out by the inlet they'll drive you mad. So yes between Mayport and Beaufort outside whenever possible.
  13. captjohn22

    captjohn22 Member

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    South of Fernandina beach, north bound from the #2 through #14 was very tricky last time I went through.
  14. KoffeeCruising

    KoffeeCruising Member

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    Just went SB from Savannah to Boca on inside whole way . Skinniest water was on Jekyll Cut south of St Simons Brunswick We went 2hrs after low tide. Also South of Fernandina are one markers 49-51-dinged something on my way NB- went through same area 2hrs after high tide and no problem. We draw 4.5’. After that all good.

    SC/GA & North Fl are cool cruising grounds. South of Palm Valley to FT Pierce was like being on a boring treadmill.. long open stretches of wide water with bridges every 5 miles- good to make time, but no scenery. south of Stuart gets pretty again, just S-L-O-W through Jupiter PGA, PB.
  15. 55 Sea Ray R

    55 Sea Ray R Member

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    Does anyone think that the ICW has become a PIA. So many people triggered because they have to cross a wave.
  16. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    I think it is a reflection on our society. Florida is the worst. I am very courteous and am conscious of my wake but if I can cruise a week in Florida without a middle finger I am doing something. Some people go nuts over a 6” wake. It gets old but I try my best to ignore it. If I am wrong I will apologize. But some want a reason to be angry and there is nothing you can do for them.
    bayoubud and 55 Sea Ray R like this.
  17. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    While those who ignore wake zones deserve ticketing, I'll tell you the complainers who get me the most. Homeowners. You bought a home on the ICW. You probably admired all the boats when you looked. Now what did you think was going to happen? We live on a major canal, 500' from a major river, 1500' from the ICW in the heart of the city. We're also adjacent to a sport boating area in the river where skiing and PVC's are encouraged. We love all the activity. We love those who anchor nearby. But, shockingly, we get wakes. We don't dock normally on the front canal, but on the side canals. And we don't keep our boats at our home when not in use. We looked at our home first on a Saturday and then went back and purchased on a Sunday. Guess what we saw? Boats everywhere. Guess what we expected? Boats everywhere. Guess what we got? Boats everywhere.

    Oh, and an aside. There were gorgeous new homes when we were looking on Lake Sylvia while the home we bought was several years old. The lake is covered with boats anchored, mostly sailboats. We didn't like the congestion. We didn't buy there, unlike some who bought and then complained and campaigned against them. Why torture yourself like that.

    Well, guess we have a different perspective on wakes. Our boating prior to the coast was on a very busy lake in NC with no wake zones only within 50' of a boat launching area, bridge, dock, pier, marina, boat storage structure, or boat service area on the waters of Lake Norman. Our dock was waked. You go out on a Sunday and you get wakes coming at you from all sides. I thought wakes were just a part of boating. I was honestly shocked at the uproar on the ICW and elsewhere. I'm also amazed at those who think speed and wake are somehow one and the same. We have a 44' Riva? At 10-15 knots we'll wake hard. At 35 knots our wake won't extend 20' to either side of us. Even at 25-30 knots we have very little wake that reaches other boats, docks or land.
  18. 55 Sea Ray R

    55 Sea Ray R Member

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    God I thought I was alone for a moment. Older boater I was on Smith Mountain Lake in Va. then Fort Laud now Naples. Agree whole heartedly with your assessment.
  19. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    I think the lakes give a different perspective. I was once on Smith Mountain in a horrible storm. Had to go from dock back to marina. Unfortunately, also had a cousin killed by lightning outside a cabin on Smith Mountain when it wasn't even raining.
  20. 55 Sea Ray R

    55 Sea Ray R Member

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    There are definitely a few strikes up there. There were not many dressing downs on the radio though. Just people enjoying life.