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Great Loop Cruise Video

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by NYCAP123, Aug 1, 2013.

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  1. NYCAP123, Feb 22, 2014
    #201
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Actually, that's incorrect. The minimum controlling depth is actually 6'. Most sections do have a minimum controlling depth of 12' however, but check your charts before expecting that in all areas. Southern Va & northern N.C. are prime examples, as is S.C. and Okeechobee these days.
  2. olderboater, Feb 22, 2014
    #202
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    What Capt J said is the controlling depth is supposed to be 12' an MLW. That's the design intent and the objective. Not the actual which is reflected on charts. Now we all know that there are hundreds of areas along the ICW that don't achieve that.

    As you point out the reality is often much less. You have about a 5' draft if I remember right and you have problems. For us, if we have a long distance to cover, it's just not worth it to take the ICW and contend with the shoaling. We will occasionally take it because we want to see the scenery of different areas. But along the Atlantic coast, at least 85% of our travel is outside. And same on the gulf coast too. Now, some states are stepping up more aggressively than others.

    If it continues to deteriorate as a navigable water, I see the time in which you'll travel outside and then use your tender to explore the ICW, especially in Georgia and South Carolina.
  3. Capt J, Feb 22, 2014
    #203
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    The only minimum controlling depth of 6' is the Dismal Swamp Canal route in NC-VA. Nobody takes that with a draft of any size. The rest of the entire ICW was designed and supposed to have a minimum controlling depth of 12'.
  4. NYCAP123, Feb 22, 2014
    #204
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    There's design and then there's reality.


    Coast pilot 4 Chapter 12
    Channels
    The Federal project for the Intracoastal Waterway via Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal provides for a least depth of 12 feet from Norfolk, VA, (I.W.Mile 0.0) to Fort Pierce, FL, (I.W.Mile 965.6), thence 10 feet to Miami, FL, (I.W.Mile 1089.0), and thence 7 feet to Key
    West, FL, (I.W.Mile 1243.8). The Miami to Key West section of the waterway has been completed only as far as Cross Bank (I.W.Mile 1152.5); the remainder has been deferred for restudy. Although no work has been performed on this section of the waterway, a channel, marked in accordance with I.W. markings, leads from Cross Bank to Big Pine Key along the northwesterly side of the Florida Keys. At Big Pine Key, the waterway bifurcates going north through Florida Bay or souththrough Hawk Channel to Key West. The channel has a controlling depth of about 5 feet and is exposed to winds from the northwest.(See Local Notice to Mariners and latest editions of charts for controlling depths of the Intracoastal Waterway.)
    http://atlanticsailors.com/Intracoastal-Waterway.html
  5. olderboater, Feb 23, 2014
    #205
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    I just read a rather enlightening editorial from Claiborne Young regarding the AICW. It was his informed opinion that no federal funds for dredging of the ICW are available for 2014 and none in the works. He listed stretches that are bad and just going to get worse and he made the comment that one should notice none of those are in Florida or NC. The reason he didn't include them is Florida has a state agency which dredges when the federal agencies don't and North Carolina passed a bill in 2013 to provide funds in 2014 for the ICW, scheduled for April.

    He is writing to encourage an effort to get the states of South Carolina and Georgia to do something and to realize the economic loss they may face if the normal transiting along the ICW is reduced or halted. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association is lobbying the legislatures as well. The latest Army Corps of Engineers survey shows 2 1/2 feet MLLW depths on portions of the channel as the ICW passes north of the Isle of Palms and east of the Ben Sawyer Bridge. But currently he has nine problem stretches listed in those two states for which there is no plan for dredging in 2014.

    I'd say this is a major issue for many here as not only is it bad for boaters, but many here make their livings in boating and are dependent on the ICW for at least part of that.
  6. NYCAP123, Feb 23, 2014
    #206
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Agree. Let's just say that, even though I would have had the tides more on my side going north from Charleston, I was glad to see seas that allowed me to run outside back up to Georgetown. Hour after hour running with one eye on the depth-finder really takes the fun out.
  7. CaptNeil, Feb 23, 2014
    #207
    CaptNeil

    CaptNeil Member

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    Thanks for the update. I hate that area and have always tried to avoid it even if it meant staying for an extra few days to make the outside trek. In a couple of months I will have to make the trip several times. Good luck on the leisurely jaunt. Love the updates. Right now sitting in Nassau enjoying the great weather!:D
  8. Old Phart, Mar 5, 2014
    #208
    Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
  9. NYCAP123, Mar 5, 2014
    #209
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    No compilation or book planned by me. Been done too many times, and Hemingway I'm not. Just the live feed and AIS tracking while we cruise (as long as the WiFi co-operates:D). I may post an occassional pic, but I don't want to chew up YFs data. Of course though I'm taking tons of pics for my friends and family. I'll post when we're going live. Next leg starts about St. Paddy's day.
    I'll be glad to answer any questions poised along the way either her or by PM.
  10. NYCAP123, Mar 17, 2014
    #210
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Continuing

    Happy St.. Patrick's Day all,
    After some spring maintenance and a few more repairs, Valhalla will be pushing off today. We'll be heading down the Cape Fear River and then back up the ICW towards Wrightsville Beach. Not a beautiful day, but better than the snow they're getting back home. In fact the wife's starting to wonder if I time these trips to get out of shoveling.:rolleyes:
    Hope the rain doesn't obscure the bow cam too much. Enjoy.

    Valhalladoestheloop.com
  11. olderboater, Mar 17, 2014
    #211
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Well, you shouldn't have much recreational boat traffic to deal with in 41 degrees and rain. On the other hand, once on the way, buttoned in, heat on, should be a nice peaceful day moving on.
  12. NYCAP123, Mar 17, 2014
    #212
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    We have gotten a bit spoiled cruising through winter. Pretty soon though the northern migration will begin and we'll be having snowbirds rushing our stern. Maybe later this leg, and certainly on our April leg. Today though is just a yucky day. One of those days where it's real nice to have a lower helm station.
  13. olderboater, Mar 17, 2014
    #213
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    One of those reasons we insist on a lower helm. Warm plus coffee and food right there for you.
  14. NYCAP123, Mar 17, 2014
    #214
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    would hate to be at an open helm today
  15. NYCAP123, Mar 18, 2014
    #215
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Camp Lajuene

    Coming through Camp Lejuene now. Word of caution. Marker 61A is where it's supposed to be. ***It doesn't look like it***, but it is. At full high tide we cleared with 8.5 under us. On the way south we came through towards low tide and showed about 1.8 under us.
  16. Capt J, Mar 18, 2014
    #216
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    It's a real shame the ICW is so darn shallow up in those parts. You should have 8.5 under you at low tide. You almost have to navigate it at high tide from GA to NC. It's easy if you're going North because you pretty much keep up with the high tide, but going South is a different story as it subtracts in time as you go South.
  17. NYCAP123, Mar 18, 2014
    #217
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Going south from Southport to Charleston at low tide a nightmare. One eye never left the depth finder. Today, running at high tide is almost a pleasure. Would be too if you guys down in Florida would send a little warm weather up here. Just saw the sun for a few minute between rain storms. Almost forgot what it looked like. Winds of 25-35 mph on our beam didn't help. Glad to have 74,000# with it.:D A couple of hours from now we'll be pulling into Beaufort, N.C., one of my favorite ports.
  18. NYCAP123, Mar 19, 2014
    #218
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Well, after a great hamburger at Clawson's and a nights sleep we're finished with the shallows and slow going of southern N.C. Still cool and breezy, but not raining and the sun is trying to break through. Next stop Belhaven.
  19. RB480, Mar 19, 2014
    #219
    RB480

    RB480 Senior Member

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    I did spy a Capt. Ed on the bow storage box enjoying the ride!
  20. NYCAP123, Mar 19, 2014
    #220
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    And a handsome devil he is right?:D We're in the take it easy days of northern N.C. Water under the keel is such a wonderful thing.
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