D espite the sometimes petty antagonism between power & sailboats, for this trip there are only four major differences between them. Everyone else will be making an ocean run south. That is a great route. The R27 is even smaller, though, (with an 8’6” beam and 27’1” LOA) perfect for a simple sunset jaunt through the harbor or overnight cruising. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) is a continuous and mostly protected navigable route from Miami, Florida to Norfolk, Virginia.Originally conceived in 1802 for commercial use, today it is primarily used by recreational vessels, however light-draft commercial vessels along with small tugs pulling barges will make use of the AICW to avoid exposed open ocean passages. McClellanville, SC – An easy town to pass by, but don’t! The tannin will stain the bow of your boat forming the famous "ICW Mustache". A small sailboat, with its modestly sized rig and shorter waterline, can be a delight to sail for couples and single-handers alike. CRUISING AND COVID? Cruising the Great Loop is the ultimate for many of us power cruisers, and each year the list of Loopers seems to grow. The Dismal Swamp is a spectacular cruise; I would say don’t go down if you’re over five or five and a half feet of draft; it’s a bit shallow. ICW in a small boat by: Russell Okay, I have run the ICW several times from the upper Chesapeake to Panama City Beach and beyond. Cruising guide for boaters heading north along the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway). Cruising the Texas Coast Written by Marv Novak. Georgetown, SC – Visit the Rice Museum, it is fascinating! Almost every diesel-powered boat I have ever surveyed or delivered could make this trip however; our preferences while not extravagant are a little beyond “basic”. St. Augustine, FL – A must stop in our opinion. Preparing your boat for the trip south on the ICW is much the same for preparing for the Great Loop or other extended coastal cruising. My advice is to plan on two nights a week at a marina at $2 a foot, and I strongly recommend that you blow that budget and go to marinas more often than not. There are two routes: route one as they call it is the Virginia Cut or the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, and it goes over to Coinjock, NC, and then on down to Albermarle Sound. Cruising The ICW ~ "Thinking Outside the Boat" ~ Destinations ~ Marinas ~ Restaurants ~ Attractions ~ Marine Services ... Gregg Baker met us at the dock, my concerns began to evaporate. Stop and enjoy the different towns along the way. So, it’s really not a big worry but you do want to plan three days in advance. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, more often called the ICW, is a protected, inland waterway for commercial and recreational boaters. Weather broadcasts are very accurate for a 24 hour window if you listen and understand what they are saying. Cruising the ICW. With either one of these routes, you’re going to get to go through a lock. Here are five examples of boat owners who are living the dream—and five good trawlers to consider if you decide to plan a cruise of your own. When a boat hails us, I often will say “come right up and sit down…I’m slowing down for a gentle pass.” As a vessel passes, assess the approaching wake. ... Dolphins and Pelicans are always entertaining as they play in the wake and dive for fish near the boats. Here are my suggestions for how to plan your boat trip, navigate the canals on your … Easily the most expensive used option on this list but you get what you pay for, including a standard twin 300-400 HP engine built to run. When it comes to cruising the ICW, the oft-quoted phrase “getting there is half the fun” is apropos. ). I am not sure if I would take any houseboat a 100 miles off shore ever. I started sailing in 2004 on a Precision 23 that I purchased at an auction. Senior Sales Consultant, Partner eric.smith@atlantic-cruising.com 410-703-5655 More from Eric >> Boat Business Webinars, Videos, Blogs, Learning center and more. PRECISION 23. We average, including stops and sightseeing, about 37 miles a day. This is an ideal boat for cruising … Cruising means different things to different cruisers, but all cruising shares the following characteristics: living on the boat and travelling, often for extended periods of time. I love the ICW because you always have to watch where you are north/south (Y axis) and east/west (your X axis), but you also have to watch your vertical axis because you need to make sure you have enough tide to get over the shallow spots and you have to make sure the water is low enough to get under a bridge. We recently sat down virtually with experienced liveaboard and cruiser Tom Hale for an episode of PropTalk Live (Tune in! 410.216.9309 Weather broadcasts are very accurate for a 24 hour window if you listen and understand what they are saying. Keep in mind that in most of these towns, there are grocery stores, and you can dinghy in. Affectionately known as “The Ditch,” the ICW is a highway for north and southbound East Coast cruisers, and an east-west path along the rim of the Gulf of Mexico. Tom: The boat you have is the boat to go. 2020 ICW Cruising Guide: Your guide by Bob423 for safely navigating hazards from New York to Key West along the Atlantic ICW with full color charts for each hazard and tips for living aboard. Nordhavn launched its first distance cruising powerboat, the N46, in 1989—finally putting to rest the long-held idea that only sailboats … Depending on your draft, you need to be looking at your tide in certain trouble spots, which are well known, and that is something you might want to plan out six months in advance if you know there are certain places you want to hit. Next thing I knew, the romance of the idea of voyaging aboard such a boat had completely eclipsed any thoughts of the previous owners’ bed sores. If you arrive at four o’clock in the afternoon, you’re going to have to wait to get fuel, wait to get your pumpout… You’re going to be getting into a slip and it’s going to be getting dark. To me, it’s an old style, neighborhood, small town kind of marina. 612 Third Street, Suite 3C (trailerable) I just upgraded to a twin engine cruiser - more gas, same cruising and other capabilities, but now I can spend the night, extend my range, and have a solid boat. Anything over six feet of draft means you’re going to have to wait in some spots for some tidal help. It’s a great town. Notice how small the yellow sticker is. The other option is to go route two and that is the Dismal Swamp Canal. In other words, though small, Crazy Love had some serious credibility as a bluewater cruiser. The time spent before you leave will pay for itself in less trouble and preventable issues once you leave home waters. We have found that there are a couple of places that are good stopping points if there’s bad weather. The most common health problem encountered by travellers cruising on small craft is seasickness. Many ICW boats have decks awash in gear that inhibits on-deck movement; monstrous S.U.V.-dinghies swing from arch/davit configurations that … If it is small or moderate, you may simply stay on course and ride a few waves, and then take a slight turn to port to … Ranger Tugs is experienced at building small-but-capable boats, as we've seen in past models like the R31. It’s called a COD: crack of dawn picture. You’ll do this day after day. When you’re anchored here, you can hear the ocean surf crashing on the other side of the island, and it’s a great way to go to sleep. You come back to your boat and everything is done. Charleston, SC – I’d strongly recommend a stop in Charleston for two or three or four days because there’s so much to see and do. Maximizing a cruising boat for 1,000 miles of motoring cramps its sailing style and fortifies habits that sailors carry well beyond the ICW. This afternoon the small gaggle of sailors gathered on the dock are eyeing the top of our mast. Navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) A few pointed when cruising and sailing the AICW. We’ve never had any trouble. The Intracoastal Waterway offers more than just beautiful scenery! The tannin will stain the bow of your boat forming the famous "ICW Mustache". While the prospect of making the trip of more than 1,000 nautical miles may seem daunting, it needn’t be intimidating. Cumberland Island, GA – One of the prettiest spots on the East Coast! (The first Swift Trawler 34, next step up in the line, successfully completed The Great Loop upon its introduction in 2012.) So, whether you joined us for the live broadcast or missed it, you’ll want to keep these tips close at hand if you’re considering cruising down the ICW any time soon. Belhaven, NC – best restaurant on the ICW: Spoon River Artworks and Market. I’ll admit that power boats, trawlers most notably, are in the minority when it comes to cruising boats, especially this far south, but we have met many couples who call boats like that home. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway—also affectionately known as the ICW or The Ditch—is a protected inland waterway route that runs 1,243.8 statute miles from Norfolk, VA, to Key West, FL. Here is the recording of our live question and answer broadcast on Instagram earlier this week with Captain Chip Hillyer and Ryan McVinney. You need to plan for that. Here, sailors share their stories about living large while sailing small. And I suggest you call every day and reconfirm. He’s lived aboard his Helmsman 38 Trawler for 11 years and has transited the ICW 13 times in that boat (more times including deliveries). The middle of the island is called Sea Camp. So I was looking to take my 35ft 340SY Monterey Power Cruiser Down from RI to FL via the Inter-coastal Water Way. Of all my adventures in Bearboat, it was last spring’s voyage down the Chesapeake and into the Dismal Swamp Canal/ICW that repeatedly demonstrated the big benefits of a small boat. 15 - How to prevent the "ICW Mustache" When traveling down the ICW you will run into water with a lot of tannin, especially in swampy areas. In some areas, just when it really starts to bore you, along comes another jewel that makes the entire length of. In 2007, I upgraded to a 2005 Precision 23, Purr’n, named after my cat.I keep Purr’n on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, and sail around the nearby islands. From historic towns and peaceful anchorages to big city bustle and vibrant nightlight, there’s so much to see and do along its 1,100-mile length that you’d be hard-pressed not to find something enjoyable for every member of the crew. The boat sleeps four, though most buyers — past and present — are couples. Only the Day Markers (shown above) with the. To reduce fuel expense, the most common cruising boat is a sailboat. There are some bridges that open on a schedule. Maybe not the best for winning races but we didn't race anyway - we wanted a comfortable boat for long term cruising. ICW or open water cruising in a houseboat by: Tug boat Capt. Beautiful little keyhole marina, miles of trails through huge sand dunes, and it’s the only place in the world that you can see Venus fly traps in the wild. On a 1200-mile trip, you’re really going to need to budget six weeks. Originally built to ensure a secure means for shipping goods up and down the Atlantic Coast, today the ICW is used not just by commercial vessels, but also by a large number of recreational … Perfect boat for cruising the intercoastal, going out to the ocean, snorkeling, diving, fishing etc. The Intracoastal Waterway between Florida and New York offers a great variety of coastal scenery to boaters, but careful preparations are needed before setting out on the journey. In years past I've battled the affliction using On/Off which works quickly and does the job. “There are small ships, and tall ships, and ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, so here’s to you and me.” Anonymous. Here are five examples of boat owners who are living the dream—and five good trawlers to consider if you decide to plan a cruise of your own. A small sailboat, with its modestly sized rig and shorter waterline, can be a delight to sail for couples and single-handers alike. Cruising The ICW ~ "Thinking Outside the Boat" ~ Destinations ~ Marinas ~ Restaurants ~ Attractions ... Gregg Baker met us at the dock, my concerns began to evaporate. First, we were able to go more places. The biggest mistake that people make is trying to do it too quickly, particularly the first time. Information About Cruising the Intracoastal by Boat From Florida to New York. As far as money, everybody’s got a different budget. It’s spectacular. ATLANTIC ICW Fact is, cruising long distance doesn't get any safer than this. You are never out of sight of land, which is the point of the ICW. Theoretically the bridges will give you 65 feet of clearance. Beyond ever-changing waterfront views and scenery, you will cruise right through America’s history. What I would advise you is this: you’ll have to stop and get water and a pumpout occasionally. After all, yes, you’re looking forward to getting to the tropical blue turquoise waters of the Keys and Bahamas, but you’re missing so much if you rush through it. Plan for two days, but you’ll probably stay three or four. In 2007, I upgraded to a 2005 Precision 23, Purr’n, named after my cat.I keep Purr’n on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, and sail around the nearby islands. Depending on what cruising speed you go, most boats are going to be going somewhere between five and a half and eight knots. When most cruisers think of the ICW, they are thinking of the Atlantic ICW from Norfolk, VA to Key West, FL. Avoiding the dangers of the open ocean , you can travel this system of canals, rivers, and protected waters up and down the East Coast in safety and comfort! Cruising the ICW 1500 Miles on the Inside Cruising the Universe that Parrallels Interstate I-95 . The 1,088-mile channel, which is a collection of estuaries, sounds, and rivers stretching from Norfolk, VA, to Miami, FL, is unlike most bodies of water that sailors typically frequent. Eric Smith. When most cruisers think of the ICW, they are thinking of the Atlantic ICW from Norfolk, VA to Key West, FL. By Mike Milne For some cruising yacht buyers, bigger and faster will always be on their wish list. He’s lived aboard his Helmsman 38 Trawler for 11 years and has transited the ICW 13 times in that boat (more times including deliveries). And it wears you out because as soon as that anchor goes down you have to figure out what the plan is for tomorrow and what the weather is going to do when you wake up in the morning. This marine highway is a relatively safe route through Mid-Atlantic states to reach sunny Florida and the Keys. PRECISION 23. Preparing one’s boat for a thousand-mile trip down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) isn’t quite the ordeal of preparing for an ocean crossing. You need to go slowly and enjoy it and then slow down some more. Carolina Beach, NC – Here’s the secret: if you draw five feet or less, head to Carolina Beach State Park. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a highway of sorts for smaller boats. Home; A small passenger boat cruising through the Disko Bay ice near Ilulissat in Greenland; A small passenger boat cruising through the Disko Bay ice near Ilulissat in Greenland The marinas do get crowded, so you want to call a few days ahead to say if you’re coming. During the Christmas season they have lights on the all of the trees, millions of lights. [Bob423, Sherer, Robert A] on Amazon.com. This quaint island village across from Corpus Christi surrounds its small harbor with tourist amenities and a ferry to the mainland. Every Wednesday at 5 p.m. at facebook.com/proptalk) to discuss cruising the Intracoastal Water (ICW). By the same token, if you pull into a marina for two days of bad weather and it turns into three and you don’t want to leave, they’re not going to force you to leave because they know the boat that was coming in tonight isn’t leaving their previous marina anyway. Cruising for a few weeks or shorter times is common. On America's Great Loop, you will have a brief, While most all the talk is over the Gulf crossing, Those that have, The New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway (NJICW). There are B-n-B's, boatels and hotels virtually the entire route, you just need to do your homework (a lot of Capt. See our Youtube discussion about Covid Cruising. You can get fresh shrimp, and the live oaks are just stunning. © 2021 SpinSheet Publishing Company. You don’t need anything special. It promises some unusual challenges, some satisfying, some not. But the most important thing, if the day you’re due in, you’re really flying and want to go further, call the marina and let them know because they’ll be able to fill that slip in a heartbeat. Seasickness might render part of the crew unable to work (but having work to do outside the cabin reduces risk of seasickness). Cruising the ICW. Once you’re underway, you’ve always got an eye on the weather. Keeping water and food healthy is an issue in warm weather even on quite high latitudes (refrigerators use lots of power). ... or ICW, although it is ... As a small boater be aware and avoid these vessels. On the Gulf & Atlantic Intracoastal Waterways, the navigational channels are well marked. I've traveled a lot and have enjoyed boating the Intercoastal Waterway -- because there is so much to see and do. “There are small ships, and tall ships, and ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, so here’s to you and me.” Anonymous. Nordhavn launched its first distance cruising powerboat, the N46, in 1989—finally putting to rest the long-held idea that only sailboats could make extended bluewater voyages. There are some shallow spots that you can’t cross until a certain time. I find it to be a challenge but it’s a fun challenge. You see, we’re all taking our boats south, but only those of us with a mast less than 65-feet get under the bridges of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Cruising to the U.S.A. Canadians are allowed to be in the U.S. 182 days in any calendar year - about 6 months (subject to change). You start grabbing the steering wheel tighter and tighter and you hunch right over it and you’re just not having any fun. In a survey of sailboats who kept a log I found that between the Great Lakes and Florida they had the sails up for 6-12 hours. This smart, stylish boat is a contemporary rendition of a classic trawler, from a builder that knows a thing or two about the realities of long-distance cruising. You’re probably going to have to stop and get food. As such it touches most of the Old Confederacy and many historic sites dating from before the Civil War. Made of a series of rivers, bays and canals, this 1095-mile canal starts at nearby mile marker #1 in Norfolk, VA. and winds its … Fact is, cruising long distance doesn't get any safer than this. Then pull into the marina at 9:30 in the morning because all the other ICW cruisers have left at the crack of dawn. Rules for the boat may differ. With that said I have no problem going in open water say for a 50 to 60 mile jump to protected water. Find detailed marina and destination information when planning your next boating trip on the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s set up perfectly for couples cruising, with a dinette and galley in the saloon, the helm and an adjacent companion seat set a few steps up in the pilothouse and an offset berth, hanging locker and enclosed head down in the bow. A growing list of compact sedan-style cruisers on the market includes boats […] Many ICW boats have decks awash in gear that inhibits on-deck movement; monstrous S.U.V.-dinghies swing from arch/davit configurations that appear to defy gravity. It is all in what your needs and wants are in a boat We also didn't want a mast higher than 60 ft to be sure of getting under ICW bridges which are supposed to be a minimum of 65 ft at high tide but are often lower (64, even 63 ft! You will need to get a Cruising Permit and a User Fee Decal at Adequate hull construction – no cored hull. CONCERNED ABOUT . You’ve got to be looking about a week ahead in case there’s a tropical disturbance coming but certainly three days ahead absolutely. Go Small, Go Now: A Cruising Couple and their Micro-Cruisers If you had told my wife, Mindy, and me 28 years ago that someday we’d be sailing from Florida to the Bahamas and back in a boat little bigger than a dinghy, we wouldn’t have believed you. You’re rushing up there to find that all of the washing machines are busy, and the loaner car is out. But a number of cruisers are now opting for high-quality construction, reliable fuel-efficient powerplants and well-designed interiors—in boats that are small enough to handle easily. In years past I've battled … A motor vehicle travelling the same route would never have to worry about "checking in" to every INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) "district" or U.S. Coast Guard inspections under armed guard. So, it’s a four-dimensional chess game and you’re playing with all of these factors, but it can be a lot of fun. 15 - How to prevent the "ICW Mustache" When traveling down the ICW you will run into water with a lot of tannin, especially in swampy areas. A growing list of compact sedan-style cruisers on the market includes boats […] You get your anchor on deck and you’re watching your depth finder and using your binoculars to see the next mark, you’re watching your chartplotter and looking behind you for boats overtaking you… You start getting tense. meetings). It doesn’t take anything special, just a sense of adventure. Once down into the Keys or across the Gulf Stream in the Bahamas you will see many boats that will surprise you by the very fact that they float !. Assume that we’d sell the boat after our Great Loop adventure – but maybe we’d decide not to sell, but we’d like to keep that option open. Cruising the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) from Virginia to Florida is a bucket list dream for many cruisers. Heading north from Beaufort, S.C., on the morning tide late in April, our 82-year-old motor yacht, Cygnus II, glides through the beautiful marshes we’ve called home over the months of what passed for winter. For young couples aiming for the “experience,” they may be willing to accept the compromise of small living spaces and minimal creature comforts. I started sailing in 2004 on a Precision 23 that I purchased at an auction. So, whether you joined us for the live broadcast or missed it, you’ll want to keep these tips close at hand if you’re considering cruising down the ICW any time soon. Maximizing a cruising boat for 1,000 miles of motoring cramps its sailing style and fortifies habits that sailors carry well beyond the ICW. Sometimes you might have to wait for low tide to get there. Absolutely a must-stop. Cruising boats have the unfortunate task of finding out all state regulations as they travel south - environmental laws, fishing, customs and immigration, liveaboard rules and taxes, etc. A small boat’s big benefits. If you take the Dismal Swamp, you’ll go through two. Circumnavigating the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada at the helm of our own boat isn’t a trivial endeavor, and we were lucky enough to make the trek in our 36-foot trawler. Before your cruise exceeds that, you and your crew will need to leave the country and return to continue your cruise. For most Loopers, the ICW begins at the junction of the Okeechobee Waterway at Stuart and the St. Lucie Inlet and "unofficially" takes us north to Norfolk and then continues through Chesapeake Bay, … And when the weather is nasty, you’re going to want to stop somewhere, too. What happens is this, and it happened to me and it will happen to everyone if you’re not careful: you start the day and you’re taking a beautiful sunrise picture. I am not sure if I would take any houseboat a 100 miles off shore ever. Some people stay a month. If you own a sailboat and you’ve always wanted to ply the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), you’re in for a new experience. When you cross the island, you’ll find a live oak forest with these overarching branches and Spanish moss hanging down; it’s like being in a cathedral. To me, it’s an old style, neighborhood, small town kind of marina. But a number of cruisers are now opting for high-quality construction, reliable fuel-efficient powerplants and well-designed interiors—in boats that are small enough to handle easily. Va to Key West, FL – a must stop in our opinion you paid for the amount! Called the ICW, they are saying more fun to be a challenge it. 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