Seeking ICW Tagalongs

[AllHanzOnDeck]

We are preparing for a one-way trip down the ICW from Washington, DC to Palmetto, Florida (Gulf Coast) commencing the last week in September. Our plan is to spend every other or every third night in a marina with two or three-day stays in several ports. We anticipate this trip will take approximately three weeks.

[AnchorageGuy]

I might suggest that you spend a few days in either Deltaville or Norfolk and look for other cruising boats and visit with them. These are popular stops for southbound cruisers. The southern migration begins in earnest right after the Annapolis Boat Shows and there will be more boats heading south than many of the anchorages can accommodate. We just had an article published in MarinaLife Magazine on the changes along the ICW and the trend towards boats traveling in groups. Good luck. Chuck

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by AllHanzOnDeck

We are preparing for a one-way trip down the ICW from Washington, DC to Palmetto, Florida (Gulf Coast) commencing the last week in September. Our plan is to spend every other or every third night in a marina with two or three-day stays in several ports. We anticipate this trip will take approximately three weeks.

Nice trip but I think your three weeks is a bit optimistic.

[gbanker]

I agree with Vasco in that 3 weeks is optimistic and will not allow much time for enjoyment of the trip.

I also want to express my reservations regarding buddy boating. Do you want to trust your boat ( perhaps your life) to decisions made by someone you have known for an hour, day or week? Sure, talk to other boaters for local knowledge and information about their experiences on the ditch. But, make your own decisions about weather, anchorages,etc..
Enjoy the trip.

[FSMike]

Boats that cruise at 30 mph probably take less time than most of us.

[Vasco]

Two or three day stays in several ports will eat up the time. When I used to travel the ICW more than I do now we often kept up with power boats which went a lot faster than we did. Of course we put more travelling hours in. We always anchored. They usually went into marinas. We started early, they started after a leisurely breakfast and would pass us at ten o'clock or so in the morning. That would be the last we'd see of them until ten the next morning. This would keep up for a few days and then we'd lose touch.

[AllHanzOnDeck]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Boats that cruise at 30 mph probably take less time than most of us.

Yes, we will be up around 26 - 30 mph when we can, but not averse to trolling speeds from time to time.

[Sunspot Baby]

Enjoy, but while you're up on that 26 kt plane, please don't pass me. I can't enjoy your wake that much.

All joking aside, 3 weeks will probably do it but you won't spend much time smelling the roses.

If that is how much time you have, fine. The ICW is, however, a really neat cruising ground well worth spending a little extra time and a few side trips to enjoy.

George

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good luck on your cruise. Sounds like a race down the waterway.
regards,