Morehead City NC to Charleston SC and Florida Coastal

[davil]

How busy are these areas for coastal navigation,within no more than 50 M offshore with special concern for nights as traffic is concerned?
thanks

[Jason Flare]

Pretty quiet. I ship or two out of the Cape Fear River. Maybe a tug and a barge.

Keep an eye out crossing the CF shipping lanes.

[Bill O]

Charleston is the main hub of traffic, that said most of the boats were easy to see on AIS and radar. Really not a problem.

We did have a very large ship come up on us quickly (est. ~20 kts) that didn't show up on AIS, but was well lit. This was our "ghost" ship and assumed it was military. It also was headed into Charleston.


Bill O.

[davil]

how far off from the coast were you sailing?

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by davil

how far off from the coast were you sailing?

~45-50nm off Charleston

Bill O.

[Checkswrecks]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Charleston is the main hub of traffic, that said most of the boats were easy to see on AIS and radar. Really not a problem.

We did have a very large ship come up on us quickly (est. ~20 kts) that didn't show up on AIS, but was well lit. This was our "ghost" ship and assumed it was military. It also was headed into Charleston.


Bill O.

My sis and her husband were surprised there at night too by warships which did not show up on AIS or radar. (yes radar) Pitch black and he suddenly got a radio call, only to realize he was close. He credits the AIS for it not being a bad night.

[mikeod]

Those routes you don't need to go far out. Frying pan shoals is all I can think of that you have to watch for otherwise straight shot. Mostly tugs and barges going north and south.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by Checkswrecks

My sis and her husband were surprised there at night too by warships which did not show up on AIS or radar. (yes radar) Pitch black and he suddenly got a radio call, only to realize he was close. He credits the AIS for it not being a bad night.

Yes, there was no radar image on it either. We saw the lights well off our stern and assumed it was a freighter, which were barely catching up to us. Looking back I was surprised of the speed/rate they caught up to us. They passed between us and some other boats headed S. It was a new moon so difficult to estimate the size, but at least several hundred ft. min. Never hailed us. No AIS or radar signature, so it was designated a ghost ship.

If you are going into Charleston, then no you don't have to go out as far. We were headed much further south.


Bill O.

[Suijin]

Generally speaking you’ll only run into traffic as you pass larger inlets. Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Cape Canaveral etc. there is lesser traffic out of Brunswick, Fernandina Beach and a few others.

[boatman1]

The previous posts are accurate: I've always been sort of surprised though at how solitary it gets almost as soon as you get past the inlet. I recall days going by sailing the eastern seaboard inside the continental shelf without seeing any other boats or ships. You've got to maintain constant vigilance though, 'cause when you do have a close encounter ( with boats/ships or unlit bouys) it may be on you to avoid collision. I won't do it anymore w/o crew to keep diligent watch.

[Bill O]

Further S. of Charleston there wasn't much commercial traffic of any concern. As you go down past Jacksonville, you'll be very close to shore to get out of the main part of the GS. Here there were a lot of recreational boats w/o AIS. Definitely needed to keep an eye out for go fast and fishing boats anchored or cutting across your path (close). One time we had a scuba diver pop up and deploy his pick up sausage 50-75 yds from the boat well away from the dive boats.


Bill O.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by boatman1

You've got to maintain constant vigilance though, 'cause when you do have a close encounter ( with boats/ships or unlit bouys) it may be on you to avoid collision.

Agree, we did pass unmarked/unlit buoys. Actually this wasn't so remarkable, as I think its more of a norm when sailing closer to shore. Also may expect some smaller boats traveling w/o lights on that would be difficult to see on a pitch black night until you were almost on top of them.


Bill O.

[CaptainBullDog]

The distance is 215 nms with emergency cut offs at Masonboro, Cape Fear Inlets, Little River and Georgetown all of which I don't recommend doing at night. Winds this Fall and Winter have been fickle and dangerous. It is not uncommon to experience 12 to 15 ft seas cutting through Frying Pan Shoals. If you cruise at 7 to 8 k that's leaving Beaufort Inlet at 9 am and arriving Charleston City Marina around Noon.

Traffic is not an issue as the big boats run 100 nms out but be sure you have your route lines laid in before entering Charleston harbor. There are partially submerged break waters, shoals, twisty channels and crab pots.

[Scrimshaw4]

That far off the coast you'll probably be bucking the Gulf Stream. There's no need to be that far out. Once past Frying Pan Shoals come back in to about 3- 5 miles off the coast for counter eddies. Just be aware of the jetty, sometimes submerged, at the entrance to Charleston. Other than the Navy and the CG the only others not running AIS are usually commercial fishermen as they don't want to advertise their honey holes but they are brightly lit. JMHO

[CaptainBullDog]

Originally Posted by CaptainBullDog

The distance is 215 nms with emergency cut offs at Masonboro, Cape Fear Inlets, Little River and Georgetown all of which I don't recommend doing at night. Winds this Fall and Winter have been fickle and dangerous. It is not uncommon to experience 12 to 15 ft seas cutting through Frying Pan Shoals. If you cruise at 7 to 8 k that's leaving Beaufort Inlet at 9 am and arriving Charleston City Marina around Noon.

Traffic is not an issue as the big boats run 100 nms out but be sure you have your route lines laid in before entering Charleston harbor. There are partially submerged break waters, shoals, twisty channels and crab pots.

I really recommend the safer inside route using Bogue Sound ICW stopping at Swansboro then on to Onslow thence Wrightsville Beach and all the way to Georgetown before heading out. The ICW from Georgetown to Charleston is impassable.
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