Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
I just purchased my boat last weekend and it currently resides in Fernandina Beach, FL. in 4-5 months when a slip opens up at my preferred marina here in Charleston I would like to get it moved up here. Just trying to get some thoughts about either having it commercially hauled by trailer (the boat did not come with one) or bringing it up the ICW (245nm) myself and crew. I appreciate any thoughts or input.
If you have the time to make the trip by water, and if you have a reliable motor, by all means do it. It will be an adventure that you'll not regret. You could do it leisurely at 25 miles per day, in ten days, stopping in time to relax, freshen up, and enjoy dinner in a nice restaurant.
A bimini would be very helpful by providing shade. On a long sail, I wear long sleeved shirts and long pants for sun protection, and a tilly hat. Then you only need sunscreen on your face, neck and ears, and perhaps the back of your hands.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind" previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22 Past Commodore
Keep in mind that most sailboats that have a destination end up mostly motoring unless you get lucky with the wind and wind direction. I second the very reliable motor.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
Much of the ICW makes motoring necessary--finding and staying in the channel is often challenging enough without worrying about points of sail, and the boat and barge traffic in general isn't amenable to tacking or giving way to people who do it when everyone is trying to stay in the "movable" channel.
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Ya, some friends of mine stored their C-30 at home on a trailer--had it professionally hauled to them. A winter storm took a tree down, and......
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Marty, Now that the storm has mainly passed, have you heard how she looks? I hope all is well.
There are definite pluses and minuses to traveling in the ICW. The good news is that for many segments you get to choose whether to go inside or outside. Inside, you'll mostly be motorsailing, but if you choose to go outside, you can sail. Things to consider outside are: > what are conditions like in the inlet? > what are wind and sea conditions like outside on the Atlantic? > how far to the next port or marina? > what does the weather forecast say?
Inlets facing the ocean can be very tricky depending on tidal currents versus wind. Last week I was sailing with a friend and wind versus current made wave conditions about 2-3X worse in the inlet than on either side.
The good news is you can decide en route.
Bruce Ross Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032 Port Captain — Milford, CT
I am still up in Charleston and the boat is in Florida. My brother-in-law lived about five minuted from the boat but has not been able to get over there since Saturday. They have lost power and have trees and power lines down, so it might be awhile till he can get over there.
I want to thank all for the trip suggestions and the well wishes< i will let you know how she fared.
After Sandy it took 4 days to clear the roads up to my Marina. With out power meant no traffic lights so every intersection was a free for all. I fully expected that the boat was going to be in a pile of other boats. To my surprise there it was sitting in her slip just as I had left her. Happiest day of my life. The only damage was to flooding of the buildings and 4 boats that had been hauled and had fallen of their stands. Storm Surge had jumped the bulkheads and flooded the area so the stands sunk in the dirt. The marina crew kept the docks from jumping over the poles thruout the storm. My hats off to those guys. Crossing my fingers that you have the same luck.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
I live part time in St.Simons, up the ICW from Fernandina Beach and have traveled this part of the ICW several times as well as the outside route. You must have good charts, the GA section of the ICW has several known trouble spots regarding shoaling and other hazards; shoals also extend to the outside away from the coast for several miles in parts; they all can be dealt with if known. May I suggest the active captain app or the cruisersnet.net website to read up on those.
several sections are an easy day trip on the outside apart, weather permitting of course. Fernandina Beach/St Mary's to St.Simons is one of them, both have excellent, deep, well marked channels and you can practically hug the coast (you still need charts there)
Hilton Head to Charlston is a similar short 'hop'; St Simons to Savannah / Hilton Head would be a longer stretch on the outside, longer than a day sail for sure; do not consider using any of the other inlets, they require local knowledge and with IRMA re-arranging things on and off shore I'd be double careful.
with a new boat and new (to me) engine I would be hesitant to do this trip without the towing insurance from either boat-US or tow-boat (prevalent in that area); I would look around your area or in F.B for a trailer to borrow and haul it up I-95. Good Luck, whatever you choose.
You could talk to some boat dealers down there about possible rides from haulers that have delivered boats to them. Any kind of revenue on the return might be preferable to a "deadhead."
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
contact Dunbar Yachts in St.Simons (912) 638-8573 they are the Catalina dealer for GA and SC, they may know of a hauler. or walk the marinas in your area, look for a C25 or similar and start chatting- not all owners are members here; there are trailers out there; the 'fin-keel' part is the tough one.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.