steve97fx

Hi Everyone,

I am planning to move my boat by water from Cape May NJ to Myrtle Beach SC in the coming weeks. The marina I am heading to is Grande Dunes on the ICW. This will be my first trip heading south and am looking for advice from anyone who has made this run on course options, best ports to rest each night (nice marinas with fuel, food, etc.)

I cruise at approximately 20 knots and am hoping with good weather to run 10 hours each day. In talking with people, I understand that there are a few ways to go and want to consider all options for a safe and enjoyable trip.

Ideally I would like to run at cruising speeds as much of the time as possible and avoid too many slow areas, however also don't want to get beat up the entire trip by running outside.

Please let me know what your suggestions are in as much detail as possible! Thanks!

snakeeyes

steve, you might want to start by telling us what type of boat we are talking about is it a 55' bertram or a 12' sears gamefisherman, just kiddin, but i would think the size of your boat is a big decision maker...good luck dave

steve97fx

Dave,

I'm running a 57' Carver Voyager.

snakeeyes

you should be fine running outside the entire trip down, just wondering about your comfortable range between re-fills. you have pleanty of places to tuck into all the way to moorehead city, not sure about the amount of places to stop and fill up or duck away from weather...

steve97fx

Yes weather and wind are a concern. It's a big boat and handles the seas well, but still is essentially a cork when you're dealing with possible rough ocean conditions. Running outside as much as possible is what I tentatively plan to do, however want to also have contingencies for inside and do not have any local inland knowledge south of Cape May.

I'm looking for suggestions from people who have either made this run or part of it en route to or from points further north or south.

RumRunner21

If you are running into Murrells Inlet... make a reservation for a slip way ahead of time. They are usually very hard to book on short notice.

johndevlin3

It's a nice ride on the ICW from Bald Head NC to Georgetown SC. You'll be pleased with the resort at Grand Dunes, it's really nice marina. Once you get south of Little River stay in the center of the waterway. There are large ROCK formation around the 501 bridge, north and south of it a few miles. The rocks are all on the side of the waterway but some jet out. If your on the ICW around Holden beach NC there is a swing bridge that opens on the hour. If your there after 9pm you can hail the operator or call. There is a swing bridge at HWY 544 and Little River. Have a safe trip.

johndevlin3

Try a shrimp Burger at The Provision Company in Holden Beach. Get your fish tacos on at Docksiders in the Grand Dunes. Bumz in Myrtle Beach is a great little beach bar. Let's see... the prettiest ride on the ICW in SC is from Murrells Inlet south. You can go hang out at Bird Island, beware of the nude beach lol, and also sandy Island down south of Murrells Inlet is pretty cool.

motoryacht lover

I have made the run from the lower chesapeake to Wilmington, NC more times than I can count and have made the run from Wilmington to Charleston atleast 5 times. Also have been from upper long island sound to Hampton, Va once and did it all on the outside. I got lucky with the weather. For your first day if you can run outside shoot for Norfolk, VA. That will put you on the ICW the next day. The run south right after norfolk is a pain because of the bridges and the Lock. If you are doing the run during the week check the bridge openings in advance as they have rush hour restrictions. The Lock at Deep Creek works on the hour only. If the weather is decent you can make Belhaven, NC. I prefer the River Forest Manor a little run down but still unique. Exercise caution in the Currituck Sound as the depths will scare you a little in some places. I draw 5 feet and have no problems but you might see some 7s and 8s. Pay attention when crossing the Albemarle sound as it can get surprisingly rough. Buy fuel in Coinjok, usually cheap. Also in the alligator pungo canal stay in the middle as it shoals quickly on the sides. After Belhaven you should easily make Beaufort and again watch the weather because rounding Maw Point into the mouth of the Neuse can be tough as well. When entering the Newport River before Beaufort study your chart as the markers can be a little confusing and shoals are right outside the channel. Fill up with fuel at the Morehead City Yacht Basin right off the ICW and a good price. Also, there is cheap fuel in Swansboro (Dudleys) and at Swan Point. From there you could easily make Wrightsville Beach or Southport. South of Carolina Beach pay attention at Snows cut and South of Southport pay attention at Lockwoods Folly inlet and Shalotte Inlet where both intersect the ICW. Cruisers.net is a great resource for all the ICW troublespots. I would not make the run outside from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay south to Beaufort on the outside. It will take you through Diamond shoals and the inlets are all tricky in my opinion, I am pretty conservative with inlets. The inlets that I use are Beaufort, Masonboro, Cape Fear River, and Little River. The rest I avoid. Good luck this is a broad outline, cruisers.net will help immensly as will some other cruising quides. Also fill up at the Myrtle Beach yacht Club probably the cheapest fuel in NC and Sc. Have Fun.