Things We Wish We Knew Before Cruising the Intracoastal Waterway | Episode 27 Sailing Ecola

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In November, we set off on our first trip down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). While it was a great trip, there was definitely a learning curve and we wanted to share the nine things we wish we'd known before setting out that could have made the trip even better.
We've created an ICW Planning Workbook to help you better plan your day-to-day travel on the ICW. Check it out here: abroadreachtravel.myshopify.c...
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We have been living aboard our 1965 Alberg 30 Ecola since May 2020! We are so excited to be traveling on our home full time! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to see our journey!
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23 янв 2021

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Комментарии : 70

@lizmccafferty-seanachai3694 3 года назад

"slow down, enjoy the trip"..."current is going to switch...not in your favor all day"..."you will drive yourself crazy if you try to plan more than 3 days out"...all excellent advice no matter how long the cruise is. Thanks for a great video.

@woodside63 2 года назад

There are many differing opinions on cruising/navigating. Some experienced sailors told us, when we were starting out cruising, "Keep your head out of the boat!". Their advice was that electronics should be backup to the actual world around you; first, pay attention to sounds, ATONs, other boats' tracks, color of the water, etc. Over years on the ICW, we met a few sailors who cruised with only paper charts, compass and depth sounder. In our Maine-Florida ICW travel, we used a chartplotter (Garmin) and paper charts for backup and planning ahead, along with Active Captain and other online sources for info on trouble spots. With 5.5' draft, we had to call Towboat US twice in 10 years for running aground.

@spandananallapati4140 3 года назад

You guys are great. Going to go binge your videos now. We're just starting out as sailors and plan to stick to the Atlantic ICW to get our sea legs!

@terramar72delrey93 3 года назад

Great videos! Just discovered your series by searching RU-vid for items relating to the NJ portion of the ICW & watching your Episode 21. I am an older Barnegat, NJ native but long time Arizona resident since the late 1970s. I have a younger brother who works at the Pursuit Boats factory in Fort Pierce, FL which you guys went right by. I own a trailerable Albin 25 shallow draft Swedish built antique 6.5 knot pocket trawler that we have transported over the road to & cruised both Chesapeake Bay and portions of the Inside Passage among the islands of NW Washington State & British Columbia Canada. Friends of ours have a Southern Cross 31 cutter up on the Great Lakes that are planning to sail to the East Coast this coming summer to as far south as they can get, at least to Chesapeake Bay or further south if possible. Your experiences and tips are invaluable. We are looking at trailering out boat out to western NY and launching at Tonawanda near Buffalo and meet them as they get to the Erie Canal some time in the August time frame and cruise with them the rest of the way to the Chesapeake and then for us dock somewhere, rent a car or catch a ride a ride back to get our truck and trailer, haul out from where ever we end up & then drive on back home to Phoenix. Who knows, maybe we'll cross paths somewhere along the way as you make your way back north? Search '72 Terramar Del Rey" for my RU-vid postings for some of our earlier trips. We did Desolation Sound, BC in 2018, but have not put together any videos or blogs on that one. Cheers! ___/)

@user-im5cq7ow1r 9 месяцев назад

Thank you so much for the great advice. Heading out from NY in October and will be taking your advice.

@Cedandkikisailing Год назад

I really liked your recommendations and well said! Very experienced sailor here but an ICW newbie- thanks!

@williamtalmage8076 Год назад

You have about the most informative ICW vlog out there. Thank you! We are thinking about going next Oct in our 45' motorsailer. I am an over planner too but I think it will be a blast.

@AbroadReachTravel Год назад

So glad you’ve found it helpful! Best of luck with your planning! It’s a ton of fun (both the planning and the trip 😁)!

@doncummings3915 2 года назад

I first want to thank you both for the awesome advice and tips. I am retiring this year and i plan on doing the Great Loop. You made or sort of talked around the most important point...the voyage is not just about doing and completing the Loop. This is not an endurance race, but an adventure and the purpose is to enjoy and see all of these little and well known places found in America and Canada...and a large part of that adventure is the PEOPLE you are going to meet on the way...when I think about past travel adventures, they are memory marked by the people that I met on the journey, yes the sights are nice, but if it involved an event...well that event most certainly involved interacting with people and the results of that interaction, positive or otherwise will rate the fondness of that memory in your mind....the point is The Loop is about a Journey, the Loop is not the Journey....waving at people passing in a boat and drudging on endlessly mile after mile, day after day, is going to run you ragged and down if you don't recharge with rest and enjoy each and every mile of the trip...great advice and thank you...the wisdom shared made me sub in! Thank you from Canada, Georgian Bay, ON...part of the Great Loop....that is what I like about Georgian Bay, knowing I can step off in my boat and go anywhere in the world....that is freedom

@cindyrodger4867 3 года назад

This was very eye-opening! Thanks for sharing.

@AbroadReachTravel 3 года назад

Thanks for watching!

@LawrenceBroussard Год назад

Very interesting view point. I have been on the ICW near Vero Beach and that area is beautiful.

@juds2u Год назад

This is helping me with a part in a novel I'm working on where the main character is crewing a yacht delivery! Thank you!

@colinwinters2747 3 года назад

Great video guys. Can’t water for the heater install.

@craigallan8667 2 года назад

I live in Southport NC and you nailed it. We have seen a few boats have to turn around as they fight the current in the Cape Fear river. Be safe.

@yanni2112 11 месяцев назад

Saw it when I worked Bohicket Marina in Charleston SC

@hippiewithacowboyhat 2 года назад

Cute couple ! Thanks !

@waynemazan7485 Год назад

very well done.. thanks

@captnkarl4401 2 года назад

We really like the way you presented your information. Take care and safe travels

@AbroadReachTravel 2 года назад

Thank you!

@captnkarl4401 2 года назад

@@AbroadReachTravel We live in Pensacola just off the ICW and are planning our trip. Have you completed your journey?

@OldPapaBear 11 месяцев назад

Good advice. There is a tendency to over plan and rush too fast. Slow down and enjoy the stops along the way.

@deankoch7305 3 года назад

I did the east coast 2 times solo. I averaged sailing and motor sailing to one gas station to the next at an average of 60 miles a day. Of course i kept my shit bucket in the cockpit. It averaged 10 hour days. Then I wake as the gas dock opens.

@Joyjoy-or8ew 3 года назад

Would love to watch you cook a meal.

@seaonDeltaLady 2 года назад

Thanks for the useful advice! Running out of Oreos is terrible.. Y'all gotta learn how to bake bread though . So easy, and makes the boat smell great! 〰️〰️⛵〰️ 〰️〰️〰️〰️

@AbroadReachTravel 2 года назад

Thanks! I’m actually making bread today!! I love to bake but it’s just a real challenge with our stove top oven (we don’t have a real oven). I have to rewrite all my recipes to make them fit in my Omnia oven and timed for it too! But the boat does smell fantastic right now 😁

@rmf1rmf337 Год назад

Thank you for the information. Very helpful. How do I get the army Corp of engineers nav charts?

@bobsargeant9540 7 месяцев назад

What kind of heater did you get for Christmas? Could not copy from text. One must, of course, adapt to marine safety. I only have 12 volts available.

@motorv8N 3 года назад

Thanks for the tips guys. Wouldn’t have thought of grocery delivery to the ramp! Do you have videos on the specifics of tackling the ICW on a sailboat? We’d need to buy a boat for the trip and it seems to me a buck goes further on sailboat purchases than powerboats. I’m an experienced boater and comfortable piloting either but figured the hassle factor of a mast and keel would be off the charts for that trip. Maybe not?

@AbroadReachTravel 3 года назад

Thanks for watching! You’re right that you’ll get more boat for your money with a sailboat and not just from a purchase perspective but also from a fuel cost perspective. Here on Ecola, we burn about .3 gallon of fuel an hour. We used about 70 gallons of diesel from Norfolk VA to Punta Gorda FL. That is less than the daily consumption of some motor boats. But with anything in life there are trade offs and the biggest one is speed. At 5-7 knots (cruising speed for most sailboats) it’s either going to be long days or a long trip. Once you get that speed up to 10+ knots your range opens up significantly. If you get a sailboat with a 4-5 foot draft you’ll have very little to worry about on the ICW, and mast heights under 60’ are also not a big deal. Many of the bridges that you have to wait for as a sailboat you would be waiting for with many power boats. Also, restricted bridges are being replaced with fixed bridges of 65’ or more every year. We had a guide from 2015 someone gave us and there were no less than 8 bridges that were replaced since that time. We are planning a “how-to” series for the ICW this summer that will have more detailed videos on a lot of aspects of ICW life so stay tuned!

@motorv8N 3 года назад

@@AbroadReachTravel Thanks for the informative response. Everything I read references the magic 19’ air draft for a bridge in Chicago somewhere but 60’ is good news! Your advice about fatigue and rest is also very valuable for the enjoyment of the trip but also safety. When you’re tired you cut corners and make mistakes. Range, fuel burn and speed are also valuable insights. Cheers!

@AbroadReachTravel 3 года назад

For a great loop trip trip there are a few more factors to consider. You would have to step your mast for the Erie Canal, and then there is that pesky bridge in Chicago. We have no plans of doing a full loop so we probably aren’t the people to ask on that front ☺️

@francus7227 Год назад

Skip sailboat for ICW. Get a C-Dory 22. Fuel cost is low. 1 foot draft. Like a VW bus on the water.

@deanpeterson5163 3 года назад

Helpful, though I have got to believe there are more things to recommend. I liked when you cut away from just the talking to show the trip. You hinted on some people not liking doing this - what are the characteristics of those people? Any boats you saw that you thought were not appropriate for the trip?

@AbroadReachTravel 3 года назад

There are definitely more! This summer we are planning a whole series on ICW travel including blog posts to supplement videos for those looking for a deeper dive. I think the common characteristics of people who do not enjoy the ICW are those who are on a schedule and more interested in the destination than the journey. Also those who like to “wing it” seem to struggle, it takes a lot of planning unless you don’t mind running aground ☺️. The other group are those trying to squeeze boats with deep drafts (deeper than 6-6.5 feet) or really high air drafts (anything more than 60 feet). It is doable for sure, but it takes even more planning and can certainly be more stressful which takes away from the fun. I’m not sure I would rule any boat out, except if it couldn’t make it under the fixed bridges or drafted more than 7 feet. Every boat is a compromise and you just have to figure out what is most important to you. Andy and I agree that a power cat is probably the ideal ICW boat because of shallow draft, that they don’t throw a big wake, and have decent speed so you can cover miles if you want or slow down if you want.

@danielpearson6306 2 года назад

I drove a semi the legal DOT drive time of 10 hrs. Covered 700 miles a day. In my sailboat I do 10 hrs day and 50 miles a day. Off shore about 120 miles a day. By the way I sail solo. This spring sailing the ICW with a sailboat I purchased in Portland ME. I will not be stopping in cities to look around as I despise cities. They are very dangerous now.

@bosun234 7 месяцев назад

We are just starting to look at the ICW. Your video was a great starter. We are retirees on the West Coast and plan to buy a power boat up North and sell in the South. Questions 1. You talk about currents. If you had only a 6 knt boat is it easier to go S to N, or vice versa? I always thought N to S was "Downhill" 2. I gather you anchored out a lot. Are transient dock costs daily prohibitive? Obviously they would vary but did you do any dock time? Are there places you just wanted to blow thru because of cost, lack of scenery, etc...? 4. Does autopilot help on the ICW or is it a waste?

@AbroadReachTravel 6 месяцев назад

1) The current on average is with you for half the day and against you for half the day. Depends where you are in relation to inlets, rivers and the tide. N to S is technically a little more “downhill” because you travel down river more often. 2) Docks every day can get expensive. We do spend some time at marinas but in general we just prefer to anchor for our budget. There are tons of marinas on the ICW and prices range from 2-3 dollars a foot in the Carolina’s to 6-7 dollars a foot in Florida. Most cruisers make their dockage decisions based on their budget. We are definitely on the lower budget end of the spectrum 😊

@AbroadReachTravel 6 месяцев назад

3) Not really, but we do try to avoid certain places on the weekends due to traffic. 4) We rarely use our autopilot on the ICW.

@claypass8424 3 года назад

I am planning to do the ICW via Dismal Swamp to Albemarle Sound this summer. Where do you find places to anchor overnight? It looks like the canal through the swamp is so narrow.

@AbroadReachTravel 3 года назад

Hello! The Dismal Swamp is a great trip! As far as anchorages there aren't a lot of options inside the canal but just before the deep creek lock has an area you could anchor and there are a few places to anchor in the Pasquotank River. There are however several free dock options inside the canal. The first is just after the Deep Creek Lock called Elizabeths Dock, the second just after the deep creek bridge and the third is the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center. From what we understand it is a regular occurrence to have boats rafted at both Elizabeths dock and the welcome center, but when we went through in November we were the only boat on both docks. We did have to anchor for a few minutes just before the South Mills bridge because of the current and had no issues, but there is a lot of junk at the bottom of the canal that might snare an anchor. Hope that helps! Have a great trip!

@ianmankersen Год назад

Commercial towing vessels all use Rose Point Coastal explorer. If you have a way to keep an actual computer on board, I highly recommend using this for navigation. There is a mobile version but my experience with mobile was lackluster.

@ianmankersen Год назад

We work 12 shifts 24 hrs a day and average 130 miles per day. Average speed 5-6 kts. If you are ever cruising the gulf icw and meet the M/v Mary Kay please say hello.

@AbroadReachTravel Год назад

Interesting!! We will totally check that out! We love adding new tools to our belt!

@Reagae-fv3cp 8 месяцев назад

I would love to know the costs involved

@brendasteen4016 3 года назад

Would love an episode to help with dogs aboard

@AbroadReachTravel 3 года назад

We are planning one!! Anything in particular you’re looking for answers/tips on?

@mojoneko8303 3 года назад

Thanks for the video! How hard was it to find a transient slip for the night on the way down?

@AbroadReachTravel 3 года назад

We didn’t have any issues down or back up this spring. But our size does help us a lot. We are only 30 feet and 8.5 feet wide so we fit basically anywhere ☺️ We’ve heard from a few people that they had a hard time this spring and that they were having to book 3, 4 or even 5 days out but that was also during the busiest time for loopers. 95% of the slips we’ve booked have been same day or late the day before and we’ve only had an issue once. That one time the St Augustine municipal didn’t have any moorings (they booked a lot of long term moorings for the winter) but they had a slip available instead. I would say it will really depend on your boats size and draft how hard it will be because some marinas may only have a handful of slips that can accommodate anything over 40 feet.

@mojoneko8303 3 года назад

@@AbroadReachTravel Thanks for the reply! I sailed the coast of Alaska for over 25 years and have been interested in buying another sailboat and cruising the inter coastal water way from Florida to Maine. My daughter lives in Florida now. : ) Now that you are heading south where are you heading to now? The Caribbean?

@AbroadReachTravel 3 года назад

Our videos are pretty behind our real life at the moment but we spent the winter in Florida and have now moved north again. Currently in New York and headed for Maine for the summer!

@Happ465 3 года назад

Waterway Guide is also online.

@AbroadReachTravel 3 года назад

Yes and since this video was published they also came out with an app!! I do like the chart integration in aqua maps but it can be nice to have it separate as well!

@Hindukushsailing 3 года назад

👍👍✌️✌️

@TheRichardmay1 2 года назад

I drive 5-6 hundred a day 6 days a week. Sailing for 10 hrs would be vacation. I drive 3 weeks on and one week off. Boat refit fir now on time off.

@AbroadReachTravel 2 года назад

I bet it would be! You do adjust to the time at the helm the same way you adjust in a car so it gets easier but the exposure to the elements on the boat definitely adds another element you don’t get in a car or truck! Best of luck with your refit! -Gwen

@karlbass7895 2 года назад

Just discovered & watching your video now (2022). Aqua Map with its "GEC account" allows you to purchase once and run the app on multiple devices... iOS and Android.

@AbroadReachTravel 2 года назад

Yes! We have since figured out how to do that! It is very nice to have it on all our devices now!

@Johnonayacht 2 года назад

Do you guys choose just not to go offshore? As a sailor I would rather be sailing offshore then motoring inside.

@AbroadReachTravel 2 года назад

This fall we chose to stay inside the whole way. We were working on this series and we also had only bought our new boat 10 days before we started south. We used the ICW as a 6 week shake down and it allowed us to find and fix any issues before we left for the Bahamas in January. We also were traveling with friends who are on a small trawler and we wanted to stick together ☺️ Our future plans include a lot more offshore sailing and a lot less of “the ditch”.

@jean-francoislalonde6157 Год назад

Can I go down the intracoastal myself?

@AbroadReachTravel Год назад

Lots of people do! I think that’s a question only you can answer though based on your boating experiences!

@simulatedpilot3441 2 года назад

Why not get a garmin ot Simrad plotter with sonor

@AbroadReachTravel 2 года назад

Sonar is expensive! If it’s not cost prohibitive for you it’s a great tool, but totally not necessary!

@donjohnson9329 2 года назад

Sounds like its a better value than 2 ipads and a phone.

@rjwintl 3 месяца назад

Captain Dave Owens in Virginia Beach told me to keep a stainless steel Mini-14 with an extra magazine onboard just in case … I said , in case of what , he said , real modern day pirates 🏴‍☠️!! … especially in the Caribbean !!