Belleair Beach to Baltimore a 30 day adventure

[Ididntdoit]

That's a great picture of you both together. That one should be framed for your house.

Doug

Did Buddy take it?

 

[Ididntdoit]

That dog toy looks very familiar.

Ya - but it has wings.......

 

[Alex F]

BD,

I have to agree "....For the stats at 1750RPM- 25MPH, at 2000RPM- 30MPH...." and burning 46GPH at 30MPH is very economical for such a big yacth. Even though my performance numbers are more economical the price I pay is that I cruise slower. Being in cruising range at 30MPH is very fast for the boat of this size, IMO.

Few days ago I was talking to a friend with large DA gas boat and he burns 45GPH running 28-29MPH. He's looking to upgrade to something along the 480DB line, so your numbers will attract his attention, in very positive way.

 

[Big Daddy II]

Day 31 We departed Southport at 8AM (early for us) and exited the ICW at the Cape Fear Inlet. We ran in the ocean for about 30 miles in 2 foot seas to the Little River Inlet north of Myrtle Beach. Here begins a long no wake stretch, but if you stay outside you won't see the beautiful Waccamaw River and must backtrack if Georgetown is an intended port as it was for us. I stopped for fuel, @3.70 in Little River, and got just 228 gallons but I couldn't resist the price. In NC, I paid 4.30/gal. Total to date- 2882 gallons. We will leave early for Hilton Head, the route almost entirely in the ocean, weather permitting.

 

[Big Daddy II]

Day 32 We departed Georgetown and traveled down Winyah Bay to the Atlantic. We cruised offshore the 120 miles to Hilton Head. The conditions were perfect and the water was almost glasslike. We will stay and relax for an extra night at the Harbortown Marina in Hilton Head. The temperature has really changed since leaving the Chesapeake where we were using the heat and the water was in the upper 50's; now it feels like we are in Florida, with air temperature in the upper 80's and water temperature in the upper 70's. The resort only charges 2/foot for dockage unlike the big resort on the southwest coast of Florida(South Seas) where they are charging 3.00-4.50/foot.

 

[Big Daddy II]

Day 33 and 34 We spent Sunday "playing" in Hilton Head. No trip up the intracoastal would be complete without this location. Had a great steak dinner at the Harbourtown Grill overlooking the famous golf course. We left Monday morning and headed outside to a very uncomfortable Atlantic. It was only a 15 knot wind but 4 foot waves right into us with spray coming over the bridge. We lasted about an hour in this before exiting the ocean at Wassau inlet in Georgia and using the ICW the rest of the way to St. Simons. The Golden Isle Morningstar Marina is nice but 2-3 miles from town, so we didn't get a chance to explore this beautiful area. We will leave in the morning for St. Augustine. The scenery is beautiful in Georgia, but there is so much zig-zagging in the ICW you are adding many miles, so if the Atlantic is tame this is a perfect area to go outside.

 

[Big Daddy II]

Day 35 We departed St Simons about 9AM and headed south on the ICW at dead low tide. Saw something we don't see too often-the marine police ran aground on a shoal.. Luckily they warned me that a marker was missing or I would've joined them high and dry. We stopped in Fernandina Beach for fue,l getting 346 gallons at a reasonable 3.53/gal-I got 200 gal in Hilton Head for 4.27. Some of these guys are making a huge profit on us boaters. We arrived at St. Augustine Municipal Marina at 3PM. What a great location, but there are swift currents running through the marina-no problems with a bow thruster. Tomorrow we are going to have a long day-all the way to Stuart if possible.

 

[Big Island Lifer]

Thanks again for posting!

I look forward to seeing your updates everyday. Are you sure you can't extend your trip so I can have some more great reading and dreaming?!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Searaybio270]

I agree with everyone. Your trip has been wonderful for us as well. Your stop at Harbourtown/Hilton Head and to stand on the golf course makes me envious. I have a son who is a PGA pro and should him your post. He said he now understands why I got into boating. Couple of more years and I plan to make the same trip from the Chesapeake to Florida.
Keep posting and if the next trip your dog doesn't want to go call me. LOL!!!

 

[MrFL54]

Day 35 We departed St Simon about 9AM and headed south on the ICW at dead low tide. Saw something we don't see too often-the marine police ran aground on a shoal.. Luckily they warned me that a marker was missing or I would've joined them high and dry. We stopped in Fernandina Beach for fuel getting 346 gallons at a reasonable 3.53/gal-I got 200 gal in Hilton Head for 4.27. Some of these guys are making a huge profit on us boaters. We arrived at St. Augustine Municipal Marina at 3PM. What a great location but there are swift currents running thru the marina-no problems with a bow thruster. Tomorrow we are going to have a long day-all the way to Stuart if possible.

If you guys get hungry try Harry's across the street from the marina. Excellent food and the outside patio area is nice too. Lot of really goor resturants down town but stay away from Santa Maria just south of the Marina. Never had a good experiance there. Saw you guys boat on the way across the Lions Bridge. Wanted to stop in and say hi but was late for a meeting. Love your thread and keep posting pictures along your trip. Thanks

 

[floriduramax1]

Very cool pic of the dog on the wave runner..lol Welcome back to Florida waters...and the HEAT!!!

 

[Big Daddy II]

Day 36 We left St Augustine at 8AM needing to travel 225 miles to Stuart, so we used the ocean route. It was relatively calm early but the seas picked up with the afternoon sea breeze. We entered the Ft Pierce inlet and did the last 20 miles in the ICW, proceeding to Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart. News about the Okechobee waterway is it now only opens at 9AM and 4PM on both of the outside locks due to the extreme low water level. It is impossible to make it all the way through in that time frame, so we will find some place along the waterway to stay. It's do or die tonight for the Lightning.

 

[Big Daddy II]

Day 37 We left Stuart at 8AM in order to get to the 1st lock(St. Lucie) by the 9AM opening. Its a good thing we got there early as there were 9 boats and that filled the lock, with the next opening not until 4PM. The Ocean Yacht next to me at the Stuart Marina is Wayne Hunzeinga's- he also owns the marina which is 1st class. The navigation depth of the lake is now 4.21 feet which means I should have less than 6 inches under my props. Well I bumped coming into Clewiston. I don't think I caused any damage, but a 50 Sedan Bridge going the other way bumped also and had to pull the props. In a few weeks the lake will be impassable unless we get some significant rain. We arrived at the last lock at 5PM but the last opening was at 4PM so we are staying at the Franklin Lock Marina and RV Park. We have the marina to ourselves and it costs just $24. We will leave at 9AM when the lock opens and make it home to Belleair Beach tomorrow afternoon.

 

[dicor]

Great trip.....Thank You for taking the time to share it with us....All I have to say is 'Where we going next?' I'm packed and ready to go!

 

[Big Daddy II]

Day 38 We arrived at the Franklin Lock at 9AM for its first opening along with 1 other boat westbound. There was a large sportfishing boat heading to the east coast that draws much more water than I do, but he was going to have a towing service pull him thru the shallow spots as the minimum navigation depth is now 4.1 feet. I guess its a lot cheaper to do that than go around the Keys or damage the props on grounding. We had a bit of excitement around Captiva when the generator alarm sounded and shut down. I climbed into the engine room and noticed raw water leaking around the pump and determined it was just a broken clamp. I have a nice spare parts kit with lots of clamps so I just replaced it and we were on our way in 15 minutes. We had a nice cruise up the Gulf coast but I could go only 26 mph as I experienced vibration above that speed. I had a slight grounding in Lake Okeechobee and hit a crab pot in Albemarle Sound so I slightly damaged a prop. All in all, very few problems for a trip of this magnitude. For the stats we traveled over 3000 miles on 190 engine hours burning 4200 gallons of fuel in 38 days. This Sea Ray performed like a champ. Other than the fuel, it is not an expensive trip as the marinas averaged $100/night. If we did it again, I would probably take all summer and include New England. There are just so many nice spots to stop along the east coast but we couldn't do them all. Any real serious boater must consider a trip like this someday. Have a great summer and pleasant boating- Big Daddy-

 

[Turtlesboat]

AWESOME thread. thanks for sharing your trip. Sorry to read about a little prop bending, but you covered some serious ground. I say that was one successful trip.

 

[CAMELLA]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I hope one day I can do the same. You have the 48DB on a boat lift, that must be some lift!

 

[Alex F]

BD,

Thanks so much for taking the time and sharing your trip with lots of great pictures and other helpful info. I'm glad you made it home safe and sound. What a trip. I'd love to do it some day.

You mentioned about Towing Service for shallow spots that will assist another boat. Can you explain how that works? I never heard about it other than an option of being escorted by CG or SeaTow. Does the Towing Service just tow with intention that if you hit the bottom the damage is minimal since the props are not spinning and you just being "dragged" through the surface or do they use something to elevate the boat allowing more depth?

Cheers,
Alex.

 

[Gunn]

Glad you had a great time on your trip. Followed your every update and really enjoyed reading about it. Thanks for sharing!

Tom

 

[douglee25]

Very nice trip! Thanks for sharing.

Doug