How hard? Barnegat Bay, NJ to Charleston

Sadler

Sadler

Member
Nov 29, 2006
907
Live in Western NC, boat in Charleston, SC
Boat Info
2005 Nordic Tugs 37 FB
Mercury RIB dinghy with Honda 2 hp 4 stroke,
sold: 1997 290DA,
Engines
Cummins QSB 380
I hate to post this since it's such a long shot, and it's more than I should spend, but I've found what may be a very good buy on a lightly used Cummins diesel 420da near Barnegat Bay, NJ, and I'm wondering how hard it would be to drive it home vs. having it shipped. If you've seen my Bahamas trip post, we'd use part of the Bahamas trip time to getting the boat home. The obvious solution is to remove the arch and have it trucked, but it would be a great adventure to drive it home. The leg from Norfolk I'm familiar with, but the leg from Barnegat Bay to Norfolk is unknown to me. Is this too risky for a mainly ICW boater?
 
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right weather conditions....piece of cake. Wrong weather conditions....pisce of SH*t.

Not much of an answer I know, but With a 420 even in questionable conditions the trip is doable. You have the "outside option" taking the Ocean to Norfolk of if conditions dictate, up the Delaware to the C&D canal and then down the Chesapeake to Norfolk. Either way..great trip.....and you get to help OPEC big time!
 
Sadler,
I'm not sure if 420 sits much higher, but 320 and 340 don't require arch to be taken down for transporting. I had mine delivered at the end of 2007 from FL to NJ. All I had to do is to take props and everything form the arch off. With proper trailer setup and proper permits it was doable.
Although, I can't help you with local knowledge of that leg (I never went thast far south by water) I'm sure it's very doable and interesting trip. I don't consider lack of local knowledge a show-stopper. I've done it many times, just like many of other members. With proper home work, proper equipment and some tips from board members you'll be just fine. The only thing is, new boat (to you) and new water ways makes a bit tricky combination. Not to mention the trip cost (fuel, slips fees, food and everything else). Depending on your mechanical skill level and the condition of the new boat you can determine the best approach.
Hope it works our for you. Let us know your progress.

Alex.
 
Have you estimated the cost of having it shipped versus the cost of the fuel you would burn if you piloted it on down? If it were me I guess I would do that first and then try and decide if I wanted to spend part of my vacation on the ICW or on my Bahamas trip instead. With me in particular I think the Bahamas trip would win out in the selection process. :grin:
 
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I've not gone that far south, but three of my neighbors have, and they keep trying to get me to go....this J-O-B thing keeps getting in the way though.

Anyway, as far south as Norfolk should be a relatively easy cruise. I would do as Frank H suggested, especially as it would be a maiden cruise for you. Go up the DE and then down the Chessie. There are plenty of folks here with plenty of local knowledge to help you along the way.

I'll assume you're talking midway in the Barnegat Bay, Toms River area. I would suggest the ICW to Atlantic City, and then the ocean south from there to the Cape May area. From Cape May, go through Cape May Canal and into the mouth of the DE. The DE can get nasty, but that 420DA can easily handle anything upto small craft warnings. Go up the DE and then through the C&D canal and into the Sissy part of the Chessie... I think those guys don't grow hair on their chest until they go under, or over, some bridge they talk about...grow hair...yeah...maybe I should go up the Chessie too....back on topic....and then to the tip of VA.... South of VA, others here can help I'm sure....

From Barnegat Bay to the Tip of VA, taking the route I just described, should be a 3-4 day trip..... taking your time and enjoying the sites. You could cut a day off, but unless you have to, I'd enjoy the ride.....

I'm up here in the area and if you need anyone to go take a peak at the boat, just give a shout....and good luck...
 
4 years ago, when fuel was "cheap" I had to move my 370 DA from Morehead City, NC to NJ for a relocation. I did the math on running her on her own bottom vs shipping and it wasn't even close. Shipping was about 1/2 the cost.
 
J Levine said:
4 years ago, when fuel was "cheap" I had to move my 370 DA from Morehead City, NC to NJ for a relocation. I did the math on running her on her own bottom vs shipping and it wasn't even close. Shipping was about 1/2 the cost.
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I would agree that this is about right. I did my math and it was similar. The only problem, there're always surprizes. My trocking company messed up with the schedule (they sent wrong trailer the first time around and I had to wait for a different one to come back from North) and I ended paying about $1,500 in storage fees. In my case broker and marine with travel lift were 2 different paries.
With all the BS I went through, if this wasn't an end of November, I would consider taking her home by water.

Alex.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I've gotten a couple of quotes to truck a 410 from the Tampa area--similar miles--and the shippers said the arch had to come off; same will be true with the 420 I assume. Cost to truck was about the same as the fuel to get home--a few thousand. Fuel to get home here might be a little less, since it's a straight shot vs. going around the Keys. I don't have the cost to remove/replace the arch. So all it all it's probably close to a wash after you add in the arch removal to shipping and the slip fees to the driving. The point of using vacation time for Bahamas vs. trip from Barnegat Bay is a good one probably, particularly for this time of year and Frank's comment about the impact of bad weather.

Wisest thing may be to ship to Charleston, get accustomed to the boat, get the boat fitted out with spares and tools, and then start taking trips. May miss my time window at work though for trip south.
 
I bought mine in Monmouth Beach, NJ and cruised it to the Potomac River (stone's throw from Hampton and Norfolk) and up to Washington, D.C so I can tell you about that part of the trip. It is a great trip to take if you have the time to enjoy it.

We took off from Monmouth Beach, rounded Sandy Hook and ran on the ocean (dolphins danced around the boat for several minutes at cruise) to Atlantic City where we stopped for lunch. The marina there is a sight to behold and a fun place to stop. After lunch we cruised to Cape May and spent the night at one of the large marinas there. The next morning we fueled up and headed across the Deleware Bay to the C&D canal. The Deleware bay is a beautiful ride and you should enjoy it as long as the wind stays under 15-20 knots.

Once you reach the shelter of the canal it is a little slower going because of the no-wakes (bidges) and the commercial traffic. We spent the night in Annapolis which is a great old sea-faring town. Lots of great places to eat and small shops. A number of great marinas and plenty of fuel (important for the next leg of the trip). The next day was the long run of the trip from Annapolis to Washington DC. Running down the Chesapeake is a nice ride as long as strong winds are not coming out of the South.

The key for this part of trip is the wind coming from the South. If it is really strong, you will burn a lot of fuel getting to Norfolk. If it is light or from any other direction, the bay will be very easy to get along with. There are a number of marinas which you can stop at on the way down if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Depending on the time of year, I would much rather make the trip and enjoy it rather than truck the boat. Trucking has gotten a lot more expensive than it used to be. If it is half the cost, I would rather drive the boat and bring some friends.

-John
 
I'm a big fan of running the boat on its own bottom. I've had my share of NIGHTMARES with shipping companies... let me know if you want the horrific details. In addition, I see all too clearly how the crews put the arches and electronics back on. It's VERY difficult to get everything back to the point where you can't tell it's been removed. I've yet to see one, even after multiple attempts, that looked factory.

If you're worried about your experience, an experienced friend or well-researched / recommended delivery captain is an inexpensive option. All that way, you get to enjoy the boat, create memories, and get that experience you're asking about.

As for details about that particular trip... I don't go North of Charleston, ever. So, there are others that can speak more directly to the details.
 
Sadler, I love that trip. Like they said cake if weather cooperates. Cape may to Norfolk 8-9 hours, Norfolk to Bellhaven NC 10 hrs due to bridges,Bellhaven to Wrightsville beach 9 hrs on a poor day, w.beach to charleston 7 hours on outside. 4 days lots to see, I wouldnt take the arch off or truck a large boat. take the ride, couple tanks of fuel. great memories
 
From Atlantic City to cheseapeake isn't bad at all as long as the weather is OK. We made a run like that with a small craft advisory still in effect (with a group of boats) and I wouldn't do it again. Of course the size of a 420 would make it an easier run than our 280. In your shoes, I would take the boat down as long as I had spent time aboard making sure all is in order. It may cost you a thousand dollars more, but you will have a great story to tell - no story with a shipping truck. I would not take a boat I just picked-up for the first time, unless I really knew the previous owner and trusted him to be truthful about any issues the boat may have that would cause me to get stuck somewhere...
 
Sadler,
You are making some of us jealous just thinking about both trips. Just a thought. It sure would be nice to hire a captain for the trip to your home port of Charleston working out the kink in the new boat before you start the southern leg of the trip and the crossing to the Bahamas. What is it that Captain Ron said "If anything is going to happen, it is going to happen out there on the water" (Grin)
 
osd9 said:
....I'm up here in the area and if you need anyone to go take a peak at the boat, just give a shout....and good luck...
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Thanks Dominic. I may just take you up on that if this thing gets farther along. The boat supposedly has a [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]full Passport Premiere warranty with upgrades till July '08[/FONT], whatever that means. (You can tell I'm not accustomed to this much newness.:grin: )

I'm gathering the facts now about both approaches--trucking and driving the boat to get the added cost of getting it to Charleston. Then I'll decide if it makes sense to put that much money in a big big toy. However, I must say that after reading all these replies, I'm drooling over the idea of driving it down if I move on this thing. Paul, a captain is a good idea. Not sure what they charge. 4 days might break the bank. But it sure would be relaxing.

The boat only has a couple of hundred hours--just enough to shake out the weak areas, so maybe it'd be a good mechanical risk for the trip. Maybe this year's Bahamas trip will morph into an east coast grand tour. Spend some extra time up the canal, etc., stop and see some of the CSR folks up that way. Hmmm....
 
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No problem at all... I'm pretty sure I know exactly what boat you're considering. If the story is something like...."The owner has two boats, this one and another boat in florida and he's back and forth, etc, etc..."....then I've actually looked at that boat. Either way, just let me know, I'm only a short ride away from where the boat is.

If things go well and you end up with the boat, and you need a place to dock it for a week or two, you can tie it up behind my house.....just leave the keys on board and the tanks full...:grin:....but honestly...you'd be welcome to tie it up if you need....
 
osd9 said:
No problem at all... I'm pretty sure I know exactly what boat you're considering. If the story is something like...."The owner has two boats, this one and another boat in florida and he's back and forth, etc, etc..."....then I've actually looked at that boat. Either way, just let me know, I'm only a short ride away from where the boat is.

If things go well and you end up with the boat, and you need a place to dock it for a week or two, you can tie it up behind my house.....just leave the keys on board and the tanks full...:grin:....but honestly...you'd be welcome to tie it up if you need....
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Thanks so much for the offer Dominic. You guys are making this toooo easy....:thumbsup: Must calm down. Must act rationally. Must not be hasty.
 
Sadler said:
Must calm down. Must act rationally. Must not be hasty.
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We are talking about "itis" and "newness" here no such thing as acting rationally.:lol::smt043:lol:
Just figure out a way to get the admiral on-board and it is a done deal.:grin:
 
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