IWC from Wrightsville Beach to Charleston

[Sea Path 44]

If the ocean is kicked up, we're going to go inside next Friday (Sept 24th) from Wrightsville Beach, NC to Charleston, SC. Our 44 Sedan has 42" draft. Any input on areas that may give me problems. Shoaling, bridges (I know the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge is only opening during high tide), other? Thanks.

 

[Hellman Huddle]

If the ocean is kicked up, we're going to go inside next Friday (Sept 24th) from Wrightsville Beach, NC to Charleston, SC. Our 44 Sedan has 42" draft. Any input on areas that may give me problems. Shoaling, bridges (I know the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge is only opening during high tide), other? Thanks.

You'll be fine from Myrtle Beach all the way to Charleston! Enjoy the trip! If you need some good anchorages let me know.

 

[JimT]

I've done the trip several times in a sailboat with a 5.5' draft and had no problems with depth. The depth around Little River can get shalllow at low tide and there can be alot of traffic in that area waiting on the bridge to open. We stayed in Coquina Harbor overnight and found the lowest depth of the trip in the marina itself. That was the one place I touched bottom.

 

[NCBoater]

Should be fine. Heading south of Southport, best to travel on rising tide. Some low areas along the way you also have a floating bridge, can't think of the name just east of the Little River Inlet that will stop operation at low tide. Thus time for a rising tide if you can and you should have not problems.

 

[Sweet Dreams]

Stay far out from the point in Winyah Bay just east of the hwy 17 bridges at Georgetown. Some shallows all in the bay but just stay in the channel. May hit some pluff where the Santee Rivers feed in at low but is passable. Have a great trip!

 

[Sea Path 44]

Thanks.... Been years since I've gone inside. Usually can go outside from Wrightsville Beach right on down to Miami but with the Atlantic churned up/Hurricanes, I'm just going to mosy down the ICW. I hear Myrtle Beach is now loaded with dock, so I'm planning a two day trip to get there....

 

[rbryn]

We just made the trip from WB to Myrtle a couple of weeks ago. For that small part of your trip I'de tell you.

1. avoid dead low tide +/- 2hrs for sunset beach - although it will open at low tide in some conditions, on spring tides it won't be able to. It opens on the hour for non-commercial traffic.

2. the waterway through the inlet area of Ocean Isle inlet is well marked and as long as you go *strictly* from marker to marker while crossing the inlet area you won't hit the shoals there. but be cautious, if you are off course on the ocean side of the waterway by about 100ft' there is a shoal that isn't noticable as you tranisit the inlet. At low tide it's about 4ft

3. from there to little river bridge it's smooth and painless. Then from little river bridge to just south of barefoot landing is an area that can get narrow and has underwater rocks. - just stay close to the center at the narrowest part (right behind the airport) and you'll be fine.... Barefoot landing marina (not the resort side) is charging $1.50/ft for transients. Just stayed there a few weeks ago.

 

[Sean]

Hi from Myrtle Beach. Exercise caution at the Lockwood Folly inlet and the Shalotte Inlet. Just stay center channel. Just past the Little River Swing Bridge is the notorious "Rock Pile" . The channel is narrow and there are rock ledges on both sides. When you reach Barefoot Landing just past the N. Myrle Beach Airport, the going gets easier. Just stay center channel the whole way. I like it better at low tide when I can see the rocks. Hail for "ANY COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC" . If there is any barge traffic, pass with extreme caution ! My home port is "Grande Dunes" marina. Its a lovely stopping point.
Bon voyage ! Sean (Ciao Bella)