NJ ICW Current Status?

[John E3]

My nephew's been studying the NJ ICW and getting feedback elsewhere, but I figured it can't hurt to ask here too. It's not sounding great to him.
We are running his newly acquired 1929 50' Elco from Toms River to Kent Narrows sometime next month. While some might already have chills thinking about that in this boat, I grew up on an identical boat and probably logged over 1000hrs behind the wheel. He was a toddler when it was last run before haulout and eventual sale. He and his late father (my brother) lamented for years that they could not afford the restoration cost and stood by as it was hauled away. I was equally sad. A new era has begun with this purchase.
So to the point, it sounds like there are some really questionable spots along this route, especially south of Barnegat inlet and in the "west canal". This boat draws 3ft, so should not be a major concern, but 3ft looks questionable on Navionics charts. Obviously running outside, weather permitting, makes clear sense. But my father and a close friend of his (who had the same boat back in the 70's, but upgraded to bigger Trumpy's over the years, and is a commercial captain out of Baltimore) both are pushing for the ICW for a very specific reason - If anything goes wrong you can stand on the hardtop till BoatUS shows up. Not so outside.
Ironically we never ran the ICW when we went north, "back in the day"! But our boat was much younger back then!

Anyone have any firsthand, or maybe secondhand, comments on the current conditions of the NJ ICW?

 

[Alex F]

My nephew's been studying the NJ ICW and getting feedback elsewhere, but I figured it can't hurt to ask here too. It's not sounding great to him.
We are running his newly acquired 1929 50' Elco from Toms River to Kent Narrows sometime next month. While some might already have chills thinking about that in this boat, I grew up on an identical boat and probably logged over 1000hrs behind the wheel. He was a toddler when it was last run before haulout and eventual sale. He and his late father (my brother) lamented for years that they could not afford the restoration cost and stood by as it was hauled away. I was equally sad. A new era has begun with this purchase.
So to the point, it sounds like there are some really questionable spots along this route, especially south of Barnegat inlet and in the "west canal". This boat draws 3ft, so should not be a major concern, but 3ft looks questionable on Navionics charts. Obviously running outside, weather permitting, makes clear sense. But my father and a close friend of his (who had the same boat back in the 70's, but upgraded to bigger Trumpy's over the years, and is a commercial captain out of Baltimore) both are pushing for the ICW for a very specific reason - If anything goes wrong you can stand on the hardtop till BoatUS shows up. Not so outside.
Ironically we never ran the ICW when we went north, "back in the day"! But our boat was much younger back then!

Anyone have any firsthand, or maybe secondhand, comments on the current conditions of the NJ ICW?

I've used the ICW quite a bit. But never south of Atlantic City. Since I draw about an extra foot and the amount of bridges I'd have to deal with, it was never worth the trouble. Quick run out of Absecon Inlet for 30 miles to Cape May was no brainer, and you're back inside.

Step 1. Make sure to get your charts updated, including mobile version. Not sure what you're using but mobile version is super convenient and cheap.

Step 2. Make sure to configure your App to see Active Captain hazard markers.

Step 3. Read and study all the comments people made. Even though now the Active Captain is far from how good it was back in the day. But you will still get a good idea of where the trouble spots are. I've posted a lot there, not sure how much is still available. It's been a while.

Step 4. Between Barnegat Inlet and Atlantic City stretch, go during mid to rising tide.

From TR down to route 72 bridge is a walk in the park, plenty of water. Then just south of the bridge the channel gets shallow. As I recall, the famous trouble spot is by R116. Then the intersection of the ICW and the channel heading out to the Little Egg Inlet. Study the charts to make sure you know exactly which markers you need to follow. It might get confusing, especially for newbies in the area. That's how folks get in trouble. If you're not sure, go slow and/or stop and get oriented.

Few years ago, due to weather conditions, a friend had to ran from Cape May down to AC on the inside and said it was doable. So, I can't tell you stay away from it, just make sure you study the area. Call SeaTow for questions if needed.

Stay away from Little Egg Inlet. It's been officially closed few years back. It was local knowledge only and easy to get in trouble.

If the weather allows, just go outside Absecon and jump back in at Cape May. Follow inside through the canal and take D-Bay to C&D canal. Take the shipping channel to keep you away from any surprises "parked" just outside of it. In any case there's plenty of water and very easy to navigate. Study the chart as the Cape May canal had shoaling close to ferry port. Probably by now it's fine, but double check.

Once you're out in the D-Bay, no issues with depth all the way to Kent Narrows. Of course, as you're getting closer, study the chart for understanding the local channels. If recall it was quite zigzagging with some shallow spots before getting in.

 

[John E3]

Alex, Thanks for the great tips. I have forwarded this chat link.
My nephew, Ryan, has outfitted the boat with new electronics, I think Garmin is his preference. There's a good chance he's connected on apps, too. And SeaTow is already part of his plan. The yard is making good progress on the work, but no firm date for relaunch. Ryan is pushing hard to keep it under 2 weeks out to avoid too much drying out. He found a local captain that will be running a bigger wooden boat down at the end of Oct, but that's after our 'deadline' to make the Sultana Downrigging event in Chestertown. Ryan secured himself a prime slip at the event, next to Pride II.

The boat was owned by the same family for 50+ yrs, the father and my father were part of the Port Elco Club, my father being a charter member from '69 (IIRC). They joined a few years later. We had our Elco tied to their dock a few times over the years, back then. The son took ownership when the father passed, and had been in regular contact with my father for many years, although it waned of late as my father is somewhat limited in hearing and mobility now.

I'm sure Ryan has already discussed the waters of the area with the seller, in detail. My last run down the coast, outside, was from Pt Pleasant to Chesapeake City on a 1888 Lawley Cutter, seas were good, but wind was not favorable. I don't think I/we have ever run inside, aside from Manasquan to Barnegat when stopping at their dock. '76 return from NYC - a tornado chased us out of NY Harbor, and it took 7 grueling hrs to make Manasquan. The log book is water stained on this page, and says 9ft seas. We had my father on watch, myself on 1 throttle, my buddy on the other, and the Baltimore Captain I mentioned above at the wheel. Slow to idle, nose dive into a gully, and repeat, for 7 hours. Visibility was near zero, fog horns in the distance, and 1 very large sailboat appeared out of the fog, passing a few hundred feet ahead. There was no forecast warning of this sudden change in weather. We still talk about it! Ironically the boat held tight. The run up to NYC, IIRC, had a surprise for us, too. Coming out of AC (?) just after sunrise, dead calm, and near the end of the inlet a trough appeared out of nowhere and we 'fell' into it. Scared the crap out of us! I'll have to see if the log mentions that.
Ryan runs his 37ft Sea Ray through the Narrows pretty frequently, so no issues there. He's in Piney Narrows currently.

We had a dinner with my father & wife, my sister & husband, Ryan and his little girls last Friday on Kent Island. I brought along the Log Books from our cruising days, reminisced about trips gone by - NYC July 4th 1976 and the Dismal Swap Canal ('77?) especially (FYI, Kitty Hawk bay was barely navigable and the marina was abandoned when we arrived!). The DSC is at the top of the list of repeat trips, hopefully before my father is unable to join us. I was left behind (along with my sister) when they ran to Montreal for Expo '67. I still don't forgive them! We did Worlds Fair, '64 I think, in the previous Elco, a 1922 38' Cruisette, and cruised to Flushing Bay again after NYC in '76. We also went to Conn in '71 or '72 and had an entire parade of big Elcos pass by the last living Elco engineer's waterfront home. The 38ft Elco also made it to Mystic CT, pbly during the World's fair trip.

Ryan's txting me now, he's still reading log books! He's got an autoroute setup and studying it closely. Inside to Absecon, outside to Cape May. Sea bass season started yesterday, and it sounds like that means lots of boats in the 1-3 mile off shore range.

 

[brewster16]

I've run the ICW to Cape May many many times. The toughest water is just south of Ocean City NJ. If you simply don't run through at low tide, stay in the channel and go slow you will not have any problem. As previously stated you can stay outside conditions permitting.

 

[John E3]

Follow-up - Yard work took too long and everyone that had planned to go on the trip couldn't make it, but the weather turned perfect just in time for him to head out and make Downrigging in Chestertown. He left Toms River solo, headed out Barnegat, ran to Cape May without a hitch, almost got swamped (in a 50ft boat) by an ahole huge fishing boat in the inlet, continued thru the Cape May Canal, and arrived safe at Schaeffer's in the C&D canal. Met up with family friends and ran the next day to Chestertown.
I got back in town late that Sunday and we ran down to the Narrows the next night. Picture perfect as long as you didn't look north. As we came around Eastern Neck the waves quickly hit 4+ft and 20+kn winds. 20 min abeam with that, then following sea into the entrance channel.
Winds again on the beam trying to get in the slip, 3 tries and we made it into the wrong slip just as the downpour started (under a shed roof). That was only his 3rd time docking this boat.
That brought back memories of being chased out of NY Harbor in July of '76 on an identical boat, by a freak tornado. 9 hrs of hell to Manasquan. The log book can't begin to describe that trip! My father, in his prime, could dock his boat in pretty much any conditions, without even a scratch. Ryan will be there one day!

 

[Yendor]

Good read, thanks for posting all that.

Any pics of this Classic and nearly swamped, fifty footer?
You know we want to believe this really happened.

 

[John E3]

Good read, thanks for posting all that.

Any pics of this Classic and nearly swamped, fifty footer?
You know we want to believe this really happened.

My nephew, Ryan, in his 50ft 1929 Elco, Liberté, the boat that this thread is about, was nearly swamped by a massive fishing boat in the Cape May inlet. It blew past him and the swell was so large it turned him into the trough, and rolled an estimated 60 degrees. It has only a 12ft beam, and a round bottom. It does not take that much to roll it hard. He believes the stbd prop came above the water surface. No pic as he was alone, and more interested in saving the situation than taking pics.
Attached is it at the dock in Chestertown, sorry it's the best I have at the moment. The masts in the background would be Pride of Baltimore II, Sultana, plus others. "back in the day" with my fathers Elco, we watched them build the original Pride at Baltimore Inner Harbor. Ryans Elco came with a signed, by Gov Schafer, book of the original Pride. My father may also have a copy. We traveled with Liberté under the previous owner, for many years (again "back in the day"!). As a matter of fact, Liberté's dock was where were headed in the above noted July 76 event.
We are all excited to relive some of those travels with him. My father at 87 was able to get on board in Chestertown, but has not been out on it yet. He has serious mobility issues, but we've gotten him on our Sea Ray a few times, so far.
The white deckhouse was varnished Honduras Mahogany on my fathers, and Ryan intends to take this one back to varnish. It's been painted for over 50 years.

 

[John E3]

Oh, and he sold his SR 370SB to buy this Elco (plus a bag of money!). He was looking for a Hatteras 53, or similar, but couldn't help himself when he happened upon this Elco. We knew it was still around, but was not in Ryans sight at first. My fathers Elco was on the hard since the early 2000's for a new bottom. His health didn't allow that, and it was sold to Macmillin Yachts in RI in 2020. None of us was in a position to take it on. They will restore it for hire.... starts at the bottom of 7 figures depending on the deal. Ouch.

 

[Yendor]

That picture was what I was hoping for.
Didn't know what a '29 Elco would even look like.

He will have his work cut out for him. When I was a kid I helped my step-father restore a couple of old Chris Crafts. The pre 59s were double planked Mahogany. I will say that coats of paint are easier to remove than that dead wood under long neglected varnish that was never maintained. The only thing worse than that, is finding it under the twelve coats of paint you just removed.

It is quite rewarding work though, as long as you get plenty of before pics.
If you don't, nobody will believe what you started with.

I've really learned to love 'glass in the years since.
Again, very cool.

 

[hughespat57]

Gorgeous classic.

50 Elco Liberte' 1929 Brick | Denison Yacht Sales

"LIBERTE" A CLASSIC ELCO 50 FLAT TOP MOTOR YACHT 2001 JOHN DEERE 150 HP DIESELS / 730 HRS / NICELY RESTORED! 3 STRM / SLEEPS 7 / 2 HEADS / COMPLETE GALLEY *****CARED FOR BY THE SAME FAMILY FOR NEAR 50 YEARS***** READY ...

www.denisonyachtsales.com

Since 2001 repower engines 720 hrs and genny 488 hrs barely broken in.
good luck with her.

 

[John E3]

The listing is a bit optimistic! Ryan had 2 weeks of hull work & paint done before he left, plus he did thru hull fittings, hoses, bilge pumps and float switches, wiring fixes and more.
Attached is my Fathers Elco, around '73 or '74, me in the middle and Ryans (late) dad on the right.

 

[techmitch]

So cool! What was that "wagon"?

 

[John E3]

That picture was what I was hoping for.
Didn't know what a '29 Elco would even look like.

He will have his work cut out for him. When I was a kid I helped my step-father restore a couple of old Chris Crafts. The pre 59s were double planked Mahogany. I will say that coats of paint are easier to remove than that dead wood under long neglected varnish that was never maintained. The only thing worse than that, is finding it under the twelve coats of paint you just removed.

It is quite rewarding work though, as long as you get plenty of before pics.
If you don't, nobody will believe what you started with.

I've really learned to love 'glass in the years since.
Again, very cool.

I grew up on and around wooden boats. My last one was a 1962 28ft CC Constellation. 1 owner very solid, but pretty much untouched since new. We restored it to new, WL up, but then the original bottom reached a point of no return. The double bottom lasted into the 60's. My '62 and the 'family' runabout, 1957 17ft Runabout had identical bottoms. Fir pywood inside and Mahogany outside with canvas and linseed oil between.

 

[John E3]

So cool! What was that "wagon"?

Somebody's Family Truckster!
This was at Worton Creek Marina.

 

[techmitch]

Somebody's Family Truckster!
This was at Worton Creek Marina.

Wow, circa?

 

[Morgan Jane]

Once you get to Kent Narrows, if you go in the North entrance thru the narrow channel, be very careful if you happen to come in at Low tide. It got down to 3ft and my props bumped the bottom a couple months back. No known damage. I was doing 3 kts at the time.

 

[John E3]

Once you get to Kent Narrows, if you go in the North entrance thru the narrow channel, be very careful if you happen to come in at Low tide. It got down to 3ft and my props bumped the bottom a couple months back. No known damage. I was doing 3 kts at the time.

Ryan's been through there many times in the last 2 years, so he's familiar. This trip was the first time on the Elco, which is probably a few inches shallower than his SR. He put Sonar on the Elco, so we watched the bottom the whole way. Not sure where the tide was at the time, but no depth alarms. We did have 3-4 ft waves on the stern, but managed to match speed and ride them in. There are currently 2 buoys in the middle of the channel. We assumed they were marking some shoaling and navigated accordingly.

FYI, There are some very interesting holes in the bottom in the Chester river. Now I want sonar on my SR!