St Petes to North Carolina

mquiet

mquiet

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2009
1,500
North carolina
Boat Info
1999 480 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Caterpillar 3196
Hi CSR, I need wisdom from the group. I am looking to bring boat from Tampa/St Pete to NC in February. I could use any input in regards to how long I can run each day (from point to point), marina's to stay and diesel fuel prices, as well as areas of concern due to shallow spots. Also I would be interested in inlets that are easy to enter and exit. This way if I get a good day (hard in February) I would like to run outside the ICW. Again any advise would be greatly appreciated as this is my first long run, stress will be high, and I would like to not shine the bottom.

Thanks for the help.
 
The boat is a 480 sedan Bridge (hope I did not just jinx myself). Crew is three adults, all can pilot/captain. I know weather and seas are variables, but they need to be considered only from context of modification and alternatives. I think I need a basic schedule and then I can build variables into it. I hope I am making sense.


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Day 1: st. Pete to Fort Myers City Marina. They have very good fuel prices and it's walking distance to many restaurants. Your in the heart of Ft. Myers
Day 2: Travel across the state to Stuart or further. If you leave around 7am you will probably get to Stuart around 3 pm. You will need to traverse thru 5 locks. Then you can decide if you want to go further. Capt. Hiram's in Sebastian is a fun stop. Shallow water but you won't have a problem. The docks aren't great but they have a big beach bar restaurant with tiki huts and live music.
Day 3: Sebastian to St. Augustine.
Day4: St. Augustine to Hilton Head, SC
Day 5: HH to Beaufort, NC if your going that far or to your homeport.

This is just a recommended itinerary and gives you a general idea of potential ports each day and how many days it will take. Certainly you can shorten each day and hit other ports.

Go to waterways guide and active captain to check fuel prices. They can vary quite a bit so do your research. I can tell you on the west coast ft. Myers City marina is probably your best best with discounts if your a boat US member. Ocean Petroleum in Brunswick , Ga. Is where you will probably find the cheapest fuel.
 
cod, I question your day 2. 150 plus miles across Florida with 5 locks in I day. I did this trip a few years ago. Ft Myers to Clewiston seemed like a full day.
 
Alls I can tell you is I've done more than once. I left ft. Myers at 7:00 am and made it to Stuart at 4:00pm. We decided to put a couple more hours in and went to Sebastian. In November, I just did the reverse. I left Sebastian around 7Am, fueled in Stuart (30 minute stop) and arrive at the Ft. Myers City Marina at 6pm. Long day yes but easily can make the crossing to Stuart .
 
Last edited:
cod, thanks for the info, as I will be helping Knot Quiet on this trip.
 
I've made it from West Palm Beach, to Stuart, across Okeechobee to Ft. Myers then up to Boca Grand in one real long 18 hour day. Leaving before daylight, we made it to the Stuart inlet at dawn, then began refueling at Boca at 8:30PM in the dark (slowest fuel pump in the Western Hemisphere!). I have also had times when I couldn't make it across the lake in one day.

It is do-able but it all depends upon the boat you are in, its range, the competence of your crew, how much traffic you have to deal with and how many of the locks you have to wait on. I might also add that Lake Okeechobee has some lime rock in the bottom and right outside of the marked channel so be aware and pay attention to your course every minute......wandering out of the channel will have an expensive outcome. Do your homework and enjoy the trip - is a great experience.
 
Slower than gravity fed fueling? I won't mention names but there is a fuel dock in St. Augustine that is all gravity and I can't imagine a pump slower than that.........
 
Just about that slow. They do not have high speed pumps or nozzles, and the fuel is piped up hill from about 400 ft. away. Had we known, we would have stopped for fuel Ft. Myers since we only needed to get to Clearwater to refuel before crossing the Gulf.
 
JimT said:
HH to Beaufort NC would be a very long day.
Click to expand...

Yes and not doable on the intracoastal in daylight. Marina stops on the AICW would be either Wacca Wache Marina, Osprey Marina or Barefoot Landing Marina. Another option if you are running outside is to stop at Southport, about 85 NM less travel
 
dcpringle said:
Hey Cod, What does it cost for you to run from LI to North Myrtle, SC, any idea???
Click to expand...

I'm guessing around $4,000 (November fuel prices) It cost just about double that to get to Naples Fla. Myrtle is around the half way point, give or take. The good news is as you know fuel continues to go down. It's probably close to .50 cents less since I made the trip in the beginning of November. At that time I felt like I was getting a great deal, compared to summer prices I was paying in NY. It's probably around 1,300 gallons. I may have more accurate info on the boat but this gives you an idea.......
 
I second that HH to Beaufort NC would be a REAL long day and maybe not possible at all... plan another stop in there somewhere. cod had some good suggestions for the extra layover.
 
cod said:
Day 1: st. Pete to Fort Myers City Marina. They have very good fuel prices and it's walking distance to many restaurants. Your in the heart of Ft. Myers
Day 2: Travel across the state to Stuart or further. If you leave around 7am you will probably get to Stuart around 3 pm. You will need to traverse thru 5 locks. Then you can decide if you want to go further. Capt. Hiram's in Sebastian is a fun stop. Shallow water but you won't have a problem. The docks aren't great but they have a big beach bar restaurant with tiki huts and live music.
Day 3: Sebastian to St. Augustine.
Day4: St. Augustine to Hilton Head, SC
Day 5: HH to Beaufort, NC if your going that far or to your homeport.

This is just a recommended itinerary and gives you a general idea of potential ports each day and how many days it will take. Certainly you can shorten each day and hit other ports.

Go to waterways guide and active captain to check fuel prices. They can vary quite a bit so do your research. I can tell you on the west coast ft. Myers City marina is probably your best best with discounts if your a boat US member. Ocean Petroleum in Brunswick , Ga. Is where you will probably find the cheapest fuel.
Click to expand...

My trip back from Sarasota was similar, though not identical to Steve's. We were;
Day 1-Sarasota to Ft. Meyers City marina
Day 2-Ft. Meyers to Ft. Pierce
Day 3-Ft. Pierce to St. Augustine
Day 4-St. Augustine to Charleston, SC
Day 5-Charleston, SC to Beaufort, NC

just a slightly different way to make the same trip. Good luck.
 
This info is great. Please keep the specifics coming. Frank thanks for the heads up for the Lime in the lake. That is a good to know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Oh, and Lake Okeechobee was possibly the filthiest waterway I've ever crossed and that includes the East River.....
 
cod said:
Yes and not doable on the intracoastal in daylight. Marina stops on the AICW would be either Wacca Wache Marina, Osprey Marina or Barefoot Landing Marina. Another option if you are running outside is to stop at Southport, about 85 NM less travel
Click to expand...

Georgetown is a good option for an overnight with marinas, fuel and good restaurants. Plus, you can change your inside/outside plans depending on weather.
 
St. Pete- Ft. Myers City Marina...call ahead and ensure reservations. You will come inside at Boca Grande pass.

Ft. Myers- Ft. Pierce...5 locks to navigate that operate from 7a-7p...get up early and try and make Franklin Lock (1st. one) as close to 7am as possible.

Ft. Pierce- St. Augustine City Marina...good days ride unless you want to stop in Port Canaveral and see me...I would blow right by Canaveral weather permitting. Current moves in Augustine

St. Augustine- Charleston City Marina..Hilton Head is weather alternative

Charleston- Masonboro Inlet or come in Cape Fear and come up Snow's Cut

Up past Wrightsville or to your destination

have done this route so many times, I would want to do it in reverse just for a change of pace

PM me for specific details if needed...Warning, those dang Yankees have filled up Florida so the key word is to call your next marina destination at beginning of each day to secure your slip. You can always call back and courteously cancel if alternative is necessary.

I give you much credit for asking instead of heading out with the unknown.

Capt. Rusty
 
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