We got another running north....

Ok, a little planning can really help sometimes, but where is the adventure in that?

So, last night I planned on going until close to sundown and just pulling over to the side of the ICW and anchor off...Simple plan, right? What could go wrong? Well, where I attempted to do it was before Jacksonville and I couldn't find and deep water outside the channel. I'd pull over and then right outside the channel the depth alarm would hit...

So, that "plan" was failing fast and so was the sun....Not the best to be on the ICW in the dark, because, well, it's dark.... So I put her up on plane fast and moved to the last spot on the chart I could see that maybe was wide enough and deep enough to anchor out. So I get there before the sun goes down and drop the anchor and she won't hold. The current was swift......Crap..... BUT- At least I wasn't a plane out of fuel, right?.....

So, thinking about what to do I see a marina and what appears to be condo buildings across the river. So I said, "screw it" I'm going in there and I'll tie up somewhere.... So I pull in and there is a great face dock with just enough room for me to fit perfectly. As I'm coasting into it I see a guy on his cabin cruiser a couple of boats over with friends. I asked for assistance with my lines and they were great... I had like six people helping with lines, turning the boat around so I could leave early the next morning, etc., etc.. Super nice people when I told them my story. They told me sure I could tie up there and not to worry. It was great meeting such friendly, helpful people. They turned a bad situation into something great, and I have a new friend in the "adversity"..... BTW - that was Harbortown Marina.

=====

So cut to today, I headed outside because the the report I looked at said 1-2ft from the east...... Nope, it was the worst run I've had so far. It was 4-6' with a few 2'-3' from the north.... So I was taking it pretty much head on....Brutal...I heard noises I don't like hearing... Anyway I have picture if I can get enough time to see if they came out. I also took video but not of the worst stuff. .... We'll see if it comes out. I probably was running a bit too hard and pounded more than I needed, but I had to hit Hilton Head...

It was so bad the vanity door in the bathroom ripped out and the I found the door in the shower with the glass shattered..... Yes, it was bad...

I'm tired....

Not sure if I'm outside or inside tomorrow..

I'd like to make Charleston but who knows right now.

Good night - Thanks for the support -
 
Weather predictions have been horrible at best lately. They have said 1-2 foot seas for the past two weeks. Many friends who have ventured offshore for cobia have been pounded. 4-6 easy. Sorry to hear about the damage. HHI to C-town in the ditch should take 5-7 hours, depending on how hard you push it.
 
You are right Chris. I spoke with some other boaters that got caught outside in the conditions I experienced yesterday. A sport fish guy said he was taking water over the bow....Forecast isn't always correct....

Thanks for the offer Bill. I think I saw your marina as I passed. I just got such a late start and didn't decide to run in the ICW until I pulled out of the marina.....I wanted to go outside today.

I Made Charleston....... Tagged Rusty (Great seeing ya Rusty).....He's it now....... Somehow I think he will pass me again.

Long day on the inside. South Carolina ICW is windy, and out of Hilton Head a lot of no wake zones.... I thought I would make Charleston at about 11pm at the rate I was going.... Later I was able to kick it up and make good time.... The currents through some of the passes are real interesting.

...Did I mention this is a holiday weekend....Every boater is out and people are "boatapalooza" on every sandbar. Makes for an interesting trip when you're trying to make time....
 
You are correct. There is one particular stretch that if you have the current with you, all is well, but if you don't, you really need to push her just to keep speed.

Don't forget, we really like pictures...
 
I'm still here Bill.....

Hey guys I pulled off the road to visit friends in Oriental. I'll report back when I get on the move. Prob. Tues....

Chris, the area I think I was talking about is Fenwick Cut. It had 3'-4' rapids running through there. My boat had no problems, but the small boats would almost disappear behind the wave action. I thought they were crazy to run through the area. One wrong move and they were swamped. There were 10-15 small boats going through at the same time I was. I was huge compared to them. It seemed like the currents were colliding. I think I was fighting it and I'm happy I was. If I was going with the current, it would have difficult to not run up on these small boats

I'll try and post some pictures tomorrow. I do have some video which I'll work with once I get back.
 
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Boat Guy said:
I'm still here Bill.....

Hey guys I pulled off the road to visit friends in Oriental. I'll report back when I get on the move. Prob. Tues....

Chris, the area I think I was talking about is Fenwick Cut. It had 3'-4' rapids running through there. My boat had no problems, but the small boats would almost disappear behind the wave action. I thought they were crazy to run through the area. One wrong move and they were swamped. There were 10-15 small boats going through at the same time I was. I was huge compared to them. It seemed like the currents were colliding. I think I was fighting it and I'm happy I was. If I was going with the current, it would have difficult to not run up on these small boats

I'll try and post some pictures tomorrow. I do have some video which I'll work with once I get back.
Click to expand...
That's great. By the way. I finished up the install of the Alpine UTE-52BT today. Fabulous unit. Although its Bluetooth sucks for marine use, but I'll just continue using my wonderful Miccus for that capability. Thanks for your help with that.
 
On our last trip to C-town we were fortunate enough to get the Tornado warning about 2/3 of the way there. If not for the radar, we would not have been able to tell where we were in the ICW. It was that bad! We were running between two storm systems for an hour or so, and then they both collapsed on us. Always interesting...
 
Be careful, there's some skinny water heading north to Oriental.
 
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