What would you do ???

Greg

Greg

Active Member
Mar 27, 2008
1,310
North Jersey
Boat Info
2003 480 Sedan Bridge
Engines
QSM-11's
We made the first few legs of our trip with no issues. picked up our new (to us) boat in Cambridge, MD. Brought it up through the Chesapeake Bay, through the C&D Canal. Then down the Delaware, which was pretty rough, like everyone said it could get. Had to slow down to 10 knots at some points. I am now in Cape May, NJ and have to get home to the lower Hudson. The forcast doesn't look great for tomorrow. But I'd like to be home for Easter.

What do you guys use for weather forecasts?

Now for the real question, if it were you, what would you do? :huh:
 
I made the trip from LI to Cape May last year. There are a few long runs on that trip with no were to hide if you have to. I think I would think long and hard about doing it if they are calling for bad weather. Just my 2 cents
 
If you doubt the boats ability to handle the condition and your ability or willingness to under go them. Get a transient slip someplace, rent a car and drive home. Come back for the boat as soon as practical.

Do not go where you are doubtful of the outcome.
 
The Delaware Bay was rough? Hmm... never seen that...

I would do what Chad said...
 
From Cape May you need to run up outside to at least Atlantic City, which is a pretty good distance. From AC you can run inside on the ICW, but it helps to have done it before, especially if you're doing it in weather. You're also running outside from Pt. Pleasant to the Hudson, which can also be unpleasant in bad weather. You can do it if you really want to, but do you really want to do it right now?

Hey Dom! What are you doin' tomorrow?
 
I've been in the same situation in the same location before. It looks like a good set of rain and/or wind is heading our way for the next couple of days.

The advise to stay put is good if you are not feeling up to it.

However, from the forecasts I just looked at (I checked a few different sources) they all seem to agree that the wind is going to have an 'N' in it....N, NE, and NW....with a small craft advisory up for the coastal areas. You can check here. So, you really should consider alternate plans.

All that said, me personally, in my boat and my familiarity with the area, here's what "I" would do. I would get up very early in the AM and give it a try. I'd let the marina know my intentions, and then head out the Cape May Inlet. If it just don't look good right from the get-go, then U-turn youself right back into the slip, and then go out for a good breakfast before you make slip and rental car arrangements. If it don't look too bad, you can make it to Atlantic City in about 2 1/2 hours at 20-23 knots, and duck in there if the weather turns. They'll have slips, but you may want to call ahead to see if they turned the water on yet...either way, fill your fresh water tank before you leave your current location. If it still looks good when you get to Atlantic City, then I'd keep on going and at least try to make it to Manasquan or Shark River inlets. From, there, you should feel real familar with your surroundings.
 
it's going to be slow going even if the weather was good. There are a lot of logs floating in the hudson. You can see them floating from the harbor all of the way to haverstraw. Be careful.
 
When in doubt, don't.

Ye, this is coming from the guy that would take a 240SD to Bimini. (Grin)

New to you boat, plus bad weather = no go.
 
Wait on the weather. You want to enjoy the trip with good memories....not just survive it.:thumbsup:
 
I was up at 4:30AM this morning......Lot's of fog, the rain has started and the winds are kicking.......enjoy the day in Cape May......I wouldn't even have tried this morning after waking to this weather.

Edited with radar:

At least the boats getting rinsed....

radarjerseycoast041109.jpg
 
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Given that you are on board with three kids and your lovely wife, I would do one of two things, put the boat in a slip and leave it until you can get back or wait for a better day. A bad decision in boating always comes back to haunt you. It looks like you will be fighting the seas heading north. Do not take that boat up the NJ Intercoastal, there are spots where the water is shallow.

Have a safe trip.
 
Thanks for all the advise, the weather let up a for a little bit, and radar looked like we had a window. We went out of the inlet to try to make it to Atlantic City tonight, then on to home tomorrow. But it was pretty rough out there, we turned around and headed back. The curent plan is to either:

a) park it for the night and try again early in the morning.

b) Try again late tonight to get to AC. Then home in the am.

c) Leave it here, and get a car to go home, come back in a few days.

I'd also like to thank Mr Salt for stopping by and checking on us.
 
according to the weather channel it looks like the rain will be letting up around 6-7PM tonight in the Atlantic City area. The winds will be letting up a little also and turning a little from the West, which should help to flatten things out a bit.....

Good Luck.....
 
Four Suns said:
Is Greg alive?
Click to expand...

Greg and his wife left Canyon Club about 10 am this morning. The weather wasn't bad here in Cape May so he should have made it home late this afternoon
 
Sorry, I am alive. Here's the story...

You already heard about the first two legs of the journey, up the Chesapeake then down the Delaware Bay. We stopped in Cape May on Friday Night when the weather turned.

We tried to go out Saturday, but it was too rough. Only 5-6 ft seas, but they were coming from all directions with a real short period. I'm pretty sure the boat could have made it, not sure about me...

After some discussion, we decided it would be best to park the boat and rent a car to go home for Easter, then come back on a nicer day. After having no luck finding a rental car in Cape May, we hired a car service to take us home (not cheap).

On the way I recieved a call from Mr Salt, he said they should have cars in Atlantic City at the airport. A quick call confirmed that, and I tapped the driver on the shoulder and changed our destination to Atlantic City International. We picked up a car and drove the rest of the way home. Early this morning, about 2:00am, we departed our house to Atlantic City to return the car and got a taxi back to Cape May. Left the dock somewhere around 10am.

The weather was much nicer today, the sun was out, seas were only about 2-3 ft. Made it home in about 6 hours. Would have been quicker, but I had to slow down a couple times to address an alternator problem. At first I thought it might just have been a loose belt, but even after tightening it the starboard voltage was dropping, even with the generator running and the converter on. I wound up jumping the two batteries together with jumper cables. Is that ok to do? Seemed to temporarily solve my issue.

Pulled into my marina for the first time, luckily there were not too many boats in yet, but I backed right into my slip very nicely.

Most of all, I'm glad you all got to read about my trip here, and not in the paper
 
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