Just saw your post. Did you make the trip? Wish I had seen it before because we were in Gtown!

 

we did take the the trip from Murrells Inlet to Georgetown this past W/E…it was a great time…we put in at Wacca Wache Marina at Murrells Inlet Saturday around 3:00….it is a nice marina that has gated storage for the tow vehicle and trailer….it is only 18 miles by water to Georgetown so we just cruised around 10 -12 mph and took our time…we got to Georgetown in about an hour or so…the scenery along the waterway was nice…lots of old tress with Spanish moss hanging down from the limbs…we saw several eagles nest on the top of isolated tall tress….we also saw several eagles flying high above the waterway…we docked at the Georgetown Marina and stayed at the Hampton Inn right beside the marina…our room overlooked the marina and the Winyah Bay so the view was very nice, especially at sun set…that evening we took a cab from the hotel to a real nice restaurant in Georgetown called ‘The Rice Paddy’….the food (and drink) was excellent….Sunday morning we grabbed some breakfast at the hotel and took our coffee down to the dock and looked at the boats that were docked….there was a large Sea Ray amberjack set up for fishing that was raised on a lift…we also saw a relatively new Sea Ray 250 bow rider which was very nice…it had the windshield glass tinted…it looked nice but I wonder how well the driver can see out of the dark windows….then we checked out of the hotel and loaded the boat and headed down to the end of the Winyah Bay and saw the Georgetown Lighthouse…then we cruised back up to the marina and topped off with gas…while we were at the marina we met a guy who rents pontoons on the bay…he told us of a different way back to Murrells Inlet that went on some of the smaller side rivers (the Black River)…we went back the way he told us and the scenery was a little nicer….there were a lot of old rice plantations and some interesting wildlife….when we got back near the Wacca Wache marina we decided we were not ready to end the trip just yet so we cruised on north for a while in the waterway for about another hour….we got close to Myrtle Beach but not quite all the way….then we turned around and headed back to Wacca Wache marina…by the time we got the boat loaded and on our way it was around 5:30 Sunday afternoon…we had planned to stop at Murrells Inlet to eat some good sea food for dinner but we were both a little hot and sweaty and didn’t feel like stopping and cleaning up…we still had a 3 1/2 hr drive in front of us so we just stopped on the way home and got a burger at Hardees…it was a great trip…the weather was perfect (although i did get a little sunburned), the boat ran great, and we did not have any issues with the trailer…loading the boat in a swift river current was ‘interesting’….let’s just say I am glad I have strong guide poles on the back of the trailer....

 

We put in in Georgetown Sat morning and left the downtown area early that afternoon to head up the Black River to overnight at the sandbar. Its about 20 mins up. Gassed up at Georgetown Marina Sun morn and headed back farther up Black River to Dunbar area and overnnighted again there. The water gets alot cleaner and is fresh there. Loading up Mon afternoon in 20mph gusts was not easy! The Rice Paddy is our favorite. You can actually walk up to the top of the lighthouse. Our local boating group Carolina Boaters did that trip a couple years ago. We had a handful of boats, overnighted downtown so some could stay at a B&B that did not have cabins, visited the lighthouse and ate at te Rice Paddy. Then last year, us and only one other member stayed in Gtown again for the Wooden Boat Show in Oct. That was very nice as the weather was perfect and we had lots of entertainment. Let me know if you head back this way. We are always planning group trips. BTW...who and how many were on your boat? Are you from Lancaster?

 

the guy we met at the marina mentioned the sand bar but he said it is a longer route that has a lot of twists and turns and more opportunites to get lost or turned around...this being our first time we decided to take the shorter and safer route on the Black River...next time we will be more adventurous and go deeper into the side rivers...we love to camp on our boat when its not unbearably hot since we don't have AC....camping at the sand bar sounds like fun...we actually wanted to stay at the B&B last W/E but it was booked up when i called to make reservations...maybe next time...we started to beach the boat at the lighthouse and get a closer look but didn't know how close you could get to it...another thing to put on the list for next time...the Rice Paddy was full and we did not have reservations...a friend of my wife mentioned it to her as being a good restaurant...it was kind of late (8:00) when we got there so we figured some tables should free up soon...we sat at the bar and had a few adult beverages and started talking to the host and bar tenders....really nice people...the host asked us if we wanted the single isolated table in the front window since it was about to come open...we did take the table and had a great meal....we definetly plan to come back....maybe we will make it a regualr Labor Day thing...it was just my wife and i on the boat...our kids are grown and have their own familes...we have lived in Lancaster for the past 30 years....i am originally from Mooresville, NC and my wife is from Monroe, NC...i went to work for Springs Industries (Textiles) out of college in 1980 and stayed with them until 2004...i now work for National Gypsum Co (wallboard) head quarters in Charlotte, NC and my wife works for Founders Credit Union....

 

Sounds like a great trip!

 

Cliff,
We will have to get up with each other and do it again together!

 

definetly!....also keep me informed of the trips that your group takes....we can use our 215 as the 'ship to shore' transport for you bigger boats....;-)

 

Hey Cliff, your boat is not so much smaller than mine! We Carolina Boaters are all pretty much small watercraft, plus Jay likes to inflate his dingy every chance he gets.

 

Like!

 

islandhopper00...i see you are in Denver...we are thinking about camping this W/E on Lake Norman...any recommendations for good coves to camp and good waterside restaurants?...what about good ramps with good water on the south end of the lake?

we camped this past W/E on Lake Wylie and had a great time...

 

What about Lake Wateree? Don't forget us, but I'm sure you have frequented it, is pretty close to you. Give us a shout the next time you are down this way. Island Hopper's boat but may be a little smaller but he dreams of being a 260. He has already started emulating the 260 when he replces parts.

 

we consider Wateree our home lake...where are you located?....we do need to hook up sometime...we have boated there many times so far and i am sure many more times to come....we normally launch at the public access on the north end near Great Falls....we can be at that ramp in about 40 mins from home in Lancaster....we have camped a few times, usually not too far away from Beavers Creek Marina...i like Wateree...it is a good size lake and never crowded, even on holidays...the only thing is i wish there were some more marinas and at least one waterside restaurant to eat at...

a couple years ago when we were considering a bigger boat than the 18' bow rider we had then we knew we wanted to explore new lakes and cruise some on the ICW....that is why we bought the 215...it is small enough to take anywhere easily and big enough for two to camp for a night or two...and i did not have to change tow vehicles...i spent most of last year going through the boat from one end to the other fixing, repairing, replacing all that was needed and making some mods to the boat....now we are ready to start exploring new waters...last week it was the ICW...this week is was Wylie...next week maybe Norman....we are just getting started but we don't have much boating season left....

 

Sure Cliff. There is a nice ramp at the end of Unity Church road in Denver. There is a nice ramp on Hwy 73 at Blythe Landing in Huntersville, between Beaties Ford rd and Cornelius Rd. There is one at the end of Webbs road turn left follow to the end in Denver. On the North side of the lake there is a nice ramp off hwy 150 at the hwy 150 bridge. All are nice and have good facilities.

Food on the lake. South end: Rusty Rudder up Davidson Creek, Lattitude 36 closed, that's all I have been on the south end.
North end: The Landing Restruant, go under the Slanting bridge, turn to stbd, great food, old but nice.
Boat House Restruant, west of the hwy 150 bridge. Good food, nice place. In the Midway marina.
River City Marina and Restruant, above the hwy 150 bridge to stbd. White Owl and one other
there to. All good food.
There are a couple more, but I haven't been to them.

Anchoring coves. South End: I haven't ever spent the night in the South end.
North End: Cove above the hwy 150 bridge on the port side is nice. During the day people raft up there.
Cove above the State Park, hard to explain. Follow lake as if you were going to run to the dam, the lake runs to
port, but there is a finger that runs off to stbd. Take the port finger, go thru the no wake zone to the back past
the private marina, there is a rope swing, and nice anchoring area. These are the two coves I anchor in.


Well, in a quick word, that sums it up. If you can find a copy of the Lake Norman Pilot, there are maps and info about all this stuff. You might find it online also. Good Luck. I think I have to work this weekend, other wise I might be able to show you around. You can't go wrong, LKN is a great lake, but it's so dang big to just explore. Take your time, it'll be fun. Mike

 

Sure Cliff. There is a nice ramp at the end of Unity Church road in Denver. There is a nice ramp on Hwy 73 at Blythe Landing in Huntersville, between Beaties Ford rd and Cornelius Rd. There is one at the end of Webbs road turn left follow to the end in Denver. On the North side of the lake there is a nice ramp off hwy 150 at the hwy 150 bridge. All are nice and have good facilities.

Food on the lake. South end: Rusty Rudder up Davidson Creek, Lattitude 36 closed, that's all I have been on the south end.
North end: The Landing Restruant, go under the Slanting bridge, turn to stbd, great food, old but nice.
Boat House Restruant, west of the hwy 150 bridge. Good food, nice place. In the Midway marina.
River City Marina and Restruant, above the hwy 150 bridge to stbd. White Owl and one other
there to. All good food.
There are a couple more, but I haven't been to them.

Anchoring coves. South End: I haven't ever spent the night in the South end.
North End: Cove above the hwy 150 bridge on the port side is nice. During the day people raft up there.
Cove above the State Park, hard to explain. Follow lake as if you were going to run to the dam, the lake runs to
port, but there is a finger that runs off to stbd. Take the port finger, go thru the no wake zone to the back past
the private marina, there is a rope swing, and nice anchoring area. These are the two coves I anchor in.


Well, in a quick word, that sums it up. If you can find a copy of the Lake Norman Pilot, there are maps and info about all this stuff. You might find it online also. Good Luck. I think I have to work this weekend, other wise I might be able to show you around. You can't go wrong, LKN is a great lake, but it's so dang big to just explore. Take your time, it'll be fun. Mike

thanks for all the good info on Lake Norman Mike...i grew up in Mooresville but did not spend a lot of time on the lake before i moved away back in the late 70's...we have a map of the lake and i have a small GPS....as it turns out i don't think we are going out boating this w/e...we have been wanting to lay tile on our screened porch for a while and this w/e looks like it may be a good time for that project...we had actually bought all the materials in the summer but it got so dang hot we decided to wait until it cooled down some before we install the tile...