The Rock Pile - ICW. any advice?

[theodyssey]

fewer things have given me more vapors than the thought of making this stretch in two days.

I've read as much as I can.
am hoping going in the off-season will help.
plan on VHF-ing the hell out of it up to the start.

but anything else?

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by theodyssey

fewer things have given me more vapors than the thought of making this stretch in two days.

I've read as much as I can.
am hoping going in the off-season will help.
plan on VHF-ing the hell out of it up to the start.

but anything else?

Yes- don't hit the rocks!

Seriously, hundreds of boats go through there each year and very few have a problem.

Calling on the VHF for concerned traffic (tugs and barges) is a good idea. Staying in the middle and not pulling over for someone to pass is another.

I went through there several times at higher tides and never saw the rocks. Go through at low tide and you can see and avoid them.

[Waterway Guide]

Originally Posted by theodyssey

fewer things have given me more vapors than the thought of making this stretch in two days.

I've read as much as I can.
am hoping going in the off-season will help.
plan on VHF-ing the hell out of it up to the start.

but anything else?

+1 on RWidman’s comments. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting a tug/tow in the section, so piece of cake each time I’ve done it. You can tell by the markers where the channel edges are, so pay attention to that. If you’re really worried, you might want to transit at very low tide when you can see the rock shelves. Happy cruising!

[capt-couillon]

Good idea checking traffic. Regular traffic out of Youngs Island 2 or 3 mornings a week. They usually announce on 16 before making transit, and take around 45 min or so. Much prefer to hang out at the top of the pile and wait as usable channel is narrow in spots and the barge string is not.... Other than that, a place to stay awake, but not to loose sleep over

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by capt-couillon

Good idea checking traffic. Regular traffic out of Youngs Island 2 or 3 mornings a week. They usually announce on 16 before making transit, and take around 45 min or so. Much prefer to hang out at the top of the pile and wait as usable channel is narrow in spots and the barge string is not.... Other than that, a place to stay awake, but not to loose sleep over

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All good advice in my experience. An AIS receiver can also help to keep track of large commercial traffic.

[Cadence]

I'm making the assumption the rock pile is the Charleston jetties. It is no big deal. Pick up the buoys past the end and sail in. Dynamite hole in the south jetty can be squirrely with the tide running. Not recommended for someone not use to it and it may no longer exist.. If you have a concern about traffic you can probably get the harbor pilots on the radio.

I wouldn't worry about it.

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I'm making the assumption the rock pile is the Charleston jetties.

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Incorrect assumption. The "Rock Pile" is a stretch of the ICW near Myrtle Beach where the main channel was blasted out of solid rock leaving abrupt ledges on each side of the channel. Since the ledges are underwater at most tide ranges, they are mostly invisible and quite dangerous to boats even slightly out of the channel.

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=icw+rock+pile

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by wayne.b

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Incorrect assumption. The "Rock Pile" is a stretch of the ICW near Myrtle Beach where the main channel was blasted out of solid rock leaving abrupt ledges on each side of the channel. Since the ledges are underwater at most tide ranges, they are mostly invisible and quite dangerous to boats even slightly out of the channel.

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=icw+rock+pile

Sorry! Thanks for the info.. I had never heard of it, having lived just 100mi. south of Myrtle Beach for the last 50 years. All my wondering has been south. Actually for years up on the ICW just inside of Bull's Bay.

I'll keep following it just out of curiousity.

At least once every few years, some idot, seems to nail the jetties. Which is a big rock pile.

[SeaSon]

Went through with much fear this past spring. No big deal. Stay in the middle of the channel and use an electronic nav system. Follow the advice on Active Captain, and if you can overlay their POI on your charts, you are so far ahead of the game you could stop worrying yesterday.