Hi From The Carolinas and ICW Info Required

[Why Knot]

Hi fellow cruisers. I have been checking this wonderful forum for a long time and then last year a 2000 Hunter 240 happened to come available that I could not say no to. I have always sailed on other folks yachts and also need to teach my wife - A task in itself but looking forward to sharing the experience.
I need to know the approximate distance we can expect to travel per day on the ICW from Charleston to St Augustine with the 9HP outboard and sails when possible. I live in North Carolina but I will be moving the yacht to Charleston soon.
Thanks in advance.
Dale and Suzette

[haw1961]

Welcome to Cruisers Forum Why Knot. With the Hunter I would say you would make between 4-6 knots an hour. Ten hour days approx. 40-60 nautical miles. YMMV.

[skipmac]

If you aren't fighting a headwind or current about the max you will see is 6 kts. You can see currents of 2 kts at times which could add or subtract from that. Winds and waves could also slow you down.

So get's down to how early you want to start and how late you want to go before stopping for the night.

I made the trip in a 42' boat with a diesel and the best days I made about 75 miles. Some days as little as 50 miles.

[Kettlewell]

Fifty miles is a good day on a small boat.

[CarlF]

You need to first decide if this is a pleasure trip or a delivery trip. When I travel with crew, I target 60 statute miles a day. After four or five days no one is having much fun but we're making great time. Even better if we hop outside.

With my wife aboard, I plan on only 100 miles in three days, taking a full day off in each three to enjoy the sights or to sit out bad weather. This stretch of the ICW has a lot of great places to visit.

Carl

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Congratulations on your new to you boat.
kind regards,

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Dale and Suzette.

[Waterway Guide]

Welcome aboard, Dale & Suzette! If you can spare a week or two, take your time and enjoy the cruise. You may know a lot of these towns well by road, but it's a completely different experience by water...spend a day here and there. Have fun!

[AnchorageGuy]

Dale and Suzette. We have lost count of the number of ICW transit we have done. With the number of hours of daylight you have now, you can make good time. If you plan on 50 miles per day average, with some days longer and some shorter, you should be OK. Weather, bridges and mechanical breakdowns can and will delay your trip, so add that into your consideration. If possible, don't rush it and enjoy the journey. We posted some options along the way on our blog, The Trawler Beach House: Anchoring Along the Intracoastal – Norfolk to the Georgia/Florida Border . Chuck

[Why Knot]

Thank you one and all for the kind words.
CARLF we plan to do just that. We have approx 2 weeks plus to do the round trip. If we can leave earlier and get in another week we plan to stop for a 1/2 day - full day here and there. WATERWAYGUY I'm trying to cover all bases right now with the boat on the hard so hopefully no "mechanical" problems on the way. In theory right :-)
I will check out your blog, thanks
Once again, this is a wonderful site.

[NomadNorm]

Why Knot:

Alot of turns in the section between Sc and GA. If the weather window is blessed perhaps look at an outing along the coast. Could be enjoyable.

Some people are weather wise others are not.