florida bound

[Gettsea]

I am making my first trip to florida from
connecticut. Looking to get my 50 foot powerboat there as soon as possible, any info would be helpful, anyone who's made this trip send feedback. thanks

[skipmac]

Made the trip a few times. Assume you have looked at the charts?

Many of the decisions on when and what route will be weather dependent.

From CT down LI Sound you will transit the East River and Hell Gate. Check current before you go. LI Sound fills and empties through the East River and the Race on the other side and current can top 5 kts at times. Also the East River west of Roosevelt Island closes occasionally when a big wig visits the UN but I think the east passage is open BUT there's a 40' draw bridge on that side.

From NY you're outside on the Jersey Shore until you reach DE Bay. You can go all the way up DE Bay to the C&D Canal, all the way back down the Chesapeake. Do it for the scenery if you like but it's shorter and faster outside again to Norfolk.

Norfolk south you have the ICW so you can travel the inside if it's blowing. But unless you're brave (or foolish) and experienced you will not want to run ICW at night so longer transit. My luck I always hit bad weather at Hatteras so go inside from Norfolk to Moorehead City then go outside again.

From Charleston south to FL line all the harbors and inlets are very long channels from the ocean to inside, like 15-20 miles so you waste a lot of time trying to harbor hop that stretch. I usually jump straight from Charleston to Jax or Brunswick.

From there south you can go inside or outside but from Palm Beach south you run the gauntlet of bridge after bridge.

[skipmac]

By the way, dozens of members do this trip regularly and answered the same question in great detail in previous discussions. Play with the forum search and you should find enough reading to keep you buzy for a couple of days.

AND

Get the books. Waterway Guide is excellent. Skipper Bobs "Anchorages on the ICW" is handy to keep at the helm. It follows the ICW mile by mile with details including all the bridges by name (almost necessary to raise them on the radio to ask for opening) and in order as you go.

Also check the Waterway Guide, Notice to Mariners, etc for updates on stuck bridges, shoaling, etc.

[boatpoker]

Primer for First Timers on the ICW

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Gettsea

I am making my first trip to florida from
connecticut. Looking to get my 50 foot powerboat there as soon as possible, any info would be helpful, anyone who's made this trip send feedback. thanks

The fastest way to get your boat to FL is to run it on the ocean, 24/7 and only come inside for fuel. I don't think that would be a fun trip and if money is no object you could hire a captain and crew to deliver the boat for you.

Personally, I would take the inside except for the New Jersey part and enjoy the trip. It would take me between a month and two months but I would enjoy every minute of it.