Status of ICW

[sowwaninii]

Planning on heading south this fall on our Sabre 456 with 64’ mast height and 6’ draft from Massachusetts to Florida. Have made the trip before with the usual trouble spots and jumped outside several times. In that my first and only mate is not enthused about doing an overnight outside. I was hoping to get an update on the status of the ICW, as recent reports have suggested that bridge heights have continued to worsen and am also concerned about shoaling and debris.

[svHyLyte]

Some of the most current and reliable information on the ICW is provided by Bob Sherer ("Bob423") on his "Blog" for his and his wife's annual ICW travels from NY to Key West and return on there yacht, Fleetwing. (see "Fleetwing Blog"). Bob has become one of the editors of the Waterway Guide and self publishes an excellent cruising guide for the ICW that can be purchased via his site.

FWIW...

[SFS]

Up to date information will be critical. We went north in April, from Stuart to DC., about a week behind Bob Scherer, and his posts on Active Captain were invaluable. Coming south in July, a lot of the problem spots had changed in the intervening 10 weeks. There will be certain areas you will have to wait for mid-tide or higher, especially with a 6-foot draft. We draw 4, and had to wait in several places, though our tides were extreme due to moon phase. Do you research each evening for the next day.

If I were to do it again, I would go outside as much as possible.

[a64pilot]

Just me, but I do not like waiting for high tide to go through the problem spots, Id rather go through them on a rising tide, that way if you go aground in an hour your off, but if you do at high tide or just past high tide , your going to be there for awhile

[SFS]

Agreed. No fun running aground on a falling tide.