Myrtle Beach to Charleston SC by ICW

[Saltcat]

I want to make this trip and stay over a few days in Charleston. Can anyone give me any advise? How long, difficult to navigate. Have a 25ft center console. Any help will be appreciated.

[cheoah]

Very easy. Check out Cruiser's Net for recent nav info, dredging, bridges, etc.

Waccamaw River is deep and scenic, good anchorages. Santee region is also very nice. Cape Romain is beautiful, spend some time gunkholing around there if wild coastal settings and oyster beds are your cup of tea.

Check out some of the guides from guys that regularly post here, hopefully they'll chime in. It is a nice section of the southeast coast, and overall very easy to pilot with basic skills, charts and guides.

[Waterway Guide]

Yes, very easy trip, and about 125 statute miles in protected water (except Charleston Harbor, perhaps), depending on where you're starting and ending exactly. However, Don't expect that you can just blast down there the whole way full throttle...allow for plenty of extra time. The Waccamaw is gorgeous and should be a pleasure. Still pretty, but a little more arduous in the narrow channels the rest of the way. Be especially careful of shoaling in the last cut through Isle of Palms, expecially at mile 450...when in doubt, take it slow (and be in doubt a bit!). A good charting GPS, a good guidebook (hint), up-to-date info from our website and/or others, and a chart or chartbook will keep you in good water. Don't forget the tides and current are significant, although much more so for slowpokes like me and deeper draft vessels. Have fun and be safe!

[redsky49]

Originally Posted by Waterway Guide

Yes, very easy trip, and about 125 statute miles in protected water (except Charleston Harbor, perhaps), depending on where you're starting and ending exactly. However, Don't expect that you can just blast down there the whole way full throttle...allow for plenty of extra time. The Waccamaw is gorgeous and should be a pleasure. Still pretty, but a little more arduous in the narrow channels the rest of the way. Be especially careful of shoaling in the last cut through Isle of Palms, expecially at mile 450...when in doubt, take it slow (and be in doubt a bit!). A good charting GPS, a good guidebook (hint), up-to-date info from our website and/or others, and a chart or chartbook will keep you in good water. Don't forget the tides and current are significant, although much more so for slowpokes like me and deeper draft vessels. Have fun and be safe!

"Be especially careful of shoaling in the last cut through Isle of Palms, expecially(sic) at mile 450"

The entire stretch from the Isle of Palms Marina south to the Ben Sawyer bridge - Day mark 117 to 120 - is challenging due to the many creeks that cross the Waterway. It is difficult to "intuit" your way through this area. Best to transit at high tide and use caution. On the other hand, you have a shallow draft vessel so you have less worries than many other mights.

Enjoy your trip. Drive slowly to enjoy the scenery. Charleston is superb.

[Kettlewell]

All excellent advice above. My one addition is to note the sudden change when you get into the wide open waters of Charleston Harbor, with the potential for big ships, numerous channels, many and confusing markers for the first-timer. It is worth it to plot out a course or two and study the harbor before you cross. If you're going to the city marina keep in mind the very strong current through the marina--takes planning and careful maneuvering.

[Saltcat]

How long would you allow from Georgetown to isle of palms. May try to stay there. I put my body in at 544 bridge in Socastee

[Saltcat]

[QUOTE="Saltcat;1199057"]How long would you allow from Georgetown to isle of palms. May try to stay there. I put my boat in at Socastee hey 544.

[Saltcat]

[QUOTE="Saltcat;1199057"]How long would you allow from Georgetown to isle of palms. May try to stay there. I put my boat in at 544 bridge in Socastee.

[Waterway Guide]

It's about 50 statute miles from Georgetown to Isle of Palms.