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17-04-2021, 10:03
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cruise Full Time on East Coast
Boat: Hunter Legend 40
Posts: 70
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
We have made several trips with a 5'6" draft and while we have bumped many times on the logs that line the bottom it was never anything too bad, just don't be surprised.
It is worth staying the night at the visitors center, up to a dozen boats raft together, and walking across the canal to the park and walk the boardwalk through the swamp.
Have fun
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17-04-2021, 10:16
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Punta Gorda, Fl
Boat: Endeavourcat Sailcat 44
Posts: 3,179
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Be careful of the fixed bridge at the south end. Though it is nominally 65 feet the last time I went through the light fixtures were not that high. The boat behind us with a "64" ft mast scraped off their anchor/tricolor light and wind vane on the light. I scraped off my wind vane on a tree while dodging a floating log.
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17-04-2021, 11:26
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Michigan
Boat: Morgan 381 38 feet
Posts: 85
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Go to bob423 on Facebook. Someone just did it and posted about it.
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17-04-2021, 13:26
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#19
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Lived aboard & cruised for 45 years,- now on a chair in my walk-in closet.
Boat: Morgan OI 413 1973 - Aythya
Posts: 8,472
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
I would avoid the Dismal Swamp Canal during mid-summer due to the biting flies, but it's pleasant for most of the year. The welcome center at the NC/VA state line has great fresh water at the north end of the dock and makes for a good overnight stop. People often raft up two or even three deep as this dock only accommodates about three boats at the face. Elizabeth's Dock, just south of the Deep Creek Lock is another comfortable stay and not far from a grocery and a few casual restaurants. This is also a great place to hide out during a tropical storm.
We most often selected the Dismal Swamp over the Virginia Cut when cutting the distance from Beaufort, NC to the Chesapeake.
__________________
Take care and joy, Aythya crew
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17-04-2021, 14:11
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Northern NSW Australia.
Boat: Adams/Davis 35ft 7in. Custom. 2007
Posts: 585
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Great memories of that place. We went through 31 years ago in Nov when our son was 3 months old. We had 6ft 8in draft. We knew we'd hit stuff but probably survive. It was a real adventure. Hit 116 times different objects and got stuck solid once in about 5ft but a friendly powerboat pulled our mast over and dragged us sideways. At the southern end after the canal we anchored for a night in solid weed and our Siamese cat jumped in as she thought it was solid. We had a great video of a green cat standing on a submerged log...... she was not happy. They told us before we went through that the level was low and maybe 5ft 6. The canal closed after that as they were waiting for rain to fill the swamp. Everyone was super friendly on the East Coast, we did have a bright finished wooden boat, young child, crazy cat and strange accents though..... and no heat!!!!!!It was cold at night.
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17-04-2021, 16:36
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 236
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Great trip-you can do it. The white cedars (junipers) that grow along the Pasquotank River ( heading north out of Elizabeth City) are magnificent. As another poster has said, the horseflies will make you scream from mid May on.. if you can carry or tow a dinghy, a trip into Lake Drummond is well worth the effort.
Enjoy
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17-04-2021, 17:15
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#22
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Kent Island Md
Boat: Catalina 42 2001
Posts: 35
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Did the DSC last Fall ( October ) going North. I draw 5 ft. " bumped" 4 - 5 times on the way through. path was 6- 7 ft most of the way but at time up to 10ft . Assumed they were drowned logs . Nothing serious but surely disconcerting. The DSC is surely worth doing once for sure
__________________
Bayboy
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17-04-2021, 18:20
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#23
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Boat: CD25
Posts: 115
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Just curious on the speed limit when transiting.
I would imagine now it is Spring why hurry!
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25-07-2021, 17:02
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#24
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Deltaville , Va, USA
Boat: Caliber 40 LRC
Posts: 25
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Sorry for the late reply.
I really enjoyed the dismal swamp run.
We were northbound, and departed the Elizebeth City , city slips at 0645.
We were making about 6 kts though the day. Only 2 or 3 boats with us through the locks.
We did “bump” over a couple of logs on the bottom since our draft is around 5-5. ( hauled the boat for bottom paint and just a slight Knick ,)
We had to wait an hour for the lock because the swamp people had to clear a fallen tree that was blocking the way up stream. But hey it was an adventure, and if your draft allows go for it. The real shallow area is on the north side of the Deep creek lock, ask the tender, he’s got the intel. Many areas of the ditch we expiericed squat , ie bottom suction, that slowed us down to 4.5, but as soon as there was a bit more water, we got going again.
Enjoy.
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25-07-2021, 17:15
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Ontario
Boat: Catalina 42
Posts: 5
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
I wish it had a happier name. It's a hard sell to the wife.
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25-07-2021, 17:54
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Deltaville , Va, USA
Boat: Caliber 40 LRC
Posts: 25
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Just tell her you made a wrong turn when you get to the first lock,,,
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25-07-2021, 19:37
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#27
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virgin Islands
Boat: PDQ 36, 36'5", previously Leopard 45 cat and Hunter 33 mono
Posts: 1,345
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Quote:
Originally Posted by SV Norma Mae
Sorry for the late reply.
I really enjoyed the dismal swamp run.
We were northbound, and departed the Elizebeth City , city slips at 0645.
We were making about 6 kts though the day. Only 2 or 3 boats with us through the locks.
We did “bump” over a couple of logs on the bottom since our draft is around 5-5. ( hauled the boat for bottom paint and just a slight Knick ,)
We had to wait an hour for the lock because the swamp people had to clear a fallen tree that was blocking the way up stream. But hey it was an adventure, and if your draft allows go for it. The real shallow area is on the north side of the Deep creek lock, ask the tender, he’s got the intel. Many areas of the ditch we expiericed squat , ie bottom suction, that slowed us down to 4.5, but as soon as there was a bit more water, we got going again.
Enjoy.
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Might do the Swamp this week. How bad were the flies?
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25-07-2021, 20:55
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#28
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,170
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Quote:
Originally Posted by colinhulse
I wish it had a happier name. It's a hard sell to the wife.
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Too bad I can't post videos here, they would sell her.
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
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26-07-2021, 03:01
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#29
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Deltaville , Va, USA
Boat: Caliber 40 LRC
Posts: 25
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Sorry, can’t say, I did it end of April. No flies or any sea strainer clogging weed at that time.
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26-07-2021, 07:47
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#30
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virgin Islands
Boat: PDQ 36, 36'5", previously Leopard 45 cat and Hunter 33 mono
Posts: 1,345
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Re: Great dismal swamp transit
Thanks for the answer. Glad you had a good time. I have done it in November, and it was nice, then, too.
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