Which of these boats for ICW/Caribbean?

[Scrimshaw4]

One thing to think about with respect to your routing is that if you are planning on going on down the Carribean chain it will be an upwind slog / bash from the eastern Bahamas all the way to Puerto Rico / USVI /BVI. You will be tacking into the trades all the way. You might want to get some experienced crew to help you go direct, Norfolk to the "Isalands", and do the Bahamas on the way back. Just a thought. As far as the ditch is concerned, depth vs draft (6 ft or less) and mast vs. bridge (less than 65ft), are the biggest issues.

[QuickSplash]

If you look at the Beneteau 473, and Beneteau 49/50, some of those boats were built with an ICW rig that are on the east coast. The Mast height is 62' with a longer boom. Drafts are around 6' or 5' 10".

A buddy of mine from Baltimore took is Cal 36 from Baltimore to Vero Beach. He stuffed it 3x just getting to Moorehead City. His Darft is 6' but moving the boat in December typically had him at low tide when he ran aground. They alos were area prone to silting.

[mbath56]

I would go with the Bavaria, more privacy for the kids which will be a BIG deal over a two year span at their ages, also shallower draft

[Gerrycooper56]

I think Stargazer has been for sale for over 2 years now - not a big deal but suspect the draft may be an issue. We did the ICW from Jax to ft.Pierce and touched bottom a few times with a 5'6" draft.


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[mark rocco mont]

I just started sailing my self. I'm very fortunate that the gentlemen i bought my sail boat from also holds a captain's license I live in Wilmington NC...so when we go out we go on the ICW......You must know the tides and current as they will play havoc and you will get hung up on a sand barge...some areas the channel gets a little narrow. I sail a 22ft Catalina much smaller than the one you are looking at...the other thing is the bridges know there schedule.....

[Mithril Bham]

I would go with the Bavaria.