New to the forum -

[Silhouette39]

Hey folks,

New to the forum. I Just closed on a Silverton 39 and will be moving it from Brunswick GA to Florida. I'm very familiar with Florida waters. But, I haven't made the trip between Brunswick and Jacksonville. Considering Winter conditions, I expect to run the inside ICW from Brunswick to JAX (weekend of February 20th).

Would appreciate current observations of navigation hazards of that route and any recommendations.

Thanks!

[Celestialsailor]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new to you vessel.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Silhouette.

[nolakennedys]

Welcome! I am in Nassau County, FL just north of Jax. Will be bringing my boat up the ICW from Titusville, FL about a week after you to the St Marys, GA yard to be hauled. Very interested in your feedback about your trip down. Thanks!!

[Silhouette39]

Originally Posted by nolakennedys

Welcome! I am in Nassau County, FL just north of Jax. Will be bringing my boat up the ICW from Titusville, FL about a week after you to the St Marys, GA yard to be hauled. Very interested in your feedback about your trip down. Thanks!!

I'll post the results...good, bad or ugly!

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Silhouette39

Hey folks,

New to the forum. I Just closed on a Silverton 39 and will be moving it from Brunswick GA to Florida. I'm very familiar with Florida waters. But, I haven't made the trip between Brunswick and Jacksonville. Considering Winter conditions, I expect to run the inside ICW from Brunswick to JAX (weekend of February 20th).

Would appreciate current observations of navigation hazards of that route and any recommendations.

Thanks!

We found that to be an easy leg of our trips. There can be some tide issues around the middle of Amelia Island if you decide to use that marina there, otherwise I can't remember any special considerations.

IIRC, on the way down, our hops were to Amelia Island Marina on one day, then on to Ortega Landing the next. (Fernandina Beach Marina wasn't yet re-opened for our southbound leg.) On return, we stayed at Fernandina Beach Marina -- for about a week, with visiting relatives -- then on to Golden Isles near Brunswick.

As with the whole ICW, we found the Waterway Guide and ActiveCaptain useful, and we came to prefer AquaMap (USA Master, with USACE survey overlays) as our main backup nav aid. The survey overlays were especially useful in the normal more hazardous areas (a few in SC and several in GA), but I can't think of any of those between Brunswick and Jax.

FYI, there's an owner's club out there, and a few members have made that trip. Modest annual dues apparently mostly for defending against spam. Your search engine can find it.

-Chris

[nolakennedys]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

We found that to be an easy leg of our trips. There can be some tide issues around the middle of Amelia Island if you decide to use that marina there, otherwise I can't remember any special considerations.

IIRC, on the way down, our hops were to Amelia Island Marina on one day, then on to Ortega Landing the next. (Fernandina Beach Marina wasn't yet re-opened for our southbound leg.) On return, we stayed at Fernandina Beach Marina -- for about a week, with visiting relatives -- then on to Golden Isles near Brunswick.

As with the whole ICW, we found the Waterway Guide and ActiveCaptain useful, and we came to prefer AquaMap (USA Master, with USACE survey overlays) as our main backup nav aid. The survey overlays were especially useful in the normal more hazardous areas (a few in SC and several in GA), but I can't think of any of those between Brunswick and Jax.

FYI, there's an owner's club out there, and a few members have made that trip. Modest annual dues apparently mostly for defending against spam. Your search engine can find it.

-Chris

Excellent notes, thank you! Am setting out from Kennedy point marina south of Titusville, FL on the 28th and heading to Saint Marys GA via ICW. Have Navionics app, Aqua map and just downloaded Active Captain. Also ordered the waterways guide 2021 Atlantic ICW. If I was more confident with my engine I would just go out at ponce inlet and make a Bee line north but boat has no electronics hooked up yet, so we will be using the apps and eyes and only travelling during daylight hours to get it up to the FL/GA line at least.

Do you know how the current is crossing the St Johns from south to north to amelia? End result we plan to moor in Amelia Island marina once dry dock work is done in St Marys.

[nolakennedys]

also is there a VHF channel everyone is monitoring other than 16 for general chat?

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by nolakennedys

Excellent notes, thank you! Am setting out from Kennedy point marina south of Titusville, FL on the 28th and heading to Saint Marys GA via ICW. ...

If I was more confident with my engine I would just go out at ponce inlet and make a Bee line north but boat has no electronics hooked up yet, so we will be using the apps and eyes and only travelling during daylight hours to get it up to the FL/GA line at least.

Do you know how the current is crossing the St Johns from south to north to amelia? End result we plan to moor in Amelia Island marina once dry dock work is done in St Marys.

Thought you were starting near Brunswick GA? If so, the only slightly dicey part south of there that I remember off-hand is through the Jekyll Island area... and we timed our passage through there to coincide with mid-tide-rising...

We noticed no particular current issues on the St. Johns River.

In case you don't know, then, the fairway into Amelia Island Marina from the ICW is very tide-dependent. Low tide, you can see the mud. That wasn't a particularly big deal for us; we just timed our arrival.

Originally Posted by nolakennedys

also is there a VHF channel everyone is monitoring other than 16 for general chat?

Not really. 16 for hailing and distress, 13 for bridge-to-bridge. Hail on 16 first and immediately switch to a working channel.

-Chris

[nolakennedys]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Thought you were starting near Brunswick GA? If so, the only slightly dicey part south of there that I remember off-hand is through the Jekyll Island area... and we timed our passage through there to coincide with mid-tide-rising...

We noticed no particular current issues on the St. Johns River.

In case you don't know, then, the fairway into Amelia Island Marina from the ICW is very tide-dependent. Low tide, you can see the mud. That wasn't a particularly big deal for us; we just timed our arrival.




Not really. 16 for hailing and distress, 13 for bridge-to-bridge. Hail on 16 first and immediately switch to a working channel.

-Chris

Thanks! The OP is starting in the Brunswick area. I am bringing my boat up from Titusville, FL area to the St Marys yard. I live in the Amelia Island area. Easy to get confused with two of us talking similarly lol!

[Adelie]

Welcome.

[Nauticus]

Hi and welcome from Ontario Canada

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by nolakennedys

Thanks! The OP is starting in the Brunswick area. I am bringing my boat up from Titusville, FL area to the St Marys yard. I live in the Amelia Island area. Easy to get confused with two of us talking similarly lol!

Ah. Got it.

Limiting yourself to day hops can be a blessing in disguise, if you have time to enjoy it along your way. Stop off in places (St. Augustine, for example), spend a day here and there, smell some coffee...

-Chris

[Silhouette39]

Hey folks,

The trip went very well. No hiccups. Made it to Sanford from Brunswiick in two days. 206 miles, 201 gallons of diesel.

The weather was fantastic!

Thanks for the information and notes.

MD