Cape May Canal local knowledge.

[unbusted67]

Hello I draw 5 feet. My mast is 52' 7". How am I looking these days? Active captain, my chart book and Gps all have different controlling depths listed.


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[marlinmike]

Some very big commercial traffic goes through there and it it plenty deep for you. Bridges are also very high, just offhand not sure the exact height, but I'd be surprised if you would fit. Just catch the right tide, that is everything!

[Scott Berg]

I've taken a 9' draft tug through and a 54' mast sailboat
You're fine




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[unbusted67]

Cheers guys. I'm going to re measure the stick again tonight just to be extra sure but I think we will make it.


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[Golden Echo]

My boat draws 5 ft and mast is 52. Didn't take into account the wire VHF antenna. Going from Delaware Bay to Cape May harbor we heard the antenna hit the last bridge and we were at mid tide falling. It looked close but I wasn't stopping. I witnessed someone lose their tri-color mast head light once but I don't know the height of their mast. At 52.7 at low tide you should be OK.

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[pesarsten]

GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE IN CAPE MAY, HOW WAS THE TRIP DOWN FROM AC?

[unbusted67]

It was an epic sail. Never saw anything less than 7 knots. Anchored in Cape May now with about a million other boats. Everyone is packed on top of each other and I am up now at slack tide almost fending some pinhead off of my bow who set down right on too of me.

Hey all just to be clear we are talking about the Cape May Canal and not the C&d canal. Please speak up if you were talking about C&d.


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[Curmudgeon]

I bypassed Cape May and sailed across to Lewes, Delaware and stayed at the city dock for three days. Nice town, good restaurants, clean facilities. And of course its the home of Dogfish IPA.

[pesarsten]

With regards to the Cape May canal 55' clearance mhw for bridges I don't believe you will have depth problems but the local tow operator will know.. Be aware of the ferry terminal at the west end and ask about current shoaling. Last time I went through, the towboat called me and gave me a heads up.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I bypassed Cape May and sailed across to Lewes, Delaware and stayed at the city dock for three days. Nice town, good restaurants, clean facilities. And of course its the home of Dogfish IPA.

I also stopped in Lewes and it was one of the friendliest towns I've visited in years.

Maybe I'm missing something but even if you're going to layover at Cape May, why go through the canal if the clearance is close at all? Looks like you might save a total of 2 miles compared to going around the outside.

[JerseyJoe]

I presume you are sitting low as are provision/cruise loaded? Then you should be fine transiting at slack to ebb for mast, especially if you have any wind other than a strong bay breeze flooding the canal. Depth ok too. After parkway bridge (1st) hug port side of channel until passing Spicer Creek canal on left, then move to mid/starboard side for remainder until in bay. Enjoy your trip!

[unbusted67]

Made it through without touching the bottom or top!


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[marlinmike]

Great, all down hill from there! (less weekends weather)

[JerseyJoe]

Congrats!

[dianaofburlingt]

Amongst those of us in NJ it is widely known that the bridge over the canal at Cape May is actually under-height; it is sometimes listed as 55' and 56' ft but I believe 'officially' it is 59'. There is a rumor that someone viewed the construction drawings upside down, back when it was built, and specified 59' instead of 65' (supposedly, what it looked like upside-down).

I know of at least once time when a Cherubini 44 (clearance about 60 ft) had to hurry up and beat a rising tide under that bridge... with amusing and, fortunately, successful results.