GL: ICW in New Jersey

[Ralph Yost (home)]

You will find that at lower tide levels, you should be able to SEE the 
current flow in the channel where the water is deepest. Look for moving 
water, then move your boat towards that portion of the channel. All the 
while, confirm that the water depth increases as you do.
You cant just assume deepest water is always in the MIDDLE of a channel. 
Channels are effected every year by Spring tides and strong winds that blow 
silt from the flats across the channels. The silt then fills in the 
channels.

We used to run tugboats all the way from Atlantic City to Cape May inside 
while towing dredges without running aground. So I can tell you its doable.
However, as I said before, if you are not confident in your ability to 
maneuver this way, then wait for favorable westerly winds and go offshore. 
Light SW wind is fine if coming north from Cape May. NW is best and will 
occur after a front comes through but will be strong. Its doable if you hug 
the coastline close (stay in 20ft of water) then be careful to move out a 
bit as you cross each inlet, whose shoals can extend out into the ocean 
(look for breakers!).
R.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joseph Pica" <joseph.pica at gmail.com>
To: <commjerry at aol.com>; <great-loop at lists.samurai.com>
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 6:04 PM
Subject: Re: GL: ICW in New Jersey


> Jerry,
> We did the entire NJ ICW last fall when coming south due to strong storms
> offshore.  We draw 2'10" and dragged bottom 5 times (albeit our transit 
> was
> poorly timed at dead low with a neap tide to boot) in the center of the
> channels.  Several shifting shoal areas are marked with small buoys that 
> are
> sometimes relocated to mark the deepest part of the channel. They pull 
> these
> in the late fall and replace them in spring.  Make sure they've been put 
> in
> place and pay attention to them not necessarily the chart.  You should 
> plan
> to transit only during the last 3rd of the rising tide, that way you won't
> have as long to wait to get loose.  Also, favor the outer third of the
> channel in turns (generally the outside is deeper then inside of the turn
> because of the current flows faster toward the outside. We also 
> experienced
> two stuck bridges that delayed us for a couple of hours circling in strong
> currents.  The worst section by far is the part from Atlantic City to Cape
> May.  North from Atlantic City was doable with care in comparison.  All in
> all it was not a pleasurable trip and will not do it again unless weather
> dictates.
>
>
> Joe
> "Carolyn Ann"  GH N-37
>
> Snip: '...Looking for recommendations on those who may have cruised the 
> ICW
> through New Jersey lately.? We have a 4.5 foot draft and are heading north
> and were thinking about doing that section this spring instead of going
> outside.? We have dodged it in the past due to concerns over the shallow
> water there.
> Thanks
> Jerry Richardson...'
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