T&T: ICW in winter

[KevinR]

> -----Original Message-----
> Another alternative would be to hire a delivery captain with experience in
> the Northern waters to bring it down to Norfolk then you take it the rest  of
> the way .......

Most of the posts on this thread have not touched much on the risk increase caused by the cold
water temperatures involved in winter operations, even well south of Norfolk. Don't forget the
two fatalities just two years ago when a professional two man delivery crew perished due to
hyperthermia when their brand new boat went down on the ICW in the Neuse River (see:
http://towndock.net/boatdeliverydeath_update5.html).

When water temperatures drop below 50 degrees F, the USCG will not even let their own small boat
crews go out without wearing dry suits, yet many recreational boaters ignore this increased risk
inherent in cold water operations. George Hechtman really summed up many of the other issues
with his well written detailed post this morning. A winter ICW trip is most certainly not a
prudent option for the inexperienced.

Kevin