T&T: Traveling the ICW in Winter

[Scott Bulger]

Rich asked:  Just bought a 39' Carver and need to bring it from R.I.
down the ICW to Lake
Okeechobee and across to Clear Water, then up the FL West Coast and West to
Galveston.  Can it be done safely???  I have very little experience on the
ICW between Ft Lauderdale and Miami.

Would like all the technical information and advice about where to stop for
refueling, etc. I could get from those experienced ICW travelers. Bridge
contacts and times they open would be a great help.

Any other advice and recommendations would be highly appreciated!

Rich

Scott suggests:

Rich, as others have said, that's quite a trip and there are variables
that will be introduced by how you plan to run the boat.  An example
is your cruising speed.  If you make 7 knots you would use the one day
trip plan I used to get from Boston to Ft. Lauderdale, which can be
viewed on our blog page:

http://www.alanui.talkspot.com/aspx/m/460168


However, if you run faster you will likely find the places I stopped
to be too close together.  So, what I'd recommend is buying the
Doziers guides and the ICW flip chart that will identify all the
technical spots along the trip.  The ICW Flip Chart is really nice
because every page is about 5 or 6 miles with the bridges (less than
65 feet) and their opening schedules marked.  The Salty SE Cruisers
net will identify the 10 worst places along the ICW and if you pass
them with some extra water for a tide you will be ok.  If you draw
more than 5 feet and you go at dead low (zero water above MLLW) you
will likely find yourself aground once or twice.

The good news is there is lots of water in Lake O., more then in
years.  If you have a Verizon Air Card you can get NEXRAD weather
radar from www.wunderground.com all along the coast.  Its like having
NOAA along with you.  Finally, as someone else said, nothing will get
you or your boat hurt faster than having a schedule, so enjoy the trip
and if it's blowing outside, anchor back and relax!

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA