Cruising NY to Florida -- intercoastal

#1 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002

I''m planning to sail from NY to Florida and I''m looking to purchase used or inexpensive charts. Any suggestions?

dhartdallas · #2 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002

Ahoy, DougO. Inexpensive is fine, but I do not recommend used charts. You should get the latest charts you can for such a trip in my opinion. Things can change fairly quickly and older charts can get you in trouble if the owner hasn''t kept them up to date.

thomasstone · #3 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002

Used charts would be fine, its not like the Icw changes much (besides depths) . I dont see why you would need charts anyways for an Icw trip.
thomas

#4 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002

You don''t think I need charts for an ICW trip? Sounds good to me -- can you explain?

thomasstone · #5 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002

From Norfolk to Miami its basically a straight shot follow the markers.Albermale , Pamlico and the Neuse river in NC can get a little rough other than that its mostly protected. Im not familiar with the NY through VA area. Im probally being a little extreme in suggesting you make the trip without charts it is helpful with marinas and anchorages as well as bridges. You certainly dont need new charts as long as you have a radio people in the south are very helpful. Some marinas , restaurants, etc. might be closed but again the boating community will direct you.I would bring some charts of the east cost atlantic if you decide you cant stand the drown of your motor. Beaufort to Wilmington is very easy as well as Wilmington to Charleston.
thomas

gershel · #6 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002

Not using charts,new or old,on the ICW,is the stupidest & most irresponsible suggestion I''ve ever heard on this board. Having done the ICW many times,I wouldn''t even attempt it without charts. The biggest inconvienience from using older charts is that sometimes the channel numbers are changed. If you use a current cruising guide ,such as Reeds,they show changes.Please don''t listen to the previous writer,or you''ll wind up like him.
Marc

gershel · #7 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002

Beaufort to Wilmington? Wilmington to Charleston? What the hell is that all about?
Marc

thomasstone · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002

Girlshell ,if you have been down the Icw several times how can you not know about the very popular offshore route from Beaufort to Wilmington or Wilm to Charleston. Seems like charts do you no good if you cant read them. I would worry more about someone winding up like you , up and down the ICw several times and missing some very major Inlets.
thomas

gershel · #9 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002

Thomas, Wilmington is not an inlet, Cape Fear is. If your heading to Fl,why would you go all the way around Frying Pan Shoals,and then go 20 miles up the Cape Fear River to Wilmington. If you had a chart & knew how to read it,you might know what your talking about. Until you do,try to not give advice to novices
Marc

thomasstone · #10 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002

Girlshell, sorry when I speak of Wilmington and coming into Wilmington I mean Masonboro Inlet , does this show on your chart? I live in Wilmington please do not tell me the names of my local inlets.Cape Fear is used by commercial boats. If you knew how to read your charts you would see masosboro is a better inlet than going all the way around to cape fear.
thomas