Cape May Canal

dvzee1 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009

Am thinking about a trip that could use Cape May Canal. Does anyone know the bridge clearances?

MJBrown · #2 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009

Both fixed bridges are 55'. The railroad bridge is normally open.

deniseO30 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009

YouTube - On The Way To Cape May
Just a little diddy for you to listen to as you study the charts

pdqaltair · #4 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJBrown

Both fixed bridges are 55'. The railroad bridge is normally open.

at the present tide.

It saves little, compared with going outside, unless it is blowing hard from the east. If you draw over 6' there are issues in 2 areas.

Gary M · #5 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009

There are reefs to the south of the cape so I think it is worthwhile. We went thorugh in April on a boat that was supposed to be 53 feet as best as we could measure it. We got through the first one OK but the VHF antena scraped on the second bridge girders. There was a very strong west wind all day, that I assume piled up water on the east shore and tried to push it through the canal. Tide was about half and rising.

Good Luck
Gary

chef2sail · #6 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009

55 ft as said. We transit the canal every year on our way to and from New England. It will save almost 3 hours time if you can do it.

There are no real reef south of Cape May, but definate shoals. They are trasiable, but the waves can build up pretty fiercely and is often much rougher than out in the ocean or in the Delaware Bay, When the tidal Delaware opposes the wind you get the famous square Delware Bay waves all the way up to where the river narrows.

Dave

dvzee1 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009

Thanks to all for your replies, the info will help in the planning.

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009

Be aware that Utsch's Marina has very little in the way of services offered unless you stay there overnight. If you're a transient boat that is just coming in for fuel, you don't have the option of using the bathrooms or showers—just porta-johns. Also, the chances of picking up green-head flies that will feast on you until you kill them all is very high if you pass through the Cape May canal during the season.

MJBrown · #9 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009

If you choose to go outside the shoals in mention are the Prissy Wicks Shoals. There are two ways around them, inside which saves time, or off shore which will cost a couple of hours. The inside route has plenty of water you just need to chart it carefully due to the shoals.

As for the 55' bridge clearances in the canal that's a Mean Higher High Tide.