Information on going Intercoastal Waterway from Cape May to Atlantic City

[Mila Vera]

Hi to all!
A quick question; we are in Cape May and are ready to start our three day journey out in the ocean to get to New York. However as always; mother nature is changing our plans.

My question is "Has anyone taken the Inter-coastal waterway from Cape May to Atlantic City?"

All PROS and Cons are appreciated.
Thanks,
First Mate Linda
Mila Vera

 

[psneeld]

I was the most prolific assistance tower in that area for 13 years..

Lots of grounders, but people that wandered out of the chsnnel or had a draft more than 4 feet or traveled at low tide.

If your draft is less than 4 feet, travel on the last 2 hours of the rising and first 2 hours of the falling tide, go slow in sketchy areas and back off if nudging aground.Then seek the deeper water.

I highly recommend seeking out the Sea Tow captains in that area and buy them a beer to help you make notes on your charts or on a pad to compliment yoyr chartplotter.

 

[Greg QS]

Yes easy answer. Wait and go out side.

 

[Wayfarer]

I went through there a few years ago, and it was a wild ride. I only draw 3.5 feet and I found bottom a couple of times. Sunny weekends in the summer can get VERY busy with fishing boats.

Given the choice, I'd wait for weather and go outside if at all possible.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Hey, Mr. W. How's things?

 

[Unclematt]

I went from Atlantic City to Manasquan with several boats three weeks ago. I draft a solid 4'. We left at half tide rising and the only place you need to watch out was at mark 161. Stay in the center or just left of center and you should be fine. The lowest I saw was 1' under my keel. I would do it again.

 

[Jeff F]

I've done it. Can't think of any pros.

North of Atlantic City is fine inside.

 

[Wayfarer]

Greetings,
Hey, Mr. W. How's things?

Howdy Mr. RT! I'm great thanks, how are you?

 

[Seevee]

There's a great anchorage at the Atlantic City inlet to the north. Great views of the casinos without the price and hassle of docking over there. Weekend traffic gets out of there late afternoon and very few boat and tons of room.

 

[Benthic2]

I would take PSNeeld word as gospel....he has travelled thos waters.

 

[Hippocampus]

Going outside isn’t that stressful. You’re close to shore in fairly shallow water without any concerns about running aground. Traffic is modest and easily avoided. There are traps and pot buoys to avoid but again density is very modest and unlike elsewhere usually not black or difficult to see. The run from Atlantic Highlands to Cape May is easy to accomplish in one day even on a displacement hull. You don’t need crew beyond your S.O. As long as there’s little wind from the east seas are benign . We tend to do it as an over night run so both leaving and land fall is in daylight.
View NJ as flyover land. Unfortunate but since damage over the years not much for cruisers. Good for small coastal fish boats but personal opinion not so much for cruising. So think it makes sense to just get her done much like the Delaware. With a decent weather window not intimidating.
As common here if you posted your boat’s particulars you likely would get better advice. In a small very shallow daft boat the inside might be less stressful.

 

[psneeld]

I guess I never really see recreational boating as stressful. Ocean or ICW.

I know many that do... so it's really up to one's confidence, experience, equipment, schedule (which many have... despite the comments about it being dangerous, it's only dangerous if bad decisions are made) etc.....

Lots of people do the NJICW, lots don't...in all kinds and sizes of boats.

The most valuable tool is current info on shifting shallows and the assistance towers have that. Use them if one wants to or can. I have taken many a barge and tug through that route and the largest rec boat was a 55' Viking Motoryacht.

 

[Hippocampus]

It’s a little different putting the AP on being in water too deep for the capability of having a depth to read, having no traffic within 75nm, placidly following a great circle and dealing with the reverse in coastal or skinny waters. Guess it all depends on your experience. Guess our experience is different. Stress level goes down for most seasoned cruisers once out of sight of land in my experience.

 

[psneeld]

Actually, in my travels, seasoned cruisers with experience inshore and offshore don't experience much stress in either unless they are in over tbeir expeience level to determine just how stressful it will be.

One thing to coast in countries with poor charting, another to travel an ICW that is marked and travelled by many, some of which are pros you can call for advice to see if the run is worth it.

Most of my boating buddies havent much time offshore time so to them the opposite is true.

Like... to some....docking, overnighting, etc, etc...is stressful, to others not so much.

I am not telling anyone to do it, but it is an option for some, with some limitations that should be told without controversy of personal stress level, and thats why I say call and get current advice.

 

[Hippocampus]

Don’t understand why you do this. It’s so offensive. I have tens and tens of thousands of miles under my keel in every sort of conditions. Here you are offending me unnecessarily. Yes there are varying levels of stress. Not everything is OMG. A bit of stress focuses your thinking, gives you energy and causes you to address issues well before they become an issue. Stress is a good thing. Being lackadaisical isn’t. Having the judgment and experience to know when an every 10m interval of letting your hair down is ok is a good thing. Of course subconsciously you’re always processing so always pick up any change regardless of how subtle. Say what every you want 10ts, a benign forecast and seastate, off the shelf without no one around I’ll listen to tunes with one earbud in, reading a book and day dream. I’ve done it so often my brain is programmed to do a visual 360 and go through my checklist without a reminder. Then back to daydreaming, and reading. Also might do th same crossing an empty bay or running a coastline such as Washington County where’s there no hand of man for miles on end. It’s not a coastal or blue water thing exclusively. Put your exclusion zones up and chill.
Frankly you’re being ridiculous . Stop with the chest thumping. Yes you’re a very experienced boater and knowledgeable. But you seem to be so insecure you feel the need to demean those around you to confirm your stature. Totally agree you’re Gods gift to this site. But for the rest of us plebs different situations and activities in boating carry different levels of stress. Live by “stay calm and sail on”. Never get excited but do get focused. Heart rate varies with exercise not situationally. You have absolutely no clue who I am nor many other contributors.
Read the post you attacked and decided to follow with a confrontational post. My original post was aimed at lowering the OPs concerns. Well chuckles consider myself a fairly experienced cruiser and yes what I have varying levels of stress with that activity. Have fairly experienced cruisers as part of my social group and from what they tell me they also experience varying levels of stress. Yes what I thoroughly enjoy it and find myself most centered while on a boat underway. Find the crap I deal with on land much much stressful.
Other sites allow an ignore setting. I’ve never used it. I want to interact with all. But I will respond negatively to anyone who goes out of their way to be demeaning.

 

[Jeff F]

Hippo, I didn't see any attacks on your PoV or experience.

I've spent enough time offshore to understand and validate your perspective, but I've also enjoyed staying as close to shore as possible on my trawlers. I'm at about 22k NM so far.

I'm cruising a river as I type with 3' of water under my keel. That's my normal.

I'd invite you to come check my stress levels

 

[Hippocampus]

Too funny. Agree as long as the salt water pump isn’t sucking up mud or sand you’re doing just fine. .
Went bone fishing once with a guy who does it all time. First hour was taken aback as he was on plane in what I thought was way too skinny water. Once we got to the flats he wanted we took turns poling. On the way home closed my eyes and spaced out enjoying the day totally chilled out. . What ever floats your boat.

 

[High Wire]

The stretch from CM to the North Wildwood fixed bridge has been marked better this year than in the past. The trouble spot above the West WW defunct train bridge is pretty easy now. Yes it is still narrow, on a curve, and sand bars on both sides, but if you follow the markers carefully, you will be ok. From now until mid July the NJICW will be jammed full of summer flounder fishermen. Why? Because that’s where the fish are!

 

[Duetto]

we did this 6 times 4 s-n and 2 n-s. we did it in boat that drew 3'. south end worse than north. with that said if you watch the usual things it's definitely doable.

as to why do it at all, we decided the first time that we didn't want to sit in cape may for 3 days. after the first time it just became another place on the icw where you pay attention. one year we were early and buoys weren't in. we called sea tow a couple of times for local knowledge and we had no problems.

 

[Hyperion]

We did it on a GB 36 with 4'. We called the closest BoatUS station and asked them what we should watch for and, as mentioned here before, only go on the second half of the rising tide but not at the end of it, for obvious reasons. Each day we would anchor and wake up the next morning and call the next closest station and moved our way up with no issues at all. We would get specific advice and what cannel markers were tight, how to avoid the issue and just followed directions.

 

[psneeld]

We did it on a GB 36 with 4'. We called the closest BoatUS station and asked them what we should watch for and, as mentioned here before, only go on the second half of the rising tide but not at the end of it, for obvious reasons. Each day we would anchor and wake up the next morning and call the next closest station and moved our way up with no issues at all. We would get specific advice and what cannel markers were tight, how to avoid the issue and just followed directions.

 

[SIBERNUT]

Anybody here remember the Point Pleasant / Bay Head canal before the new bridges? Current ran 8 knots plus sometimes. Local sport was lawn chair on the banks near those bridges, barbecue & beer watching the action. Standing wave 1ft high IN THE BRIDGE from the restriction.

 

[psneeld]

Good news these days, highest current at Point Pleasant Canal, north bridge this week (just looked up) is 2.7 knots. If a southerly wind add one knot....maybe.

 

[High Wire]

Anybody here remember the Point Pleasant / Bay Head canal before the new bridges? Current ran 8 knots plus sometimes. Local sport was lawn chair on the banks near those bridges, barbecue & beer watching the action. Standing wave 1ft high IN THE BRIDGE from the restriction.

Yes the water ran downhill 1-1 1/2 feet between the fenders to where it was plainly visible. One local boat dealer had pictures on the wall of de-flybridged boats the hard way.

 

[SIBERNUT]

Captains test- going against the previous current in a 40 MT/120 Lehman. Bridges had to open, scads of cars blowing their horns as I crawled thru. Overheat alarms going off, signs of contempt and Ill will observed among the spectators. Ah, the good old days! Oh we're not done yet. Right at the south end there is ONE lagoon opens onto the canal itself. I lived there. Making a turn to stbd in aforementioned current resulted in severe pucker.