ICW from Chesapeake Bay to florida

[jlh3rd]

Hello,
I'll get right to it .....Would you take a 2007, 24', twin 25" tubes, 60hp pontoon from the north end of the chesapeake on the ICW to Florida? If no, could the reason/reasons be fixed? This would be in conjunction with a 38' sailboat. Maybe wives , maybe solo. Ive only operated on rivers and lakes.
I like adventure, but with age comes wisdom.

[wwind3]

do it! Take xtra prop(s) and xtra gas. Maybe a boat cover you can get under if weather goes crazy on you. Check your cellphone carrier for coverage as you travel. Portable battery charger and maybe an inverter. Xtra NEW boat battery. Plenty of water, sleeping bags, toiletries, etc. Grill, fishing equipment.

There are publications I think that may be helpful as to whether there are places along the way that cater to the folks doing this.

Jealous!!!!!

You may need a bigger boat and motor

[TWB]

The thought of this type of cruise piqued my interest, so I did a little looking around. I found this info. It doesn't address ALL of the things I was hoping (general weather trends mostly), but it does seem to give some good points for consideration.

https://www.offshoreblue.com/cruise/aicw-intro.php

Gonna keep watching this thread to see how it progresses.

Good Luck in your planning. Please update as you make decisions.
-Paul

[rbtnt]

You might find some info here.

https://www.greatloop.org/

[jlh3rd]

I will read those articles. A little added background. I have been investigating this for months. There are some reputable people that have said no because of the sounds and bays that are notorious for waves, big boats with careless operators and waves, coupled with a pontoon's " diving" characteristics. As a retired airline pilot,( no, I'm not one of the rich ones) I balance adventure, risk, opinions, facts, experience ( or lack of) with....I wanna do this....
I am looking at a possible engine up grade, minimum 90hp, max 110. The boat is equipped with a full enclosure of which I have engineered to be secured with straps and snaps to the full bimini top ( except for the stern piece) so access is a simple matter of unsnapping the straps and rolling them down. There is a porta potty installed. I would carry an inflatable mattress, a mini generator, and an electric heater if forced to sleep on the boat as a backup. The sailboat does have two rooms....but you never know what might happen. I have the normal boat requirements such as first aid, tools, spare parts, two-way, etc. My friend with the sailboat has never done the ICW either......I know planning is paramount as to accommodations and food, but I'd hope to play that by ear....as I used to do on my motorcycle trips out west...Cell phones and GPS were great for that....
.....This is just the investigation stage....appreciate all info....

[wwind3]

definitely do the engine upgrade--always try to run rated HP. Good luck...

[jlh3rd]

yep....and underskinning.......

[steve1313]

How much fuel can you hold? I'd calculate my fuel distance range and make sure I have plenty of reserve to get to each fuel stop.

[jlh3rd]

25 gallon tank. I've installed a " smart tach" ( mercury) about 3 years ago and is very accurate with fuel burn. I've calculated,roughly, around a 100 mile range at cruise of around 10 mph. That'll change if a bigger motor is used. There'll be extra fuel.....I read there can be some extended stretches.........

[bansil]

Well some folks took a cat with like a 10 hp outboard clamped to angle iron to Florida.....I would do it, weather window for bay crossings, but 99% is inside

Look up 9to5less on YouTube, dude is cool...chick was cray, cray tho

[jlh3rd]

interesting stuff...crazy....2 years?...
will watch more...

[Bamaman]

The record holder on the Great Loop was actually a gentleman running a tritoon boat with a big motor. And he just stayed on the move all the time--stopping only to sleep a little. Don't you know his body was about beat after 5000 miles of running the boat.

But there's no way I'd want to make such a run in a 2 toon, 60 hp boat that's not capable of handling big waves and/or outrunning storms. And I wouldn't want to make the trip with a slow moving sailboat.

Trailer the boat to Florida and start the trip north from there as the ICW is better down there. Any problems and you would have the trailer behind you to transport the boat.

[jlh3rd]

yep, read some of his story......5,000 miles would never work....I'm not even sure about a thousand.....

good points.

[bansil]

Alot depends on two factors

1) age
2) cash flow

Iam old and broke so I will have to wait

[jlh3rd]

well, age doesn't stop me (67.5). ..in the gym m-f....do all my home and auto repairs....no couch potato......stuff like that....

yep, read about the costs......I'm not rich either, retired.......