Gas Stops on the ICW

[Tony B]

I will be back cruising again within weeks. This time in a powerboat because we converted from sailing.
Anyway, I will be travelling from Galveston Bay, Tx. to Biloxi, Ms this winter.
I was looking at ActiveCaptain.com and I didn't see many fuel stops on the water - especially gasoline- on the ICW in La. Do any of you know any places for gas along the route I will be taking - the ICW all the way. I am especially concerned between Lake Charles, La. and New Orleans.

Thanks in advance

 

[Forkliftt]

HMMMM.. How about Shell Morgan? They are listed in Skipper Bob. Can't remember if the have gas or not. Steve Willet or Charles Colatta would know of other areas.

 

[dimer2]

Houston to Pleasure island (Port Arthur Yacht club) to Morgan city to Houma to Industrial canal, unless you really limited in tank size

 

[Daddyo]

Waterway Cruising Guide | Fuel Pricing has fuel pricing reports on their site.

 

[Steve]

I don't know off hand since I have only used diesel, but I will ask around. I don't think Charles follows this site much now I'll give him a call to see if he knows. I'll post whaterver I find out.

 

[Steve]

I just contacted Retif fuel in Houma Louisiana they told me they do have Gasoline available at their dock, They are right on the ICW about mile 57 west of Harvey Lock
(985) 872-3111. I'd call them a few days in advance to be confirm. they do have 2 locations one right in Houma another maybe 15 mile East they said gas available at both.
You can check at Shell Morgan located at Intracoastal City, La. on the ICW I don't have the number it probably is on the Active Capt site.

 

[Steve]

According to Internet sites Shell Morgan ICW mile 140 WHL in Intracoastal City sells gasoline their Ph. (337) 893-1211.
In Morgan City, Rio fuel about 3/4 mile off the ICW mile 90 WHL, also sells gas ph (985) 384-8090 Also the Texaco Dock in Morgan City, I don't have their number.
Be sure to check ahead by phone.
Let me know if you'll be stopping in Houma, if I am free I'll stop by the dock and see if you need anything

 

[Tony B]

Thanks everyone for the info.


Steve

Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it.


I hired an electrician/mechanic for the last several days to go through my systems with me. We just replaced all of the throttle and shift cables - what a PITA that was. Anyway, the boat is ready to go. We just need to clear up a few personal items and then we are on the wet road to somewhere. I been saying "in 2 weeks" for the last umpteen months, now I'm down to saying "next week". Probably around Wed. Hope it happens.
Remind me next time not to buy a 'cheap' boat.
There ain't no such thing. It's either pay up front or pay as you go.

 

[CaptTom]

You might also try Active Captain. I sort of forgot how to list fuel prices, so I had to re-learn the process. Here's what you do:

1) zoom in to an area of interest just until markers appear.
2) At the bottom of the list of markers, pull up the "Settings" box.
3) In the Settings box:
a) in the "Markers" tab, select only marinas
b) in the "Filtering" tab, select only the fuel type you need
c) in the "Extra Data" tag, select your fuel price and date. You can even sort by this.
This gives you a list of all the fuel stops in this area, sorted by price. It also shows the date that price was reported, for obvious reasons.

 

[Tony B]

Well, we finally cut the docklines today. I was starting to think the day would never come. Just one obstacle after another. Anyhoo..... We left Kemah/Seabrook this morning at 7:30 AM. Temp was in the low thirties, cloudy and winds were 20-25 kts out of the north. Very choppy and not the most comfortable trip we have taken. After we went to Galveston to gas up ($374/gal), we went on the ICW heading east. Nice thing about the ICW is much less wind and no chops. So the afternoon went smooth - even the sun came out. We made it 2/3 of the way down Bolivar Peninsula and tied up at Stingarees restaurant. The bad news is that they were closed. The other bad news is that tomorrow morning if the tide gets any lower, we will have to stay here.
As far as the boat was concerned, everything worked flawlessly.
This was a planned short day - kinda like a shakedown cruise, but for real

 

[dimer2]

That's great Tony! I leave Friday frp, South Shore in New Orleans heading for Kemah, if you go real slow I will see you out there. Have a safe trip and please post where you stop at night as I might be able to use them on the way up.

 

[Steve]

We have stopped 10 or 12 times at the ICW bulkhead next to the Boomtown Casino parking lot about 5 miles West of Harvey Lock it is a good spot to stop before or after crossing the Mississippi. It is a rough steel bulkhead with few cleats so bring and use your biggest fenders, if there is not a cleat available there are holes cut into the steel so you can pass a rope or better yet a length of chain and tie there.
between Harvey Lock and Houma there are lots of shipyards and fishing boats along the ICW sometimes crews will be working on floats or canal level dry docks so be sure to watch your wake.

 

[Tony B]

..... I leave Friday
.....Kemah, if you go real slow I will see you out there. .....please post where you stop at night as I might be able to use them on the way up.

Hi dimmer. If we cross paths, we will definitely know it. Pleasure boats on this part of the ICW are relatively rare. Stay on your radio. Tonite we are anchored just off the ICW in port Arthur, Tx. Hopefully we wont drag into it - Very large ships here. I would definitely not recommend it. Someone on one of the forums recommended the free Port Arthur city park dock. When we got there I figured I didn't have enough ammunition on board to stay the night.
Tomorrow night we will stay at a casino marina in lake Chas. I'll let you know how that goes.

Tony B

 

[Tony B]

Steve thanks for the tip.

 

[dimer2]

Tony, isn't Pleasure island marina about a mile from there? Just inside Sabine lake. That would have been much better I think. I will load more ammo just in case LOL. I will have my radio on. My boats name is Rhino. My covered slip in NO is paid through the end of the month if you need it.

 

[LUVN LIFE]

There is a free app Pure Gas that uses your location to show you locations of non ethenol gas.

 

[BobH]

We made that trip several times in our sailboat. Check out our old web site (www.svescapades.net) for anchorages along the ICW between Galveston and NO.

Bob

 

[Tony B]

Tony, isn't Pleasure island marina about a mile from there? Just inside Sabine lake. That would have been much better .

Could not be worse. LOL

Anyway, last night we stayed at the L'auberge Du Lac Casino in Lake Charles. Treated ourselves to a great buffet and today off. The cost is $50/night +tax. We will spend another night here and tomorrow head to Myers Landing on the Mermentau River about 6 or 7 miles north of the ICW and just south of Lake Arthur. At least that is our current plans. Everything is subject to change.
After that, the next stops will be Shell Morgan, Morgan City and Houma.
Houma is a nice place for R&R for a few days. I'll get a chance to see some of my old working buddies, hopefully meet up with Steve and find an electrician. I'm still having some electrical problems. When I get to Biloxi, I will be stay for a few months and do a lot of additional re-wiring.

 

[Tony B]

Anchorage or Marina Recommendations

Louisiana, ICW

We would like to either anchor or tie-up somewhere near Shell-Morgan one night and Morgan City the next night.
The following night we will be in Houma and stay for several days of relaxing and eating ourselves to death. For those of you not familiar with real coon-ass food, you are missing something in life.

 

[BobH]

We spent the night at Shell Morgan one time. There is a bulkhead across from the fuel dock. I think they charged $10 for the night, no facilities though.

Bob

 

[Tony B]

I think Shell Morgan is where we will stop.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[Tony B]

Danny Richards Marina?

I did some reading and changed my mind about Shell Morgan.
Does anyone here know anything about Danny Richards Marina about 1 mile north of Shell Morgan on the Vermilion River?
North pier sounds much better but I don't feel like going that far off the ICW this time, unless I have to.

 

[Steve]

I have stayed at Shell Morgan (4 yrs ago) didn't have any problem we tied up to a barge across from the office. You will have to be sure not to block the path of some crew boats that tie up there at night. I never stayed at Danny Richards or know anything about it

 

[Tony B]

Thanks Steve.

I was wondering about tying up to a barge.

 

[Tony B]

Morgan City Anchorages and Docks

Any recommendations as to where to go and not go?
I'm trying to stay 2 days ahead of myself.

 

[Tony B]

Yesterday afternoon, we got off the ICW at the Mernentau River and went north about an hour to Myers Landing. My wife saw it on ActiveCaptain.com and suggested it.

This is a really cool place. Beautiful, serene and appears to be in the middle of nowhere. I pulled against the seawall to gas up. I didn't realize that water is only about 4 1/2 feet. Good enough for me, but keep that in mind. If you pull along the part of the dock that id jutting out it will be deeper. The channel itself is pretty deep. 30 feet + in spots.

Some old babe came out to watch us dock. She had never seen anything like this before. I guess they don't have any boats in South Dakota. She said she never saw barges before either and always comes out when they are going by, which is not very often. I haven't seen any yet.

The people that run this place are about the friendliest you will ever meet. This morning they called us up to let us know that their son was going to Walmart and he would gladly take us along. We are well provisioned and politely turned down the offer. We original planned on only spending last night here but decided to stay till tomorrow morning.

I would definitely recommend this place. They sell gas but not diesel. They also have a small store on the property. Several hunters pulled up in small skiffs a while ago. I couldn't tell what they were carrying and I don't know what is in season. My best guess is duck.

Check them out at myerslanding.com

 

[Tony B]

Houma on Tuesday

We should arrive in Houma on Tuesday, New Year's Eve.
Looking forward to meeting Steve, dining on fine Cajun food and plenty of R&R. Probably spend at least 3 days and maybe up to 5 days or more.

Anyway, we are thinking Houma City Park. Any other suggestions

 

[dimer2]

Tony, saw you Sunday, I was exiting the lock at Shell Morgan, you were preparing to enter. I PM'd you my phone number if you have any questions. You have some interesting areas ahead, coupled with miles of boredom LOL.

Have a safe trip!

 

[Tony B]

................ with miles of boredom LOL.

You Think? :lol:

I have travelled these waters many times on crew boats but never travelled through here on a pleasure boat. Totally different trip. Also consider I haven't travelled this part of the ICW in over 10 years and several hurricanes ago. The admiral is just loving the trip.
We lost the genset the second night out. Fortunately, we have a small Mr. Buddy Heater and been using it during our waking hours to heat up the boat. Its not a LPG gas hog either. We, meaning me, get up early, start the heater, then wake the admiral, then she cooks breakfast on a Coleman camping stove in the galley on top of the electric stove. By that time, the boat is warm and it is about 15 minutes before daylight. Start the engines, let them warm up and we are gone.
BTW, we are not kids anymore.

 

[Brent Hodges]

Where are you now, Tony?