New Jersey ICW, current status

[Bikewfish]

We completed our northbound transit of the NJ ICW today and thought it might be helpful to share our experience with other northbound snowbirds.

Our boat is a KK Manatee, 3 1/2’ draft and a 23 1/2’ air draft mast up.

We experienced extra high/low tides with the full moon and saw at least 2’ more water than expected. The extra high required us to ask for an opening of one 25’ bridge that otherwise we could have cleared.

It’s hard to say how far below datum the water went, but there were certainly a few spots with less water than charted. Where the water was low there were also additional buoys out to mark the channel. We may have left a crease in the mud with our keel but never felt it.

The rte 30 bridge just south of Atlantic City was still under repair which required us to either lower our mast, or hop around it by using Great Egg and Absecon inlets. We chose to make the hop outside mainly because we were just curious to try Great Egg.

Overall the route was great with the charts fairly accurate. Lots of bird watching and easy anchorages. We found most of the Active Captain hazards to be way out of date. It’s a shame theses are not being cleaned out.

We had attempted the NJICW southbound in January but ice in Barnegat Bay kept us offshore. We are glad that we finally got a chance to try it out.

 

[SPWinsor99]

Thanks!

Very helpful. Thanks for the info.

 

[PennBruce]

How long did it take you?

Bruce

 

[Bikewfish]

Duration

From Cape May to the head of Barnegat Bay was 3 days for us. We only make 6 kts so a long day for us is 50 miles. We then exited Manasquan Inlet yesterday morning for a very easy transit up to NYC.

 

[Captain BW]

Is the inside route an option for a Nordic Tug drawing 4' 4"?

Is there a cruising guide that you can recommend using?

 

[psneeld]

We completed our northbound transit of the NJ ICW today and thought it might be helpful to share our experience with other northbound snowbirds.

Our boat is a KK Manatee, 3 1/2’ draft and a 23 1/2’ air draft mast up.

We experienced extra high/low tides with the full moon and saw at least 2’ more water than expected. The extra high required us to ask for an opening of one 25’ bridge that otherwise we could have cleared.

It’s hard to say how far below datum the water went, but there were certainly a few spots with less water than charted. Where the water was low there were also additional buoys out to mark the channel. We may have left a crease in the mud with our keel but never felt it.

The rte 30 bridge just south of Atlantic City was still under repair which required us to either lower our mast, or hop around it by using Great Egg and Absecon inlets. We chose to make the hop outside mainly because we were just curious to try Great Egg.

Overall the route was great with the charts fairly accurate. Lots of bird watching and easy anchorages. We found most of the Active Captain hazards to be way out of date. It’s a shame theses are not being cleaned out.

We had attempted the NJICW southbound in January but ice in Barnegat Bay kept us offshore. We are glad that we finally got a chance to try it out.

Thanks for an honest report that I can agree with from personal experience and others that have actually taken the route and paid attention to actual previous trip advice.

 

[Bikewfish]

I know of no reason why your Nordic Tug couldn’t make it. The following link is to Offshore Blue which has a nice write up with bridge schedules, etc.
https://www.offshoreblue.com/cruise/njicw.php

A review of the current Local Notice to Mariners for the most current reports of shoaling would be wise.

 

[psneeld]

To me...even better than LNTMs would be a telephone call the night or so before each transit to the local assistance towers (in NJ I recommend Sea Tow) for the latest in problem areas.

 

[sledge]

Interesting report! As a comparison, we made the journey north on the outside in July this year. We went out from Atlantic City to Sandy Hook in one day starting very early. It took 11.5 hours at an average speed of 8.2 mph, and a total distance of 95 miles. One could obviously shorten the day by bumping up the speed a bit more.
In our case, I'd say the outside route was in many ways less stressful and quicker, as long as you simply wait for a good weather window. With our 4' 10" draft, we had read the reports and would not likely attempt the NJICW.
I don't doubt some of the shoaling reports are inaccurate... but for us anyway, after coming all the way up the AICW and by the time we got to Cape May, we were ready for a break from worrying about skinny water for a while

 

[psneeld]

Same old advice about routes....

If you can't or won't..... don't.

If you can and are willing to give it a go....go.

Pretty much the same as any stretch of water whether inside or outside....including the notorious Dismal.