Anyone near Brick?

Hi Guys, If I purchase this boat I will be bringing it to the Chesapeake Bay. I am not familiar with the water north of Cape May. What kind of trip would it be? Is it fairly easy to navigate? How long does it take to get from Brick to Cape May at say 12 knots and are there alot of places to stop along the way? I would want to stay on the inside with it being a new to me boat and not sure of its capabilities. Any and all comments appreciated. BTW, this broker is not on my A list. He has not returned a call in a week now so I left a less than nice message for him last night. Anyone ever dealt with Bluewater?
 
Easy trip from Brick to AC. Just be careful to stay in the channel in the skinny water in the north and thru LBI. I've never gone inside below AC to Cape May. Always went out the AC Inlet. From AC to Cape May there are a lot of bridges and it is slow going, mostly no wake zones. Depending upon your clearance, I think there are about 9 bridges, but someone here with experience can tell you. Good luck!!
 
I have made the trip to Cape May, from just south of Brick, many times. I did the trip ONCE, down and up, on the inside, and would only ever do it again if the Ocean was unpassable and I couldn't just postpone until things calmed down.

That said, since your cruise speed is only 12 knots, the inside trip may not be such a bad option for you, provided you can deal with GREEN HEAD FLIES.

I would suggest the ICW to Atlantic City and then the Ocean from there. That should be about a 100 mile trip(~50 inside and 50 outside) Other than two areas around Long Beach Island, all of it will be at cruise speed so if you left early in the AM, you should be pulled into a slip in the Cape May area 8-10 hours later.

As stated above, STAY IN THE CHANNEL while traveling the ICW....lots of skinny water JUST outside the markers.
 
We have the green heads here too...what a menace but I'll be doing this trip in late March if I do it so they shouldn't be a problem. It sounds from your description Dominic that the ICW is well marked all the way down...is that right? Rob, are the bridges low? it is a flybridge cruiser so I am guessing about 13-15' clearance is all I would need. I really feel the need to stay inside on this trip as the boat is new to me and who knows what could crop up. Also, are there plenty of places to pull in and fuel or get something fixed? Thanks so much for these great answers, M
 
Staying inside for the AC to Cape May part of the trip is not really a good idea. Though well marked the channels shoal and finding enough water can be trying at best. You will hit bottom at least once. It can be done but you'll have to really work the tide.

I would stay in for the first part and then duck outside for the last part of the run. Or stay in past AC and go out the Great Egg Harbor inlet. A few bridges to deal with south of AC but you'll get outside before the shallowest areas.
 
The ICW is well marked "most" of the way with permanent dolphins. However, in some areas, as Rommer stated, there is moderate to severe shoaling, and those areas have the tradional floating cans and nuns. The floating markers locations are adjusted throughout the season by the CG. Again, however, in the March time frame, I would be concerned as to how "current" that adjustment is.

Last year, there were two areas, one just north of the Little egg inlet and one just north of AC in the marshes that had VERY SEVERE shoaling.

If you stay between the markers, and the markers are current, you should be OK...especially at a low cruise of 12 knots.
 
Hmmmm, Outside gives me a little scare with all the unknowns of this boat. Are the inlets pretty easy? Its only about 50 miles if I go out at AC...Maybe this isn't the right deal for me LOL. I'm not so worried about the boat but the mechanicals,ie: old gas, etc... the boat is heavy and will laugh at the Ocean. I grew up on one of these as my family built them. This is one of the best specimens I have been able to find and I haven't even seen it yet. I may have to re-think this.
 
I wouldn't be anymore afraid of the outside than the inside.....just pick your day. Go inside to AC and plan to stay the night as a transient. You should have a good feel for the boat by then and you can top off the tanks there also.

Both the Absecon (Atlantic City) and Cape May Inlets are tame as far as inlets go..IMHO.
 
OK guys, any recommendations for smallish transient marinas with a pub in AC and Cape may... If I do this, I'll probably do as suggested and stay inside to AC then out to CM. I will make it a 3 day trip to my homeport of Solomons Island and not stress over it. The boat will cruise easily at 16-18 but I just wanted to take it easy on her with the 12 knots until I got the feel for things.
 
Where ever you end up staying, that early in the season, you may want to confirm what is open/close, on/off....ie: is the water turned on yet, are the restrooms open, etc...
 
Some of the bridges are railroad so you'll have to open. It is a pain and slow going so as everyone has said, go out the AC inlet and in at Cape May. Both inlets are very easy. You can stay close to shore all the way down. In Cape May, South Jersey and Utsch's are 2 good choices for marinas. As Dominic said, check to see if they are open in March for you. I would think they are. I know your concern has been going outside in the ocean, but the lower Delaware can be pretty snotty with the wind blowing. Just watch the weather and you'll be fine. Have a great and safe trip!!
 
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