Empathy List Archives

RY

Ralph Yost

Wed, May 28, 2014 8:25 PM

Is pretty much the same as it is each year. I did it in thick fog from Cape May to Atlantic City two years in a
Row.
Go for it.

Ralph Yost, Anchor Aviation LLC
RalphYost@AirborneInternet.com
(239) 541-3529

<div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Wade Ehlen <wehlen@yahoo.com> </div><div>Date:05/28/2014 4:01 PM (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Loop <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> </div><div>Subject: GL: Cruising the NJ ICW </div><div> </div>We're getting ready to depart from North Carolina and head north, beginning the "Great Loop." Does anyone have up-to-date information about conditions on the NJ ICW? I've read reports of massive dredging since Sandy, but am not sure if it's open from Cape May to Manesquan Inlet. Any info will be appreciated.

Wade Ehlen
MT 36 Shady Lady
New Bern NC

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Is pretty much the same as it is each year. I did it in thick fog from Cape May to Atlantic City two years in a Row. Go for it. Ralph Yost, Anchor Aviation LLC RalphYost@AirborneInternet.com (239) 541-3529 <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Wade Ehlen <wehlen@yahoo.com> </div><div>Date:05/28/2014 4:01 PM (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Loop <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> </div><div>Subject: GL: Cruising the NJ ICW </div><div> </div>We're getting ready to depart from North Carolina and head north, beginning the "Great Loop." Does anyone have up-to-date information about conditions on the NJ ICW? I've read reports of massive dredging since Sandy, but am not sure if it's open from Cape May to Manesquan Inlet. Any info will be appreciated. Wade Ehlen MT 36 Shady Lady New Bern NC _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

LL

Lawrence Landgraff

Wed, May 28, 2014 9:25 PM

I assume that your MT 36 stands for Marine Trader 36, and if so, I assume you need 4 ft of water under your keel. We did it the trip last year from Cape May to Atlantic City on the inland waterway, following Ralph's detailed directions contained in an e-mail and all was fine. We bumped the mud the bottom right where Ralph said we would, our prop wash churned up mud right where Ralph said it would, and the missing markers were still missing right where Ralph said. We went outside from Atlantic City to Manasquan, and had a no fog, smooth trip. If you plan to be in Manasquan over a weekend be sure to have a slip reservation so you will not get bumped by a fishing tournament. Manasquan to Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY was outside and again a smooth run.

Larry Landgraff
Room With A View
Marine Trader 36
Alexandria, Va., lying Grand Haven, Michigan

-----Original Message-----
From: Great-Loop [mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of Ralph Yost
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 4:25 PM
To: Wade Ehlen; Loop
Subject: Re: GL: Cruising the NJ ICW

Is pretty much the same as it is each year. I did it in thick fog from Cape May to Atlantic City two years in a Row. Go for it.

Ralph Yost, Anchor Aviation LLC
RalphYost@AirborneInternet.com
(239) 541-3529

<div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Wade Ehlen <wehlen@yahoo.com> </div><div>Date:05/28/2014 4:01 PM (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Loop <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> </div><div>Subject: GL: Cruising the NJ ICW </div><div> </div>We're getting ready to depart from North Carolina and head north, beginning the "Great Loop." Does anyone have up-to-date information about conditions on the NJ ICW? I've read reports of massive dredging since Sandy, but am not sure if it's open from Cape May to Manesquan Inlet. Any info will be appreciated.

Wade Ehlen
MT 36 Shady Lady
New Bern NC

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http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

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I assume that your MT 36 stands for Marine Trader 36, and if so, I assume you need 4 ft of water under your keel. We did it the trip last year from Cape May to Atlantic City on the inland waterway, following Ralph's detailed directions contained in an e-mail and all was fine. We bumped the mud the bottom right where Ralph said we would, our prop wash churned up mud right where Ralph said it would, and the missing markers were still missing right where Ralph said. We went outside from Atlantic City to Manasquan, and had a no fog, smooth trip. If you plan to be in Manasquan over a weekend be sure to have a slip reservation so you will not get bumped by a fishing tournament. Manasquan to Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY was outside and again a smooth run. Larry Landgraff Room With A View Marine Trader 36 Alexandria, Va., lying Grand Haven, Michigan -----Original Message----- From: Great-Loop [mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of Ralph Yost Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 4:25 PM To: Wade Ehlen; Loop Subject: Re: GL: Cruising the NJ ICW Is pretty much the same as it is each year. I did it in thick fog from Cape May to Atlantic City two years in a Row. Go for it. Ralph Yost, Anchor Aviation LLC RalphYost@AirborneInternet.com (239) 541-3529 <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Wade Ehlen <wehlen@yahoo.com> </div><div>Date:05/28/2014 4:01 PM (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Loop <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> </div><div>Subject: GL: Cruising the NJ ICW </div><div> </div>We're getting ready to depart from North Carolina and head north, beginning the "Great Loop." Does anyone have up-to-date information about conditions on the NJ ICW? I've read reports of massive dredging since Sandy, but am not sure if it's open from Cape May to Manesquan Inlet. Any info will be appreciated. Wade Ehlen MT 36 Shady Lady New Bern NC _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

RY

Ralph Yost

Thu, May 29, 2014 12:52 AM

I am going to repost some documentation I made of the NJ ICW over the last few years. Here is the first one: Cape May to A.C.
R.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ralph Yost [mailto:ralph@alphacompservices.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:44 PM
Subject: NJ ICW

Much has been written about the NJ ICW and the fear that many boaters have with it. It is definitely worse in the lower half, between Ocean City NJ and Cape May NJ. I have commented on it in the past and thought I would provide this experience and report for your benefit. Its been a number of years since I have made this run and to tell you the truth, it hasn't changed much.

On Fri May 4, 2012 we were anchored in Cape May intending on going outside to Atlantic City. Very intense fog set in with SSE winds over night. Not good for outside.

So we went inside from Cape May to Ocean City. Tide was high but going out for an hour before our departure. Visibility was 100 yds. After waiting 30 min to see if the fog would change, I determined the weather was going to remain the same most of the day and so we departed about 7:30 am.

We have a Defever 41 Trawler, single screw with a full keel and draw 4ft.

Be careful when approaching Great Channel (Stone Harbor). After passing GREEN pole #427, there are buoys to mark a changing channel. You will make a 90-deg left turn at Nun #424. Water depth is fine but watch the turn.

We had minor concern about depth except in two places.

The first was right about Statute Mile 100 in Great Sound, behind Seven Mile Beach between Stone Harbor and Avalon. We had depths looking close to 4 ft, but we never hit and we were never pushing mud behind us. Most likely it was a lot of soft silt that fills into the channel when the wind blows across the bay of Great Sound (and creates a current of water movement).

The second was about R #348 in Ludlam Bay (Just after Sea Isle, approaching Strathmere and Corson Inlet. Same thing - depths approaching 4 ft but didn't hit and no mud.

In both cases we were in the channel.

These two locations were the same locations of depth concern that I recall from many years back - even more than 30 years .

I was glad to be able to make this run in the worse conditions: falling and low tide. We encountered Great Sound and Ludlam Bay fairly close to low tide, although there was still probably another half foot or so to fall.

Note that our boat was completely full of water and fuel, having just filled up at Utches in Cape May. We are living aboard now to do The Loop so we were fully loaded.

We made Ocean City without incident and I elected to go outside since the wind was light and although still foggy, visibility had increased to about a quarter mile. We arrived at Great Egg Inlet (Ocean City) about 12:00pm. We made Absecon Inlet about 2:15.

Be careful about the sand bar on the NORTH SIDE of GE Inlet. There were breakers coming into the north side of the channel as we left. I took a picture of a red nun buoy behind the breakers.

The south side of the marked channel was fine. You MUST run all the way out to the bell buoy before making your turn north. There are large rollers coming across the bar on the north that get steep and keep rolling, eventually breaking farther in. But you don't want to be on that bar and heading into these rollers. Over by the bell buoy it is deeper and no rollers. When you get into 20+ feet of water you can make your turn north to A.C.

I would encourage any single screw skipper of 4ft draft or less who has the self confidence to run inside from Cape May to Ocean City or Atlantic City.
If you run with prudence and pay attention, you can do this without incident. We were able to get a good travel day in, see some nice sights along the way, and have a smooth ride instead of sitting in Cape May another day with no forward progress.

If you have twin screw, I would only suggest you do this route on INCOMING tide and be sure you have half tide or better in Great Sound and Ludlam Bay.

R.

I am going to repost some documentation I made of the NJ ICW over the last few years. Here is the first one: Cape May to A.C. R. -----Original Message----- From: Ralph Yost [mailto:ralph@alphacompservices.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:44 PM Subject: NJ ICW Much has been written about the NJ ICW and the fear that many boaters have with it. It is definitely worse in the lower half, between Ocean City NJ and Cape May NJ. I have commented on it in the past and thought I would provide this experience and report for your benefit. Its been a number of years since I have made this run and to tell you the truth, it hasn't changed much. On Fri May 4, 2012 we were anchored in Cape May intending on going outside to Atlantic City. Very intense fog set in with SSE winds over night. Not good for outside. So we went inside from Cape May to Ocean City. Tide was high but going out for an hour before our departure. Visibility was 100 yds. After waiting 30 min to see if the fog would change, I determined the weather was going to remain the same most of the day and so we departed about 7:30 am. We have a Defever 41 Trawler, single screw with a full keel and draw 4ft. Be careful when approaching Great Channel (Stone Harbor). After passing GREEN pole #427, there are buoys to mark a changing channel. You will make a 90-deg left turn at Nun #424. Water depth is fine but watch the turn. We had minor concern about depth except in two places. The first was right about Statute Mile 100 in Great Sound, behind Seven Mile Beach between Stone Harbor and Avalon. We had depths looking close to 4 ft, but we never hit and we were never pushing mud behind us. Most likely it was a lot of soft silt that fills into the channel when the wind blows across the bay of Great Sound (and creates a current of water movement). The second was about R #348 in Ludlam Bay (Just after Sea Isle, approaching Strathmere and Corson Inlet. Same thing - depths approaching 4 ft but didn't hit and no mud. In both cases we were in the channel. These two locations were the same locations of depth concern that I recall from many years back - even more than 30 years . I was glad to be able to make this run in the worse conditions: falling and low tide. We encountered Great Sound and Ludlam Bay fairly close to low tide, although there was still probably another half foot or so to fall. Note that our boat was completely full of water and fuel, having just filled up at Utches in Cape May. We are living aboard now to do The Loop so we were fully loaded. We made Ocean City without incident and I elected to go outside since the wind was light and although still foggy, visibility had increased to about a quarter mile. We arrived at Great Egg Inlet (Ocean City) about 12:00pm. We made Absecon Inlet about 2:15. Be careful about the sand bar on the NORTH SIDE of GE Inlet. There were breakers coming into the north side of the channel as we left. I took a picture of a red nun buoy behind the breakers. The south side of the marked channel was fine. You MUST run all the way out to the bell buoy before making your turn north. There are large rollers coming across the bar on the north that get steep and keep rolling, eventually breaking farther in. But you don't want to be on that bar and heading into these rollers. Over by the bell buoy it is deeper and no rollers. When you get into 20+ feet of water you can make your turn north to A.C. I would encourage any single screw skipper of 4ft draft or less who has the self confidence to run inside from Cape May to Ocean City or Atlantic City. If you run with prudence and pay attention, you can do this without incident. We were able to get a good travel day in, see some nice sights along the way, and have a smooth ride instead of sitting in Cape May another day with no forward progress. If you have twin screw, I would only suggest you do this route on INCOMING tide and be sure you have half tide or better in Great Sound and Ludlam Bay. R.