Lessons Learned on the Alligator-Pungo River Canal (ICW)

R

RCurry

New member
This past weekend The Captain and I took off "up north" on the ICW towards Columbia, NC.

Lesson Learned #1: About 10 miles past Belhaven The Captain began having doubts about not stopping to top off on fuel since it was a 50 mile run to the next pit stop (we'd already gone through 3/4 of a tank). So we lost 2+ hours of running time by turning back to get fuel. Lesson Learned: Stop in Belhaven regardless of the fuel status and top off.

Lesson Learned #2: Because of the above it was after 1800 before we got to the Alligator River Bridge and it looked like it'd be dark before we would have gotten to Columbia so we decided to use the Alligator River Mania as our overnighter and turn around point. While I finished tieing up Sea Baby The Captain registered for a slip. Price was great-only $29.00 (that included $4 for electricity). Decided to have dinner in their little diner and the 2 piece chicken dinner with two veggies was great. Looking at the registration package I noticed the fuel dock closed at 1900 and didn't open until 0900. Checking with Dockmaster he said I "might" be able to talk the morning girls into letting me have gas early but doubted it since they would be busy in the AM with tourist and locals getting gas and breakfast. He was wrong and I ended up buying a 2-gallon gas can and making 3 trips to the gas pumps up front for fuel. Lesson Learned: From now on we'll get fuel on arrival, anyplace we pull into, before going into a slip.

Despite the learning curve we still had a great time on the run up the ICW. Got some photos in the album.

Cal The Deckhand
 
Very nice. Made that trip in 2003, couple of months after ISABEL (hurricane).

Down Dismal Swamp Canal and back up Albemarle Canal. Album in my photos.

Charlie
 
In '88 I ran through that area while heading south on my sailboat. One bridge only opened on the hour (at that tine) and I got there five mintues late and had to drop the hook for an hour. While waiting , only one horse and two tractors crossed the bridge! Glad that I didn't cause a traffic jam!

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
Early on in my pilot training I was taught 3 things to NOT bypass:

Opportunity to put on fuel.

Runway behind you (i.e., taxi back and use the whole runway for takeoff, even if you think there's plenty enough runway in front of you).

Opportunity to use the bathroom.

Two of the three above also apply to boating. :wink: Sounds like a good trip, and we all learn something every time we go out.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Yes, the DSC is lovely though I've only kayaked the NC/VA Stateline - DSC Visitor's Center stretch (7 miles) a couple of times during the "Paddle for the Border". Later this summer, when The Captain can get some downtime, maybe we'll venture up to Elizabeth City and use that as a base for exploring the DSC on up towards Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA.

The Deckhand
 
Cal,

I also learned that same lesson last year coming home from the Friday Harbor CBGT. I probably had a 1/3 gas in both tanks and decided not to gas up in Friday Harbor. Halfway through, I knew we were in trouble and didn't have any portable tanks in reserve. With between 5-10 miles to the nearest fuel dock in Anacortes, we were down to 1/8 tank. I was sweating and brought the speed down to around 9 knots, watching the tank the whole way. I swear by the time we made it to the fuel dock, the engine must have been running on fumes!

NEVER AGAIN!!! I always make sure I fill-up every chance I get and I always keep a portable tank filled-up just so I never have to experience that anxiety again. Scary! :cry:
 
starcrafttom":b8577dwi said:
Dismal Swamp Canal? oh that sounds like lots of fun :lol:
Click to expand...

It was, forget how many miles long but 6' limiting draft and a no wake speed limit. About 150' wide (in places), trees overhanging, lots of deer and other wildlife. We followed a 6' draft sailboat through there, he bogged down in places on the bottom. This was about 2 months after hurricane Isabel, they had just cleared all the down trees out of the way. Just looked, it's 22 miles long and the oldest one in the US

DSCN0708.jpg


Charlie
 
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