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Author Topic:   Suggestions for Coastal Trip Gear

jason78 posted 08-06-2014 09:16 PM ET (US)
I am getting ready to make my first trip to the coast. I am not planning to leave sight of land but just want to make sure I have everything I should. I think I have all my safety gear ready to go, still have to get a flare kit.
I am wondering if I should get a hub kit? Is this something typically that should be carried as a spare? I have a 98 Merc 200 with a Vengeance Stainless prop. If I hit something is the hub supposed to "spin" or strip out so as not to damage the shaft and cause reduced damage on the prop? If I were to spin a hub, how feasible is it to change one while out on the water? I'm just a newbie to outboards. Thanks!
saumon posted 08-06-2014 09:26 PM ET (US)
Personnaly, I carry a spare prop. A used aluminum one can surely be found for cheap...
jason78 posted 08-07-2014 08:26 AM ET (US)
Yes, a spare prop has certainly crossed my mind but am I correct that if I were to strike something to the degree that the prop was no longer usable, I would need to change the hub as well anyway? So a spare hub and wrench would be needed either way, whether I had a spare prop or not? So having a prop would just cover me if I hit something that messed up the prop and hub?
jcdawg83 posted 08-07-2014 09:11 AM ET (US)
If you are going offshore, even just a few miles, changing a prop would be incredibly difficult unless seas were very calm. My experience has been that seas are never calm when you would like them to be. While a spare prop is a good idea, having a Sea Tow subscription paid would probably be a better option. I have logged a lot of time offshore and have never had a problem with a prop. The more likely peril is engine failure due to water in fuel or a mechanical problem or some small but crippling failure of a linkage or fitting. Most of these problems are not generally something you can remedy on your own while offshore unless your boat is big enough to carry a reasonable sized service departments supply of spare parts.
Make sure you have a good vhf radio and if you are within sight of land, a cell phone should work as well. Unless you are going in a very remote area, if something goes wrong you should be able to contact help fairly quickly. As long as your boat and engine are in good shape and you have confidence in them, go and have fun. If something does happen and you have to be towed back in, it will make a good story.
swist posted 08-07-2014 10:58 AM ET (US)
I live on the coast, so all my trips are coastal trips.
I echo all the previous comments - I used to take a lot more spare stuff. I carried a spare prop around for 20 years and never needed it. Now I only carry a basic tool kit, so I can repair a loose or broken wire (in limited locations), or a broken/loose fitting of some kind. Just getting the cowl off the engine can be difficult at sea, let along actually repairing something inside. You would be lucky to not lose parts, tools, or yourself overboard. And what can you fix in those conditions on a complex modern outboard?
So as others have said, don't sweat it. There is a very low probability of anything going wrong if you are a prudent and knowledgeable mariner, and an even smaller probability of being able to fix it. SeaTow is cheap insurance.
jason78 posted 08-07-2014 11:57 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the advice. I do have towing dispatch through NBOA Insurance so I should be good there. I have a fixed mount and backup handheld VHF as well. I definitely don't plan to go far out.
As far as [the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway or AIWW], as long as you stay in the marked channel, is [the AIWW] typically deep enough to navigate even in low tide?
Binkster posted 08-07-2014 12:25 PM ET (US)
I like a kicker motor myself. Its better to save yourself. There is nothing like the sound of the kicker firing up when the main engine goes down. And have a different fuel supply for the kicker. Also keep the VHF tuned to channel 16, that monitors the Coast Guard, so that you can easily call them if things really go south. Remember they won't come to your aid unless there is a chance of loss of life.
rich
jimh posted 08-07-2014 12:54 PM ET (US)
The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). You can get information where to obtain the most recent information about water depths in the AIWW from the USACE websites at:
http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/AIWW.aspx
http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/AIWW/ OtherAIWWPortions.aspx
jimh posted 08-07-2014 12:54 PM ET (US)
jason78 writes:

quote:
I have a Lowrance HDS7 with Navionics Premium Map card that has depths marked. I am assuming they are average between tidal cycles.
Any sounding on any chart is made in reference to some reference datum. The chart should clearly state the reference. Soundings on charts in tidal water are usually referenced to Mean Lower Low Water Level. I have never heard of any sort of use of averaging between the High Water and Low Water levels being used in preparing a navigation chart.
If you want to transit an area where the depth of water may be close to the minimum necessary to keep your vessel afloat, the best approach is to not embark on that passage on a falling tide.
jimh posted 08-07-2014 01:14 PM ET (US)
Another good source of information about the area encompased by the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is from the U.S. Coastal Pilot No. 4. See
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/coastpilot_w.php?book=4
Hal Watkins posted 08-07-2014 03:01 PM ET (US)
Tides....Don't cut the corners in the channel, stay inside the markers. Experience talking here.
jcdawg83 posted 08-07-2014 04:08 PM ET (US)
Jason, I don't know where on the coast you are going but the tides can make a huge difference in water depth. I typically boat on the Georgia and South Carolina coast and the tide height varies from 5 to 9 feet depending on location and moon phase. At full high tide, if there's water over it, you can usually run there. At low tide, water means nothing and pay close attention to the channel markers. If you go offshore, most inlets and sounds are lined by sandbars, the breakers will show you where they are. If you have a good chart plotter, you should be fine. Pay attention to your depth finder and don't run fast in areas that are not well marked or you are not a little familiar with.
Relax, take it easy, and have fun.
Binkster posted 08-08-2014 10:02 AM ET (US)
GOING OFFSHORE..... Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, or Gulf of Mexico. It makes a big difference. Also the Atlantic Ocean off our northern states is way different than the same body of water off our southern states. Time of year also makes a difference.
rich
EJO posted 08-08-2014 02:48 PM ET (US)
Datum on a chart as to depths are based on mean low tide and bridge clearances based on mean high tide. Of coarse when the moon aligns wrong these soundings might be off but in general you should be OK. see http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/learnnc_soundingdatum.html
Now at inlets/outlets there could be deposits (shoals) that are sometimes not accounted for on charts and normally well known by the locals (stay out of the blue area). Every day you can the LNM (Local Notice to Mariners) for the area your in. Follow a boat that seems to know where it is going plus your Whaler never drafts enough to get into trouble using the IC when you stay within the marker buoys.
Have fun just do it. A letterman type multi-tool should get you out of minor trouble otherwise use your VHF and always have the VHF on and scanning in case you need to help somebody else as your whaler will do fine if you maintain her.
jason78 posted 08-09-2014 02:59 PM ET (US)
Thanks for all the advice! I should have been a little more specific on location. I am going to the Atlantic Intercoastal, near Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Plan to spend most of my time between Murrells Inlet and Southport on the ICW. Someone told me it would probably be too rough to try and go out of an inlet even a 1/2 mile out in the ocean with a 20 foot boat. Seemed a bit odd to me unless it was a windy or stormy day. I guess I will just have to see what the conditions are. I did not really want to go out more than 1/2 mile or so anyway so wont be a big loss if I cant go out of the ICW.
placerville posted 08-09-2014 09:58 PM ET (US)
I agree with Rich 100%. A kicker which I warm up before leaving the dock and a second radio tuned to channel 16. And a PFD worn at all times.
Frank O posted 08-10-2014 10:35 AM ET (US)
One thing I found helpful was to think through the most likely scenarios of mechanical problems and go through exactly what tools and steps were required to deal with them. For example, if enough water gets into my fuel to get past the fuel-water separator filter and fill up the second filter within my Optimax outboard so that it throws an alarm, the filter within the outboard can easily be drained. But this requires a hex key, and when I went through the draining procedure as a dry run I found that the Allen wrench I was carrying didn't fit between the components within the engine. So I invested about $5 in a long-shaft hex driver that fits much better. For sure, though, for serious trouble I rely on Vessel Assist, a working VHF radio and handheld backup, cell phone, flares, etc. I also carry a backup aluminum prop but have never had to mess with it.
Dave Sutton posted 08-10-2014 12:07 PM ET (US)
Jason,
On some days you can go 50 miles offshore with a 20 foot boat.
On other days you can't get thru the inlet with a 44 Coast Guard motor lifeboat.
It all depends on the day.....

I take my 17 foot Montauk on any day of Spearfishing on a trip of over 120 miles in the Atlantic (Rhode Island to Montauk and back), that has three passages across 20mile open ocean stretches. With one engine, with full confidence. The equipment you carry isn't nearly as important as the brain you carry. Use that first.

The ICW is benign. It's a ditch, and that's why it's called "The Ditch" by people like me. I took my 42 foot Trawler inside it from points far north of where it begins to Key West last autumn. Your little skiff will have no problems there. There are tides and currents especially as you near inlets. Learn to watch the water a little and enjoy yourself. If you go aground, wait... water leaves, and water returns. Toss out an anchor and eat a sandwich.
The best piece of safety equipment you can carry is a good anchor with plenty of chain and a good long piece of line. Ten feet of chain and 150 feet of anchor rode is a minimum. Second is a cellphone, and third is a membership in one opf the towing programs.
After that a roll of black tape, a few tie-wraps, a 5 foot length of electrical wire, a crescent wrench, a set of vise grips, a pair of channel locks, a cheap combination wrench set from Walmart, and a good reversable screwdriver are pretty much all you can practically use aboard to fix things. Propeller? Yeah... I carry one on my Montauk just because I have an extra one. I've never needed one in 35 years of boating. You can't change it without swimming anyhow on that engine and you'll likely be killed by the skeg in a pitching sea if you try. I carry mine so it's always handy in case I need to change it when the boat is on it's trailer after I've gotten home with a bent blade. If you're running the ICW at a speed where you would really break anything hitting a log (unlikely at best), you are running WAY too fast and deserve what you get.

Dave
.

swist posted 08-11-2014 07:44 AM ET (US)
A kicker is a very expensive and complex solution to a situation you have a very low probability of encountering. And if you try to get around the cost by installing a cheap piece of junk that's less reliable than your main engine, duh...
jcdawg83 posted 08-11-2014 08:55 AM ET (US)
Jason, a 20' boat is more than big enough to go out of Murrell's or Little River inlet. You do have to have some common sense and pay attention to the conditions, but I have been far offshore (30+ miles) on that coast in a 20' center console with a single engine and no kicker and never had a moments concern. There will be a good bit of boat traffic in the area, so a good radio will be all you need to call for help. A cell phone will work up to a few miles offshore as well.
FYI; a half mile offshore is going to be disappointing unless you simply want to ride along the beach. The water depth will probably be around 8-10' and sandbars will be your biggest danger.
EJO posted 08-12-2014 01:37 PM ET (US)
Well said Dave S.
Each sentence and therefore paragraph of your statement above nails it on the head (which is the most important thing to have with you, a head with brains)
As to the OP enjoy your trip without kicker, extra prop, etc.
E-J
martyn1075 posted 08-12-2014 03:31 PM ET (US)
kicker.. yes agree good idea and firing up at the dock is also good practice as mentioned. If you encounter swells with a 3 foot chop (very kind actually offshore water at least in the pacific region) on top the swell can suck you back into another one during idle times and the chop just makes life miserable with water spraying/filling the deck and of course the engines (the worst place to encounter water especially salt water) Trying to start the little one can be nasty and dangerous. Thats why we start it at the beginning of the trip.
Having the boat moving with a kicker going to eliminate this all together. Expensive? yes they can be some of them, but they offer you many options safety being high on the list. Since we are specifically talking about offshore use I would say a boat should be equipped with a second engine of some sort. A second anchor is good idea as well a stern anchor with as much rope as you can handle for that anchor separate then your main anchor rope. Always comes in handy for anything else as well.
"Save yourself" Yes be responsible ask for help if you REALLY need it but its a bit uncofratble to ask I know this and its not going to a be much fun if we "could have just made a few more options availble for our trips"
jason78 your doing the right thing to ask now, to gain ideas that might be utilized on your journey is smart on your part.
martyn1075 posted 08-12-2014 03:41 PM ET (US)
Extra gas purchased other than your dock such as a gas station that sells premium gasoline kept in a self venting jerry can is a good idea. I usually strap it in somewhere near the front of the boat. Keep it more or less clear from the walking areas that someone could slip or trip over. Trust me I have seen people oblivious absolutely fall hard and need help, all during a sea with a light ripple on top.
knothead posted 08-12-2014 06:18 PM ET (US)
Jason,
It sounds like you'll be somewhere between Ocean Isle and Pawleys Island. Unless there is a thunderstorm around, the typical weather is as follows: Early morning to 1:00 pm-The ocean will be flat, almost glassy with some long small swells. By 1:00 pm a sea breeze will start to kick in. Wind speed will increase to about 10-15kts by late afternoon. Wave height will be 1-3 ft. depending on the wind. At twilight the wind usually dies and the dreaded no-seeums come out in force.
If you get in trouble, call "Blue Water Pirate" seeing as he lives in Ocean Isle and needs to get some time on his new Mercury motor. As a bonus he can film the rescue with his Go-Pro and show it to all of us here on "The Wave".
Seriously, listen to the weather channels on your VHF, mind the tides, watch TV weather before you go, and you'll be fine.
If you choose to stay inside, you can take the ditch up to Southport, cross over the Cape Fear River and dock at Baldhead Island. Rent some bikes and tour the island. OR you can go down south behind Myrtle Beach down to the intersection where the waterway meets the Waccamaw River and go up the Waccamaw to Conway. You can read that travelogue on this website.
Have fun
Regards---knothead
boatdryver posted 08-13-2014 11:59 AM ET (US)
Lots of good advice here. At a glance I didn't notice the advice to avoid the inlets on a big ebb and significant incoming swell.
JimL
knothead posted 08-13-2014 05:50 PM ET (US)
Good advice, Boatdriver
Lets just stipulate, for a newbie, unless you have local knowledge, only travel the inlets on a rising tide. This especially applies to the Cape Fear River inlet.
e.g. Lockwood Folly Inlet has its name for a reason.
regards---knothead
jason78 posted 08-17-2014 10:18 PM ET (US)
I just wanted to thank everyone here for the great and accurate input! It was very helpful and is much appreciated.
I would say this trip was a success. We stayed in Ocean Isle Beach and I rented a transient slip for the Outrage at Ocean Isle Beach Marina. The staff was nice to deal with and I thought the price was reasonable. It was nice to be able to use the boat daily without having to trailer it in and out.
The wife and kids had a great time! Too many stories to tell here but they are ready to go back to the coast. The first couple days were a little stressful for me but I got comfortable with it. Other than dealing with the tides, learning that the ICW has a "different" standard of boating courtesy took me a day or two to get used to. At first I didn't know what was up. It seems like no one really abides by "No Wake" zones down there. Also passing just out of arm's reach and people blazing past kayaks seem to be "business as usual". At first I just thought it was people being rude but soon figured out it is just the way it is. I guess probably has a lot to do with the narrow channel everyone has to navigate in and all the traffic. No problem with it though. Just took some getting used to.
We mostly stayed on the ICW between Holden Beach bridge and the OIB Marina. Went to Southport one day, docked at Marina and had a great time. Tried to go out to the ocean once through the Shallotte Inlet. Got almost through the breakers and my wife made me turn back. Sea looked calm though. We had a big 30 something boat in front of us so that probably made it worse than it would have been.
The conditions were almost EXACTLY as described by knothead so thank you for that.
Can't wait to go back but glad I am back home. Probably do Isle of Palms to Charleston next time. Maybe before the end of the year.
Jason
EJO posted 08-18-2014 03:09 PM ET (US)
Jason great to hear that all of you had a safe and good time due to your preparations, but as you mentioned to many boaters and floaters out there that still can use a little more boating education and etiquette.
Binkster posted 08-18-2014 04:07 PM ET (US)
Next time bring the Whaler on down to the Florida east coast. The many inlets are not a problem, the water is blue, not brown, and the Gulf Stream is just offshore. Its a world of difference here.
rich
jason78 posted 08-18-2014 10:30 PM ET (US)
A trip to FL is definitely on the radar blinkster. I would love to get with a group to do a crossing to Bimini. I saw on Facebook the BW Owners Club sponsored some kind of trip over there a couple weeks ago. I had no idea about it or I might have tried to participate.

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Author	Topic: Suggestions for Coastal Trip Gear
jason78	posted 08-06-2014 09:16 PM ET (US) I am getting ready to make my first trip to the coast. I am not planning to leave sight of land but just want to make sure I have everything I should. I think I have all my safety gear ready to go, still have to get a flare kit. I am wondering if I should get a hub kit? Is this something typically that should be carried as a spare? I have a 98 Merc 200 with a Vengeance Stainless prop. If I hit something is the hub supposed to "spin" or strip out so as not to damage the shaft and cause reduced damage on the prop? If I were to spin a hub, how feasible is it to change one while out on the water? I'm just a newbie to outboards. Thanks!
saumon	posted 08-06-2014 09:26 PM ET (US) Personnaly, I carry a spare prop. A used aluminum one can surely be found for cheap...
jason78	posted 08-07-2014 08:26 AM ET (US) Yes, a spare prop has certainly crossed my mind but am I correct that if I were to strike something to the degree that the prop was no longer usable, I would need to change the hub as well anyway? So a spare hub and wrench would be needed either way, whether I had a spare prop or not? So having a prop would just cover me if I hit something that messed up the prop and hub?
jcdawg83	posted 08-07-2014 09:11 AM ET (US) If you are going offshore, even just a few miles, changing a prop would be incredibly difficult unless seas were very calm. My experience has been that seas are never calm when you would like them to be. While a spare prop is a good idea, having a Sea Tow subscription paid would probably be a better option. I have logged a lot of time offshore and have never had a problem with a prop. The more likely peril is engine failure due to water in fuel or a mechanical problem or some small but crippling failure of a linkage or fitting. Most of these problems are not generally something you can remedy on your own while offshore unless your boat is big enough to carry a reasonable sized service departments supply of spare parts. Make sure you have a good vhf radio and if you are within sight of land, a cell phone should work as well. Unless you are going in a very remote area, if something goes wrong you should be able to contact help fairly quickly. As long as your boat and engine are in good shape and you have confidence in them, go and have fun. If something does happen and you have to be towed back in, it will make a good story.
swist	posted 08-07-2014 10:58 AM ET (US) I live on the coast, so all my trips are coastal trips. I echo all the previous comments - I used to take a lot more spare stuff. I carried a spare prop around for 20 years and never needed it. Now I only carry a basic tool kit, so I can repair a loose or broken wire (in limited locations), or a broken/loose fitting of some kind. Just getting the cowl off the engine can be difficult at sea, let along actually repairing something inside. You would be lucky to not lose parts, tools, or yourself overboard. And what can you fix in those conditions on a complex modern outboard? So as others have said, don't sweat it. There is a very low probability of anything going wrong if you are a prudent and knowledgeable mariner, and an even smaller probability of being able to fix it. SeaTow is cheap insurance.
jason78	posted 08-07-2014 11:57 AM ET (US) Thanks for the advice. I do have towing dispatch through NBOA Insurance so I should be good there. I have a fixed mount and backup handheld VHF as well. I definitely don't plan to go far out. As far as [the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway or AIWW], as long as you stay in the marked channel, is [the AIWW] typically deep enough to navigate even in low tide?
Binkster	posted 08-07-2014 12:25 PM ET (US) I like a kicker motor myself. Its better to save yourself. There is nothing like the sound of the kicker firing up when the main engine goes down. And have a different fuel supply for the kicker. Also keep the VHF tuned to channel 16, that monitors the Coast Guard, so that you can easily call them if things really go south. Remember they won't come to your aid unless there is a chance of loss of life. rich
jimh	posted 08-07-2014 12:54 PM ET (US) The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). You can get information where to obtain the most recent information about water depths in the AIWW from the USACE websites at: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/AIWW.aspx http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/AIWW/ OtherAIWWPortions.aspx
jimh	posted 08-07-2014 12:54 PM ET (US) jason78 writes: quote: I have a Lowrance HDS7 with Navionics Premium Map card that has depths marked. I am assuming they are average between tidal cycles. Any sounding on any chart is made in reference to some reference datum. The chart should clearly state the reference. Soundings on charts in tidal water are usually referenced to Mean Lower Low Water Level. I have never heard of any sort of use of averaging between the High Water and Low Water levels being used in preparing a navigation chart. If you want to transit an area where the depth of water may be close to the minimum necessary to keep your vessel afloat, the best approach is to not embark on that passage on a falling tide.
jimh	posted 08-07-2014 01:14 PM ET (US) Another good source of information about the area encompased by the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is from the U.S. Coastal Pilot No. 4. See http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/coastpilot_w.php?book=4
Hal Watkins	posted 08-07-2014 03:01 PM ET (US) Tides....Don't cut the corners in the channel, stay inside the markers. Experience talking here.
jcdawg83	posted 08-07-2014 04:08 PM ET (US) Jason, I don't know where on the coast you are going but the tides can make a huge difference in water depth. I typically boat on the Georgia and South Carolina coast and the tide height varies from 5 to 9 feet depending on location and moon phase. At full high tide, if there's water over it, you can usually run there. At low tide, water means nothing and pay close attention to the channel markers. If you go offshore, most inlets and sounds are lined by sandbars, the breakers will show you where they are. If you have a good chart plotter, you should be fine. Pay attention to your depth finder and don't run fast in areas that are not well marked or you are not a little familiar with. Relax, take it easy, and have fun.
Binkster	posted 08-08-2014 10:02 AM ET (US) GOING OFFSHORE..... Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, or Gulf of Mexico. It makes a big difference. Also the Atlantic Ocean off our northern states is way different than the same body of water off our southern states. Time of year also makes a difference. rich
EJO	posted 08-08-2014 02:48 PM ET (US) Datum on a chart as to depths are based on mean low tide and bridge clearances based on mean high tide. Of coarse when the moon aligns wrong these soundings might be off but in general you should be OK. see http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/learnnc_soundingdatum.html Now at inlets/outlets there could be deposits (shoals) that are sometimes not accounted for on charts and normally well known by the locals (stay out of the blue area). Every day you can the LNM (Local Notice to Mariners) for the area your in. Follow a boat that seems to know where it is going plus your Whaler never drafts enough to get into trouble using the IC when you stay within the marker buoys. Have fun just do it. A letterman type multi-tool should get you out of minor trouble otherwise use your VHF and always have the VHF on and scanning in case you need to help somebody else as your whaler will do fine if you maintain her.
jason78	posted 08-09-2014 02:59 PM ET (US) Thanks for all the advice! I should have been a little more specific on location. I am going to the Atlantic Intercoastal, near Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Plan to spend most of my time between Murrells Inlet and Southport on the ICW. Someone told me it would probably be too rough to try and go out of an inlet even a 1/2 mile out in the ocean with a 20 foot boat. Seemed a bit odd to me unless it was a windy or stormy day. I guess I will just have to see what the conditions are. I did not really want to go out more than 1/2 mile or so anyway so wont be a big loss if I cant go out of the ICW.
placerville	posted 08-09-2014 09:58 PM ET (US) I agree with Rich 100%. A kicker which I warm up before leaving the dock and a second radio tuned to channel 16. And a PFD worn at all times.
Frank O	posted 08-10-2014 10:35 AM ET (US) One thing I found helpful was to think through the most likely scenarios of mechanical problems and go through exactly what tools and steps were required to deal with them. For example, if enough water gets into my fuel to get past the fuel-water separator filter and fill up the second filter within my Optimax outboard so that it throws an alarm, the filter within the outboard can easily be drained. But this requires a hex key, and when I went through the draining procedure as a dry run I found that the Allen wrench I was carrying didn't fit between the components within the engine. So I invested about $5 in a long-shaft hex driver that fits much better. For sure, though, for serious trouble I rely on Vessel Assist, a working VHF radio and handheld backup, cell phone, flares, etc. I also carry a backup aluminum prop but have never had to mess with it.
Dave Sutton	posted 08-10-2014 12:07 PM ET (US) Jason, On some days you can go 50 miles offshore with a 20 foot boat. On other days you can't get thru the inlet with a 44 Coast Guard motor lifeboat. It all depends on the day..... I take my 17 foot Montauk on any day of Spearfishing on a trip of over 120 miles in the Atlantic (Rhode Island to Montauk and back), that has three passages across 20mile open ocean stretches. With one engine, with full confidence. The equipment you carry isn't nearly as important as the brain you carry. Use that first. The ICW is benign. It's a ditch, and that's why it's called "The Ditch" by people like me. I took my 42 foot Trawler inside it from points far north of where it begins to Key West last autumn. Your little skiff will have no problems there. There are tides and currents especially as you near inlets. Learn to watch the water a little and enjoy yourself. If you go aground, wait... water leaves, and water returns. Toss out an anchor and eat a sandwich. The best piece of safety equipment you can carry is a good anchor with plenty of chain and a good long piece of line. Ten feet of chain and 150 feet of anchor rode is a minimum. Second is a cellphone, and third is a membership in one opf the towing programs. After that a roll of black tape, a few tie-wraps, a 5 foot length of electrical wire, a crescent wrench, a set of vise grips, a pair of channel locks, a cheap combination wrench set from Walmart, and a good reversable screwdriver are pretty much all you can practically use aboard to fix things. Propeller? Yeah... I carry one on my Montauk just because I have an extra one. I've never needed one in 35 years of boating. You can't change it without swimming anyhow on that engine and you'll likely be killed by the skeg in a pitching sea if you try. I carry mine so it's always handy in case I need to change it when the boat is on it's trailer after I've gotten home with a bent blade. If you're running the ICW at a speed where you would really break anything hitting a log (unlikely at best), you are running WAY too fast and deserve what you get. Dave .
swist	posted 08-11-2014 07:44 AM ET (US) A kicker is a very expensive and complex solution to a situation you have a very low probability of encountering. And if you try to get around the cost by installing a cheap piece of junk that's less reliable than your main engine, duh...
jcdawg83	posted 08-11-2014 08:55 AM ET (US) Jason, a 20' boat is more than big enough to go out of Murrell's or Little River inlet. You do have to have some common sense and pay attention to the conditions, but I have been far offshore (30+ miles) on that coast in a 20' center console with a single engine and no kicker and never had a moments concern. There will be a good bit of boat traffic in the area, so a good radio will be all you need to call for help. A cell phone will work up to a few miles offshore as well. FYI; a half mile offshore is going to be disappointing unless you simply want to ride along the beach. The water depth will probably be around 8-10' and sandbars will be your biggest danger.
EJO	posted 08-12-2014 01:37 PM ET (US) Well said Dave S. Each sentence and therefore paragraph of your statement above nails it on the head (which is the most important thing to have with you, a head with brains) As to the OP enjoy your trip without kicker, extra prop, etc. E-J
martyn1075	posted 08-12-2014 03:31 PM ET (US) kicker.. yes agree good idea and firing up at the dock is also good practice as mentioned. If you encounter swells with a 3 foot chop (very kind actually offshore water at least in the pacific region) on top the swell can suck you back into another one during idle times and the chop just makes life miserable with water spraying/filling the deck and of course the engines (the worst place to encounter water especially salt water) Trying to start the little one can be nasty and dangerous. Thats why we start it at the beginning of the trip. Having the boat moving with a kicker going to eliminate this all together. Expensive? yes they can be some of them, but they offer you many options safety being high on the list. Since we are specifically talking about offshore use I would say a boat should be equipped with a second engine of some sort. A second anchor is good idea as well a stern anchor with as much rope as you can handle for that anchor separate then your main anchor rope. Always comes in handy for anything else as well. "Save yourself" Yes be responsible ask for help if you REALLY need it but its a bit uncofratble to ask I know this and its not going to a be much fun if we "could have just made a few more options availble for our trips" jason78 your doing the right thing to ask now, to gain ideas that might be utilized on your journey is smart on your part.
martyn1075	posted 08-12-2014 03:41 PM ET (US) Extra gas purchased other than your dock such as a gas station that sells premium gasoline kept in a self venting jerry can is a good idea. I usually strap it in somewhere near the front of the boat. Keep it more or less clear from the walking areas that someone could slip or trip over. Trust me I have seen people oblivious absolutely fall hard and need help, all during a sea with a light ripple on top.
knothead	posted 08-12-2014 06:18 PM ET (US) Jason, It sounds like you'll be somewhere between Ocean Isle and Pawleys Island. Unless there is a thunderstorm around, the typical weather is as follows: Early morning to 1:00 pm-The ocean will be flat, almost glassy with some long small swells. By 1:00 pm a sea breeze will start to kick in. Wind speed will increase to about 10-15kts by late afternoon. Wave height will be 1-3 ft. depending on the wind. At twilight the wind usually dies and the dreaded no-seeums come out in force. If you get in trouble, call "Blue Water Pirate" seeing as he lives in Ocean Isle and needs to get some time on his new Mercury motor. As a bonus he can film the rescue with his Go-Pro and show it to all of us here on "The Wave". Seriously, listen to the weather channels on your VHF, mind the tides, watch TV weather before you go, and you'll be fine. If you choose to stay inside, you can take the ditch up to Southport, cross over the Cape Fear River and dock at Baldhead Island. Rent some bikes and tour the island. OR you can go down south behind Myrtle Beach down to the intersection where the waterway meets the Waccamaw River and go up the Waccamaw to Conway. You can read that travelogue on this website. Have fun Regards---knothead
boatdryver	posted 08-13-2014 11:59 AM ET (US) Lots of good advice here. At a glance I didn't notice the advice to avoid the inlets on a big ebb and significant incoming swell. JimL
knothead	posted 08-13-2014 05:50 PM ET (US) Good advice, Boatdriver Lets just stipulate, for a newbie, unless you have local knowledge, only travel the inlets on a rising tide. This especially applies to the Cape Fear River inlet. e.g. Lockwood Folly Inlet has its name for a reason. regards---knothead
jason78	posted 08-17-2014 10:18 PM ET (US) I just wanted to thank everyone here for the great and accurate input! It was very helpful and is much appreciated. I would say this trip was a success. We stayed in Ocean Isle Beach and I rented a transient slip for the Outrage at Ocean Isle Beach Marina. The staff was nice to deal with and I thought the price was reasonable. It was nice to be able to use the boat daily without having to trailer it in and out. The wife and kids had a great time! Too many stories to tell here but they are ready to go back to the coast. The first couple days were a little stressful for me but I got comfortable with it. Other than dealing with the tides, learning that the ICW has a "different" standard of boating courtesy took me a day or two to get used to. At first I didn't know what was up. It seems like no one really abides by "No Wake" zones down there. Also passing just out of arm's reach and people blazing past kayaks seem to be "business as usual". At first I just thought it was people being rude but soon figured out it is just the way it is. I guess probably has a lot to do with the narrow channel everyone has to navigate in and all the traffic. No problem with it though. Just took some getting used to. We mostly stayed on the ICW between Holden Beach bridge and the OIB Marina. Went to Southport one day, docked at Marina and had a great time. Tried to go out to the ocean once through the Shallotte Inlet. Got almost through the breakers and my wife made me turn back. Sea looked calm though. We had a big 30 something boat in front of us so that probably made it worse than it would have been. The conditions were almost EXACTLY as described by knothead so thank you for that. Can't wait to go back but glad I am back home. Probably do Isle of Palms to Charleston next time. Maybe before the end of the year. Jason
EJO	posted 08-18-2014 03:09 PM ET (US) Jason great to hear that all of you had a safe and good time due to your preparations, but as you mentioned to many boaters and floaters out there that still can use a little more boating education and etiquette.
Binkster	posted 08-18-2014 04:07 PM ET (US) Next time bring the Whaler on down to the Florida east coast. The many inlets are not a problem, the water is blue, not brown, and the Gulf Stream is just offshore. Its a world of difference here. rich
jason78	posted 08-18-2014 10:30 PM ET (US) A trip to FL is definitely on the radar blinkster. I would love to get with a group to do a crossing to Bimini. I saw on Facebook the BW Owners Club sponsored some kind of trip over there a couple weeks ago. I had no idea about it or I might have tried to participate.