Weekend trip report

Pipe_Dream · #1 10-19-2009, 08:10 AM

My wife and I have wanted to make the trip up to Charleston via the ICW ever since we repowered 5 years ago. Work and obligations kept getting in the way, but since we didn't take any real vacation this year we finally planned the trip as a way to celebrate our 15th anniversary. We didn't have very cooperative weather, but we enjoyed the trip anyway!

We awoke Friday morning, with rain showers moving along the coast, but we thought we could slip in between some of them for a relatively dry passage. We were following a friend who has made the trip many times, and he and I agree about our radar interpretations. Loaded up the boat in a damp drizzle, hoping that it wouldn't come down any harder.

The first half of the trip wasn't too bad, with a temp in the low 70s and winds at 5-10 knots, but the drizzle wouldn't let up. Every time we seemed to be heading toward brighter skies, low dark clouds would descend upon us. I just knew we would get north of the rain soon.

Our prearranged break stop was Bennett's Point, about halfway to Charleston, but as the houses and docks of that place came into view the skies opened up into our first downpour of the day. We tied up, went inside to use the facilities and chat for a few minutes, and the rain seemed to let up so we shoved off to resume our trip. But as we approached the ICW the rain began to pour again, and the wind picked up.

This photo doesn't do the conditions justice. Trust me! The conditions turned more ugly, with a very low ceiling and rain blowing sideways from the wind.

But we pushed on, and by the time we neared City Marina the rain had stopped. The trip up, a little over 90 miles, took 4 hours (if you don't count the 2 hours we spent waiting for the tide to lift us off a sandbar -- but that's another story! Ha ha!)

Saturday dawned beautifully, the rain had moved out, and I comfortably enjoyed my rooftop coffee and paper in shorts and a sweatshirt. Perfect! We enjoyed Charleston, as we always do. Stayed just a block from Market Street, so that we could walk anywhere we wanted to go. The day was sunny, with a high in the 60s. We met our friend for drinks and dinner and to plan our trip south the next day, watching the winds begin to pick up . . .

And pick up they did, along with a drop in temperature. When the City Marina shuttle delivered us to the marina, it was 43 degrees with a wind chill of ??
We put on all the layers we had, and packed up the boats.

Thank goodness we were in the ICW, with WNW to NNW winds of 20 knots, gusting to 30. It was sunny, and the temp rose into the 50s, but the wind was pretty intense. (to be continued)

Pipe_Dream · #2 10-19-2009, 08:48 AM

Corps of Engineers station:

Bennett's Point, a welcome sight to soak up some warmth from the sun and get out of the wind:

Giving our friend some relatively flat water in the Coosaw River:

View to port of the effect of the V-20 bow flare:

(It's a wonderful thing!)

Almost home

It was (for us) an epic journey, hopefully to be repeated many times, but hopefully under nicer conditions.

I was very pleased with the PD's performance. After the first leg I refueled her, topping off with 27.5 gallons. We burned approximately 5.5 gallons per hour, or 3.4 mpg, averaging around 30 mph. I haven't refueled since the return leg, but I suspect it will be about the same or better, as the gauge shows more fuel than it did before the first refuel. I think that's pretty good!

spareparts · #3 10-19-2009, 09:20 AM

Pipe, looks like a good trip, I would have volunteered to get up with you while you were here, but as usual, I had a full weekend, look me up next time

macojoe · #4 10-19-2009, 04:10 PM

sounds like all went well, good for you!

lumberslinger178 · #5 10-19-2009, 06:26 PM

Great trip, I envey you southern guys

.

phatdaddy · #6 10-19-2009, 06:31 PM

great report and good use of a v-20

Pipe_Dream · #7 10-19-2009, 08:12 PM

Thanks, guys.

And Spare, I will!

spareparts · #8 10-19-2009, 08:47 PM

next time you come up, check on the maritine center, its cheap, and right near the aquarium. I'd call first to make sure there is a slip. the only thing you have to watch is if the wind is coming out of the east, it can make it a little bumpy there

reelapeelin · #9 10-20-2009, 07:01 AM

Wow!!...whadda trip!!...glad to see someone else willing to take a foul weather trip...I like to be in the V w/the top up and rainy day...I'd love to make that trip...thanks for sharing a great trip w/us!!...

My lil wifey and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary this weekend as well...

That 3.4 MPG is a good example of a large motor not havin' to work hard to get the job done...that 200 is a perfect balance of power-to-weight on the V...NICE!!...

willy · #10 10-20-2009, 08:15 AM

Very nice Pipe, I am jealous.

Which Yammie 200 is that, HPDI?

And Oz, congrats, any woman that would put up with you for 22 years, well lets just say sainthood may be in the future for her. LOL