Tuesday, May 1, 2007
The ICW
The 1,090 -mile voyage between Norfolk, Virginia and Miami, Florida that makes up the Intercoastal Waterway, offers boaters a unique opportunity to travel according to seasonal changes, making the Intercoastal Waterway a popular cruise. Skippers can plan their cruise down the Intercoastal Waterway such that it lasts almost any length of time, depending on speed and chosen route. The Intercoastal Waterway, or ICW, is a toll-free channel—part canal, part natural waterway—that stretches for more than 1,000 statute miles from Norfolk, Virginia to Miami, Florida. For the most part, the Intercoastal Waterway waters are sheltered, although a few stretches, such as Albemarle Sound, can be quite rough. The route is profusely marked with daymarks and lights. Occasionally, buoys are used in areas where shifting bottom conditions prevail. The overhead clearance limit is 65 feet maximum. Because several bridges are slightly under spec, boats needing more than 62 feet of clearance may have problems navigating the Intercoastal Waterway. Vessels drawing up to 8 feet can transit most sections of the Intercoastal Waterway, but those drawing more than 6 feet may go around from time to time. Intercoastal Waterway travelers will do well to study and Intercoastal Waterway map and navigation charts ahead of time. A day's plan should include preplanning for bridge openings, schedules for fuel stops, and several alternate stopping places for the night.
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