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Cape May New Jersey Canal?

David Grimm

E38-200
Anyone try to make it through the cape may canal on an ericson 38 200. Just brought my boat and im sailing it down the Delaware bay. Some guy at the last marina said it was passable. There is a fixed bridge 55 feet. I believe my mast is 50 feet.

Thanks for the support. Dave.
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Overhead clearance is often called your "air draft". i.e. amount of vertical space you require from waterline to masthead. Then there are often other expensive bits on top sticking up even further, like the wind transducer and the spar fly. Also the VHF antenna.

My friend's E-38/200 needs about 65 feet to be sure of passage.
By comparison my tall-rig O-34 needs about 55 feet.

If you have any uncertainty, use a long tape and measure it. There is nothing up there that is cheap to repair. :rolleyes:
 

David Grimm

E38-200
Thanks Guys! I skipped the canal and headed out to sea. Not worth the risk. Going to pull an overnight run up to NY.
 

David Grimm

E38-200
Rounded the Cape and the swell and wind was out of control. Went into the ocean side of the canal and dropped the anchor for the night. Run to NYC in the morning.
 

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Every inlet is different and can be a challenge.

How about Sandy Hook/Atlantic Highlands? Always good for an easy night, and no inlet.
 

Bolo

Contributing Partner
Many years ago my brother owned a small (inboard powered) fishing boat that he use to take out through at Barnegat Light and it was challenging at times depending on the tides and ocean conditions. Plus Barnegat Bay is shallow. I mostly saw power boats and catamarans there back when I use to live in NJ.
 

Navman

Member III
From A.C. to the Highlands is usually about 12- hours. You can anchor in the "hook" when you get around the point, about 1/8th NM from the point. You can also get a ball at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club. Short walk from there to restaurants and grocery store. Barnegat inlet is now do-able as compared to 30 years ago, but the only real anchorage is immediately on the port side after you get through. The Coast Guard station is also right there There may be an available ball right there in the same area. If it is empty you can pick it up as it is a public ball or used to be. No areas to anchor in the bay without traveling some distance through a winding shallow channel who's markings are not always accurate. Manasquan inlet? Forget about it no good anchorage for a sailboat without going far in. A.C to Sandy Hook is the best bet. Good luck !
 

David Grimm

E38-200
Thanks for all the great advice guys. Having only sailed two Hobie Cats and being crew on a 22 foot sailboat race that lasted 45 min I had no prior sailing experience. I purchased a 38-200 in Cambridge Maryland and sailed it back home to Poughkeepsie NY.

I spent many hours over the past year watching Christians Alone Togeather You Tube videos as well as many of his other great videos. This was my inspiration. Thanks Christian.

My Uncle who has zero sailing experience was drunk enough a few weeks before the trip and said he would come along for the experience! The two of us headed to Maryland in a rental car for the sea trial and provisioning for the 6 day journey home.

Privisioning was a lot of work, new Jabsco toilet, west marine dingy, Harbor Freight Generator (just in case) tools, drill kit, two new marine batteries $500+ hand held vhf, off shore life vests, jerry cans of diesel and gas binoculars... ect. Cambridge Maryland is a great town full of experienced sailors great bars and good advice!

Day 1 we had great winds and saild north. The Navionics app for android and iphone is awesome and helped us find marinas and anchor points. Old Garmin not so much!
The first stop was in Rock Hall. Nice town, great people, however the whole town shut down at 9pm. Only place to get food was at the gas station! Strangley though there is a little tram pulled by a jeep that will take you all over the closed town up to midnight!

Day 2 We started out sailing but as the wind dropped off we motor sailed untill all wind was gone. The Chesapeake was loaded with runoff debris that made it challenging but we made it to the entrance of the C&D canal. We stayed in Chesapeake City inn and marina. Awesome place. Imagine Jimmy Buffetts house. What a great place after 10+ hrs of boating.

Day 3. Motored through the canal, stopped halfway for fuel. Only took 5gal! Raised the sails as soon as we exited the canal and shot straight out into the Atlantic! Then quickly shot into the Cape May canal and anchored next to the USCG station.

Day 4. Heavy winds! Thought about fueling up again but the winds kept us away from even thinking about it. Rattle siphoned only 5 gal. till full from jerry can. Nice! Headed out into the Atlantic into big seas! My uncle looked scared and confessed later on that he thought I would have turnned around. We motored into the wind all day to The Golden Nugget Atlantic City. Nice docks, bathrooms and casino. My unle lost 60 bucks while I drank beers and admired the band.

Day 5. Fueled up at the dock and back out into the Atlantic. Great winds blowing from the southeast pushed us up towards Sandy Hook at 7+ knots. Sail got all jammed up on the dutchmann system when trying to lower it at dusk. Ugh... managed to free it, tie it up and motor into the Sandy Hook Bay. Christian and Navionics led us to an anchor point at the Atlantic Highlands in total darkness and heavy rain. Boy were we glad to see some anchored sailboats. Not fun at night in an unfamiliar marina.

Day 6. Up and motoring at 5am. Coffee under the Verrezzanno bridge and head on a swivel dodging ferrys, taxis and freightors. 14hrs later touchdown at the Shadows Marina in Poughkeepsie where family and friends were there to celebrate!

Once again guys. Thanks for the support. I love my new Ericson!
 

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Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Welcome Home !

Glad you all made it in good spirits (pun alert...)
Thanks for the narrative.
:egrin:
 

Captainken

Member I
Cape May NJ canal

Loved the log of your journey! Brought a lump in my throat remembering the dozen or so times I've done that. One suggestion about Manasquan though. I've been known to pick up a hairy mooring from time to time and have come to believe You can usually anchor somewhere off of any inlet from the Atlantic. I am informed that you have the federally granted right to expect anchorage off of any navigable waterway with access to federal water(the Atlantic). I have arrrggg!uably pushed the limits coming in late in the night in places.
That being said, I have successfully anchored many times about 3/4 mile into Manasquan, north side, just before the starboard marker by Crab creek. Never had a problem and sometime had company in the 2-3 hundred yards available. 6 ft. water available, maybe nudging mud at low tide. Let out the dinghy and get over to the local bar-- The Broadway bar and grill. You can tie the dingy near the shrimp box. Fine dinning also available in walking distance .
 
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