Joe wrote:
Phillipines yes Japan not much interest.


Why? It's gorgeous coast and good sailing.

Godzilla


... The St Lawrence down the
mississippi to crowded for taste in crusing. Many of the trawler people
here talk about the great loop.


It's surprising how many people do it every year.

Thats what I mean, you need blinkers to get on and off the loop. Like
the good sam club of camping RV's.


Doug I pushed barges for years in the ICW, they drew 13 ft loarded. Why
do you have problems with a 4+ft draft?


When & where?

From South Texas around Port Aransas all the way to the Mississippi,
Most times between the Sabine and the Brazos. I did it in the early
90's. They still do it today, I'm sure you could go all the way to
Florida with anything under 11 ft.


I can't think of a single place in NC where
you could pass with more than about 9' draft, and that's
dead center in the channel. Once you get further south, you
can make it on the tide.

IIRC the controlling depth for the ICW in TX is 13 ft. We pushed that
many time with the supply boats loading out of Freeport area.

Working the tides is very important here on the ICW. If you leave at
the wrong time you can be pushing or riding the tides all the way
between the sabine and Galveston bay. Sometimes with a loaded barge you
could arrive faster leaving 6 hours later.

Bahama's do sound nice.


It is nice, and nicer the further west. Of course, the
Bahamas gov't realizes they don't have much in the way of a
national economy and has decided to make cruisers vote with
their dollars.

May just be cheaper to cruise the USA and stay at 5 star marinas and
anchorages if were talking money.

Joe

Fresh Breezes- Doug King