Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
HK wrote:
Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
news The area in question is frequented by tugs and barges. They manage to
transit the ICW without serious issues.

The boaters who run into trouble typically are on large cruisers
heading
for the sun.


I have some really good videos of us passing "close to" some
quarter-mile
long barges in the ICW. Interesting and tense, to say the least.
If I
can figure out how to post some of them on my website I will try.

On the other hand, those tugs and barges tend to dredge their own
channel
while making the transit unlike a smaller boat like the Navigator.
Where
they can pass, I might run aground.

Eisboch



The barges are interesting, especially in some of the tight ICW turns...

I've made the "jump" from the Golden Isles to St. Augustine about a
dozen times, in the ditch and out in the ocean. Ran my 19-foot Sea Pro
up to St. Simons Island once on its bottom, mostly inside. Great
fishing along the ICW and in its creeks. St. Simons was a popular
destination. Nice beaches, good eats, still have a couple of
tee-shirts leftover from my last trip there.

So Harry, which way is better, to run the outside in good weather or to
contend with the barges on the ICW?



Why would you care? You're not going to encounter the ocean or the barges.

For what it is worth, the ICW run is far more interesting visually.