Dismal Swamp
 

We are driving south this winter instead of going by boat. We went to
the Dismal Swamp Visitor's Center yesterday and they said that the
Corps of Engineers has found money to keep the canal open - it will
not close at the end of this year. She said there were three boats
there Friday night.


grandma Rosalie

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 01:45:27 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

We are driving south this winter instead of going by boat. We went to
the Dismal Swamp Visitor's Center yesterday and they said that the
Corps of Engineers has found money to keep the canal open - it will
not close at the end of this year. She said there were three boats
there Friday night.
=============================

What is the maximun allowable draft?

Wayne.B wrote:

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 01:45:27 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

We are driving south this winter instead of going by boat. We went to
the Dismal Swamp Visitor's Center yesterday and they said that the
Corps of Engineers has found money to keep the canal open - it will
not close at the end of this year. She said there were three boats
there Friday night.
=============================

What is the maximun allowable draft?

IIRC the controlling depth is supposed to be 6 feet, but when we went
through last year, they told us that a boat with 7 foot draft had been
through and was ok.

grandma Rosalie

Rosalie B. wrote in
:

Wayne.B wrote:

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 01:45:27 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

We are driving south this winter instead of going by boat. We went to
the Dismal Swamp Visitor's Center yesterday and they said that the
Corps of Engineers has found money to keep the canal open - it will
not close at the end of this year. She said there were three boats
there Friday night.
=============================

What is the maximun allowable draft?

IIRC the controlling depth is supposed to be 6 feet, but when we went
through last year, they told us that a boat with 7 foot draft had been
through and was ok.

grandma Rosalie

I went through with a 5'2" draft and bumped on logs several times. No
damage, but they're there.


-- Geoff

Geoff Schultz wrote:

Rosalie B. wrote in
:

Wayne.B wrote:

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 01:45:27 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

We are driving south this winter instead of going by boat. We went to
the Dismal Swamp Visitor's Center yesterday and they said that the
Corps of Engineers has found money to keep the canal open - it will
not close at the end of this year. She said there were three boats
there Friday night.
=============================

What is the maximun allowable draft?

IIRC the controlling depth is supposed to be 6 feet, but when we went
through last year, they told us that a boat with 7 foot draft had been
through and was ok.

grandma Rosalie

I went through with a 5'2" draft and bumped on logs several times. No
damage, but they're there.

That has nothing to do with the controlling depth. Even catamarans
have logs bump on them. EVERYONE has logs bump on their bottoms. But
they aren't on the bottom, they are floating around under the surface.

There are logs and deadheads in the Alligator Pungo Canal too but they
don't have anything to do with the depth.


grandma Rosalie

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 01:23:59 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

There are logs and deadheads in the Alligator Pungo Canal too but they
don't have anything to do with the depth.

====================================

Ouch. Nothing I'd really like to encounter with my new set of props
and shafts. Pamlico Sound is sounding better and better.

Rosalie B. wrote in
:

Geoff Schultz wrote:

Rosalie B. wrote in
m:

Wayne.B wrote:

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 01:45:27 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

We are driving south this winter instead of going by boat. We went
to the Dismal Swamp Visitor's Center yesterday and they said that
the Corps of Engineers has found money to keep the canal open - it
will not close at the end of this year. She said there were three
boats there Friday night.
=============================

What is the maximun allowable draft?

IIRC the controlling depth is supposed to be 6 feet, but when we
went through last year, they told us that a boat with 7 foot draft
had been through and was ok.

grandma Rosalie

I went through with a 5'2" draft and bumped on logs several times. No
damage, but they're there.

That has nothing to do with the controlling depth. Even catamarans
have logs bump on them. EVERYONE has logs bump on their bottoms. But
they aren't on the bottom, they are floating around under the surface.

There are logs and deadheads in the Alligator Pungo Canal too but they
don't have anything to do with the depth.


grandma Rosalie

I do understand the concept of controlling depth. I will also state
that I've never had a log bump until going through the Dismal Swamp
canal. One shouldn't think that simply because the canal has a 6'
controlling depth that you can get through it unscathed. There's also
all of the tanins in the water which makes it look like coffee. That
will leave a beard.

If I wouldn't have been forced to divert to Elizabeth City, I wouldn't
have gone through the Dismal Swamp Canal.

If you want to see pictures of the canal, go to:

http://www.geoffschultz.org/1999_Sai...5_FL_RI/990514
_Norfolk/ind
ex.html

-- Geoff

Wayne.B wrote:

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 01:23:59 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

There are logs and deadheads in the Alligator Pungo Canal too but they
don't have anything to do with the depth.

====================================

Ouch. Nothing I'd really like to encounter with my new set of props
and shafts. Pamlico Sound is sounding better and better.

We can't go around the Alligator Pungo canal (Roanoke Sound or
Croaton Sound to Pamlico) because either the depth is too shallow or
the bridges are too low. The A-P is far more of a problem with
deadheads etc. than the Dismal Swamp.

While the logs in the Dismal Swamp sound horrible (you can hear them
rolling down the hull), we've never had any damage from that - of
course we have a modified full keel and our prop is protected by the
keel. I much prefer this route to the Virginia Cut, both because I
like the friendly people in Elizabeth City and because I think it is a
far prettier and more tranquil route. No barges and no crazy power
boats speeding up and down the Dismal Swamp Canal.

The tanin in the water is not just in the Dismal Swamp either. We
don't have too much trouble with the 'mustache' because we don't have
a white hull.

My pictures of the trip down the Dismal Swamp in 2003 are linked
together starting at http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/445ce/#TL


grandma Rosalie

I've had more trouble with low hanging trees than logs on the Dismal
Swamp. Of course, we only draw 3 feet. The scenery on the Pasquotank
is the best on the ICW, only you meet only the finest crowd at the
Visitor's Center!


Rosalie B. wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:


On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 01:23:59 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:


There are logs and deadheads in the Alligator Pungo Canal too but they
don't have anything to do with the depth.

====================================

Ouch. Nothing I'd really like to encounter with my new set of props
and shafts. Pamlico Sound is sounding better and better.


We can't go around the Alligator Pungo canal (Roanoke Sound or
Croaton Sound to Pamlico) because either the depth is too shallow or
the bridges are too low. The A-P is far more of a problem with
deadheads etc. than the Dismal Swamp.

While the logs in the Dismal Swamp sound horrible (you can hear them
rolling down the hull), we've never had any damage from that - of
course we have a modified full keel and our prop is protected by the
keel. I much prefer this route to the Virginia Cut, both because I
like the friendly people in Elizabeth City and because I think it is a
far prettier and more tranquil route. No barges and no crazy power
boats speeding up and down the Dismal Swamp Canal.

The tanin in the water is not just in the Dismal Swamp either. We
don't have too much trouble with the 'mustache' because we don't have
a white hull.

My pictures of the trip down the Dismal Swamp in 2003 are linked
together starting at http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/445ce/#TL


grandma Rosalie

Geoff Schultz wrote:
I do understand the concept of controlling depth. I will also state
that I've never had a log bump until going through the Dismal Swamp
canal.

Well, that certainly makes it the canal's fault.


.... There's also
all of the tanins in the water which makes it look like coffee. That
will leave a beard.

That's true most places between Daytona and Barnegat. And it won't leave
a stain if you wax your hull.


If I wouldn't have been forced to divert to Elizabeth City, I wouldn't
have gone through the Dismal Swamp Canal.

Geoff, why do you cruise? You don't seem to enjoy it, all you do is
complain about your gear and the awful places you go.

The Dismal Swamp is of historical interest and still has some lovely
undeveloped spots. The Pasquotank River is one of the prettiest &
wildest places left along the whole ICW.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote in news:6u1rd.70071$IQ.26056
@bignews6.bellsouth.net:

Geoff Schultz wrote:
I do understand the concept of controlling depth. I will also state
that I've never had a log bump until going through the Dismal Swamp
canal.

Well, that certainly makes it the canal's fault.

I'm not blaming anyone. All that I stated was that I bumped into logs
there and that I've never bumped into logs anywhere else. Take it or
leave it. I'd rather be forewarned of the issues and make an insightful
decision rather than people later telling me "Oh, I knew that..."

.... There's also
all of the tanins in the water which makes it look like coffee. That
will leave a beard.

That's true most places between Daytona and Barnegat. And it won't
leave
a stain if you wax your hull.

Personally it's the most tanic water that I've ever seen. My hull is
well waxed and I still got a beard. I have a photo of the water at
http://www.geoffschultz.org/1999_Sai...5_FL_RI/990514
_Norfolk/imagepages/image2.htm



If I wouldn't have been forced to divert to Elizabeth City, I
wouldn't
have gone through the Dismal Swamp Canal.

Geoff, why do you cruise? You don't seem to enjoy it, all you do is
complain about your gear and the awful places you go.

Interesting observation. I went off and googled this forum to see what
I've posted over the years. Somewhere around 500 posts and the vast,
vast majority of them aren't complaints at all. Sure I'll admit that I
was extremely vocal about my old diesel generator, but that thing was a
piece of crap from the day that I bought it and they wouldn't stand
behind it. If you're implying my current set of comments on KISS wind
generator are a complaint, then I'd disagree. I like the generator, but
it has some deficiences which in my mind could be easily fixed at
minimal cost which would make the product safer.

This groups is rec.boats.CRUISING, but I find that very few of the
people who participate in here actually cruise. I spend 7 months a year
on average cruising in the Caribbean. My equipment requirements are
very different from someone who is doing US coastal cruising. When
something breaks, there's nowhere to go to have someone fix it. My
choice of equipment would be different today if I had known the right
questions to ask or heard others speak frankly about their real-life
experiences.

As far as cruising is concerned, I love it. If you look at my web site
you'll find extensive reports and photos on the majority of the
Caribbean. There are very few places that I dislike, but I'll tell you
about them and why I feel that way. If I like a place, I'll tell you
that too. I've posted lots of articles about places that I like.

The Dismal Swamp is of historical interest and still has some lovely
undeveloped spots. The Pasquotank River is one of the prettiest &
wildest places left along the whole ICW.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

As far as the Dismal Swamp canal goes, I didn't have a great time going
through it. It was cold and rainy and we bumped into logs. Maybe on a
bright, sunny day with maybe a little bit more water we would have had a
different experience.

Oh, and as far as a controlling depth is concerned, it's my
understanding that the amount of water in the canal is highly seasonal.
There are times that it's closed due to a lack of water. I don't think
that anyone should expect 6'.

-- Geoff
www.geoffschultz.org

DSK wrote:
...And it won't
leave a stain if you wax your hull.

I don't think this is always the case. I have taken a freshly-waxed
sailboat down the ICW quite a few times, and by about Daytona the "ICW
Mustache" was pretty obvious.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

...And it won't
leave a stain if you wax your hull.


Armond Perretta wrote:
I don't think this is always the case. I have taken a freshly-waxed
sailboat down the ICW quite a few times, and by about Daytona the "ICW
Mustache" was pretty obvious.


So have I, and had a complete absence of "mustache." Not to just be
argumentative, I think it varies from season to season and certainly
some kinds of wax are better than others. We've had very good results
with plain old 3M Marine wax... a year or so free of tannin stain.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Geoff Schultz wrote:

This groups is rec.boats.CRUISING, but I find that very few of the
people who participate in here actually cruise. I spend 7 months a year
on average cruising in the Caribbean. My equipment requirements are

Are you saying the US Coastal cruising is NOT cruising? Or that only
blue water cruising is cruising? Because of course people who are
doing that are unlikely to be here. It's too difficult to get here
while cruising.

very different from someone who is doing US coastal cruising. When
something breaks, there's nowhere to go to have someone fix it. My
choice of equipment would be different today if I had known the right
questions to ask or heard others speak frankly about their real-life
experiences.

I don't know why you couldn't have that, but it wouldn't be here that
you would get it. I think e-mail groups would be better, or just in
person talking to people.

As far as cruising is concerned, I love it. If you look at my web site
you'll find extensive reports and photos on the majority of the
Caribbean. There are very few places that I dislike, but I'll tell you
about them and why I feel that way. If I like a place, I'll tell you
that too. I've posted lots of articles about places that I like.
snip
As far as the Dismal Swamp canal goes, I didn't have a great time going
through it. It was cold and rainy and we bumped into logs. Maybe on a
bright, sunny day with maybe a little bit more water we would have had a
different experience.

Cold and rainy does make it hard. We went through the Rockpile for
the first time on a cold rainy awful day.

Oh, and as far as a controlling depth is concerned, it's my
understanding that the amount of water in the canal is highly seasonal.
There are times that it's closed due to a lack of water. I don't think
that anyone should expect 6'.

OK - what year did you do the Dismal Swamp? During the drought it was
closed due to lack of water to operate the locks. (sometime in 2000 I
think) But after Floyd and Dennis and Isabel et al, the water levels
recovered.

I still disagree - the Dismal Swamp is OVER 6 feet because we have our
depth alarm set to go off at 7 feet, and it does not sound in the
Canal. (The logs don't set it off, probably because they aren't right
under it) It does sound other places in the ICW when power boats stir
up the mud and make it hard for it to 'read' the bottom. But it
doesn't go off in the Dismal Swamp.


grandma Rosalie
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/4a9c6/

Rosalie B. wrote in
:

Geoff Schultz wrote:

This groups is rec.boats.CRUISING, but I find that very few of the
people who participate in here actually cruise. I spend 7 months a
year
on average cruising in the Caribbean. My equipment requirements are

Are you saying the US Coastal cruising is NOT cruising? Or that only
blue water cruising is cruising? Because of course people who are
doing that are unlikely to be here. It's too difficult to get here
while cruising.

I never said that at all. You're combining statements from various
paragraphs and putting words in my mouth. I did say that my equipment
requirements for US coastal cruising and long distance cruising are very
different as you can obtain spares and service in the US and you're very
much on your own elsewhere.

What I do know is that I am not considered a "real" cruiser by many
because I *only* spend 7 months of the year cruising and maintain a home
that I return to during hurricane season.

It seems that real cruisers are supposed to have cast off any land-based
assets. If you look at the SSCA you'll see that their requirements for
being a Commodore are living aboard for at least 1 year. I almost think
that they should be called the Seven Seas Live-aboard Association! :-)
Many SSCAers that I know just shuffle their boat between marinas in
places like Grenada, Trinidad and Margarita Island in Venezuela. Hardly
cruising in my book.

very different from someone who is doing US coastal cruising. When
something breaks, there's nowhere to go to have someone fix it. My
choice of equipment would be different today if I had known the right
questions to ask or heard others speak frankly about their real-life
experiences.

I don't know why you couldn't have that, but it wouldn't be here that
you would get it. I think e-mail groups would be better, or just in
person talking to people.

As far as cruising is concerned, I love it. If you look at my web
site
you'll find extensive reports and photos on the majority of the
Caribbean. There are very few places that I dislike, but I'll tell
you
about them and why I feel that way. If I like a place, I'll tell you
that too. I've posted lots of articles about places that I like.
snip
As far as the Dismal Swamp canal goes, I didn't have a great time
going
through it. It was cold and rainy and we bumped into logs. Maybe on
a
bright, sunny day with maybe a little bit more water we would have had
a
different experience.

Cold and rainy does make it hard. We went through the Rockpile for
the first time on a cold rainy awful day.

Oh, and as far as a controlling depth is concerned, it's my
understanding that the amount of water in the canal is highly
seasonal.
There are times that it's closed due to a lack of water. I don't
think
that anyone should expect 6'.

OK - what year did you do the Dismal Swamp? During the drought it was
closed due to lack of water to operate the locks. (sometime in 2000 I
think) But after Floyd and Dennis and Isabel et al, the water levels
recovered.

I still disagree - the Dismal Swamp is OVER 6 feet because we have our
depth alarm set to go off at 7 feet, and it does not sound in the
Canal. (The logs don't set it off, probably because they aren't right
under it) It does sound other places in the ICW when power boats stir
up the mud and make it hard for it to 'read' the bottom. But it
doesn't go off in the Dismal Swamp.


grandma Rosalie

I searched the archives of this group and from what I could tell from my
quick scan of articles the Dismal Swamp canal was closed in 1997, 1999
and 2002 due to low water. Maybe it isn't purely seasonal, but in dry
years it gets pretty skinny. I don't know what constitutes low enough
water to close the canal.

-- Geoff