Dismal Swamp vs Virginia Cut | Intracoastal Waterway Series Ep 3

[@stevenblake7501]

I just found your channel. I am from NC . I love how you explain everything. I am 50 years old and just bought a Cape Dory 28. I hope too take sailing classes soon. Please keep doing these great videos!

[@AbroadReachTravel]

Congrats on the new boat!! Thanks for watching!

[@jaymclure4482]

I'm in NC as well, Nags Head, and just bought a 30 footer in Hampton. Now I just have to learn to sail and get her down the ICW to Manteo. I'm thinking of taking the VA cut.

[@beckyfritz6054]

Loved the drone shots of your boat! We did the ICW in 2018-2019 and really enjoyed going down the dismal swamp, surveyed by George Washington and slaves were used to make this canal, later becoming part of the Underground Railroad north for slaves to obtain their freedom. I loved the history of this waterway.

[@brentphillips262]

Nice video. Thank you for explaining the difference in the cut and swamp routes.

[@user-ny5uj9lh3n]

Best intercoastal vid I've seen yet will keep it for future reference thanks

[@antinazi1959]

Gilmerton bridge is Military Hwy.

[@rhirwin10]

Well done!! You guys are KZbin megastars for East Coast cruising! Love your advise on ICW etiquette and key care -abouts.

[@AbroadReachTravel]

Thank you!

[@mammagiggio7824]

Thank you for another actual "how to" and explanation video. Great content.

[@AbroadReachTravel]

Thank you for watching!

[@mitchellgodfrey2784]

Awesome video. We were just at the visitor center last weekend (by car) and Elizabeth city docks. I was scoping it out for future boat adventure. This is the best video I have found on navigating the Dismal Swamp canal. Kudos to you guys!

[@dianaofburlington5172]

Just an excellent job on showing us the DSC. Keep up the great effort!

[@wolverineaubele3752]

I discovered your channel today and subscribed. You did your research and offer great advice. Nice job. The lock tenders on the ditch are great people. If you call the visitor center, they'll get in touch with them and advise you if the duck weed is too thick or of any other obstructions.

[@SchoandJo]

Looooved the intro and animations. Y’all killed this one!

[@seaningram3285]

7:10 I know that Drawbridge in Deep Creek. I used to drive to Nags Head, NC on vacation and stopped in at the Hardee's for lunch. There used to be a Mexican Restaurant right next to the ICW called "La Familia" (It's gone now. Nothing but an empty lot remains. I don't have/own a boat. I live in a rural town called Amelia County, Virginia. I am also a licensed Amateur "Ham" Radio operator and my radio has the VHF Marine band channels/frequencies programmed in (Receive Only). Good video, including the part of the Locks. And, I like the music, too.

[@Bigthoogs]

i stumbled upon your channel. Love your relaxed and informative style. Having 5k subs, keep up the great work guys. you'll get there!

[@njaneardude]

I grew up on the canal and asides fishing, we'd go swimming in that murky water. I smiled so big when you passed my fishing hole, not far past where you docked for groceries. Happy travels 😄

[@1sailfast]

This is a great documentary of the DSC. My wife and I went through it northbound this Spring and I think you really captured the feeling well. Brought back memories. Thanks. Well done. PS - that Gilmerton railway bridge kept us waiting over 4 hours! It was very frustrating.

[@annhysell6064]

Holy moly, My mom just got up from her rocking chair to see the headline for this.. & snorted her wine. Had no idea there was a virginal cut. Sorry, that was too funny. I hope your travels have been good. Be safe & well.

[@AbroadReachTravel]

Lol, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

[@portfoliofotoz]

Fun! Two completely random and unexpected (KZbin) Pivot sightings in two days. The other found them on the Mississippi heading South. Their channel doesn't even have them there yet 😅

[@hansjensen7823]

Great video, thank you and subscribed!

[@grahamwalker2740]

Gilmerton and bridge 7 is definitely a bear to get through. I personally have been stuck waiting for the bridge since my company passes through there quite frequently. The tug and barge in the beginning is actually one of our tugs looks like the island lookout.

[@timothyzingg4226]

Great practical info again. I just came through there to VA last month. I took the other route because it was my first time through. I cant wait for spring!!!

[@AbroadReachTravel]

Thank you! They are both certainly worth doing at least once, but I think everyone ends up with a favorite 😁

[@bangarang1515]

Nice informative video. Thanks for sharing

[@rfdinesen4027]

Great video. Well done and informative.

[@AbroadReachTravel]

Thank you!!

[@edwardranno7119]

Nice job on the video

[@petermerrick5644]

What clamp on mount are you using for an I pad. Thanks for all the info/ help😊🇺🇸

[@andymullen]

Cool video. I see a controlled depth of 6 feet is listed on the Dismal Swamp welcome center's website. My boat draws about 5'6"- 5'9". Not sure I'd want to go this way but - curious what you saw for depth throughout your journey? Thanks.

[@AbroadReachTravel]

I’m not sure I would attempt it with that deep a draft. In the canal itself we saw mostly 7+ feet but on the southern side of the south mills lock it can be really shallow if the wind has been blowing out of the north for a few days. We almost ran aground with our 4’3” draft.

[@jrac863]

The dismal swamp reminds me of parts of the Erie Canal near upstate ny

[@AbroadReachTravel]

We haven’t been on the Erie but we have done the Champlain canal and there are sections especially in the fall that feel like that for sure!

[@jrac863]

@@AbroadReachTravel Yes your right takes u right into the Hudson .We were on it ten years ago

[@annhysell6064]

Champlain canal is awesome! Besides one would be travelling to/from the secret Great Lake (PS don't share that info)

[@annhysell6064]

@@AbroadReachTravel Champlain is fantastic ..just do not tell anyone..

[@Violaphoto]

Excellent presentation. What length dock lines are you finding best for transmitting Locks? 25 feet? Perhaps you could include video on provisioning locations and any docking accommodations. Very informative. Thank YOU!

[@AbroadReachTravel]

The lock is about 10 feet tall and you need enough to go up to the bullock and back back to the boat so you probably need something in the 30 foot range. 25 would probably work depending on your freeboard. If you have low freeboard you’ll probably need a few extra feet. I plan to point out provision stops in the videos as we go and I plan on doing a few blog posts on those subjects as well so stay tuned! Thank you for watching!

[@steedharold]

Approximately, what time of year was this segment filmed? What's your draft? Do you have the centerboard Tartan 37 or the fixed keel? Thanks for doing these videos. We plan to do the ICW in the fall of 2022.

[@AbroadReachTravel]

Sorry I just realized that this video didn’t have a date. We transited the canal on the 22nd and 23rd of November this year. We have the centerboard tartan 37 and our draft is 4’3” with the centerboard up (which is how we were 98% of the ICW ☺️)

[@ParkTheBoat]

Hi, what resources are you using to find anchorages/public docks etc etc? Two thumbs up on this video! Sorry if this question has already been addressed but I missed it if so. Thanks

[@AbroadReachTravel]

I'm not sure we have addressed it specifically but I am planning a blog post on the subject soon! Basically we use a mix of active captain/waterway guide anchorage reviews, google maps satellite view, the skipper bob anchorage guide (we have an OLD one from 2015 Andy's parents gave us that still gets the job done), and word of mouth. The ICW facebook groups can also be a great place to search for recommendations. I'll go into better detail in the post, and I'll try to remember to come back here and send you a link 😊 --Gwen

[@VincentConnolly-y6t]

👍🎣⛵💯

[@faircompetition1203]

Where do you find the info on the routes such as the restricted bridges ???

[@cgirl111]

Just another sailboat that should just be a motor boat.

[@jdhinckley1954]

Virginia Cut southbound, Dismal swamp northbound(no duckweed).

[@petermerrick5644]

What is your draft? We have a 5ft + draft with a spade rudder would like to try the DS route?? Thanks!

[@AbroadReachTravel]

We have a 4.5’ draft. With more than 5’ you’ll probably bump some logs along the way but it’s doable!

[@PatrickDwyer-iu5yx]

How much do you draft?

[@claypass8424]

Hi there again...I didn't get to go this route last year, but am committed to make it happen this year for sure. A couple of questions ... how long does it take to get from Willoughby Bay to the Deep Creek lock? I assume there a some places to anchor overnight before getting into the lock? Did you overnight at the Dismal Swamp visitor's center? So how long was your trip from the Deep Creek lock to Elizabeth City?

[@AbroadReachTravel]

Not knowing your boat speed I couldn’t guess how long it would take you to get from Willoughby Bay to deep creek but for you purposes about half of that distance (8 or 9 of the 19nm) is a no wake zone. There is also the ever annoying #7 railroad bridge which could hold you up. There is only one option for anchoring close to the first lock and that is in the basin just north of the lock. I wouldn’t recommend it though. We stayed there one night in VERY settled weather but I wouldn’t even consider it with any sort of wind it’s too narrow. There is a free dock just on the south side of the deep creek lock and another just after the deep creek bridge. We have overnighted at the welcome center several times. All three options are nice stops. We have taken two days to go from deep creek to Elizabeth city both times going south. In a fast vessel you could probably manage it in a day but the swamp canal is max 5 knots.

[@jbrat1967]

do they allow singlehanders?

[@AbroadReachTravel]

I would assume the locks allow for single handlers but you could always call to double check. The number should be in your chart plotter or you can google it!

[@amandacolianni]

Which boat did you do this in? Trying to figure out your mast height versus ours.

[@AbroadReachTravel]

We’ve done it in both our Alberg 30 and Tartan 37. Our tartan has a mast height of 53’ with VHF antenna.

[@amandacolianni]

@@AbroadReachTravel thank you so much for the speedy reply. Really kind. Can you point us to a video where you talk more about the overhead hazards and how you dealt with them? We're thinking about heading into the swamp this week and wondering how much worse it could be being some of the first through in the season.

[@AbroadReachTravel]

It’s really only an issue if you are passing someone, or have to leave the middle of the channel for downed trees. Lucky for you, because the great bridge lock has been closed and is only doing limited openings, the army corps of engineers cleared almost all of the downed trees earlier this week to make it easier for boats to get through. We watched them clearing as we came through on Monday/Tuesday this week. Unlucky for you because of the limited openings at great bridge there will be more traffic in the swamp. If we have to leave the middle of the canal one of us goes to the bow to spot for branches and they will help steer around them while the person at the helm watches for water hazards. Two sets of eyes definitely helps a lot!

[@SOLDOZER]

Whats your draft?

[@gaberiel1366]

Follow the crabs...

[@jerrycallender9352]

Be careful travelling the ICW. Lake Drummond is haunted.