Wrightsville Beach, NC to Myrtle Beach, SC via the Intracoastal Waterway

Learn how to navigate the Intracoastal Waterway from Wrightsville Beach, NC to Myrtle Beach, SC

[@joshuatrick6240]

Awesome video series. I’m bringing my Sea-Doo from Dayton, OH to Carolina beach this year and I’ve never operated on anything other than a lake before. Your videos have been extremely helpful in planning my little adventure.

[@12000Jetlag]

Loved the video! I grew up in Wrightsville Beach and my Dad had our boat docked at the Wrightsville Beach Marina. Lots of good memories growing up there.

[@lelandrentz755]

Your videos are fantastic ! Easy to follow and learn from. You are a pleasure and I hope you will create additional videos

[@jordantdavis10]

Thank you!

[@dustinm2608]

Thank you for this video! I just moved to Calabash/Sunset Beach and am planning on taking a boat from Ocean Isle to Myrtle. Super helpful and enjoyable!

[@jordantdavis10]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy the trip! Safe travels.

[@KevinJohnBarry]

Great for planning and even better for actually doing like we did on Labor Day weekend

[@jordantdavis10]

I hope it was a great trip!

[@walkerholt]

This is perfect. First time boat owner at wb. Id love more of these. Lateral marker info is helpful and tricks for marinas and day docking was exactly what I was looking for!

[@jordantdavis10]

Thank you! I've got others you can check out. WB to Beaufort, Myrtle to Charleston, WB to Bald Head. Highly recommend the trip to Beaufort!

[@mitchhall4243]

I just bought my first boat also. I'll be checking out more Jordan Davis videos!

[@jordantdavis10]

@@mitchhall4243 Thank you!

[@MattsMissionMarine]

Awesome video! One of the best o have seen on KZbin in awhile! Thank you for your hard work.

[@davidmkey]

Great video and details! Enjoyed it

[@RichB804]

Enjoyed riding along with you.

[@carolinaseahornets]

This is awesome :D Love this video.

[@elmiguel6725]

That was very Informative and enjoyable, thank you.

[@jordantdavis10]

Thank you!

[@jonathaneddy4503]

Looks like it would be an awesome trip

[@hgbpro]

Great videos! Very informative and to the point without all the jibjab. Thank you.

[@jordantdavis10]

Thank you!

[@KevinJohnBarry]

Planning to run down this Labor Day and this video is awesome for planning purposes

[@jordantdavis10]

Thanks! Maybe I'll see you on the water. I'll be taking my family to Bald Head Island for Labor Day weekend.

[@stephaniepalmer3302]

Great video, very helpful!

[@jordantdavis10]

Glad it was helpful!

[@greglarnder4679]

thanks, very helpful

[@steveInman10]

great job ! you should keep going with these

[@mpeltz1534]

We live in Myrtle Beach and are planning a trip to the St. James Marina. We have a 20 Key West. This will be the farthest we have gone so looking forward to reviewing your video. Don't think we want to navigate the Cape Fear river so this will probable be about at far as we will go. We dock at Osprey Marina.

[@jordantdavis10]

Check out my video from Myrtle to Charleston for going the other direction.

[@LandoLeavesLand]

Cool ! I did a similar trip in my 40 ft sailboat going from Carolina Beach to the Grand Dunes Marina as well. Episode 13 in my videos. My mast was actually struck by lightning at the Grand Dunes Marina. I was videoing when it hit.

[@donjohnsmusic3116]

I’ve been enjoying your videos! Let me know if you want me to create a theme song for you! My wife and I just ordered a boat and we’ll be traveling to some of the places that you have gone! So excited about it!

[@Kimtwister]

HI JORDAN our family loves it here we vacation at sunset beach nc and have done boating before we love it here i misss it horriblly im praying this pandemic goes away so we can all go again

[@jordantdavis10]

Looks like things are improving, hopefully you can return with your family soon!

[@vivwriter]

Love Love Love your video!! Very informative! Would you recommend doing this trip from Oak Island to Myrtle Beach? Where do I get a map and/or information with all the marinas from Oak Island to Myrtle Beach. Please do a video on how to find and contact the marinas along the way in case you need to stop along the ICW. Thanks for your videos!!

[@jordantdavis10]

I'm sorry, I overlooked you comment. Visit the Waterway Guide or pick up a hard copy for all the info you're looking for. www.waterwayguide.com/

[@TBrownRecords]

You made a cool video

[@MrRyancangri]

Great video. Can I park my boat at one of those docks, and hang out in the area for a little bit?

[@TheBrakeGuy]

Hi Jordan! Very much enjoying your videos! Question for you: I’m going to be picking up a boat from New Bern, NC and taking it back to Beaufort, SC via the intracoastal in January. The cruising speed of my boat is about 30-35 mph so almost identical to the boat you use. I’m wondering what speeds I can realistically expect to plan for along the trip. Obviously with bridges, now wake zones, etc. I wouldn’t be able to do 30mph the whole way down the intracoastal but I’m just curious what speed you usually plan your trips for? Thanks!

[@jordantdavis10]

If I were running that trip and wanted to make it enjoyable, I'd do 3 days. Day one: leave New Bern, travel down the Neuse to pick up the ICW at Adams Creek, then south to Beaufort, NC and stop in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Day two: depart Wrightsville Beach, south to the Cape Fear River, then on behind the Brunswick County beaches in NC, past Myrtle Beach, and stop in Georgetown. Day three: Georgetown to Beaufort, SC. I think each of your days would be about 6-7 hours if you run 30MPH and slowdown when you should. Days will be longer if this is a large boat that would require more slowing.

[@TheBrakeGuy]

@@jordantdavis10 Thanks so much for the reply! That’s exactly what I was thinking about doing!

[@TM-vn7io]

Great video! About how long do you think it would take to travel, via a boat similar to this one, from Ocean Isle Beach, NC, to Grande Dunes Marina (mm 357), via the Intracoastal Waterway?

[@jordantdavis10]

Easy trip! 25 miles. I’ll say 1.5 hours because you do have some large no-wake areas at Little River as well as the swing bridge there. Good luck and enjoy!

[@TM-vn7io]

@@jordantdavis10Thank you for your fast reply!!

[@amantediclemsonsmoth7923]

picking up a 48' in Holden Beach this Friday and heading to Folly Beach, SC. Captain thinks we will be done by Sunday morning. Top speed is 8 knots. Your thoughts?

[@jordantdavis10]

That's about 165 miles. If you traveled full speed, 8 knots, 9.2 miles an hour, that's 18 hours. Add a 15% (at least) cushion and that's two 10+ hour days moving on the water. This time of year, I think that's possible. I don't have experience traveling in slower vessels, where the current and wind can have a big impact on speed over ground, so you may consult someone with more experience in that area. In my videos, I might be running 30+mph, so fighting a 3 knot tide, is not a big deal...if that makes sense? Of course, you may pick up speed when riding with the tide, so it may balance out, just not my area of expertise. Good luck on your trip...weather looks great!

[@woodenplant7202]

Great video, very informative and easy to understand. What was the total mileage?

[@jordantdavis10]

Thank you! This trip is about 74 miles. MM283 to MM357

[@williamlink2898]

The area heading north of OIB - Shallotte has been difficult for me- lots of shallow areas that dont seem marked -any pointers? Also do you have the maps of your routes in the videos available online?

[@jordantdavis10]

Sorry, I've overlooked your comment. This maps are available from NOAA, nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/, or Waterway Guide, www.waterwayguide.com/. Make sure you're center of the channel at low tide. Use extra caution around inlets as shoaling can occur. Listen to your VHF for and warnings from the USCG about a marker being out of place. Generally, this route is easily navigable in an outboard powered boat. Shoaling can throw a wrench in that, however.

[@michaelsiengo1]

A man named red left port😎

[@brandinsgarage]

Great video, what size fuel tank do you have?

[@jordantdavis10]

82 gallons. Easy trip down to MB and back on one tank!

[@pervysage4934]

I am curious, why go through the intercoastal as opposed to hugging the coast on the Atlantic? Couldn't you go faster that way?

[@jordantdavis10]

You could head back north and out Little River and run down the coast and assuming things were very flat and calm, and no weather changes, you could make better time. If I were in a larger boat, might have been something to consider. Also, many find this section of he waterway, particularly the Waccamaw River, to be some of he most picturesque. I really set out to film these videos to provide guidance to my customers in small outboard powered boats.

[@wwaterbury1597]

How far from Grand dunes marina to murrells inlet by boat. Do you stay on Intracoastal waterway until Waccmaw River?

[@jordantdavis10]

You can't really access Murrell's Inlet by boat without going in the ocean. Your choices are to go out Little River Inlet (north) or Winyah Bay (south.) That would be a few hours at least. My estimate is 55 miles using Little River and 80 miles using Winyah Bay. Please check the sea conditions, you've got 20 miles in the ocean via Winyah Bay and probably 35 miles in the ocean via Little River. Good luck and stay safe!

[@jd3953]

May I ask where you got your map you referenced?

[@jordantdavis10]

It's the NOAA's chart. nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/

[@cardinhamkilligrew9712]

would a sailboat with 5.5' with a 45' mast have an issue on this leg?

[@jordantdavis10]

No, all of the fixed bridges are 60'+ vertical clearance and the only low bridge, Little River Swing Bridge, opens on request. Draft should not be a problem on this leg.

[@jonathaneddy4503]

How long does it take to make that trip?

[@jordantdavis10]

3 to 3-1/2 hours running about 32-34 mph

[@rcor8645]

First viewer again. Nice vlogs.

[@JohnBraman413]

what's the lowest bridge on icw?

[@jordantdavis10]

On this trip, I'd say it's the Little River Swing Bridge (12:06.) If you have a fixed top, you may require an opening at high tide, as I did. It's no problem though, because openings are on request at that bridge via VHF channel 9. While there are none on this trip, there are some ICW bridges that float, so no boats can pass unless they're open.

[@ironichumorist]

Please demonstrate radioing for passes and not waking other boaters.

[@jordantdavis10]

Sure, I'll be glad to explain! One small boat radioing another small boat traveling the same direction for a for a slow pass is generally not necessary. However, lets say you were operating 50' sportfishing vessel (we'll call her "Liberty") traveling at 25 knots and wanted to overtake a trawler (we'll call her "Destiny") traveling at 9 knots the same direction. If "Liberty" slows to 12 knots to overtake Destiny, Liberty will likely create a very large wake which would be uncomfortable for Destiny. So, the courteous thing to do would be to call on the VHF radio to request a slow pass. This would be done by calling on VHF channel 16 and then moving that traffic to a working frequency like 68, 69, or 71. This call could sound something like this: LIBERTY ON VHF16: "Southbound trawler at marker 141 in the intracoastal waterway, this is Liberty, channel 16." (You could call the boat by name if you knew it at the time of calling.) DESTINY ON VHF16: "Liberty, this is Destiny, switch to channel 68." (If Destiny doesn't suggest switching to a working channel, Liberty should. VHF 16 is for hailing and distress only.) LIBERTY ON VHF68: "This is Liberty standing by on 68" DESTINY ON VHF68: "Liberty go ahead for Destiny" LIBERTY ON VHF68: "Liberty to Destiny, would you please slow down so that we can give you a slow pass on your starboard side." DESTINY ON VHF68: "Yes, we will slow down now. Thank you." LIBERTY ON VHF68: "Liberty to Destiny, thank you. Liberty standing by channel 16." Destiny should slow to a minimum speed that allows for steering control and Liberty should pass going just slightly faster than Destiny. The faster Destiny is going, the faster Liberty will have to travel to pass her. There are many variations on how this communication could go, but this is one example. You'll also hear mariners try to have this exchange directly on 16.