Ditch Details...

[Deep C]

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While blabbering about finding a weather window in my other thread we got jaw flappin about specifics along the way on the ditch heading north and south. Now it doesn't matter if its inside passage or out, some tips or reviews good and bad could help others less travelled. Talk about the inlets, bridges, shallow spots, marinas, food, fuel prices or quality.
I'll start with a few observations and hopefully some of you guys in the know can chime in and add.

I guess I'll start.
Sandy hook area... Fuel is reasonable price at Atlantic Highland Municipal marina. Dockage is ok if you can get a slip. Farther in from there are a number of smaller marinas that can fit you though. Grub is good in all the area restaurants.

Ocean City... Sunset Marina is an awsome full service facility that during the off season is reasonable not only for dock but for fuel too. Eager friendly staff and well stocked ship store makes it that much better. Several nice restraurants within walking distance offer up good but pricey grub... Hard to find a burger or something simple.

Norfolk... At the "0" mile marker there is a a first class facility. Good fuel price and reasonable on the dock slip. Very nice ship store. Their restaurant is top shelf but again no simple food. Instead about three blocks southwesty is a giant sports bar with exceptional food and huge menue thats very reasonable.

There South: There are nine bridges from hell making the 50 mile section the slowest on the whole route... Expect five hours of slow go to get to Coinjock.

Coinjock: Quiet little side to sea wall basically. Fuel used to be cheap but now really isn't. Dock is reasonable and the restaurant pretty good.

Bellhaven... Was first class last time I was there. Southern plantation style again no simple food and used to be a dry county.

Moorehead... Several good marinas and restaurants. Very friendly people. Some of the best priced fuel on east coast... Wifi signals are iffy at best but enough to do around town to keep occupied.

There south: The bridges are hell with openings on the hour only. No point in pushing the throttles because you're gonna have to wait any way.

Wrightsville: On the south east corner of the bridge there is a top shelf restaurant that I don't mind stepping to the plate and paying for. The other side of the ditch has a busy looking place that looks fun but never got to stop there.

Southport area... Nice but again not one of my usual stops so no details...

Little river SC... About two miles south of the inlet is a hidden cut out with a maze of big marinas. Fuel was cheap but food was grosly over priced and overrated. A few miles south in North Myrtle theres a quiet but nice marina. At the southeast corner of the property is a small restaurant/bar with great finger food...

Going south: Slow areas, lots of current...

Charleston: The drawback to C Town is forever long channel getting in. Enter it from say half way out and you'll be ok. First class marina with valvetec fuel at moderate price where they have the battle ship museums. That in itself is pretty cool. They have a fine restaurant and people food can be had in their small but quiet bar area...

Hilton Head... It has entrances at north and south end of island. I usually hit this place heading south so I go in the north hole.. A first class megayacht marina is at that end. I have never stayed so i can't say more. At south end is Harbortown. Very expensive fuel, dock, and restaurants but its geographical location makes it a valuable stop. Heading south cut over to Tybee Roads channel carefully following markers. Loads of current can run five knots.

St. Augustine FL... Notice I didn't stop at Fernandina. I have heard of bad fuel from too many who have got it there. On south side of inlet at STA is a channel that will take you to Conch House Marina. Good restaurant there or walk a couple blocks south. Little dive bar has great samwiches. Marina itself has Valvetec fuel at very good price...

Daytona... Not the best stop but gets you fifty miles farther south toward destination so you can sprint that last leg. The Harbor light marina at the foot of Ponce light is a dump and fuel ungodly expensive. The showers and cable though make it tollerable. A half mile walk noth takes you to a nice casual tiki type bar with very good fuel.

Palm Beach... Turn left and you have Sailfish Marina. Very expensive all the way around but one of the finest places anywhere. On the other side of the ditch is Riviera Beach Marina. I lovingly call it the dump but its less expensive for dock and fuel and their tiki bar serves good foof and drink at reasonable rates...

[v123]

invaluable link...

http://www.waterwayguide.com/fuelpricing1.php?area=cbdb Note links to other travel areas.



More input on ICW...

Tidewater in Portsmouth, VA has an amazing restaurant and reasonable fuel prices last spring but drink yourself stupid at the Jewish Mother bar if it is still open. Coinjock Bleh... you can keep it these days... Beaufort gets my vote over Morehead City and you hit the Grocery for dinner and push on to stop for fuel in Sneads Ferry, NC around MM 250 or so (super cheap fuel). Agree on Wrightsville Beach but grab your ankles on fuel prices if you miss Sneads Ferry - - WTF! Bald Head is cool for a night and quick round of golf and skip Myrtle unless your significant is into shopping / dining @ Barefoot - - very overpriced dockage IMHO plus the shoaling is a motherf'r just south. Absolutely stop in Charleston to grab some rest and local pub grub at the King Street Grill - Ashley Marina was accomodating but bend over for fuel prices. South end of Hilton Head was top notch (Harbortown) and take your clubs to play golf. Savannah GA was another good stop if Harbortown is booked up - - eat and explore on water street. St. Augustine Conch House is top shelf for dining and it will get even the ugliest guys on a date laid.

Cheers

[Deep C]

Aaaah... The lay factor...
Yes Conch house has that potential. On the ride north Moorehead had the same potential. Hell I wan't on a main dock even and the tenderloins were out in force. I havn't stepped out of line in my 23+ years of marriage but it was sure fun to have them wanting a "tour" of the boat...

[Robja]

Deep,

FYI from Southport south to Little River. In Southport there are numerous good places to eat. Fuel at Southport Marina and South Harbor has always been a little higher than other places. There is bridge construction halfway between Southport and Lockwood Folly inlet. Plenty of room to get thru though. Down Lyndons way at Holden beach there is a pretty long no wake zone. At Ocean Isle Brant McMullens Ocean Isle Fishing center has reasonable fuel prices. Then at Sunset beach you have a barge bridge that opens on the hour. Have a safe trip down.

[Deep C]

Ok just got in... Some notes to add to the program...

Sunset Marina: I love the place but I have no doubt in my head that the gallons read out of their fuel pump was off by quite a bit... Wasn't previous trips or this summer but read sixty more gallons than I should have burnt and what my fuel flow meter said. The dollar amount in the window showed right near where it should have but the gallons were definately off... The fuel flows were dead on within a couple gallons all the reast of the way...

Norfolk Tidewater: Fuel was cheap and service just fine.

Coinjock: Shoe horned us in last slip they had... Friendly service dockage rate went up.

Moorehead: Fuel price was good. Slip reasonable. Town was depressingly quiet though. Favorite spots out of business. Italian food there expensive and only so so...

Charleston: Fuel ok. Dock fairly expensive. Cable sucked. WiFi intermittent...

Fernandina: First and hopefully last time I ever go there. Fuel showing $2.70 on pump. Charged me $3.04 Plust tax! To make it worse, the fuel we got is so cloudy you can't see across the racor. No cable, pay wifi, long walk to showers where only one worked. Town full of antique shops and designer eateries. Food pricey and sucked...

Daytona: Loggerhead Club. Horrid side current in cramped space. Best be on your game if you wanna try docking there. Food good in restaurant. Staff friendly but combined IQ equalled that of a rutabegga...

Jensen Beach Mariott: Again nice facility. Fair food at tiki bar. Staff however is brain dead and could not among them figure how to turn their fuel pump on...

[neilinov]

A couple of my fav's

Southport: Mr. P's Bistro walking distance to Southport Marina. Serves good local food with a nice relaxing atmosphere. It was raining when we were leaving so Mr. P gave us a ride back to the boat! Southern Hospitality at it's finest.

Hilton Head: CQ's is walking distance from Harbor town Marina. They have a great exotic menu, it is pricey though, but worth the dining experience!

St. Augusine: Zhanrahs! You have to take a cab from Conch House or Comachee Cove, but worth the experience. They serve tapas food, so you get a good variety. The best part though is they open up a back bar after dinner and the freaks really come out. Worth every penny to see an 80's hair band play and just enjoy the nuts that follow them. Everyone from Flagler students to cougars on the prowl!

[wtaylor]

Fernandina always has the cheapest price by far on the east coast, you have to get it direct from Florida Petroleum. They have a crappy little wooden dock, but good fuel and fastest pump on the coast as well.