Cruising, Barnegat to Cape May

[J Benckert]

Anyone taken the Inland Waterway From Barnegat to Cape May. Just bought a 24ft and cant make up my mind to go out front (weather permitting) or just stay inside. How is water depth in most areas.

[reel thing 25]

24' what? I would go out front, weather permitting. I ran my old 25 grady down on the outside 3 years ago and it was easy. It took about 3-4 hours in thick thick fog. The worst part of the trip was running from Brick to Barnegat in the fog.

[meanbean8111]

I can tell you in the GE inlet many new sandbars have appeared, as well as in the ICW. It would probably be safer taking the outside route considering the changes in the ICW over the winter. Take the ICW in the summer or fall when many of the changes are known....

[bass ackwards]

pick a nice day, allow plenty of time, have all the right gear and go outside. From my experiance in barnegat bay it can go from 10 to 1 foot depending on tide in no time.

[med]

weather permitting Id make the run outside, much easier...quicker too...saves gas...

[DaPlumber]

Did it last year in a 25' from Raritan Bay to Great Bay outside then Great Bay to Maurice River In the Delaware Bay .
Run outside if at all possible , inlets are close enough that if weather chnges you shouldnt get whooped to bad . Inside is reall slow behind AC , not to bad though , just enjoy the adventure .

[ 03-31-2006, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: DaPlumber ]

[Happy Ours]

We run out of the middle of LBI. Inside is a nice run from Manasquan through the canal. I would definately head outside at Barnaget. The southern part of LBI is all NO WAKE zones. It can take about an hour to cover the 7 miles south of the bridge. There is a back way, but if you are not familiar with the water, you are shore to run aground.

[undisputed]

i run the trip all the time for tournaments
i would go inside to ac it is a nice ride with little area for mistake as long as you stay in the channel

then go outside from ac to cape may from lanoka harbor to cape may is about 2 +/- hours