[Rhodes22-list] Outer Banks Sea Trials

[Alex Bell]

William,

I would consider going on your trip on a much bigger boat, but not the 
Rhodes. The trip from Oriental to Beaufort will take you 4 hours or 
more. Going across the Neuse River across to the Inland waterway you'll 
find it to be 8 miles wide. When you get to Beaufort, be aware that this 
is a major seaport and large ocean going ships come into port here. They 
are not slow lumbering boats. They move out. When we brought Kizmet up 
from Charleston, SC, we went via the Atlantic and put in  at Beaufort. 
What a shock. We had freighters passing us in the channel like we we 
standing still. Adding to the fun was the early morning fishing fleet 
that storms out the inlet in the channel going full throttle. The 
freighter passed us while we were going 7 knots under full power and it 
was going at least 15 knots, more likely 20. The fishing fleet can be 
anything from 28 to 60 footers with  mucho power. Most professionals 
with outboards have dual 200+ hp and they're using em to get to the 
fishing grounds first. Meanwhile you're wallowing in the troughs and 
wake they're churning.

Trying to come in from the Atlantic at Ocracoke Inlet is for the 
veteran, seasoned boater. I would not try it myself. This is a tricky 
inlet that has constant shoaling and rough waters. Experienced fishing 
trawlers (professional seamen) have lost their boats there on a regular 
basis. I would not try it in a Rhodes. You don't have the enough power 
to fight the current and waves if your timing is off.

You would do well to stay in the Oriental area and sail Pamlico Sound. 
It's plenty large and has lots of places you can anchor and overnight. 
You need to get a charat for the area and heed the warning areas. The 
Marine Corps has a bombing area out there. Never know when it's going to 
be in use. It's a prohibited area and marked as such, but if you don't 
have a chart, you won't know what it's all about. The chart indicates 
depth that you might not worry about with the shallow draft but you can 
still get into some trouble. It's only a foot deep in some places where 
you;d think it was deep water. You will find that the waters in Core 
Sound, the water inside the Outer Banks from Cape Lookout to Ocracoke is 
very shallow.

We've gone aground in the middle of the Neuse River near New Bern with 
the Rhodes. Luckily we pulled the cb up and were off, but what a shock 
to be in the middle of a 3 mile wide river and go aground. The good news 
is that you won't hit rocks, it's sand and muck. Be prepared for 
anchoring with a suitable anchor (danforth or delta) and have at least 6 
feet of chain on your rode. I've seen the commentary about not using 
chain, but experienced boaters will choose the cautious side and be so 
equipped. I once had trouble anchoring in 7 feet of water with Kizmet 
when in a creek with the wind blowing. I was using a 35# CQR anchor with 
ALL chain rode. It took 150 feet of chain to finally get the anchor to 
set, then we reduced scope to about 80 feet. I don't know what would 
have occured if we did not have the chain. We've switched our primary 
anchor to a 33# Bruce with 20 feet of chain and 150 feet of nylon. It 
works better.

We had a Nor'easter two weeks ago that lasted 3 or 4 days. That kind of 
weather action forces the water across Pamlico sound and up the Neuse 
River. We had water over the docks for a day and the water level was up 
for the extent of the strom. When that occurs, you will not be able to 
get out of some of the rivers that go into Pamlico Sound that are 
located on the South end of the Sound. You just don't have enough power 
to fight the wind and wave action. Keep that in mind. You really need to 
pay attention to the weather here.

Alex Bell
New Bern, NC
Kizmet, IP35-170
Blewdaze, R22

Peter Thorn wrote:

>Bill,
>
>I made the trip from Oriental to Ocracoke and back in a chartered Catalina
>27 about 25 yaers ago.   It can be a nice trip this time of year, but as
>always it's very good to watch the weather.  It's 50 miles of open water,
>and if I recall correctly, tends to get very shallow near Ocracoke.  If the
>weather blows from the NE bad waves can develop across the entire fetch..
>Steep, choppy short frequency waves, much worse than deep water rollers with
>a long frequency that don't ever break.  On the eastern side of the Pamlico
>you can be out of landsight (most of the land there is pretty low) and have
>these bad conditions develop -- in 5 feet of water!  Way out on the ocean
>side Cape Hatteras is called the "graveyard of the Atlantic", so a little
>caution there would be a good thing too.  I think this is mainly has to do
>with the gulf stream and how Cape Hatteras sticks it's chin out in it.
>I've never sailed out there, so can't tell you much more.
>
>PT
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.com>
>To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 9:34 AM
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Outer Banks Sea Trials
>
>
>  
>
>>I'm heading out Wednesday afternoon to introduce my Rhodes to saltwater
>>    
>>
>for
>  
>
>>the first time.  My plan is to put in at Oriental, NC and sail/motor down
>>to Beaufrot, NC (maybe catch lunch) then head out to Cape Lookout.  From
>>Cape Lookout I hope (weather permitting) to make a run up to Ocracoke,
>>    
>>
>then
>  
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>>sail across Pamlico Sound back to Oriental.  I am really excited to
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>finally
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>>get my Rhodes into some big water and see how she handles in the ocean.
>>Anyone make this trip before?  Any must sees or must dos?  Any advice?
>>
>>Bill W.
>>
>>__________________________________________________
>>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>    
>>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
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>  
>