First foray onto the ICW

[Ambler27FC]

Finally escaped the Chesapeake with a quick 10-day trip onto the ICW down to NC. A minor point of pride with these boats is that I found myself the smallest boat attempting this type of trip.

It turns out the Dismal Swamp has significant amounts of Turtle Grass this time of year. Beautiful lime-green waters, but if the lock master asks if you’re boat is good with Turtle Grass, just turn around. Apparently every fourth boat or so gets towed out with engine problems. I got lucky and had to remove 5” of packed grass from my 6” tall water filter.

[RobS]

Yea you definitely need external wedge strainers for that stuff (aka squid screens or south bay strainers)

[hetek]

Rob knows!

The wedge type strainer I’m told was developed for the South Bay (bar) of Long Island where eel grass clogs everything. Especially after dredging season when it gets cut and floats to the surface and just creates a crappy looking lawn on the surface.

So bad sometimes you actually have to dodge the clumps.

… At least that’s what I was told by a South Bay boater.

[RobS]

Yup. South shore Long Island bays and eel grass it is. I had a typo there with bar instead of bay.