2018 Charleston Pinopolis Lock Cooper River Run/ Hilton Head Gathering 5/12 and 5/13 2018

[Eric Ballard]

Did you book the Marriott or the Courtyard on the 11th? The Courtyard doesn't have sufficient parking for a vehicle and trailer.

Ya, I did the Courtyard. Good catch. I'll move to the Marriott we stayed at last year. THANKS!

 

[robert843]

Ya, I did the Courtyard. Good catch. I'll move to the Marriott we stayed at last year. THANKS!

If you want to stay closer to the Launch point you can check out the hotels in Santee SC which is right off I95 and about 20-30 min from Hills Landing this would reduce your drive time versus going in Charleston. You will find nicer options in Summerville but will add an hour drive probably and about a 45-50 minute drive to the launch site in the morning but its closer then downtown Charleston is to the launch.

 

[Eric Ballard]

Ya, I did the Courtyard. Good catch. I'll move to the Marriott we stayed at last year. THANKS!

OK I updated to the Charleston Marriott the 11th then Hilton Head the 12 and I'll stay somewhere the 13th on the way home.

Put me on the BOOKED list! see you guys soon.

 

[Eric Ballard]

Robert, I was looking at Navionics for the Charleston to Hilton Head run. Looks like a good open water section. How are the conditions there traditionally? (remember I'll be in my SX190) I'm not worried about fuel as I'll bring 1 or 2 5 gallon cans.

Or do you avoid the open water section somehow?

 

[robert843]

Robert, I was looking at Navionics for the Charleston to Hilton Head run. Looks like a good open water section. How are the conditions there traditionally? (remember I'll be in my SX190) I'm not worried about fuel as I'll bring 1 or 2 5 gallon cans.

Or do you avoid the open water section somehow?

The ICW does avoid most of the big we do not go in the actual ocean at any point. The problem is there are several spot where large bodies of water merge and yes it can be rough sometimes. It will depend a lot on the winds that day if its less then 10 mph it should be smooth sailing if it is higher then that it could get bumpy. I don't expect it to be dangerous but it could be 1-2 ft tight chop which makes for an uncomfortable ride in a smaller boat. Port Royal Sound, Saint Helena sound and the last part of the Edisto River would be the areas of concern. If we do hit rough water just move all passengers behind the windshield and try and keep the heavy items such as coolers back there as well. I do not expect up to hit 3-4ft waters or anything like that though unless the weather is really rough but in that case I have feeling we may not be going to Hilton Head any ways. I would compare these areas to Winyah Bay which I think you were in during your visit to Myrtle it can be flat as a lake or 2-3 ft at 2-3 seconds if the winds are up and blowing the right direction.

 

[Eric Ballard]

The ICW does avoid most of the big we do not go in the actual ocean at any point. The problem is there are several spot where large bodies of water merge and yes it can be rough sometimes. It will depend a lot on the winds that day if its less then 10 mph it should be smooth sailing if it is higher then that it could get bumpy. I don't expect it to be dangerous but it could be 1-2 ft tight chop which makes for an uncomfortable ride in a smaller boat. Port Royal Sound, Saint Helena sound and the last part of the Edisto River would be the areas of concern. If we do hit rough water just move all passengers behind the windshield and try and keep the heavy items such as coolers back there as well. I do not expect up to hit 3-4ft waters or anything like that though unless the weather is really rough but in that case I have feeling we may not be going to Hilton Head any ways. I would compare these areas to Winyah Bay which I think you were in during your visit to Myrtle it can be flat as a lake or 2-3 ft at 2-3 seconds if the winds are up and blowing the right direction.

good info. do you have a navionics route you can send me?

 

[Glen]

Hey brothers (@Kevin Sargent), and @Amar Nanduri, what do you think about a link up for this?

 

[robert843]

good info. do you have a navionics route you can send me?

Well here you go it takes three screen shots to grab it as there are two many way points. I started where we enter the waterway in Charleston and ended at Hilton Head but not the marina it's a few miles more to there..

 

[robert843]

Based on this those doing the Lake through the lock down to Charleston and then on to Hilton Head you are probably looking at about 160 miles each way. Its probably about 68 miles from the launch point to Charleston then about another 92 miles to the Marina in Hilton Head as a guess.

 

[robert843]

Or if we get just perfect weather we can cut 20 miles off the trip

 

[Andy S]

Or if we get just perfect weather we can cut 20 miles off the trip

View attachment 68247

Even if both going and coming are perfect weather, I will be taking the intercoastal waterway at least on one of the directions. To me taking the ocean route is like driving on the Interstate system, gets you there fast but not much to see whereas taking the intercoastal waterway is like taking the state highways, a little slower but plenty to see.

 

[Mainah]

I told one of my neighbors who has a 242 about this trip and the site. His family will likely come along. At this point it looks like we will depart Chapin in the early am Saturday and go straight to Santee to drop in.

 

[Andy S]

I told one of my neighbors who has a 242 about this trip and the site. His family will likely come along. At this point it looks like we will depart Chapin in the early am Saturday and go straight to Santee to drop in.

That is my plan too. We will probably see each other on the way.

 

[Hilario Perez]

Is anyone from Florida going on this run?

 

[Andy S]

Is anyone from Florida going on this run?

Not as of yet but you are more than welcome to join us. It is just a little over 6 hours to drive to either starting point; for the lock/river run or starting in Charleston.

 

[Hilario Perez]

Yes I was looking at that on the GPS I will sit down with my girlfriend this weekend and see if we would like to join you guys for the Run cuz we're also putting together the run for June to Bimini with you guys. Thanks for the invite. Will let you know soon.

 

[Andy S]

Yes I was looking at that on the GPS I will sit down with my girlfriend this weekend and see if we would like to join you guys for the Run cuz we're also putting together the run for June to Bimini with you guys. Thanks for the invite. Will let you know soon.

As you have probably figured out, a lot of us doing the Charleston to Hilton Head run are also doing the June Bimini trip. This could be a good test for the Bimini trip to see how you deal with consistently boating for extended periods of time and possibly dealing with some rough water.

 

[Hilario Perez]

Yeah that's what I was thinking that makes sense what would the expenses be more or less since you guys did this already for two people maybe three two adults and one child?

 

[Andy S]

Yeah that's what I was thinking that makes sense what would the expenses be more or less since you guys did this already for two people maybe three two adults and one child?

Here is rough guesstimation.

Full trip, include lock and river
160 miles each way, for 320 miles round trip plus running around mileage, total mileage 350 miles. You get about 2 mpg, so you will burn 175 gallons. Assuming your tank is full when you get to the launch spot, you will have to buy 125 gallons at marina prices probably around $4.25 which makes the fuel cost at $531.25.
Lodging in Hilton Head will cost you for about $300 for your full crew.
Marina slips will run you $90

So not including traveling to and from South Carolina and food/drinks your cost is about $921.25.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Even if both going and coming are perfect weather, I will be taking the intercoastal waterway at least on one of the directions. To me taking the ocean route is like driving on the Interstate system, gets you there fast but not much to see whereas taking the intercoastal waterway is like taking the state highways, a little slower but plenty to see.

I definitely agree with you Andy. I think the intercoastal from Charleston to Hilton offers so much. You have narrow parts similar to the run from Mrytle to Charleston, but then you have larger open bodies of water you get to cross as well. I think a stop in Beaufort for fuel/food is just about the perfect distance and I believe all the ladies will really enjoy Beaufort. @JROD and I had lunch there on the way down and I pretty sure everyone we were with really enjoyed it. I'll be interested to get your opinion when the trip is over as I think I personally like the Charleston to Hilton run a little better then I do the run up to the lock. Of course they're all fantastic but it's just a little different.