Observations on the Dismal Swamp Canal, AICW Alternate Route
As Captain Healy noted below on AGLCA’s Forum , northbound cruisers enter the Canal just north of Elizabeth City, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR. Traveling south, the Dismal Swamp Canal route exits the Waterway westward immediately south of the I-64 fixed bridge at statute mile 7.1. The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, also A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is located on the east shore of the Canal at Statute Mile 28.
The day you passed us, we went into the Elizabeth City free wharf [Mariner’s Wharf] just after you guys went into Pelican Marina. (What a perfectly nominal crossing of the Albemarle, eh!) We left EC Saturday morning and travelled up to Portsmouth’s High Street Basin after a fuel stop at Top Rack. We also had the Dismal all to ourselves; well, except for a couple of canoes. We draw 4-1/2 ft. We never touched, even once! We saw water depths of 6-1/2 ft or better the entire way. We spent our time this trip looking for the stone mile posts that were placed on the canal during a widening and renovation project in the 1820s. Many have been found/restored/replaced in their original positions by a group called the Virginia Navigation & Canal Society. The Deep Creek lockmaster that we all know and love – Robert Peek – is a canal historian and a key contributor to that effort. We did actually spot many of the markers. Funny that it’s the first trip out of 10 or more canal transits that we even knew they were there! Too often asleep, I guess.
That said, I definitely agree, people using the Dismal Swamp Canal should make way at slow bell. On previous trips through the canal, we have touched a time or two or three. We always travel at slow bell, and we recommend that if following another boat, you do that at a distance of 1/2 to 3/4 miles. That way, if that boat picks something up off the bottom, it has time to settle back down before you get to it. We have never had any damage; not ever. The canal is 22 miles from South Mills to Deep Creek. Boats that clear through either lock at 08h30 will make the other end for 13h30, so you have 5 hours to travel 22 StM. That’s less than 5 StM/hr, and should be easy even at dead idle. If you get to the other end early, you just have to keep station there until locking time. Keeping station in the canal can be a challenge – especially if there are a cluster of boats all doing the same dance – if there’s any wind to speak of. SLOW BELL!
Don’t be afraid of it. Just go slow and “smell the roses.”
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Comments from Cruisers (4)
The intersection with the Lake Drummond feeder is one of the places we’ve felt the bottom. However, the bottom is so soft it’s not a problem. We’ve also touched leaving the South Mills lock, southbound.
Back to Lake Drummond… This is the water supply for the canal. The locks help to conserve the water. This means that the canal’s depth remains relatively constant. The water coming from the feeder slows down as it spreads into the canal. As the water slows, it drops its load of sediment – hence the bump that has to be periodically dredged.
We draw 6′ and, aside from rarely feeling the muddy bottom, have had no problems with the canal. Well, with one notable exception. We’ve collected twigs and leaves from overhanging trees. We know of a 27-foot sailboat that scrubbed off his masthead after a moment’s inattention put him close to the bank. IIRC, running at more than 5.5 kts is a waste of fuel and time. The distance between the locks and their schedule means running faster means parking in front of the next lock. Finally, agreed that standing off the boat ahead is a good idea, but 1/2 – 3/4 mile just won’t work. See above regarding schedules. Invariably there are people who somehow think they’ll beat the schedule and will run up hard astern to “push” the boat on the bow. Passing is almost impossible in most places, making moving well with the traffic imperative. All that said, the canal and Pasquitank are one of our favorite stretches on the ICW.
As a footnote, Southwind Construction will be dredging portions of the DSC around mid to late July near Mile 22 at the intersection of the Lake Drummond Feeder Ditch. A local notice to mariners will be issued prior to startup.
Thank you for sharing your story. We have had some rumored 4 foot depth reports lately and have no idea where this originated, but appreciate your comments. We always ask our boaters about their experience, to share accurate information and we are aware the ACOE is always try to alleviate
problems as much as possible. All of our traffic who stop in the center have also made similar comments, so again, thank for you telling your story.
I just scanned our boater’s log to see if you stopped in to say hi, but we must have missed you on this trip. Thanks for coming our way!