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Authorized by Congress in the Rivers & Harbors Act of 1938, the AIWW was originally developed for commercial water traffic. Over the years, it evolved into a route that is now used more by pleasure craft than by commercial vessels. The total waterway is about 3,000 miles in length and ranges from Boston to Key West on the Atlantic coast, and from Apalachee Bay in northwest Florida to Brownsville, Texas, and the Rio Grande River on the Gulf of Mexico coast. The toll-free waterway is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers to a minimum depth of 12 feet for most of its length, although 7- and 9-foot minimum depths will be found in some areas. Because of shoaling, depths as little as 5 or 6 feet can also be encountered, so be sure to check current information, either with the Army Corps of Engineers or at the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (online at www.atlintracoastal.org) before setting sail. The Cape Fear segment of the AIWW is a great place for nature and wildlife lovers because so much of it traverses the sounds and marshes between the barrier islands and the mainland. Some of these areas are protected and accessible only by boat. In addition, because of the mild climate in the southern coastal region coupled with the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, boating enthusiasts can enjoy a nearly yearlong season on the waterway. In addition to numerous
private and residential community boating facilities, there are well
more than 40 marinas and boatyards in operation, providing a full
spectrum of services and supplies for the boating public. Detailed
information about facilities, along with a wealth of other boating
information and a searchable database, is available online at
www.NCWaterways.com. A valuable resource for the boater is the North
Carolina Coastal Boating Guide, which can be ordered there online or by
calling (877) 368-4968. Another valuable source of information about the
towns and facilities along the southeastern coast can be found online at
www.icw-net.com. Follow the links to the various coastal communities.
Further information and photos of many of the marinas can be found by
clicking Marinas North Carolina at www.cruisingguide.com. |
Southeastern
North Carolina is a boater’s paradise. The entire length of the
four-county coastal region is fronted by the Atlantic Intracoastal
Waterway (AIWW, or simply the Intracoastal Waterway, ICW), a series of
barrier islands, numerous sounds and a variety of rivers and streams,
all connecting with the Atlantic Ocean.
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