Less than a year ago my mother-in-law (in South Carolina) bought an '05 Gibson 50' Cabin Yacht.  It's a great boat, but now she is very ill and wants to get rid of it.  

I've been looking for a boat, but had never thought of a houseboat.  I was very much leaning toward a cruiser to tool about the Potomac (I live in DC) and the Bay.

How much am I giving up in versatility etc if I buy her boat?  Will I be limited in exploring the islands in the Chesapeake?

Thanks!

First : Welcome Aboard!

Sorry to hear about your mother in laws health.

The Gibson is a great vessel, it sounds like you know that. It can take some waves with comfort. I personally am not familier with the waters discribed. Some one will chime in here and help us out to answer your questions.

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Banana Tom

Thanks for the welcome note Tom!

It's about 100 miles downstream to the Chesapeake on the Potomac.  Which means the vast majority of my time will be spent on the fairly calm waters of the Potomac.  I ask about the capabilities of the Gibson simply because I tend to ere on the side of caution.  The boat itself is practically new, with only 47 hours on the engines.  I'm also cautious because I'm used to seeing houseboats on large lakes.

Well, I look forward to any suggestions anyone might have.

Ciao

Welcome aboard Andiamo,
I have a houseboat and my heart wants something to travel in more and to be able to take bigger water.  Right now, the HB is serving our needs, but some day, we will switch to something like a trawler for traveling more.  I guess what I am saying is, you can do both in any order.  Sorry for your mother in law's illness, perhaps a good buy is available due to being family. If so, that may lean you toward the Gibson for the present time. It may also be good for her if she is able to take some safe cruises with you.  Good luck on your decision.

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Riverliver

50 Gibson in decent weather would do fine in those waters. Is it freshwater cooled, I would think so otherwise you will have big problems.

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The pirate

The big gibson can take more than you can. Use with disceression and enjoy.

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OLD HOUSEBOATER

I appreciate all of the feedback.  It's really a deal I can't refuse; now I need to either have it shipped from SC or bring her up the ICW in the dead of winter.  

I would love to take it home myself and am looking into the best route to take.  How much traffic do you think there might be between Charleston and DC?  

Andiamo, What a perfectly wonderful trip. Here am I, once again, looking to cadge a ride. Need crew? Cook? Line handler? Ship's doc? Ferry pilot? Log-keeper? It would be a fine experience to learn something about operating a boat that size before our Work in Progress is finished... After the Zone Man, we'd both look competent... or maybe not....

Now. About the route. I've flown over it many times, low and slow (at least what portions of it aren't restricted for military ops, and some of that we saw while crewing on a friend's big Bayliner.) It's a gorgeous trip from one end to the other. We so look forward to seeing more of it as boaters in a year or two. Much of it is as calm as a duckpond. Of course, you do have a couple of wide, shallow bays to cross, plus the Chesapeake, all of which can get pretty choppy with considerable current and wind, plus, in some portions of the route, big tides, but if you have the luxury of time to wait out the weather, few blustery systems last more than a couple of days. Also, in some places you have the option of taking the long way around. The Albemarle Sound is a case in point. The eastern side of the Sound can get nasty in a hurry, but I've seldom seen the western half much rougher than I could handle in my Sunfish. You could, then, sidle west past Plymouth on the south side of the sound, and then stop for a pleasant night or two in historic Edenton, (here's a dinner invitation) and then back to the Elizabeth River and up toward Norfolk.
If we've had a couple of good toad-strangling rains, the drought-stricken Great Dismal Swamp Canal might have reopened, in which case, it's 20-some miles of don't-miss, with mirror-like clear water the color of strong British tea, and miles of overhanging hardwoods. It's a popular route for snowbirds, and overnight tie-up's available at the NC Welcome Center, about halfway up. Call them to find out its status: 252-771-8333.

Many municipal harbors offer a couple of days free docking for transients, among them Edenton and Elizabeth City, NC, both within an easy stroll of restaurants and shops.

As for traffic, especially in winter, I don't think you'll see much, just the occasional tug and barge. The commercial rigs we saw were professional, considerate, and predictable, but then, we didn't quibble over who had the right of way-- THEY did!

I do SO envy you that trip! Keep us all posted on your plans, and feel free to pm or phone for more opinionated advice.

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Amelia
Edenton, NC

Edited: 11/28/2007 at 11:29:47 AM by Amelia

Dang Amelia, you just about had me in a trance there for a moment. I could just about see that trip in my mind.  Whew, had to shake my self back to reality there.  Thanks, I needed that.....

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Riverliver

I vote to motor it home, you will never forget the trip. It will be awesome. you will be sad when it is over. It has heat, it will be very comfortable.

Look on the Great Loopers web site for stories of traveling the waters you will in doing so. There are also books wrtten about every mile of your trip.

However, if you do not want to motor it yourself, there are other ways. You can hire a captain, pick it up and ship it over land, (but I have heard horror story after horror story about that method) or you might ask for volunteers here, that would love the trip. I know of a great cook already.

I always motor my own, I love the trip.

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Banana Tom

Edited: 11/29/2007 at 05:39:33 AM by BananaTom

Some other random thoughts:

Claiborne S. Young has written a number of well-regarded cruising guides to the east coast ICW, and I've seen at least one of the videos (the one on the Albemarle Sound, natch) which was a pleasant scratch of the surface.

Much of the southern part of the route out of Charleston is mile after mile of wedding-cakish McMansions and yachts along the canal. Lots of saltmarsh and sweetgrass expanses, and if you're a birder, your life-list might get a few new checkmarks. Myrtle Beach, the Atlantic version of the Redneck Riviera, provides a stop with ample crowds and nightlife, if you're into that scene. Funny to fly over MYR- never seen so many golf courses in one place in my life. Never been there, but I hear Southport, just north of there is also a nice place to stop.
Closer to my own stomping grounds, herewith a few unsought opinions:
If you're a history buff, tiny Bath's a charming village, the oldest town in NC, and former home of Blackbeard. I understand the town dock's free for a night there.
"Little" Washington as the natives call it, (the ORIGINAL Washington, named in 1776) looks like a great place to tie up for a night, too, with several decent restaurants within an easy walk of the waterfront.
Beaufort (the NC town pronounced 'bo-fort') is another good stop, town built around its great waterfront, more good places to eat within an easy stroll. Then you're back into canals, only this time with fishing villages alongside. Much of this area all the way up the Alligator River, is wildlife refuge, so you'll see lots of snow geese and tundra swans.
Just south of Elizabeth City, you'll see an enormous blimp hangar- where they build LighterThanAircraft--tethered balloons and airships, both. Interesting, if you're into that sort of thing.
If the DSC is still closed due to low water, it provides you with a good excuse to try one of the restaurants along the main ICW canal in a non-town called Moyock. If you can find several days to dock downtown, Norfolk is going to be a highlight, I think. That town, surprisingly, has many cultural offerings- professional theater, symphony orchestra, opera, ballet, and wonderful bistros and restaurants. The art museum's glass collection is top notch. Of course the Navy's Atlantic Fleet is based there, so you'll get a wonderful view of some BIG boats.

Oh,my. This vicarious living's the best. (OK, second-best.) NC visitors center will be glad to send you a nice marine chart full of useful information, and maybe VA and SC do the same thing.

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Amelia
Edenton, NC

Oh, yeah-- one one more thing.
Two entertaining and useful accounts of this route have been posted, I forget whether here, or more likely, on the other houseboat forum. One was by the Judge, I believe, who recounted his harrowing ride across the Albemarle Sound, and one by DC9loser, who made the trip south in a pontoon rig. Both are most well worth hunting down and reading.

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Amelia
Edenton, NC

Edited: 11/29/2007 at 12:34:45 PM by Amelia

Motoring it home sounds like the best bet at this point.  And from the narratives you all have given me, I'm about ready to pack up and do it today!  

Seriously though, there's going to be some serious planning ahead.

Yes, do plan, memorize the charts, locate the fuel stops and the anchorage stops. Be safe and calculate at 10 miles per hour, however that boat should also cruise nicly at 20 mph if fuel is not a concern.

PLan the food, we always plan it, prepare it, freeze it and bring it frozen packed to stay that wat for days. Then thaw as needed. Helps keep down of the refrigerator space.

Extra time to play along the way is also nice to do if you have the time.

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Banana Tom

I just saw you post about the 100 miles, that is not far at all. I made a trip of 550 miles in 5 days, in a 37 Gibson. From Pickwick Lake down the Tenn Tom and 12 locks to Pensacola, FL. We pushed hard as time was limited. But we did have time to stop at the Pirates place in Pickensville early in the afternoon and enjoyed the hospitalty of the staff there.

100 Miles. Piece of cake. 2 days at 10 miles per hour is 5 hours per day, plenty time to play along the way.

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Banana Tom

A Gibson like would more than likly get screwed up when the bridge and other components are removed. Then you have leaks and all kinds of problems. Be a shame to mess a boat like that up. you can run it cheaper than you can haul it and boats like that were not meant for trailers. Good luck.

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The pirate

I'm actually looking at 450 miles from Charleston, SC to Washington.  The 100 miles I was talking about is the water that I'll spend most of my time on (weekends etc) once I get the boat.  

I'm beginning to compile my charts and marina listings; but the omnipresent weather issue lingers.  I really hope I don't have to wait until spring to get the boat up here.

450 miles will be a great trip.

What kind of weather are you afraid of?
Ice, Wind, Snow, Sleet.

Wow!
what a challenge,
you lucky guy.

A 50 Gibson will be very comfortable. I would install automatic lines. That way you will not have to come from inside when you arrive at the marina of choice for fuel and night dockage to tie up.

Just push a button and you are secured to the cleat.

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Banana Tom

Are you committed to doing the whole 450 miles in one swell foop? As you know from living in DC, if you don't like the weather, just wait a couple of hours. It might not be better, but it'll be different.

If you have the luxury of time, you should be able to find a hidey-hole marina and stay put for a day or three when a front's going through, or a nor'easter's blowin' like stink, and thus have no particular worries. For every blustery, foggy, or frigid winter day, we seem to get a week or more of really pleasant, at least here in NE NC. For that matter, some towns have commercial air service to DC, and most towns have car rental offices, so if it looks like you're in for a spell of nasty, you can batten the hatches, and go home, and resume your trip when the weather suits you better.

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Amelia
Edenton, NC