How is the boating in North Carolina?
 

I'm thinking about relocating to North Carolina. Do you guys boat in the Ocean,Lakes or Rivers? How are the lakes? I think I saw Lake Norman is the largest lake. Does the lake level get low do they have bad drouts. What other lakes are there for good boating. Thanks, Kirk

We boat on Lake Norman and Lake Wylie. We also boat on the rivers, and go to the carolina coast to boat in salt water. There is also two other large lakes in SC, hartwell and lake murray. We have had some low water over late fall and winter, but the lakes are coming back up now. There are a lot of boating places other than the ones that I mentioned that are fun places too.

Lake Gaston NC is awesome for its size, 350 miles of shoreline and plenty of room to open her up when you feel the need.

I spent a weekend on Norman and had a blast. If I were to relocate the Charolotte area would be at the top of my list.

We keep our boat in Manteo from fall till late spring - it's the best fishing you could ever want! Locals are great, food is great, the beaches are as good as anywhere! If it wasn't for work & family I'd be there tomorrow.

The sound is huge, the coast in beautiful, it is really nice - don't think there is much out there for work though?

the pamlico river rules. miles of water leading to the outer banks. :cool-smiley-027:

I live in Swansboro NC and we boat in the ICW and the ocean and the local river that runs to the ICW and ocean. You can run to the local light houses or follow the ICW South to Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. We see all the Yachts heading South for the winter and then back North again for the Summer. It is AWESOME!

I bought some waterfront land near Oriental/New Bern for "down the road". Great mix of fresh and salt water in the area. Not as developed as many places (yet), but it will be by the time we build...

I re-located to Charlotte last August and I couldn't have asked for a btter to place to move. The area is awesome with lots of growth and great career opportunities. Cost of living is not that much more (~5%) from NE OH were I came from.

I live across the street from Lake Norman and currently rack store at Westport. Lots of fun things to do on the lake and it is nice and deep and clear. They also have the lake marked off very clearly compared to lakes that I had been on in OH.

We moved here summer of 06. took a while to find the right house, but have been on Norman for about a year. Like any lake near a city, it's crowded (but fun) on weekends, perfect during the week, and good in the off-season.

Best thing overall is the weather- short/mild winter compared to the Washington DC Area. Caught a nice mid 60's day in January and was out - Superbowl Sunday. This past Sat and Sunday were mid-upper 60's-low 70's. Was out all day Sunday.

Lot's of other good lakes within reach and the coast isn't too far.

Have you taken your boat out there? Pretty cool then?

Our son moved to Lake Norman in early 2007 and we visited every weekend we could last summer to enjoy the lake, and with the marinas,restaurants and bars that are available/accessable from the water there it makes it a great retreat, although the auto traffic around Mooresville is about as bad as it gets anywhere. Likewise, Lake Murray in South Carolina is a great freshwater boating lake, as are some of the others mentioned here already. We spent last weekend at Lake Norman and the water has came back up considerably from where it was last fall and looks like we are just a few more days from very pleasant weather to boat in on all the Carolinas lakes, rivers and waterways.

I lived in Southport/Wilmington for twelve years- great area, not a lot of go-fasts but plenty going on around Wrightsville area. Trips to Myrtle Beach, New Bern, Charleston were always a blast. Provision Co in Southport is a must.

I lived there in 99 and 00... awesome area! Bald Head Island is a great overnoght trip.... fishing is incredible too with the gulf stream being so close. If you want beach, Wilmington/Southport is the way to go....

lived here all my life and would not live anywhere else,and yes i have traveled all over.

Raleigh-Durham? :rolleyes:



redneck

Is that a bad thing? :p


Five Cent Worth ... I need to introduce you to my buddy x-driver who lives on Lake Norman and is a transplant from here. You guys can discuss why living there beats living up here :D

[QUOTE=Racegirl3;2471417]Is that a bad thing? :p


Not in my book.
We have run from VA Beach to Elizabeth City, NC a couple of times. It is a very nice ride down the Intercoastal.:D

you would be suprised azz wipe:Whatever:

LOL- Yea that's the truth. Just so you know its in the 60's here today... The only things I miss are PIB & Kelley's and the CLE sports. :evilb:

Have him PM me. I joined this site as there seems to be alot of LKN peeps on here.

Im not sure he is a paid member here BUT I would be happy to introduce you to him at The Rusty Rudder on May 16th :cool-smiley-011:

No, I haven't taken the outlaw anywhere yet! still need to pickup a trailer.
Probably take care of it soon.

Taken the jetboat to Mountain Island Lake a bunch of times though, good group of jetboats down there. Great skiing too.

Kerr & Gaston look like there about 2 hours away or so. SML is probably that distance as well.

This is us at Kerr we have a great time. :D

Sounds like a plan. That is less than 2 mmiles away from me.
I think we might try and hit the Rudder up on St. Patty's day! :ernaehrung004:

What is on May 16th?

Mine is sitting in the trailer lot doing nothing. Might be able to let you use it.

Any web sites to show places over there or things to do?

We are also looking at this area as a possible place to relocate to for my wifes line of work. How many marinas are on the lake? How big of gofast boats can the rack store? Also whats the average size go fast on lake norman? Thank you, Steve

Its about time you got back down here. I hope we get to see you again this year at the rudder. Race weekend is just around the corner.
Steve (41 Velocity)

We are bringing Angies husband with us this year so we have a DD. Im not sure which part we most look forward to .... the race, the race shops or hangin at the Rudder/boating on Lake Norman :cool-smiley-011: See you guys soon! :D

Got ya - race weekend. Will be going to the race too. See you at the Rudder. :cool-smiley-026:

Steve - Not sure about alot your questions as I am new to the lake too. Where I rack (Westport )the biggest they can rack is 28. There are lots of marinas here but I do not know there capablities as far as length. Lots of different size go fasts. If you are coming from the Great Lakes (like me) then the water isn't even a fraction as rough as you are used to :evilb:.

Mike

Thanks Mike.

Thanks! I appreciate it... I really do need to just get one though.

Steve, ya can't leave.
But if ya do you might as well leave your boat here with me, I will take good care of her:D The length won't be a problem down there but the speed will be. You will be like a gold fish swimming around in a little bowl:p

There are probably a lot of websites about Gaston. Gaston reminded me of Lake Anna, but bigger.

Kerr is a different world. I've only been there in September and October. So I've never seen it crowded... doubt if it ever does. Formula 382 may know better.

A bunch of us went to Kerr for the weekend Mid Sept. I think we saw three boats on the lake all weekend. A couple in a ski boat, a bass boat, and somebody in an older performance boat. When you get tired of the craziness of summer can bring, Kerr can provide a welcome breath of fresh air. Huge Lake 700+ miles of shoreline. A million coves to get lost in. Numerous Bald Eagles. peaceful, gorgeous.

That 700+ miles of shoreline doesn't mean much. That is about the same as Lake Michigan and Lake Michigan is almost as big as the entire state of N.C.
You can cruise in a straight line at 100mph for over 3 hours and not see another boat.

I would guess there are at least 10 marinas and probably more strung around the lake and there is one off Perth Road that I'm told can handle larger boats. I'm going to be checking for a place to keep mine this summer as well. Stutts Marina has just built a number of new large covered slips but no dry storage. (They had some legal difficulties last summer with Duke Power and didn't get to open their slip rentals, but I'm told that has been resolved and they are modifying them to suit Duke's requirements and should be in business to rent them before too much longer. I was there this weekend and they were working on the channel at Stutts. I've seen all sizes of go fasts there but probably average 33-35.

Yeah, but Lake Michigan is basically just a giant bucket of water.
Kerr is 700+ of COVED shoreline. Mostly uninhabited. Absolutely gorgeous.

Looking to come up there for a long weekend this summer, any hotels on the water with slips?

Check here... we got a condo last summer right at Midtown browns on southern part of lake, dock that comes with condo is right at midtown browns. Good eats and drinks

Here is a link where we found the condo... there was a boat launch right around the corner as well.
http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacat...-Carolina.html

This is the one we stayed at.. nice end slip boat dock...
http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacat...als/31064.html

Check in with the Carolina Power Boat club on Norman.. Great bunch of people!!!