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The gator tooth rules are under special note 1 and 3.

I think Penguin Man towed his amas behind him through the Nitemare, but don't quote me on that.

We got our 18.5' barge of an XCR through in 2012 with only a little difficulty and I blame a lot of that on the dark and the tide.  We did have to take both amas off and some of the turns were a little tight.  I don't know that I'd want to take a boat much longer or taller than that through though.

I took the Broad Creek option on the WW last year, due to tides.  It is longer, but I'm sure lower Broad Creek is easier than the Nightmare.  Both routes go through upper Broad Creek, which I am told is the toughest part.  I know in my 18' boat I had to make 3-point turns in a few spots, and sneak under some low branches.  I would be surprised if you do not have to tow the amas, so be prepared.  But it was the best part of the whole trip.

By upper, you mean the streatch in from the gulf?

So you end up doing the worst part of Broad Creek whether you do the Nightmare or not.

I remember a lot of the Nightmare being more like Macatawas video at about 3:50 into it.  It was surprising to me how it would open up for a bit and neck down to nothing again, and open back up again and then back down to nothing.  I thought "Really, they call this a Waterway" many times to myself.  It was a most fun and interesting part of the trip, however!  And I did it in the wee hours of the morning just before dawn.

Back to the OP.  There will be some tight spots but nothing you can't negotiate.  Just make sure everything is lashed down, and the fewer things for the mangroves to get tangled up with, the better.

Watching Ben's video, it got me to thinking about the EC.  Not in chronological order.  One day you are flying across Tampa and Sarasota Bays.  One night you are paddling through Venice canal in the dark.  Paddling through suburbia, marinas, and moored sailboats one quiet evening.  Paddling off the coast near Naples.  Shooting in through Marcos pass.  Paddling twisting and turning channels against the tide in Estero bay heading for Wiggins pass.  Busting out through the surf into the Gulf.  Paddling the northern areas of the WW at dusk with the bioluminescent algae lighting up in your bow wave and paddle strokes.  Finding your way through the mangroves in the Nightmare.  Cruising down the Joe River with a good beam reach.  Terror in Whitewater Bay in big waves and wind at night, and the eerie approach down the canal to Flamingo, only suffering mild hallucinations.  Then there was FL Bay.  It is such an awesome challenge that makes the hours fly by!   What a cool venue, especially varied if you take the inside route....I digress.

Joe

Squirrel has her heart set on doing the WW & Nightmare. As for myself, I refuse to worry about it until (or if?) we actually get to Checkpoint 2. Since we're in a large TI fleet, my question is, what are you going to do if you get to CP2 and you're leading the fleet?

I've done the nightmare before in my QCC at night.  I know timing is everything in getting through.  My first question was just trying to see how many other AI/TI's at least initially plan on attempting it.  I want my daughter to get the full WW experience so my plan is to go for it.

Sundance, If you are keeping track, I'm on a TI and not interested in fighting off snakes gators and bugs.......LOL. Prefer the open blue water. But good luck! Roy