Hot News For the Cruising Community
Important – Onslow Beach Swing Bridge to Close for 7 Days, AICW Statute Mile 240.7
Posted by Larry | Posted on 17-08-2010
Onslow Beach Bridge crosses the ICW at Statute Mile 241, northeast of flashing daybeacon #64, 34 34.364 North/077 16.306 West. If your vessel requires more than 12 feet clearance, you will be unable to request an opening from 9/8 through 9/14.
Local Notice to Mariners, dated 8/17/2010
Mariners are advised that urgent mechanical repairs will be performed at the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge across the North Carolina Cut, at AICW mile 240.7, at Camp Lejeune, NC. To facilitate repairs, the swing span will be closed to vessels requiring an opening beginning at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 through 11:59 on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. The available vertical clearance in the closed position is approximately 12 feet, above mean high water. Mariners able to pass under the closed span may do so, should adjust their transits accordingly and exercise caution when transiting the area.
Dredging Underway in Big Foot Slough Channel – Pamlico Sound to Ocracoke, NC and Silver Lake Harbor
Posted by Larry | Posted on 16-08-2010
Good News for cruisers using this main channel into Silver Lake Harbor in Ocracoke. Dredging has been underway for about five days and should be completed soon. Past shoaling in this channel prompted a recent Navigational Alert. Check the links below for more information.
As we entered the Big Foot Slough Channel, we observed that it is actively being dredged. While we gave the red side more distance, it looks like the Red 10B issue is being addressed. We had no problem with the entry into Ocracoke, NC Silver Lake. Hope this helps those who follow.
Captain Brian Campbell
Click Here To View An Earlier Posting on Big Foot Slough Channel
MAX BREWER BRIDGE NAVIGATIONAL CHANNEL TO CLOSE, Titusville, FL
Posted by Larry | Posted on 16-08-2010
This swing bridge is currently in the process of being replaced by a fixed, high-rise span, necessitating a temporary closure to boating traffic. The Max Brewer Bridge on Rt. 402 crosses the ICW at Statute Mile 879, southeast of unlighted daybeacon #27 and the Titusville Harbor entrance.
Florida Department of Transportation:
Titusville –Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 17 through Thursday, Aug. 19, the navigation channel at the A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville will be closed to marine traffic. The closures are from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day to allow bridge beams to be installed over the main channel. The contractor has notified the U.S. Coast Guard, which will send a Notice to Mariners regarding the channel closure.
The $44.75 million project consists of replacing the current swing span bridge and the south relief bridge. The new structure will be a high level, fixed-span bridge over the Indian River. A 300-foot long fishing pier is planned. The existing bridge will remain open for traffic until the new bridge is built. The project is expected to be complete in summer 2011.
Please be aware that construction schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Travelers are urged to pay attention to advisories and drive with caution and care. The Florida Department of Transportation urges motorist to buckle up. Safety belts save lives.
Manteo Waterfront Marina Offer Special Summer Events (Roanoke Island, via Shallowbay Bay Channel off Roanoke Sound)
Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 13-08-2010
Wow, Manteo Waterfront Marina, which is clearly “the” place to stay in Manteo, is offering some great promotions and special events for the remainder of the 2010 summer. I suspect some of these special will continue on into the fall months. We’ll check on that, and update this posting ASAP! And, let’s not forget these good folks are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
1st Friday of every month in August, September, October, November – FESTIVAL- Live Bands, shops open later (8:00 or 9:00), wine & food in some participating shops.
On this Friday of every month the marina has a special rate for transients, 2 nights dockage for the price of 1 night.
Every Thursday- Wine Festival $20.00 per person to participate (in open air mall)
Carl Jordan
Dockmaster
Intracoastal Yacht Sales Announces A Cruise to Baldhead Island, NC
Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 13-08-2010
Intracoastal Yacht Sales is a valued SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Come Cruise with INTRACOASTAL YACHT SALES to
Bald Head Island
September 10-12th!
Caveats to the Closing Schedule of Alligator River Bridge (AICW Statute Mile 84)
Posted by Larry | Posted on 09-08-2010
The “Best Laid Plans”, in this case “Schedule”, etc. etc. As in all boating, patience is the by-word, as Susan reminds us in her comments below.
The Alligator River Bridge at AICW mi 84.2 is being painted. The USCG LNM states that from July 1 to September 30, 2010 the bridge will not open from 7PM to 7AM. It will open at 1AM if 2 hours notice is given. We arrived at the bridge at 8AM and they were still working. We had to wait 30 minutes until the construction crew cleared.
Captain Susan Parker
Click Here To View A Recent Posting on the Alligator Bridge Closing Schedule
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of The Alligator River Bridge
Is Ormond Beach Bridge Lower than 65ft? (AICW Statute Mile 825)
Posted by Larry | Posted on 06-08-2010
We know from the tide tables that the tidal range in this area is only about a foot, slightly more or less, but we have not had reports of the bridge being less than its designed height. If you have information that confirms a discrepancy, please contact us ASAP by clicking the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below.. You could also give Dave an email at dehret@ocens.net.
I’ve heard that the Ormond Beach Bridge is a bit lower than 65′ at MHW. Is this true? If so, by how much?
What is the best tidal reference point to use for this area? Thanks
David Ehret
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ormond Beach Bridge
More Shallow Depths Reported at AICW Passage Behind Bakers Haulover Inlet (north of Miami, Statute Mile 1081)
Posted by Larry | Posted on 05-08-2010
This passageway appears to be shoaling even more as the summer goes on. Take Capt. Bryce’s advice and attempt this channel only at high tide. Click on the link below for more observations on this area.
We came through here at low tide on 8/4/2010. We draw 4 feet and damaged a prop dead center of the channel. 2 small I/O boats hit bottom after I got myself out. 20 minutes later a 65′ plus yacht was hard aground. This is the worst spot we have seen along the ICW from the Chesapeake on down. Pass at high tide or don’t come through at all! Scratch that… don’t even think of going through here until it’s addressed.
Captain Bryce
Click On Link To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed to the Location of Bakers Haulover Inlet
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For AICW Bakers Haulover Inlet
Click Here To View Recent Comments on Bakers Haulover Inlet Passage
Listen Up! Boca Raton Imposes a New Time Limit on Anchoring in Lake Boca Raton (Statute Mile 1048)
Posted by Larry | Posted on 02-08-2010
Heed this warning fellow boaters! And be aware that In Claiborne’s non-lawyer opinion the below described Boca Raton actions are illegal under Florida’s new anchoring law.
Earlier this week, while anchored in Boca Lake, we were approached by a Boca marine police officer. He said the town has imposed a 72 hour limit on anchoring. When we asked about how this squares with the recent news about State laws concerning anchoring, he said Boca Lake is a park and therefore covered by different laws. The office was very polite and cordial.
Dave Coviello
After the message above was featured in a Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net Alert on 8/3/10, we received the flood of input below from the cruising community:
Not a chance in Hades that this will get by. That section of the waterway is clearly an extension of the waterway and NOT a ‘lake’. I’ll be contacting Boca Raton for the boating publications I write for and asking for a full explanation from their mayor. I’ll post the results as I receive them.
Wally Moran
The “local Boca marine police officer” is quite mistaken:
1. ALL NAVIGABLE WATERS IN FLORIDA ARE OWNED BY THE STATE, AND THE NEW STATE LAW APPLIES.
2. EVEN IF SOME WATERS ARE NOT OWNED BY THE STATE (Platted private canals, etc.) THE NEW FLORIDA ANCHORING LAW EXTENDS STATE JURISTICTION AND LAW APPLICABILITY TO “ALL NAVIGABLE WATERS” WITHIN THE STATE WHICH HAS CREATED A DILEMNA FOR LOCAL TOWN WATERS POLICE ENFORCEMENT .
Capt. Ken Wright
North Palm Beach, FL
I think I will skip FL this year and spend this winters’ fees at a different location.
Greg Timko
Figures! Boca has a superiority complex and a Barney Fife M.O. I learned this first hand back in 1985 when, without notice, they had my 25′ sailboat (not derelict but in bristol condition) TOWED. I went to file a police report thinking it was stolen but learned from the BRPD that THEY had it moved citing a local ordinance. The towing company lowered the rig and caused much damage, not the least of which was cutting the standing rigging instead of removing the clevis pins at the turnbuckles. BASTARDS!!!! My beautiful sailboat was towed down to a holding slip in Pompano Beach. The BRPD informed me of the location and said I would need to make arrangements with the marina to pay the storage fees and collect it asap. I went down in the dead of night in a power boat and stole it right back! BOOOYAAAAA !!! It has been my policy to not spend a dime in that inhospitable Mayberry.
stillpissedsailor
Hello all
I contacted Boca city hall, spoke to two people there, and outlined some of the issues that Boca would face should they attempt to enforce an anchoring ordinance, i.e. the issues that faced Sarasota, Marco Island and Stuart when those municipalities did so. I also told them I would be using whatever information I discovered as the basis for an article for several prominent publications for which I write.
Not much later, I received a phone message from the Boca Chief of Police. According to him, Boca is not enforcing, nor looking into an anchoring ordinance, although it was considered a while back.
Thus, I would expect that we shouldn’t be hearing about this in Boca again.
Of course, that begs the question as to where next this outbreak of stupidity will break out again, doesn’t it?
Wally Moran
Any local ordinance is superseded by the state’s anchoring law. For a complete summary of the law go to the following link:
http://www.boatus.com/gov/GA005FLAnchoring.pdf
We suggest that boaters print a copy of this sheet and keep it onboard.
BoatU.S. Government Affairs
David Kennedy
