Planning to go to the islands this fall and looking for companion vessels? Contact Bill at his email.

I’m looking for a meeting place to hook up with some other boats to cross to the Abacos in late October or early November. I’m on a 40 ft power boat, top speed 15 kts.
Bill Isaacs at wisaacs@warwick.net

We are looking for someone who is planning to take their boat across the Big Bend in late Oct/early Nov., to partner with us. We have a Mainship 40 trawler. Thanks!

Ed B.

Give Tony a call or email with your favorite haulout yard between LI and KW. There many good ones in that route.

Am traveling by sailboat outside from Long Island to Norfolk, then AICW to Key West, Nov. 2010. Need a reliable do it yourself yard for haul/// pressure… wash // relaunch etc. by yard,,,,,// bottom paint myself south of Norfolk. Any suggestions?
Tony Pozun, phone 516 978 4116 or btpozun@optonline.net

If you have taken advantage of this source of refund on fuel taxes, let us hear from you! Thanks for the Heads-Up Greg!

I came across the following when looking around for sales taxes on http://www.boatus.com/gov/state_taxrefund.asp
It lists state that will refund sales taxes for off road use and specifically describes boat use. VA will refund .18 and NC .16 per gallon. Has anyone heard of this or gotten a refund? All one has to do is fill out a form and send original receipts.
For VA use http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/ts216.pdf.
Greg and Susan Han aboard Allegria, Krogen Whaleback #16

If you’ve had experience with the trip from Savannah to Sunbury, please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.. Thanks! Sunbury Crab Company Marina is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

How long a boat trip is it to the Sunbury from Savannah? Looking to rent a group tour boat.
Alicia

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Sunbury Crab Company Marina

This is an excellent question considering the forecast for the hurricane season. Please let Mary and all Salty Southeast Cruisers know of your recommendations for riding out the worst! Please include latitude/longitude!

Are there any generally recognized hurricane holes in North Carolina? We’re spending the summer at New Bern. Easy season so far but who knows what the next several weeks will bring. Thanks.
Mary Foxworthy aboard sv Sea Fox

Responses:

We stayed at Wilmington Marine Center on the Cape Fear River. It is a surge free hurricane hole at Buoy 59 about 12 miles from the ICW and a couple miles before Wilmington.
Alan LLoyd

River Dunes Marina [on Broad Creek off the AICW/Neuse River, downstream of Oriental, editor]: Probably the best hurricane hole in North Carolina.
Cliff Kisby

My choice would be to get inside the Dismal Swamp Canal past the first lock. Then you don’t have to worry about storm surge, just the wind and there would be no fetch.
Captain John Kettlewell, editor, The Intracoastal Waterway Chartbook

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 View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Bridge Directory Listing For Ormond Beach Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ormond Beach Bridge

If you’ve had experience anchoring at Bluffton, please give a heads-up to the captain of Sea Huddle at tracyhellman@bellsouth.net.

Where exactly did you anchor? My daughter will be attending USCB this fall and we are looking for a good anchorage in the area.
Captain Tracy aboard Sea Huddle

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s for a Recent Report on Bluffton Anchorage

We too will be transiting the Dismal Swamp in mid-July. We draw 5 1/2 feet. Any current information before 7/16 will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Art and Lynn aboard S/V Blue Dragon, Mirage 39

Click Here To View An Earlier Report On The Dismal Swamp Route

June 30th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
LOOKING FOR CREW. 2 days, a week or the two week trip.
Leaving Charleston July 4th for Canada with stops in Beaufort, Norfolk, NY, Boston NY. Crew can stay on for the full two week trip or different legs.
Boat is a fully equipped Mirage 35′ with all electronics and navigation equipment. Skipper has twelve years ocean experience. He and his wife brought the boat down three years ago and now he is making the return trip.
If you are look for an adventure, have experience and references this may be the trip for you.
Looking for 2-3 crew. Mostly ICW to Norfolk and then off shore overnights but nothing too serious.
Shake down sail July 3rd. Interest?
Peter

Subject: Bicycles in the Abbacos
Cruising News: Does anyone have any experience bicycling on Great Abaco? We are cruising there soon and would be interested in riding across to the Bight side.
Jim Lichtefeld

Subject: Hilton Head Marker 13
Cruising News: We were told there is a good restaurant at marker 13 on the ICW at HHI. Does anyone know what it is, how is the dockage or if there is any, & food reviews???
Michael Seguin

Subject: Roanoke Sound Channel
Cruising News: Has anyone recently taken the Roanoke Sound Channel from the upper end of the Pamlico Sound to Roanoke Island. Is there any shoaling.
Thanks,
William Strange

Subject: Anchorages in Murrells Inlet
Cruising News: We are going outside from Cape Fear to Charleston. Any recommendations for anchorages at Little River and Murrells Inlet
would be appreciated.
Douglas Paddock

Does anyone have any info on taking a firearm into the Bahamas? I have heard all you have to do is declare weapon and amno upon entry. Fees, limitations, etc. ?
Chuck

Subject: Newfound Harbor
Cruising News: What are the depths like in this area? We draw 5′-7″, can we anchor in the harbor ( I understand there is an anchoring restriction in the channel due to power lines) safely, or do I have to hold my breath?
Thanks!
Jim

Cruising News: Help – we bought a boat in Florida, it is registered in Pennsylvania, our home state, we will keep it in Maryland for a few months before we start cruising. We bought the dinghy in Florida – where should we register it?
Thank you.
Sandy

Well, first off… the official word is you have to register it someplace. If you’re in FL, for example, AND they stop you, and it’s not registered, they will give you a ticket. Hence your question about where to register. If you haven’t paid sales tax on it yet, my recommendation is that you register it where the sales tax is the least. When you register it, you will most likely be required to pay the sales tax. Most states have rules about how long a vessel can be in their state before you have to pay sales tax on it. If you’ve already paid sales tax somewhere else, you usually just pay the difference if the local sales tax is higher. In other words – it doesn’t really matter where you register it. What matters is how long you’re in the state for to determine whether you need to pay sales tax there too. Theoretically, you should be able to register a dinghy in your home state and NOT pay sales tax on it if you never plan to bring it there. We tried that in NY and they just gave us odd looks and then accused us of trying to dodge the tax. Oh well. I will say this – as long as the dinghy has some sort of registration number on it, you probably won’t get harassed. They tend to care more about the bigger boats, but go at your own risk.
Chris
S/V Pelican

The question and answer sequence below was copied from the MTOA List-Serve!

I struck an underwater object. I will need to be hauled. Can anyone suggest a reasonable repair yard in the Norfolk area? Thanks
Dick Hein

I have my boat hauled at Ocean Marina in Portsmouth. So far so good. Do you know what you hit and where was it?
Dave Hart

I don’t know what we struck. We were just motoring up the ICW south of Norfolk a bit. Before you went into Ocean Marine, did you consider Atlantic Yacht Basin?
Dick Hein

Lot’s of options… Atlantic Yacht basin.. Yard right at the entrance to the Dismal Swamp Cut-off, Ocean Marine, Portsmouth Yacht Marina (Full Throttle) and many more if you can limp a bit further. There
seemed to be a lot of deadheads this year.
Don R,
m/v Andante

Looking for a TriCare Primary Doc in the Southern Region. Since we travel/live on our boat, we need a doc who understands our lifestyle and is able to give referals when we are not in the local area. Can anyone recommend a Doc?
Bill Feller