After reading an earlier posting about a trip from Charleston Harbor to Lake Marion http://cruisersnet.net/?p=100198, Kim has the following question:

We live near the cove at Santee State Park and Poplar Creek where you spent the night. At what speed were you cruising and how long did it take you to get from Charleston to there? We are planning on cruising 24ft pontoon with 6 to 8 people from there to the marina beside California Dreaming, eat dinner, spend the night and come back next day. Is this possible or do we need to give ourselves 3 days?
Kim

If you have made this trip, let us hear from you!

Just south of Dumbfoundling Bay in N. Miami Beach, a hard-to-follow channel cuts west to Maule Lake. There used to be a marina and restaurant here, but that complex has fallen to condo blight. Has anyone
tried to anchor here recently? Were you hassled by the local water cops or by the owner of the property? The warning below from Chris has been posted on other sites and, in light of the on-going discussion re anchoring, it will be interesting to see if the owner can indeed restrict anchoring in these navigable waters.

March 2, 2013
I am the Trustee for our family trust which owns Maile [sic] Lake. As of 2012 I have been working with law enforcement to stop anchoring in our lake. As it stands now, all vessels anchoring in the lake will be trespassing and will be at risk of violation. We did not want to take this step but because of EPA and various other Governing bodies with their own regulations we had no choice. Thank you for understanding.
R G Williams

Something in Florida called the public trust doctrine holds that all waters within the state that are navigable, whether public or private, are to be kept available to all for the purposes of navigation. And, anchoring is considered a normal part of navigation. Of course the local sheriff won’t know this and will instead do whatever the locals want and chase you out, but I believe somebody could take this to court and win.
John Kettlewell

Maule Lake is actually a private lake. Anchorage is not allowed in the lake. The owners are actively removing derelict vessels in the lake as well as noticing floating vessels of trespass. DO NOT ANCHOR IN THE LAKE.
Chris Williams

Other opinions:

i just spent 4 nights anchored in maule lake in may, 2 nights on the way down to the keys and 2 on the way back. i live in ft laud and have to raise and lower my mast because i live past fixed bridges and maule lake is a calm place to do so. i saw law enforcement 1 time and they went right by me. there are about 8 sailboats anchored with nobody living on them and 1 power boat with someone living on it. the marina looks condemed. if maule lake is private then tell whoever owns it to show you their tax bill. it is a navigable waterway with greynolds park on one side, a public county park.
Skipper Dave C

It’s always fun to see people who don’t know anything about admiralty law and property law, who think when they purchase land, they have purchased the adjoining navigable waterway. It’s one thing to request the state to move derelict boats from an area. Anybody can do that, whether they own any land around the area or not. That’s not a problem, and should be done.
But, I hope they get some better legal advice, before they have the wrong person arrested for anchoring their boat there as allowed by U.S. laws and regulations. Although, this one would be a great example to other like minded condo developers, and so it might be a good thing if they did.
Rick Holman

We anchored in Maule lake in November 2012, for 3 or 4 days. No one bothered us and we had 3 other cruising boats anchored nearby. There is also 8 or 10 boats permanently anchored the area.
During our stay, the Coast Guard entered the lake with a small, abandoned sailboat in tow. they towed it to the center of the lake and dropped its anchor and left. There was also a law enforcement boat that cruised through the lake, but did not check any boats.
Roger Hayes

We anchored in Maule Lake twice, 4 days in all and never had an issue. Most recently was last August. I am not sure the post regarding it being a private lake is entirely accurate. Maybe something has changed recently but we had no issues whatsoever when we anchored there for a total of 4 nights and there are people living on their boats anchored there so a little more investigation is probably in order before declaring Maule Lake a no anchoring location.
Nicole

We’ve anchored in Maule Lake, on occasion, for over 20 years. Most recently, two months ago. We’ll use it again in the future.
Skipper Jim Fitzgerald

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Maule Lake Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Maule Lake

Taking into account all the variables – weather, bridges and locks, no-wake zones, choice of routes, etc – maybe one of you who has recently navigated that particular portion of the Waterway will consult your log and give an estimate to Cappytoo.

Cruising News:
I don’t know the best place to ask this question, buy my map tech is out of date and I can’t seem to be able to open any of my kap charts, so could anyone please tell me the approximate distance and days it will take in the intercoastal at an average speed of 7 knots from Sapelo sound, Ga. to Cape May point, NJ?
Cappytoo

If you have traversed the channel from Indian Key to Everglades City, south of Marco Island, in the recent past, and have an answer for Rusty’s question below, please follow the “Click Here to Contribute Cruising News” link found at the upper right of this, and all SSECN pages (except Chart View pages), and share your information!

Does anyone know if the 65 foot high power cables on the Barron River south of the Rod and Gun Club still exist? I have a 65 foot mast and am trying to figure out if I can get to the club. I’ve called the club a couple of times but for some reason they do not know the answer or whether the power cables still exist.
Rusty

Using Google Earth and going into street view there are no wires above the channel. The wires further up the channel labeled 49ft can be seen going down the power pole to an underground cable route. I did not see any wires over the channel near the 65ft crossing.
Vic Tanner

Click Here To View This Facility’s Full Listing of Services on the Western Florida Marina Directory

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Rod and Gun Club

If you can offer information about the replacement, accuracy, or mini-scandal regarding the clearance boards in Florida or elsewhere on the AICW, follow the “Click Here to Submit Cruising News” link on the upper right of this, and all (except Chart View) SSECN pages.

What is up with the clearance-boards for bridges in Florida?
We came through several bridges today (11/26/12) in the Daytona area, at effectively low tide, and the clearance boards showed 63-64′. We need 63’9″ to clear, and didn’t even brush.
I seem to recall within the last year a mini-scandal which involved the Florida DOT “lowering” their clearance boards to avoid getting sued, etc., etc. If so, it would appear at first blush that the situation has been resolved, and not in favor of accuracy. Maybe someone with “contacts” can sort this one out.
Larry Shick

Read recent reviews and you will discover more reasons than ever to leave the familiar confines of the AICW, and journey upsteam on the Pamlico River to the Washington downtown waterfront. This SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR has sooo much to offer the cruising community. Tell them we sent you!
And now, thanks to our fellow cruisers who responded below, you know some of the best spots to slake a healthy appetite in downtown Washing!

Anyone have suggestions for a good restaurant in Washington NC in walking distance from City Docks? Our Power Squadron is planning a cruise there and would like some info.
The Reillys

Probably the most popular is Down On Main Street. Access is via Main Street or through their backdoor/patio seating area. On The Waterfront opened earlier this summer and appears to be quite popular.
Virtually across the street from Down On Main Street is a pizza parlor, that has excellent pizza — name escapes me.
Pias of Washington, I think is now closed.
The Blue Door Cafe is across the street and diagonal from On The Waterfront.
But all of these are easy walking distance from tie up.
Craig

I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days in Little Washington about a year ago. “Down on Main Street” was easy walking distance and offered decent food and reasonable prices. It was big enough to handle a group of hungry sailors and of course served liquid refreshments to take the mind off the terrors of the sea. Otherwise there didn’t seem to be a lot on offer close to the waterfront. There was one other place that seemed to be more of the white-tablecloth, expensive setting. There was a pizza place selling slices but I doubt you could fit a power squadron in there. So I don’t have any more to offer than Craig, evidently we’ve got it covered.
Paul

We spend this past summer in “Little Washington”. Bella’s Slices and Ices is the Pizza place. Good pizza.
There are two new restaurants, The Bank, nice place, high ceilings so it is loud, and On The Waterfront. It opened in July, ate there a couple of times, mixed review, one meal good, one really bad, bad service. For lunch and breakfast only there is The Meeting Place. Nice town!
John

Hi, Larry. The Long Bay Power Squadron trip was great! What a lovely town Washington, NC is. Loved the crab sculptures around town and the NC Estuarium. We ended up at “Down on Main” Friday nite, with live music in the streets. The restaurant was good, but the server and atmosphere were spectacular! Great town, and great marina.
The Reillys

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For the Washington City Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Washington City Docks

Back Creek - Click for Chartview

Back Creek, off Adams Creek just south of Cedar Creek, is not an anchorage listed in our North Carolina Anchorage Directory, principally because for the last 30+ years, I’ve hit 3 feet of water every time we try and enter. There seems to be a bar of UNCHARTED shoals between the AICW channel and the creek’s westerly mouth.  All this IN SPITE OF the inviting depths shown on chart 11541!
However, with Captain Davis’ 2.5 foot shoal draft (see below), he just might be able to safely cross the above described bar, and enter Back Creek. No guarantees though!
Hope he shares his experience on these waters with the rest of us!

Will be on Adams Creek evening of 9/30/12 and plan on anchoring in Cedar Creek. Just south of Cedar Creek is Back Creek with charted min depth of 5 feet. I only draw 2.5 feet. Anyone have any experience with Back Creek?
Jay Davis

These are my home waters. So long there is not a strong wind from the west or sw, you will not have any problem. Enjoy the serenity.
Sam Scudder

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For Cedar Creek Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Cedar Creek Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Back Creek

Ronnie gives us up to date information and Jerold would like more explanation:

Customs and Border Protection Decal – Renewal Lead Time Now Running 60 Days
For cruisers planning to head to the Bahamas this year. I just spoke to the Customs and Border Protection – Decal Renewal office in Indianapolis. Because of reduced government staffing, their processing time is currently running 4-6 weeks from the time they receive the correct completed application and payment for a sticker (or renewal). Allowing for receipt in the mail, they suggest that people apply at least 60 days prior to their planned departure. This can be done online or by mail, and requires that an account be set up with C&BP.
Regular cruisers to the Bahamas in HISC probably renew this decal annually in November for the following calendar year. For those not aware of the need to have it (first time Bahamas cruisers), or who prefer wait until a closer time to their departure, the new 60-day lead time could become a challenge.
Ronnie Babin

What is this border protection decal all about. My first time going there, will they turn me away or not be allowed to get back into the US? I have passport, boat papers, etc. Need to understand this decal stuff….
Jerold

Jerold
In answer to your question about the Customs Sticker, on re-entry you are required to give this number to Customs and Border Protection as part of your clearance. I hope you are aware of the Local Boater Option which allows you to pre-register with CBP and then a simple phone call upon arrival in US will complete your clearance. You can access this information via Decal and Transponder Online System Email decals@dhs.gov , PH: 317-298-1245. Customs/Border for the Local Boater Option, http://www.cbp.gov. Hope this is helpful.
John
s/v Shadow,
Hudson, Florida.

Having just talked to the decal people (8/9/2012), they do not even begin processing the 2013 stickers until September. This makes getting it onboard tricky for those who leave home port early.
Jim Davis

The AICW begins following the wide expanse of the North Landing River at about statute mile 30, on the so-called, North Carolina – Virginia Cut route, south of Pungo Ferry, and empties into Currituck Sound around statute mile 40. If you have local knowledge concerning wind effects on depths in the river and sound, please share that information with Capt. Chace.
I can tell you from personal experience that sustained, fresh northerly winds can low water levels significantly in northern Currituck Sound, including the AICW’s passage through this body of water between North Landing River and the man-made canal leading to Coinjock. With a 7-foot draft (see below), wind tides could be a very significant factor!
Cruising News:
I see from the ACE surveys that the channel in North Landing River below the NC line is getting shallow. I am planning to transit in mid Sept with 7′ of draft and have done this a few times. I am interested in hearing from anyone who may have observations of wind effect on depth of water in Currituck Sound and North Landing River. I have the ACE waypoints plugged in but want to avoid wind driven lower depths.
Captain Bill Chace

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Currituck Sound

Is the Magenta line on your chartplotter the Gospel? Is it ever updated on your chartplotter. We leave all this and other questions/concerns about electronic charts up to our readers to answer. I look forward to hearing from you! Of course, Cruisers’ Net advice has always been: follow the markers!

I would love to see someone research this “Magenta Line” and find out who put it in place, why, and when it was done. Claiborne, has anyone ever done that?
There are entirely too many skippers out there who view this line as the gospel truth, when in fact it may be outdated, or put there by someone without sufficient navigational knowledge.
Personally, I never look at the damned thing… what do you do?
Capt. Mike Smith

We tried to follow it, but it seems to be in the wrong places at times. We were in the channel but showed us on land on the chartplotter! We just use it as a guide and follow the channel markers and local updates from websites.
Susan Leaf

I have also had my Garmin chartplotter show me to be on “the land” in some places where I was definitely in the proper ICW channe. It is chartplotter error I believe, but I don’t know how to verify if the chart is wrong or the GPS position is off.
Al

The entrance to Little Sabine Bay, and Sabine Bay Marina, lies just to the south, immediately west of the high-rise Pensacola Beach Bridge. Follow the marked channel carefully, as you make your entrance, particularly at low water. Once into the Bay, stay away from the water body’s mid-width. There is shoal water there! If you’ve been in this channel recently, let us hear from you. According to a spokesperson at the marina, the channel was dredged to 11ft last year and is about 9ft now. The marina’s phone is 850-932-1904.

An earlier report:

We have stayed at Sabine Marina and it’s a great little place. Very laid back don’t expect to be wine and dined. Right across the street (real close in walking distance) from the tourists’ attractions of Pensacola beach but without the hassle of tying off your vessel at the Boardwalk and risking kids jumping all in and over your boat while you take in the Pensacola beach attractions. I highly recommend dockage at Sabine Marina.
Jan

Jan, I have a 45′ Sea Ray sedan bridge drawing 4.5′. Planning on going there on 7/5/12 and anchoring next to the sand bar in the middle of Little Sabine bay. Have you been there recently? Is the depth in the channel enough for me to comfortably get in and out?? I can tell the channel in looks a little shallow by Google Earth. Is it well marked?? Thanks a million.
Hugo

This discussion deals with the choice all of us have made and Captain Fendel asks some good questions of those of you have made the choice.

I’ve never been to coastal Florida and never boated it. I’m exploring loop-capable boats and have found one that is very seaworthy and could handle pretty much anything “outside” would throw at it short of serious storms, but I also know that some parts of the ICW are pretty and some are just pretty congested. From those who know, may I ask this question: IF you had to pick sections to go “outside” vs. “inside” and/or dont-miss sections of the inside, which areas would you go which way past? I’ll also mention that we think pretty/interesting houses and architecture are “scenic” as well as nature spots. SO….suggestions, experienced ICW-ers? Thanks!
Dan Fendel

We stay inside all the way from the Chesapeake to the keys. As ex sailors we do not like the motion of serendipity offshore. But the big reason is that we like seeing all of the houses and shoreline residences of the ICW. Southern Florida has some of the most ostentatious houses. If you are in to the architecture it is really worth seeing. Carole had fun counting the columns (that we could see) on the houses as we passed by. One had 42 columns!
The drawback is bridges. We did not find many we could not get under as Seredipity only has a 17′ air draft. We are also not in any hurry and found it to be be a pleasant trip through the canal section. Yes there can be lots of boats and yes there are some muscle boats (heads?) that fly through there. But think of the pleasure you will get when you pass them as they are getting a ticket from the marine police. If you do go outside use only class “A” inlets. The smaller inlets in Florida are tricky and can be very dangerous. Have fun, take your time and stay safe.
Mitch & Carole on Serendipity in Norfolk

There are pluses to both the inside and outside, You will probably find You will like a mixture of both. We did some on the inside going down and then did the same stretch on the outside on the way back. Trying to enjoy both sides of a beautiful stretch of water. The weekends would be the worse time to travel on the inside, because of the increased traffic. But there is so much to do and see…..You won’t be able to see it all with one trip…..so just enjoy and plan to return often. We did skip the Great state of Georgia, and we like running the outside from either Beaufort or Charleston to St Marys inlet, mainly because of so much switch backing through Ga. But even though there is lots to see along the inside, The outside has much to see too…….the large schools of bottle nose dolphins, the flying fish, the Deep Deep blue water…..the sky lites up like Christmas at nite, and the rocking and rolling of the sea, and the feeling of being all alone(well You and Your mate) and imagining You are one of the first explorers and seeing through there eyes. Many do stay to the inside around Hatteras, it’s not called the grave yard of the alantic for no reason. Enjoy Your trip, plan as much time for it as You can, there will be spots that You will stop for just a nite and find Yourself finally leaving 1/2 a month or so later, just because You will enjoy it so much. Those spots differ for all of us, but no doubt You will find Yours! You will hear about places that are not boater friendly, we passed through a lot of those places and did not find the same, not that we were any different or any different of a boat, but sometimes a little common sense, and choosing an anchorage that isn’t always right in the middle of someone elses view that they paid millions for and treating others the way we would want to be treated, goes a long ways. So, it’s like a sailor once told me, most of us tell tales, and each time we add a little bit to it, it’s Your job to figure out whats truth and what’s tale, good luck with that. And enjoy all the good tales, both the ones heard and the ones told!
Clay & Mary S/V Gemini

Do it according to the weather. When the winds are favorable offshore runs can be pleasant and quick–when the weather is against you, the inside is the way to go. Use only the major all-weather inlets and you will be happier. Having said that, my very favorite stretch, which I always do on the inside, is Mile 0 to 205, from Norfolk down to Beaufort. I also consider Charleston, Beaufort, SC, and Cumberland Island to be must-see places, but there are many other wonderful areas.
John Kettlewell

John is a noted maritime author and experienced cruiser:
http://www.amazon.com/Intracoastal-Waterway-Norfolk-Miami-Complete/dp/0071623760/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266433541&sr=8-1

If you are an AT&T 4G subscriber, please give Capt. Wink some input as to signal strength along the coast. Please respond by commenting on this posting. Thank you!

Cruising News:
In October I’ll be making the trip from Beaufort NC to Stuart FL and I’m interested in the AT&T 4G signal strength along the AICW in this area? Gotta keep up on the SSCN latest news.
Capt. Wink

We use it all the way from Georgia and strength is great! Two IPhones work well everywhere!
Bob Cardwell

We used the Verizon 4G Mi-Fi coupled with an I-pad last year going from New Bern to Stuart and return. We found that 4-G coverage is not continuous, but when the 4-G is not available, 3-G is. Basicly, if you can get a cellphone signal you have internet access. We used it for e-mail and to visualize weather forecasts/weather radar, and to plan the next days travel using Inavx and Cruisers Net and the chartbooks. We picked up a mooring ball at Sunset Bay and used the 4-G on board. Sometimes carried the I-pad ashore and used the marinas server. We found our Mi-Fi to be more reliable and faster than the marina’s due to heavier traffic on the marina’s server.
Steve Kamp S/V Carolina

Sorry we had Verizon but we had good signal from Norfolk to Marathon, including 20 miles off shore off the coast of Georgia which was very surprising, I am sure we were near the edge there, but we still had voice signal, Data was spotty at that distance off shore……but inland we had Data as well. Enjoy Your trip, I would still recommend a working VHF radio, as You will need it for the bridges. And even though the phone worked, I prefer to have back up to back up on communications. We traveled with another slower boat and slowed our trip to stay with him because he developed a leaking impellor pump out there. One never knows what Might happen. He made it in with us just fine. He dropped hook at Fernindina Beach Fl for repairs.
Capt. Clay

Thanks folks
I’ve found that tethering my iPhone to the Mac works really well and in the long run will be the most cost effective for the ten day cruise. Have a good VHF as our primary communication for bridges etc.
Capt. Wink