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Popular Dinghy Landing off North Lake Worth Anchorage Closing 1/21/12, AICW Statute Mile 1014.2

Posted by Larry | Posted on 01-16-2012

We love anchoring near the northern end of Lake Worth. Follow the link below to the Cruisers’ Net’s “Eastern Florida Anchorage Directory” for this anchor down spot, open the “Comments” from fellow cruisers (at the bottom of the posting), and learn about plentiful nearby dining and shopping possibilities. The bridge in question is the Little Lake Worth Bridge with an 8ft vertical clearance. According to an article at http://www.palm2jupiter.com/STORIES%202010/November%202010/p2j_issue7_Bridges_111810.html, the work must be completed by March 2012.
HOWEVER, as you will also note below in the note from Captain Mike Ahart, News Editor for Waterway Guide, there is some reason to believe that the bridge work will not be complete, and the dinghy landing reopened, until July of 2012.
By the way, Captain Ahart’s note is a shining example of cooperation between competitors in the marina publication business, And, that is only as it should be. The goal of both the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net and Waterway Guide is to provide as much, good, accurate information to the cruising community as possible. THANKS Captain Ahart!

Cruising News:
The popular dinghy landing spot at the north end of Lake Worth will be closed starting January 21. The bridge next to the landing will be undergoing reconstruction. Signs are posted, telling cruisers to remove everything from the spot by the 21st. There’s no clear alternative landing spot.
Ron

And this update from our good friends at Waterway Guide:

Hi Claiborne,
According to Mr. Cavendish, the bridge construction will continue until at least July 2012 (the article cited is from Nov. 2010). I hope the dinghy landing is still accessible when the project is done – he said they will be leaving a 7-ft. opening; however, I’m guessing that it will be a tougher climb, and that many fewer dinghies will fit. I remember once landing there when the dinghies were rafted out 4-deep…maybe 20 total! Here’s my latest entry if you want to link it: http://www.waterwayguide.com/newsupdate.php?area=6#1125
Mike Ahart, News Editor – Waterway Guide

If you are aware of an alternative landing spot, please let us hear from you. The marina of which James speaks is Old Port Cove Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, but they currently do not have a dinghy dock.

Sorry to hear about this closing of a landing I have used in the past. Is there any alternative? I remember a marina on the west side of the anchorage.
James L. Owens

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

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Northern Lake Worth Anchorage

Request for Information on the Waterway from Oriental to Beaufort, NC

Posted by Larry | Posted on 01-15-2012

Except for Alerts re bridge repair in Beaufort, NC this stretch of the Waterway from Statute Mile 185 to 207 has been relatively free of Navigation Alerts. If we have missed any obstruction or event affecting navigation, please let Bill and Cruisers’ Net hear from you. Thanks!

Any updates on Adams Creek to Beaufort? The sixth ed. is a little scary on that subject. Thanks, Bill Martin

Advice Needed on Spring Cruising on the St. Johns River

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 12-30-2011

The question and answer exchange below occurred on the Great Loop (GL) list, a great resource for the cruising community. And, yes, Bob and Judy, Captain Jim should certainly check ActiveCaptain for anchorages (it’s a good informational source for the cruising community), but please be aware that the Cruisers’ Net also has extensive marina and anchorage directories for the St. Johns River (linked below)!

We are planning a trip on the St Johns this Spring…. Anyone know when the leaves start to come out on the St Johns River in the Spring?
Also, favorite places and anchorages to consider?
Thanks,
Jim TWINS

Are you talking about the St. Johns River in Florida? If so, it’s FLORIDA – there are always some leaves on the deciduous trees, and of course, palm trees don’t shed all at once and the evergreens (well, you get the idea).
It’s a great trip. Check our blog at http://sanderling2010.blogspot.com/ for our thoughts on the river. Since it’s a relatively short lineal cruise (180 miles each way from the ICW crossing near Mayport to Sanford (all in Florida) it’s easy to check Active Captain for anchorages and other places of interest, as well as the other cruising guides. Claiborne Young does a nice job of describing the area, its history, etc (as he does with all the areas he covers) in his eastern Florida guide.
March through May would be a good time for the cruise.
Bob McLeran and Judy Young
MV Sanderling

The St Johns is the cruise I want to take. Sooner, rather than later. Is the spring better than the fall, say September/October? I would like to see the manatees, alligators, etc. and be able to take a swim (away from the alligators of course) from time to time. It’s going to be a four to five week cruise from Charleston, SC and back.
Ron Widman

We spent weeks, maybe four, heading from Jacksonville to Sanford in November of 2008. We had perfect weather and very little traffic, as an added bonus we had no bugs! It’s a wonderful trip and should be done slowly to really enjoy all the sights and sounds. Here is the link to our photos and
stories on our blog.
http://btlifes2short.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html
http://btlifes2short.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html
Have a great trip and watch those gators!
Todd & Brenda Lanning
Life’s2Short

Click Here To Open the Cruisers’ Net’s St. Johns River Marina Directory

Click Here To Open the Cruisers’ Net’s St. Johns River Anchorage Directory

GOOD News – Dredging Completed at Lambs Marina (Dismal Swamp Canal/AICW Alternate Route, near St. M. 47)

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 12-30-2011

The long entrance channel to Lambs Marina cuts east, north of Elizabeth City, NC, and just north of the charted 3-foot (closed vertical clearance) railway bridge at “Camden.” The dredging here is very good news, as this marina not only provides very secure dockage, and a fresh seafood counter ashore, but it is also the only source of fuel on the entire AICW/Dismal Swamp Alternate Route!

Cruising News:
Good news for all cruisers – dredging has now completed at Lambs Marina giving minimum water depth throughout at 8ft 6ins MLW. Vessels up to 50ft are welcome at this very friendly and laidback marina. Call Larry Lamb at 252 202 4150 for info or reservations.
Capt. Parky

We used Lambs a couple of years ago to put in for a trip to Hampton, Va. I do not believe we could have put our 19′ Cuddy Cabin back on the trailer then, has the ramp been improved so a float on trailer will work? Thanks and they are very nice people! Reg Holden
Replies to regandbarb@msn.com

Lambs Marina has finished dredging to a minimum 8ft and the water is now wonderfully clear again. Check it out at www.lambsmarinanc.com
The dredging company is now on it’s way to Morehead City, NC, to dredge out their badly needed waterfront docking – and after that the notorious Peletier Creek and Spooners Creek.
Is there no end to our good fortune? I might buy a bigger boat!
Cap’n Parky

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Lambs Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Lambs Marina

Concern for Grounded Ketch on Ormond Beach, FL, near AICW Statute Mile 825

Posted by Larry | Posted on 12-04-2011

If you have more details about this grounding, please share them with us.

From: charles
Subject: grounded ketch
Cruising News:
Any word on the ketch grounded off Ormond Beach FL? Paper said cpt taken off but not much else. Appreciate any update.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2011/12/03/crane-to-remove-sailboat-aground-on-ormond-beach.html

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

Question re Depths in Channel to Palm Cove Marina, AICW Statute Mile 747

Posted by Larry | Posted on 11-08-2011

FULL MARINE SERVICE ON SITE TRANSIENT DOCKAGE WELCOMEPalm Cove Marina lies south of unlighted daybeacon #31, off the western shores of the Waterway, in the heart of Jacksonville Beach. These good folks are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

Can someone give a fairly accurate depth of the entry channel at low tide for Palm Cove Marina? I’ve wanted to stop here but have heard conflicting responses regarding the depth. Thanks! Rick

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Palm Cove Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Palm Cove Marina

Jones Fruit Dock (Eastern Florida, Statute Mile 945) Question

Posted by admin | Posted on 11-07-2011

Subject: Jones Fruit Dock
Cruising News: This is a question about Jones Fruit Dock at mile 945.7. Does anyone know if it is still possible to dock there? We've stopped on each trip up or down the ICW and have always enjoyed a visit with Dick Jones. Last fall though he was failing and we're wondering whether the dock is still a viable option. Thanks. Connie Bryon aboard Snow Goose

11/7/2011 Jones Fruit Dock is apparently still available for overnight dockage. When we arrived there was another boat already here. We were told that the gate at the end of the dock is normally locked, but a neighbor who has a key, unlocked it. So don’t count on being able to get off the dock. Fees are not being collected at this time.
Barbara Semper

Click Here To Read an Earlier Update On Jones Fruit Dock

Question re Avoiding Aliigator/Pungo Canal Route, Roanoke Sound, NC

Posted by Larry | Posted on 10-25-2011

If you have made this passage recently and especially since Irene, please let Paula and Dave hear from you and share with all of us. See link below for a thorough discussion of this alternate route.

Any Oct. 2011 updates to this alternative? As a sailboat with 64′ mast, we would like to consider this route, but wonder if Hurricane Irene stirred up the sand in this channel. Is the channel east of Roanoke Island in the Roanoke sound still passable for a 5’7″ draft? Thanks for any info.
Paula and Dave email: Innispf@gmail.com

Click Here For a Recent Article on This Alternate Route

Southeastern USA Inlet Discussion and a Question

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 10-07-2011

The discussion below is copied from the MTOA List-Serve. Note that Captain Chuck Baier is the past editor of “Waterway Guide” and the current southeastern Navigational Editor for a good friends at “Marina Life.”

Another area of concern is that we would like to do some outside running and don’t know which inlets are suitable to our boat and limited experience.
We have heard some inlets referred to as a “Class A Inlet” and would assume that these are inlets that we should consider. We don’t know where to find a list of Class A inlets. Do you have any recommendations for such a reference?
Shay and Elizabeth Glass
49′ Defever CPMY

Shay and Elizabeth,
As to inlets from Beaufort, you will have Wrightsville Beach, Cape Fear, Little River, Winyah Bay, Charleston, St. Marys, St. Johns River, Cape Canaveral, Fort Pierce, Lake Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Key Biscayne. There are many other inlets but most are either not navigable or are local knowledge only. Any one of these can be unusable under certain conditions so watching the weather is a must.
Chuck

St Simons is also class “A” inlet for the major port of Brunswick, Ga. Class “A” inlets are associated with major commercial shipping Ports so maintained to a very high standard of navigational aids and depths. They are very obvious when referenced on a chart. Check notes …any local knowledge only is not a class A.
Joe
M/V “Carolyn Ann” GH N-37

I would add that between Charleston and the St. Mary’s River, you have Port Royal Sound, Tybee Rhodes (Savannah River) and Doboy Sound. In this stretch, there are several other inlets that are acceptable, like Sapelo and St Catherine’s Sounds. If you can read a chart – an UP-TO-DATE chart – it’s no problem. There are shoals, but these inlets are marked. Some buoys are fairly far apart and can be tough to locate visually. Nevertheless, success depends on finding and honoring them.
Port Royal and Tybee are Class “A” inlets for commercial shipping.
Doboy Sound is in an area that has a terrible reputation. It’s immediately north of the Mud River and Altamaha Sound, some of the shallowest water in the ICW. However, Doboy itself is wide, straight-forward, well marked and carries 15′ – 18′ at MLW. Southbound, we stay at the Duplin River, just north of the ferry dock. Then, in the morning, we balance tides and the beauty of the region against weather (conditions and forecast) and sea state. If tides are against us and weather and sea conditions meet our criteria, we leave via Doboy and travel south offshore to either St. Simons (Brunswick), St. Mary’s (Fernandina) or St. John’s (Jax). The run from the Duplin to the intersection of the ICW on the St. John’s is 90 – 95 StM or so. In November after the change to EST, it’s twilight-to-twilight at 7.5 knots. It’s 115 – 120 StM on the inside. You do have to run nearly 5 miles offshore to clear shoaling on the shelf at Altamaha Sound, south of Doboy. At max ebb and max flood, the current in the DOBOY channel can run to 3 knots. That’s also true on the class “A” inlets, btw. Once on the outside, run in shallower water for better sea conditions. In winds with a S or SE component, seas on this run will be abeam, and potentially uncomfortable. But then with active stabilizers on a big DeFever… ;-)
Hope this helps.
Jim

Thanks to all for so much information! Has anyone ever traveled out of (or in to) Wassaw Sound?
John B.

SC Haul-out and Storage Recommendations Needed

Posted by Larry | Posted on 09-24-2011

Skipper Reggie Good would like your recommendations for haul-out and land storage in SC. If you have suggestions, give him a shout. Thanks!

Cruising News:
We have a 36 ft sailboat. we are starting down the ICW now, but will need to put the boat to bed and head back to Montana. We are looking to find decent, inexpensive haul-out and dry storage in South Carolina.
Reggie Good,
my1972ih@hotmail.com

Question about Route 726 Fixed Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 28.6

Posted by Larry | Posted on 09-22-2011

Our bridge directory and all our charts show a clearance of 65ft for Route 726 bridge on the main Intracoastal at Pungo Ferry, VA. If you have information to the contrary, please let us know.

Will be traveling this for first time, have seen conflicting heights of this bridge [Route 726], 60′ or 65′ need 62′. any help appreciated.
Kurt Diessner

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s VA to NC Bridge Directory Listing For Hwy 726 Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Route 726 Bridge

More on Swanquarter Anchorage and NC WRC Docks (off the AICW in southwestern Pamilico Sound)

Posted by Larry | Posted on 07-23-2011

As Skipper Keith describes, the anchorage he used appears to lie northwest of marker #10 in the charted 7ft of water of Swanquarter Bay.
Now, with his GoogleEarth reference, Keith has solved the location mystery of the new “town docks” which lie at the northeasterly end of the southeastermost of two uncharted canals that lie just north of the NC Ferry Terminal channel at marker #5. These new facilities are NC Wildlife Resources Commission launch ramps and docks. If you have knowledge of a nav aid marking the channel’s entrance or recent knowledge of depths at the new docks, please follow the “Click Here To Submit Cruising News” link to the upper right, and share your information.

Cruising News:
I anchored off Swanquarter a few days ago and rowed in and strolled around town. I saw that there is a nice looking town dock where a person can tie up for free not far from town on the way to the ferry terminal. I was wondering if anybody knows what kind of depths will be found on the way to that dock. Thanks.
I have anchored in the same location in Swanquarter many times over the years. It is a great spot. The marshes protect you from the waves but allow a good breeze at anchor. You can also dingy into town if you would like, but I just usually use it as a jumping off point for Ocracoke when heading there from the Pamlico River.
For my anchorage, I go past the last marker in Swanquarter Bay, Fl R “10″. After R 10, I just continue into the bay and cozy up to a windward shore and never have seen less than 7 feet. According to my GPS, I was anchored at 35 24.20N 76 21.174W
As for the new town docks, they are not associated with the ferry and you take a different channel to get to them. Where the channel is I am not exactly sure, somewhere near marker 7 or 8 i would think. I do not know the depths, but there was a pretty good size work boat tied up there. The docks are new and substantial, and right outside of “downtown” Swanquarter.
Skipper Keith Sullivan aboard s/v Saga

The “town docks” in Capt. Keith’s posting were once a private marina/ramp but have recently been converted to a NC Wildlife Resources public access ramp and parking area. The chartlet included with Keith’s post shows a depth of 8 feet in 2003. I would be very suspect of this channel depth because there have been some weather events since the datum was posted.
Robert Castle

A little more info on the town docks in Swanquarter. The docks I mentioned are not in the same canal as are the marina and shrimp boat docks. They are located between the ferry terminal and the canal at marker 10.
You can see the canal of which I speak on Google Earth, coordinates 35 24′ 08.65 76 19′ 39 The image there is from 2006, so the docks are not in the image.
By researching online I learned that the docks are operated by the NC Wildlife Resource Commission. There are boat ramps there, but also very ample dockage. Next time there I will take a better look.
More info is available on the NC WRC website…I’ll send a link. On the page, move the pointer to Swanquarter and a photo and info will pop-up. I still do not know the depths, however.

http://216.27.39.120/mapbook/boataccess.aspx

Skipper Keith Sullivan aboard s/v Saga

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Swanquarter, NC

More on Cedar Creek Anchorage, AICW Statute Mile 188

Posted by Larry | Posted on 07-22-2011

Jim is speaking of the fish traps and crab pots which were, at least for awhile, blocking entrance into this popular anchorage just off the Adams Creek section of the AICW, between Neuse River and Beaufort.

Planning to visit Cedar Creek anchorage on Thursday May 26, 2011 on the way to Cape Lookout. Has anyone heard if the problem still exists. How far into Cedar Creek did Capt’n Chuck and Susan attempt to anchor.
Thanks for any comments and/or information.
Skipper Jim Wilson

Your neighbors reply:

Larry,
We anchored in Jonaquin Creek which is further back in the Cedar Creek anchorage. This too had floats in it but there was enough room for one boat to anchor.
Chuck

I anchored in Cedar Creek last Thursday and had no problems with crab pots or fish traps. Actually there were four boats that night anchored and there was room for four or five additional boats. This is still one of our favorite places to drop the hook overnight as we sail out of Oriental quite often.
Regards,
Captain Jim

Ceder creek bottom is soft mud, I’ve dragged here with my delta(20knt winds), but my fortress held firm.
Skipper Tom

We anchored in this spot June 30th [2011]. Saw zero crab pots. I was looking hard, arrived at night, left in the morning, came in here at about 2 knots, and anchored our trawler with two other sailboats already anchored. It was clear. Apparently the crab pots are moved around a bit.
Skipper Ben Matthews

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

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Cedar Creek

Click Here To View Another Recent Article on the Cedar Creek Anchorage

Search for a Marina in the Hilton Head/Savannah Area

Posted by Larry | Posted on 06-05-2011

If you can recommend an annual slip marina for less than $14/ft per month, please let Rick hear from you. I’ve included the Savannah area since those marinas are within a reasonable driving distance.

My wife and I are considering a move to Hilton Head. We were hoping you might have a recommendation for a moderately priced marina where we can keep our boat full time. It’s a sail boat 38′ x 12′ x 5′ with 57′ mast height. The marinas along the ICW at Hilton Head are a little pricey for us at $14 per foot per month. We thought you or your associates might know of an off the ICW marina that could fit our budget. We enjoy reading and occasionally contributing to Cruiser’s Net. Keep up the good work.
Best regards, Rick

There are several depending on what you are looking for. Dataw Marina is secluded and quiet. Port Royal Landing is very nice and probably the closest to HH. Beaufort Downtown is great if you want to be in walking distance to the town & restaurants. All are within 30 minutes of Hilton Head. Congrats on moving to the area, I wil be relocating to that area in the next few year. We love it!
Tracy Hellman

Wow, that was quick. How do I send a ‘thank you’ to Tracy Hellman? I didn’t plan to checking for responses to my post for at least a week. I guess this shows the power and popularity of the Cruisers Net concept and how many people contribute as well as rely on your site.
Best regards,
Rick

Rick,
No problem! You are going to love the area. Give me a shout when you settle in and we’ll stop by. We are in the area frequently because our daughter attends college at USC Beaufort. Good Luck!
Tracy

Is Maule Lake an Anchorage? Off the AICW at Statute Mile 1077.5

Posted by Larry | Posted on 05-22-2011

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.

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

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

More on Sunset Lake in Miami Beach, AICW Statute Mile 1088

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 05-07-2011

There are five channels leading into Sunset Lake which is the east side of Sunset Islands in the heart of Miami Beach. All but one of the channels, the center channel, appear to be crossed by fixed roadway bridges.

Subject: Sunset Lake, miami beach
Cruising News: [While] reading a letter in reference to anchoring rights in the Ft Lauderdale /Hollywood area I saw a reference to a welcome spot called Sunset Lake in the Miami Beach area. I have searched for info on this location but thus far have located nothing. help.
Jim O’dell

Sunset Lake lies east of the “Sunset Islands,” between the Julia Tuttle Causeway and Venetian Causeway bridges. This location is near the heart of Miami Beach. To reach the lake’s waters, your vessel must be able to pass under a chart 26-foot power cable. Clearly, the lake is NOT an anchorage possibility for sailcraft or even larger power vessels!
Skipper Fowler

We took an Island Packet 38 into Sunset lake in Miami. Two routes were documented in the Intracoastal waterway guide that details the Florida portion. I recall there were two routes into the ‘lake’ and we took the northern route. We were there in Feb. 2009. Get the current Waterway guide in case something has changed. If you go make sure you can lock your dinghy and motor very securely. there was also a seven day limit to staying in the lake.
Marion Prodaehl

Bullying on the Waterway (Sunset Lake Miami) May 7, 2011
To quote from Active Captain anchorage review:-
“There have been reports of area homeowners arguing and hassling boaters who anchor here. If you need assistance, call local police at 305-673-7901. One home at 2344 North Bay Rd has been especially difficult with directing loud music and bright lights onto anchored boats”.
We had been told of a neat little anchorage in Miami and that was our destination. We were also advised that at one end was a rather obnoxious homeowner. We entered Sunset Lake, a very tiny quaint lake, more like a cul de sac, surrounded by lovely homes , each with a pool. We selected a spot in the North end, settled in at about 2:30. We parked in front of a gorgeous home, pool, big blue and white go fast boat in front on hoists, a shiny red sea doo on a lift.
Al was just finishing up the dishes just after 7 o’clock when the home owner we were parked in front of came by on his sea doo loudly calling “Captain, captain”. Al stuck his head out and he “told us to move, he and his family didn’t want us there.” Al told him that he believed by law we could be there, and the man agreed but still insisted we pull up anchor and go to the south end so he and his family didn’t have to look at us. Al assertively told him that our anchor was down, we were settled in and we would not be moving. The man grumbled some things about making our life miserable, said he’d be back and said he would park his boat right next to us tomorrow with the music going. Al didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. The man proceeded to his dock, put the CD player from his go fast boat on at highest volume, for our enjoyment and blasted a RAP song the same song on a loop at us, if we had other cruisers there we could have had a party!!!!. As soon as the sun had set and it was sufficiently dark he shone a gazillion watt flood light directly into Close Knit. Al had already donned our solid blue window covers knowing what he would do, blocking out the light. These were all things we heard he would do. It was really all quite ridiculous but lost on us, since I am deaf in one ear, have a moderate brain injury and sleep like the dead. Also he should some day go onboard a trawler, they are built so solid & have a wonderful noise insulation. We were unphased, although I wonder why the neighbors don’t complain.
With our 12 volt fans inside we could not even hear his RAP. We settled in to watch a movie and were in bed just before 11, his light still shining and music still blaring. We are sure his neighbors love him.
True to his word he was up preparing his boat to anchor beside us in the morning. I tried hard to talk Al into staying the weekend just to bug him, but he didn’t want to. We had our coffee, pulled anchor and set off to a more civilized anchorage between Hibiscus and Palm Island. We encourage all and any cruiser with tenacity to enjoy his entertainment & bug the hell out of him.
I’m sure this could come under the heading psychological warfare he was trying to conduct, which I am sure is illegal but I think he forgets one thing, he may do that to some people & he may get a reaction he will not bargain for.
Al and Jennifer

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

Request for Information on Mud River, FL (Western Florida – Big Bend Region)

Posted by Larry | Posted on 04-23-2011

The Mud River in Hernando County, FL (north of Tampa) begins in Mud River Spring and intersects with the Weeki Wachee River before emptying into the Gulf. Chart 11409 gives very little detail as to depths. If you are familiar with this river, please reply to Billy’s query.

Hi. Thinking about buying property on Colony Circle in Spring Hill, Florida, and see that access to the gulf is about 2 miles of Mudd River… is this the same river that’s hard to get through? If anybody can give me some insight here I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. Billy D

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Mud River, FL

Looking For Boat to Rent in Southwest Florida

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 03-08-2011

Could use some help. I am looking for a comfortable cruising sail boat, 36 to 42 feet in Southwest Florida. to rent, to live aboard for 3 to 6 months to see if the life style is for me.
Middle aged guy, spiritually centered, with sailing experience looking to live aboard at a marina. Rent to purchase agreement might be possible. Currently in Chicago and in the process of renting the condo with a target date of March 28th. Let’s talk – tell me what you know . . . Thanks
John Coriell

Updates on the NC Pumpout Log Law?

Posted by Larry | Posted on 02-21-2011

If you have new information on this new law, please let us know. Below, I have linked the original, lengthy posting on the new law requiring vessels to keep a log of pumpouts.

Any updates on this law? I cannot seem to find anything on the internet. Last I heard I want to say it was postponed unto March 2011???
Captain James Gisonna

Click Here To View the Original postings on this topic.