How often have we read in a cruising guide that “whenever possible, obtain local knowledge” before attempting a tricky passageway. Well, Captain Zach provided exactly that in dealing with a stretch that has plagued more than one of us. Thank you Zach! Click on the Chart View below to see exactly the Rhumb Line he advises.

I am local to the area and transit [the N. Edisto/Dawho intersection] quite often. Most recently about a month ago I came through at an extreme dead low tide and 7′ was the lowest sounding. The problem area is between #110 and the daymarks South. The mistake so often made is boaters tend naturally to head more east because the shore is more distant placing you more toward the middle of the river which is actually more shallow. You should run west of a rhumb line between 110 and the nearest green daymark [#111].
Captain Zach Carney

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the AICW/N. Edisto/Dawho Intersection

The shoal reported below is a real concern for any cruiser contemplating dropping the hook on otherwise delightful Frederica River. There have also been reports here on the Net about shoaling on this stream’s southerly mouth.
Frederical River cuts into the western shores of St. Simons Island, and both its northern and southern mouths connect directly with the AICW channel.
Has anyone else tried to anchor on Frederica River lately. If so, please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your experiences.

Don’t even think of mooring [cruising] through the north end of the Frederica River. There is now a shoal at the entry G229 almost right the way across at around 3ft 6ins lowish tide – maybe 6 ft high tide. I was lucky to get off it since the falling current quickly put me on it sideways at a 20 degree angle. Not shown on charts.
Captain Arnold

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Anchroage Directory Listing For Frederica River Anchorages

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Section of the AICW and Northern Frederica River

Here’s a new one, at least for yours truly. A glance at chart 11489 reveals that #18, the marker front and center in Captain Hardy’s message below, marks a hard swing in the Amelia River/AICW channel, a short hop south of Fernandina Beach.
A conversation with the dockmaster at nearby Fernandina Harbor Marina as of 4/30/10 confirmed what I suspected, namely for the last three days there have been unusually low tides along the northeastern Florida coastline. I was told as least one foot below the usual levels. So, I’m sure these water levels contributed to the problems described below, but, nevertheless, there is also clearly an AICW shoaling problem near #18!

Subject: Shoaling near Fernandina Beach
Cruising News: We ran aground heading north today approaching R18 as you turn the corner on the Amelia River towards Fernandina Beach. It was low tide and our chart plotter showed 12 ft in the area where we and another boat were aground. A motorboat kindly ‘waked’ us and we got off. We draw 5ft. The other boat had to wait for the tide to rise. The deeper water was on the red side however we had to cut very close to the green can at the turn to stay afloat.
Harriet Hardy

We were in the parade of the sailboats yesterday slowly heading north on the Amelia River (4). It was approaching low tide and as we went under the bridge at m720. We were amazed at how low the water was in the Amelia Island Yacht Basin. I don’t think any boats could have gotten out. The lead boat ran aground, the other 3 passed to port, then at R18 another went aground, so we again passed to port but still we ran agound, once we were off we continued to favor the red side and had plenty of water…the other 3 sail & the powerboat continued on the green side. There was a very low spot in the middle of the channel. Pick either side but don’t go down the middle between R18 & R16.
We were in the parade of the sailboats yesterday slowly heading north on the Amelia River (4). It was approaching low tide and as we went under the bridge at m720. We were amazed at how low the water was in the Amelia Island Yacht Basin. I don’t think any boats could have gotten out. The lead boat ran aground, the other 3 passed to port, then at R18 another went aground, so we again passed to port but still we ran agound, once we were off we continued to favor the red side and had plenty of water…the other 3 sail & the powerboat continued on the green side. There was a very low spot in the middle of the channel. Pick either side but don’t go down the middle between R18 & R16.
karenbut@aol.com
Capt. RL& Karen

Just wanted to confirm the above observations regarding depth in the ICW just south of Fernandina Beach. We draw 5′ and touched bottom several times during our transit northbound when we were just south of Red #18 in the Amelia River. Our paper and electronic charts showed depths in the 12 foot range at MLW. We were transiting at low tide during this event. A “Towboat US” operator stopped by after he had just finished towing a sailboat that had run aground in this same spot. He advised us to stay as far east towards shore when going north from Green #3 towards Green #1 and Red #18 on the river to avoid the shoaling in this area. He then would line up as a range Green #1 and Red #18 and then would honor Green #1 to continue the turn north. After the turn he advised heading straight towards the paper mill and favoring the eastward side of the ICW at least as far as the Fernandina Harbor Marina. We were able to follow his directions without further mud bouncing. He shared that since Hurricane Fay – this area has been a problem at low tide. Our recommendation would be to transit this area at mid – to high tide depending on your draft.
Fair Winds, Beth Bauer aboard S/V Adagio

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on the AICW/Amelia River

The Mayport Naval Base features a large, charted harbor, along the southern shores of St. Johns River’s eastern mouth out to the briny blue. Stay well AWAY from these waters!

The US Army Corps of Engineers issued a final rule expanding the existing restricted area at Naval Station Mayport, as well as establishing two new restricted areas at that facility. In addition, it established a new danger zone in waters adjacent to and within the facility. The rule comes into effect on May 17. 75 Fed. Reg. 19885 (April 16, 2010). http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on St. Johns River Near the Mayport Naval Base

You may recall that the Cruisers’ Net featured a whole series of postings a few weeks ago, speculating on whether the newly rebuilt Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, now has 22 feet of Mean High Water vertical clearance, instead of the 25 foot clearance listed on NOAA chart #11485. Check out the earlier messages at: http://www.CruisersNet.net/bridge-of-lions-vertical-clearance-in-question-statute-mile-778).
Well, as part of our research process, we contacted Ms. Laurie Sanderson, Public Information Officer for the Bridge of Lions Rehabilitation Project. Yesterday (sorry for the delay), we received the reply you will read below. If I might be so bold as to interpret this bureaucratic-ese, I think this means that the bridge is now really only 22 feet off the water at mean high tide. We adjusted this span’s vertical clearance to 22 feet in our “Eastern Florida Bridge Directory” (http://www.CruisersNet.net/bridge-of-lions) after the first set of messages, and now we intend to leave this stat in place!

Thank you for your patience regarding this issue. The contractor on the Bridge of Lions Rehabilitation Project finished taking measurements today. The tide gauge at the Bridge of Lions measures correctly. The measurement is at low iron. You can expect approximately three extra feet of clearance at the center of the bridge.
In regard to the clearance at mean high water posted on your website and on other websites frequented by mariners, the Florida Department of Transportation is concerned about making changes to the commonly accepted mean high water measurement, because it may be the U.S. Coast Guard’s jurisdiction. However, we do maintain that the tide gauge at the Bridge of Lions is accurate and measures at low iron.
I know this is not all of the information you were hoping for, but this is the best information we can provide at this time. Thank you again for your patience and your assistance on this issue.
Sincerely,
Laurie Sanderson
Public Information Officer

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Bridge of Lions

Perhaps the most important news in Captain Guy’s message below is the demise of the entrance channel into popular Lighthouse Boatyard. I know from my own visits over the years, that the dredged cut was never too deep, at least in my experience. Sounds like the current entrance is bay of a sparsely marked, local channel. Clearly, cruisers bound for repair work at Lighthouse Boatyard should call well before their arrive for advice on how best to access the yard from the main inlet channel.
Also note that the “South Channel” described below eventually runs (what else) south to an intersection with the AICW, a short hop north of New Smyrna Beach. The Waterway has been shoaling at this intersection. For more on these shallows, go to:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/aicw-shoaling-near-ponce-inlet-south-channel-near-statute-mile-843

Subject: Ponce Inlet from seaward
Cruising News: Entering Ponce Inlet from seaward you may go South to ICW or North to ICW via Halifax river. North has fuel and two boat yards (Lighthouse [Boatyard] and Sea Love).
The entrance to Lighthouse [Boatyard] WAS via a [2006] dredged channel and private marks installed (c 2006). This channel is now completely shoaled and the marks have all been removed. There is a crudely marked channel to the west of the cove. There is enough water to transit but it is tough and unmarked… local knowledge only.
Going South in the Ponce [South Channel], there are a few uncharted marks (#7 & #7a and #8a)… Low water is at #10 (daymark) so give it lots of room (50+)
Ponce Inlet from seaward problems…
Ponce Inlet Marker #10 has very low water less than 5 at mid tide, within 50-60 feet, especially on the south. Be sure to staty mid or favor green #9.
If proceeding to Halifax river, best bet is long way around to ICW #18 [by way of the "South Channel"].
Captain Guy

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Lighthouse Boatyard Entrance Passage