PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR DISCLAIMER!
Please Note That Postings Below From Fellow Cruisers Are Listed in Chronological Order, Based on Publication Date
Note that the “Capt Hiram’s Resort” mentioned in Captain Soule’s report below, and Sebastian Inlet Marina, are one in the same!
Cruising News:
We want to share with the cruising community a great place in Sebastian, Florida to use as a stopover and dinghy shore access point. Capt Hiram’s Resort at AICW MM 938 has a marina that is our favorite place in this area to anchor off of and dinghy into. For some time now they have allowed us to pay for transient dockage for our dinghy at the very fair rate of 25$ a week or 100$ a month. This gives us use of the docks for our dinghy, and use of the showers, the pool and the parking lot. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Within
a mile is a Walmart, an Ace Hardware, and a large RV supply store with good prices.
We anchor just south of their entrance sign on the west side of the channel in 6′ of water (we draw 4′).with good holding in marl.
Capt Hiram’s also has on their entrance sign that they will come out and bring you in to the restaurant with their water taxi if you’ll call on Ch 16 after anchoring.
On site also with their excellent restaurant is a sand bar with live music most nights and concerts most weekends. It’s a very fun spot done up like a Bahamian beach bar including a ships lifeboat to add to the seating.
Try it, you’ll like it! Here’s their website:
http://www.hirams.com/things-to-do-at-the-resort/marina.aspx
David Soule
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sebastian Inlet Marina
Captain Soule is describing Sebastian Inlet Marina which is west of unlighted daybeacon #66 in Sebastian, FL.
Cruising News:
We want to share with the cruising community a great place in Sebastian, Florida to use as a stopover and dinghy shore access point. Capt Hiram’s Resort at AICW MM 938 has a marina that is our favorite place in this area to anchor off of and dinghy into. For some time now they have allowed us to pay for transient dockage for our dinghy at the very fair rate of 25$ a week or 100$ a month. This gives us use of the docks for our dinghy, and use of the showers, the pool and the parking lot. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Within a mile is a Walmart, an Ace Hardware, and a large RV supply store with good prices.
We anchor just south of their entrance sign on the west side of the channel in 6′ of water (we draw 4′).with good holding in marl.
Capt Hiram’s also has on their entrance sign that they will come out and bring you in to the restaurant with their water taxi if you’ll call on Ch 16 after anchoring.
On site also with their excellent restaurant is a sand bar with live music most nights and concerts most weekends. It’s a very fun spot done up like a Bahamian beach bar including a ships lifeboat to add to the seating.
Try it, you’ll like it! Here’s their website , http://www.hirams.com/things-to-do-at-the-resort/marina.aspx
David Soule
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sebastian Inlet Marina
The praise for this Stuart, Florida facility just keeps piling up here at the Cruisers’ Net. Clearly, this is a GREAT stop on the Okeechobee Waterway, though AICW cruisers should know it’s a trek of several miles up the St. Lucie River from the Waterway to access Sunset Bay. Now, if we could only convince these good folks to become a Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net sponsor!
Just spent 4 nights here [Sunset Bay Moorings and Marina] on a mooring in pretty rough weather. This is one of the best marinas for transient boaters we have found anywhere. 5 stars!
Dave Lanting
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sunset Bay Marina
Harbourtown Marina sits on the northern banks of Taylor Creek, which cuts into the Waterway’s western flank, south of unlighted daybeacon #184, just north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.
We stayed here April 1st 2012 and had a pleasant stay. We were assigned a fixed pier across from the gas dock. It was long enough to go bow-in an still step off our 32 footer from just forward of the cockpit.
There is a West Marine, a liquor store, and grocery within (uphill) walking distance. The restaurant/bar is frequented by locals and live-aboards but closes early (after my bedtime).
They have wifi that we could access from our boat but you have to create an identity and password to get started with it.
We have been here before and were surprised to discover that a tidal current moves through the marina. To avoid embarrassment (nuff said), check for current when casting off lines.
Max Miller
Stayed here April 7 -8, 2012. We have friends here and tied up near the end of the pier, close to the trees on the cigar-shaped island that separates the marina from the canal. If you react to no-see-ums as my wife does, use muchas bug spray.
This marina has fixed docks but there is no tide here thanks to NASA who built a lock system to keep the sea off their property.
Manatee frequent the marina and gators and sharks have been spotted.
Watch your speed as you approach the Christa McAuliffe Bridge, (the tenders offensively call it the “Rt 3 bridge” saving 3 whole syllables). The tender might scold you and tell you that you are too late for the opening for which you were on time. She also doesn’t seem to monitor 9 until you are approaching and scold you for not calling sooner.
There is a friendly group of live-aboards here and dock parties happen frequently.
Currently, they are running a $0.75 per night (two nights only) special.
Max Miller
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harbourtown Marina
Sometimes it’s the details that count at this SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, whose entrance channel runs to the west, just south of the Fort Pierce high-rise bridge, and well north of unlighted daybeacon #188.
Nice marina, some good places to eat in town, and the only marina in 4 months where the driers dry a load with one cycle.
John Pholeric
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fort Pierce City Marina
I have been involved in the struggle for Florida anchoring rights, and, yes, also responsibilities, since 1992. In fact, I was asked on more than one occasion to become the Director of the old, now long defunct, Coalition of Concerned Boaters/National Water Rights Association. However, due to the constraints of my writing career, I had to decline.
My point is NOT to toot my own horn, but to help you understand I have a lot of experience in this matter, sometimes I think far too much. So, it with that perspective that I opine that the anchorage regulations detailed below by Captain Bonnie Bashem (yes, that really IS Bonnie’s name), are some of the most ludicrous and preposterous I have EVER seen! By the way, Bonnie is one of the Boat/US lead people in trying to bring some sense to this whole issue of the Florida Pilot Mooring Field Program – anchorage regulations. The entire cruising community owes a HUGE debt of gratitude to Bonnie, Captain Margaret Podlick, Captain David Kennedy and the entire Boat/US organization for their efforts to preserve our Florida anchoring rights!!!!
THANK GOODNESS, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission REJECTED the proposed Martin County/Stuart anchorage regulations, even before they were submitted for public comment. Be SURE to read this ENCOURAGING news from Captain Charmaine, and follow the link she provides for more info!
Let me just finish off this editorial rant with an observation. Up until now, my own point of view and the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net editorial policy, have firmly rejected calls for boycotting communities in Florida that propose draconian anchorage regulations as part of the Pilot Mooring Field Program, or even boycotting the entire state of Florida in general. Our preference has been to work within the system to try and bring some sense to this issue, with the full understanding that abandoned vessels and live-aboard derelicts ARE a genuine problem in the Sunshine Sate. THAT IS STILL MY OWN AND THIS PUBLICATION’S POINT OF VIEW. HOWEVER, if these sorts of absolutely ludicrous proposals continue, and, perish the thought, some actually become law/enforced regulations, all that could change!
Martin/Stuart were chosen as a “team” pilot project under the pilot project program created by MIAF, NMMA, BoatUS three years ago and placed in Ch. 327. At the time it was chosen, Stuart had a mooring field and Martin was seeking permits. As of today, that is still the case. Martin does not have all permits (it’s lacking the Corps permit) and therefore does not have a ‘properly permitted mooring field’ as required in the statutes.
Regardless, Martin proceeded with an ordinance and has included Stuart in its ordinance.Stuart passed a Resolution in Mid-December agreeing to the Martin regulation of Stuart. All of Jensen Beach is a NO ANCHORING zone; Manatee Pocket is regulated and the City has a 300 ft. no anchoring buffer.
THE ORDINANCE is scheduled to go before the FWC Commissioners May 2/3 in Crystal River.The ordinance is the most anti-boater, confused jumble of regulations I’ve ever seen. It makes the case for why we needed to create the program! It might actually make Miami Beach look reasonable.
Martin has refused to come to the table to negotiate with cruisers. They have not been much more willing to talk with FWC either from what I gather in a phone conversation with Stuart. They are hanging their hats on the fact that this is the “people’s ordinance” based on two short meetings filled with property owners.and held last September. The public hearing, first reading of the ordinance was not even “discovered” until 4 days before the Martin County Commission meeting.
Martin has taken the very cavalier attitude that they will force FWC to reject their ordinance and then perhaps sit down with stakeholders! This places FWC staff in the untenable position of taking an unresolved product forward, wasting the Commissioner’s time and forcing the Commission tobe the bad guy. What does Martin get for all this? The ability to say to constituents :FWC made us write a new ordinance. That is unfair to everyone involved or who should be involved.
In a publicly noticed meeting on March 13, only BOATUS, NMMA, Seven Seas Cruisers, DEP attended. The County did not send the attorney who wrote the ordinance. She was “too busy.” They sent an engineer who is not a boater. She tried, but she was at a distinct disadvantage.We all were treated to the the unwillingness and inability to enter a dialog with stakeholders which at times was beyond rude.
We spent 4.5 hours asking questions only to receive flip responses and or be asked to sit there are rewrite whole sections of their ordinance while their attorney pondered the meaning of the word “is.” Even if we had been successful in wordsmithing, the language would not have gone back to Martin/Stuart.
Boat/US is demanding that Martin/Stuart voluntarily remove themselves from the agenda. We also are demanding that the representatives of the two governments be given authority to negotiate changes to the ordinance.
Comments regarding this ordinance and the st. Pete ordinance can be found at the FWC pilot project web site. I have attached the BoatUS letter regarding the Martin/Stuart ordinance.
In summary, our concerns are:
1. Infractions of this ordinance are criminal and will remain on the boater’s record for life. If you anchor just shy of the 300 ft. or 1,000 ft. buffer, you will be a criminal.
2. Jensen Beach, where the Martin county mooring field will ultimately be positioned has a 1,000 Ft. buffer from shore to the mooring field and out on all sides!. When asked why the county is regulating anchoring before the mooring field is in place, the response was “because we can.”
3. The anchoring restrictions could be read to include the fisherman just stopping to fish.
4. The ordinance attempts to make use of the original St. Augustine definitions. However it does not use the full definition nor does it use the definition in the same context. Thus, the definitions are tortured and make no sense.
5. The 300 ft. buffer may make sense behind the Stuart mooring field – but we have asked for 75 ft. in the remainder of the county. when asked why the 300 ft. buffer the response was “it was easier for us to write the ordinance if we just had one buffer distance.”
6. In order to prove sea=worthiness the boater must travel, under its own power,to a “designated location” (undefined and unmarked) twice a year.
7. In order to prove “operability” the cruiser must show a recent successful inspection by the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Thus, a voluntary program is being used in a regulatory manner. Failure to show that successful inspection would make the boater a criminal.
If you go to http://myfwc.com/boating/anchoring and mooring you should find the ordinances and the opportunity to comment. The public comment period ends SUNDAY, MARCH 18 at midnight. However, I believe FWC will take comments sent to Thomas.Shipp@myfwc.com for a couple of days beyond that.
I am happy to discuss further. I’m just trying to get some folks down in the area affected to know what’s going on and to start rattling some cages about taking this off the FWC agenda and forcing Martin to be responsible. We have worked too hard on the pilot project to have it treated as some “joke” that this county and city can “game.”
Bonnie Basham
I’m very pleased to present the report below from Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd, our very special Florida Keys Correspondent, and the Director of BARR (Boaters’s Anchoring Rights and Responsibilities).
The FWC has finally flexed their muscles on ridiculous proposals for ordinances within the Pilot Program. Stuart/Martin County was asking for a 1000 ft. buffer zone from all shoreline. Incredible. Fortunately, the FWC has rejected it and asked them to rewrite it as it does not adhere to the objectives of the PP as written. This is a great change, Claiborne! A GREAT CHANGE!
Here’s the link where your readers can see the letter sent from the FWC to Kathy Fitzpatrick of Stuart/Martin County:
http://marinersbarr.org/fpp/docs/stuart/20120319-FWC-rejection.pdf
Hugs,
Charmaine
The 1000 feet from shore in Stuart is a sick joke–three is absolutely no justification for that other than cranky homeowners who don’t want to see boats outside their windows. It basically eliminates anchoring there because you have to be so far offshore there is absolutely no protection from wind or wakes. Apparently, they are just ignoring the part of the law that says these regulations must “promote access to the waters of this state.”
John Kettlewell
The entire process in Stuart has been a bad joke – the lawyer dealing with this issue there seems to think she calls the shots. Nice to see that the FWC has made it clear that’s not the case; I hope she gets the message.
I agree with Bonnie, Stuart/Martin County should be removed from the program so that the rest of this state recognizes that it is not an exercise in (forgive the pun Bonnie) boater ‘bashing’…
Wally Moran
Stuart/Martin County has made a mockery of the Pilot Program. The powers that be there have total disregard for boaters and cruisers. It would be best for all concerned if the FWC removed Stuart/Martin County from being a participant in the Pilot Program. It is beyond question they have no intention of participating and are instead hell bent on discriminating! There should be zero tolerance for this type of behavior. I applaud the stand Boat US is taking and am very happy to know they are seeing clearly the utter nonsense that boaters and cruisers are dealing with here in the State of Florida. It is time overdue for the madness to end.
Charmaine
Harbourtown Marina sits on the northern banks of Taylor Creek, which cuts into the Waterway’s western flank, south of unlighted daybeacon #184, just north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.
We have just finished a three month stay at Harbourtown and it was great. The marina has just had a major refit with all new pilings and decks, so it is a solid place to dock. It is very sheltered; even in a hard blow the water only ripples. The bathrooms are kept clean. We have a very large golden retreiver, and it was no problem to have him there, for it is dog friendly. A few miles away on North Hutchison Island is a wonderful ocean beach where our dog could swim and run. The Fort Pierce inlet is very close to the marina (20 min.) so it was fantastic for us to day sail as we got to know our boat – we are new sailers. The yacht services seem to be well run if you need work done, and finally the dockmaster, Dan, and his crew are very friendly and helpful.
Ian MacInnis
I was in Ft. Pierce in June, 2011 and shopped price at Harbourtown Marina and the City Marina. At that time Harbourtown Marina was significantly higher in price. I like the Marina and hope that they have gotten more competitively priced since then.
Tim Benner
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harbourtown Marina
Here’s a quick note from what we believe is one of the nicest facilities in the Loggerhead Club Marinas chain. This facility lies just off the AICW, north of Vero Beach, and, having recently visited here, we can say with some authority that the showers and swimming pool hard by the dockmaster’s office, are really super!
Looks like the management here has reduced their longer term dockage rates, but NOT transient wet slip fees.
Loggerhead Marina Vero Beach has reduced rates. Monthly was $17.00 now $14.50 Seasonal was $15.50 now $13.50
Annual stayed at $12.00 per foot per month.
Thank You
Stephen Haigis
Harbor Master
Loggerhead® Club & Marina – Vero Beach
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Loggerhead Marina – Vero Beach
Loggerhead Club Marina lies west and a bit south of the ICW’s unlighted daybeacon #122 in Vero Beach, FL
Very clean marina. Always uniformed staff ready to help. They have one of the best hurricane holes on the east coast. New Publix opening in Sept. 2012 1/2 mile away. They have reduced rates for seasonal and monthly visitors.
Stephen Haigis
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Loggerhead Club Marina-Vero Beach
Temporary marker #14 lies alongside the St. Lucien Inlet channel, east of the Inlet’s intersection with the AICWW.
LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 05/12
Set TEMP Buoy 14 in position 27-09-92.639N 080-10-07.118W due to shoaling observed on the 11472 0512
north side of channel east of DBN 16 (LLNR 10165).
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at St. Lucie Inlet
Another great wintertime festival to take advantage of! Sandsprit Park is on the northwest shore of Manatee Pocket, statute mile 987, near Stuart, Florida. There are several marinas within walking distance of the park, including Mariners Cay and Pirates Cove (albeit a looonnnggg walk!)
3/10/2012 & 3/11/2012 – 2nd Annual Treasure Coast Oyster Festival
On The Water at Beautiful Sandsprit Park, 3443 SE St Lucie Blvd, Stuart, FL
Enjoy 2 Fun Filled Exciting Days of Oyster Madness!!! Saturday March 10th and Sunday March 11th 2012 !! 10 am – 6pm …
Whether its Raw ,Fried, Steamed or Shucked, Po’Boys or Shooters….Local Restaurants and Chefs will be on hand serving up these Amazing Oyster deli…ghts every which way you can Imagine!! Visit our Tiki Bars to wash down all the Goodness!! Also great food for the landlubbers as well. Visit our “Vendor Village” for Community Booths, Arts & Crafts, Artists, Local Vendors, Great Merchandise, Great Live Entertainment, Kool KIDZ Zone and soooo much more.. And don’t Miss the much Anticipated Oyster “Shuck and Suck” Contest!!!! Also, We will be Crowning our Little Miss Oyster Queen and her Court..so look for upcoming details and applications on FB! Great Fun For The whole Family!!!
Entertainment Schedule to follow- follow us on FB [Facebook] for up to the minute details!
**FREE ADMISSION ** FREE PARKING ** PET FRIENDLY
If You are an OYSTER LOVER ♥♥♥ You Will Not Want to Miss This Awesome Event !!!
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Manatee Pocket
The body of water known as Manatee Pocket lies just off the AICW, on the easternmost reaches of the St. Lucie River and Okeechobee Waterway. The Pocket’s shores are lined with an impressive array of marinas, repair yards and the Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club. The entrance cut was getting a bit shallow of late, but now dredging has deepened depths all the way from the narrow entrance south to Pirates Cove Marina, one of the most upstream facilities on this body of water.
The notice below is extracted from the Marina Industries Association of the Treasure Coast’s “Boatlines” newsletter!
Manatee Pocket Dredging Celebration
January 24, 2012
The Manatee Pocket Dredging Project is complete and the coordinators of the project are inviting the community to join them in celebration.
There will be an event on Thursday, January 26th from 5-7 pm at Pirate’s Loft in Port Salerno. The party is being sponsored by Dickerson Florida, Inc.
After removing approximately 280,000 cubic yards of sediment during the last year and a half, channel navigation and access have greatly improved. This significant project has provided economic benefits to the environment and water quality of the pocket.
The MIATC played an important role in this project and has good reason to celebrate!
For more information on the dredging project’s completion, go to:
http://manateepocketproject.com/news_completed.html
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Manatee Pocket
This open unlisted anchorage is on the west side of the Waterway at mile 923.3. Marker #17 is southeast of Cape Malabar.
As I type this I am anchored west of Green Marker 17 just south of Melbourne FL. South of here there is no place to anchor till Ft. Pierce, unless you get a mooring ball at Vero Beach. Vero’s is a great stop and very convenient but they are now almost $15 a day with tax or $430 a month. Heading north this is the first good anchorage, although from here to Titusville you can anchor almost anywhere. The winds today are blowing between 15 and 20 knots and the ride here is very reasonable. This is mainly a overnight stop although I’m spending a few days here to unwind and let the winds shift back to the north.
If you had to, you could dinghy to the west 1/2 mile and find several convenience stores and some other misc shops.
Henry Zalegowski S/V Turn’er Loose
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Green Marker #17
Those bugs can find you anywhere on the water, even at this SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! However, if you are cruising through VERO, please stop off here and let them know how much you appreciate their support of the cruising community, by way of their support for the SSECN!
We stayed on a shared mooringball in Vero beach about 3 weeks ago and although had planned to stay for 2 days left after one night because of voracious no seeums ! Unfortunately the people moored alongside us said bugs were not a problem so we did not use nets or take precautions until too late ending up with up to 50 bites each. I must add that we have stayed before in a more breezy location and not had a problem.
Kat
Anchoring in Manatee Pocket, just off the Okeechobee Waterway and the St. Lucie River (and only a hop, skip and jump from the AICW/Okeechobee Waterway/St. Lucie River intersection), has been much in the news of late, due to the threat of anchorage restrictions. Happily, it looks as if anchoring rights will be preserved on a goodly portion of the Pocket.
As part of this discussion, we have received a series of messages from Captain Susan Parker, about where cruisers can dinghy ashore while anchored in Manatee Pocket, and where they might go once they have dry land under their feet. Personally, I did not heretofore know there were shoreside possibilities while anchored in the pocket, so this is good news indeed.
We always anchor in Manatee Pocket before and after transiting Lake O. We also do a lot of business while there. There’s a great marine consignment store and many other amenities within walking distance. It’s a real shame that Florida municipalities are determined to infringe on our right to anchor.
Susan and Bob Parker
After receiving the above message, I e-mailed Susan and asked if she could be more specific about where they came ashore. That elicited a second message:
We usually dink to the public park shown as Manatee Park, Port Salerno on your chart. There’s a nice public dock, ramp, and trash facility there. We also dink to the Fish House Art Center where there’s a coffee house and several art galleries. You can see the amenities at http://www.fishhouseartcenter.com.
Susan
I then asked if the “park” she refers to in her message above is the one which passes abeam to starboard as vessels enter the pocket. Wrongo! Here is her reply:
No, it’s all the way at the south end of the pocket, past Manatee Marina. It’s called Manatee Park Port Salerno. The approximate position is
27°8.595′N,80°11.62′W
Susan
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of “Manatee Park, Port Salerno”
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of The Manatee Pocket Anchorage
Wabasso Bridge-crosses the ICW at Statute Mile 943, southeast of unlighted daybeacon #80. Has anyone else noted less than charted vertical clearance as noted by Captain Mathias below. If so/not,please click the “Click Here to Submit Cruising News” link to the upper right, and share your information!
This bridge is not 65′. We are sitting at high tide and the board shows 63 1/4′ with a .48′ total tide.
Pete Mathias
We passed through Wabasso 8 November 2011 with no problem. Our mast is 64.5 with another 3′ for the VHF antenna. The board indicated 64.4, the antenna didn’t touch.
Della
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Wabasso Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Wabasso Bridge
Until a few days ago, it looked as if all anchoring in Manatee Pocket was going to be prohibited as part of the city of Stuart, Florida’s (and Martin County’s) participation in the Pilot Mooring Field Program. This body of water lies just off the AICW, on the easternmost reaches of the St. Lucie River and Okeechobee Waterway. It provides some of the only proteced anchorage hard by the Waterway’s path between Fort Pierce and Lake Worth. The Pocket’s shores are lined with an impressive array of marinas, repair yards and the Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club.
Earlier, we posted an urgent request here on the Cruisers’ Net asking the cruising community to send as many e-mails as possible to Stuart and Martin County officials to protest a 300 foot setback rule which would have effectively rendered most of Manatee Pocket off limits for dropping the hook.
As you will see in our very special Florida Keys Correspondent, Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd’s, report below, all this input has been partially successful. HOWEVER, now the powers that be in Stuart are asking for more input in regards to a complicated plan to allow anchorage in some parts of the pocket, and not in other.
PLEASE take the time to read Charmaine’s full report below, AND THEN ACT!!!
November 23, 2011
Update: Manatee Pocket, Stuart/Martin County Pilot Program
by Charmaine Smith Ladd
The previously proposed ordinance of 300′ setbacks in Manatee Pocket rendered it virtually useless for anchorage. Yesterday’s meeting of the BOCC in Stuart revisited the proposed ordinance to address your concerns. The 300′ buffer essentially cut off all but a very small area of Manatee Pocket from those desiring to anchor there. Responding to the outcry of protests received, Martin County Coastal Engineer, Kathy Fitzpatrick, suggested the ordinance be changed to a 50′ setback for Manatee Pocket. However, the end result isn’t quite that cut and dried.
Apparently, there will be a variation of the 50′ setback in Manatee Pocket. Instead of it being a 50′ setback throughout Manatee Pocket, there will be two (possibly three?) areas designated for anchorage. Martin County will put up maps and their consensus on the matter at their website early this next week. From what I have gathered, it appears the two main areas for anchorage in Manatee Pocket (shown as the interior of triangles in the chartlet) are where Martin County says most boaters and cruisers anchor. We need to hear from you cruisers who frequent this area. Is this a workable and reasonable solution, or does the ordinance hinder flexibility? It seems to me that it remains somewhat overly restrictive, effectively creating two small mooring fields without the moorings. However, it is an improvement over the originally proposed 300′ setback…but anything would appear to be an improvement over what once was the elimination of the vast majority of anchorage there! Perhaps this is suitable for the needs of cruisers. As one who is not all that familiar with Manatee Pocket, please let me know your thoughts.
This writer is still hopeful that all your letters and emails of protest will help keep plenty of anchorage area available in Manatee Pocket. Thanks again to all who have responded to our call to write, as your concerns are on the record. There’s still quite a ways to go before this proposed ordinance becomes written in stone. Your concerns will be represented, so your feedback here is of the utmost importance.
Many thanks to Kathy Fitzpatrick for her efforts. She understands our concerns and has thoroughly conveyed the need to Martin County for Manatee Pocket to remain open for ample anchorage. At this point, what is actually submitted to the FWC as far as language of the ordinance remains to be seen. It is expected that Martin County will have it all posted (with appropriate chartlets) at their website early this next week. Please give it your close attention.
Here’s wishing everyone a delightfully rich Thanksgiving. Hopefully, we’ll have more of which to be thankful next week! LOL Enjoy your Holiday!
Charmaine Smith Ladd (SSECN Special Correspondent & Representative)
Mariner’s Barr, Executive Director
csmithladd@marinersbarr.org
Most of the decent anchoring in the Pocket was within those two triangles, so assuming there aren’t other onerous regulations this is probably a win. Still, Stuart/Martin County are proposing outlawing anchoring within 300 feet of shore or any maritime infrastructure over a large part of the St. Lucie River and not within 1000 feet of shore both north and south of the Jensen Beach Causeway. Apparently they want to chase away as many legitimate cruisers as possible.
John Kettlewell
We always anchor in Manitee Pocket before and after transiting Lake O. We also do a lot of business while there. There’s a great marine consignment store and many other amenities within walking distance. It’s a real shame that Florida municipalities are determined to infringe on our right to anchor.
Susan and Bob Parker
Having anchored for a week last December between Christmas and New Year’s it would be disheartening and a disadvantage to limit anchoring. Although a 50 foot variance doesn’t seem that intrusive. It is a question of safety. Leave enough room for safe anchoring. Don’t limit just to limit boats. People enjoy looking at the boat’s in the harbor when patronizing restaurants like Shrimper’s.
That’s my two cents.
Marlene A. Sassaman
We stay in the pocket while staging or returning from the Bahamas, crossing the lake or heading south on the AICW. It’s convienient to nightlife, marinas, and stores. A 50 ft buffer sounds fine. On our visits all boaters were well
within this zone and were well behaved!! It would be a big loss to us if it would be zoned out of use!!
Ben Falmlen
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Manatee Pocket
Back on 10/6/11, Martin County held its first public forum to discuss the implementation as one of the five sites selected for the Florida Pilot Mooring Field Program, and any associated local anchorage regulations. You can check out the account of that meeting at:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=71626
Now, a second public forum concerning the same topic has taken place on 11/8/11. A video of this get-together, which went on for several hours, can be viewed at:
http://www.martin.fl.us/portal/page?_pageid=356,1923330&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Our good friends, and friendly competitors at Waterway Guide, have also penned an excellent account of this meeting at:
"Ladys Island Swing Bridge Opening for Sailboat (Beaufort, SC)"
by: Bob Schwerzel
