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Please Note That Postings Below From Fellow Cruisers Are Listed in Chronological Order, Based on Publication Date
Seven Seas Marina & Boatyard lies east-northeast of unlighted daybeacon #56, and just north of the Port Orange high-rise bridge. And 90 cents per foot is almost unheard of these days!
A nice friendly marina which is inexpensive in an expensive area. The bathrooms are nothing to write home about, the laundry works, and above average ship store, but 90 cents a foot. A good compromise.
John Pholeric
We stayed at Seven Seas Marina several times. We got stuck there a couple of years ago in bad weather and had a great time. Very nice people. We made some good friends. The beach is within easy walking distance. Publix is a bit of a haul to walk to, but if you don’t mind to walk you can do it.
Claudia Young
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Seven Seas Marina
This report of shoaling concerns the extension of an existing shoal on the east side of the Waterway c. 2 miles south of the New Smyrna Beach fixed bridge.
On the other side of the bell curve, I was heading into anchor at a likely looking spot I found on the chart just before New Smyrna Beach. This bird is standing on that spot (“x” on the chartlet):
I noticed something slightly different about the wave pattern ahead. You can almost see it in the photo. I did a quick “U” turn and then had the idea of just continuing around in about three 360 degree turns. This set up a bunch of waves and, when they went over the shoal, I could clearly see that there was very little water there.
I anchored a little closer to the channel than I planned and saw the birds walking along the shoal a few minutes later. It now extends from the day marker all the way to the point. Lat / Long provided in the lower right corner for anyone passing this way.
Roger Long S/V Strider
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at New Smyrna Beach
More food for thought on the subject of boardings. This all goes back to the story of a very unsettling boarding which took place during November of 2010 in Volusia County, Florida (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=45038). This incident caused an uproar here on the Cruisers’ Net, and elsewhere. Captain Greer’s note below is in response to this incident.
While I agree that boarding cruising sail boats the way these law enforcement personal have done is unsettling at the least. we must remember that it is Florida, the drug running capital of the world and this is why it happens. The smugglers are skilled and trying to look like ordinary recreational vessels. Therefore, while sailing in these waters the best thing to do is always be prepared to cooperate with the authorities that are trying to make the area safe and keep illegal drugs out of our country. just food for thought. If we were boarding a boat that might be a front for drugs. knowing that these people will shoot first if possible. would we give them any warning? or would we want to secure all personal on the boat as quickly as possible? I know I know. It feels like a violation of our basic rights. but it’s their job.
Mickey Geer
And, appropriately, LOTS of other points of view from the cruising community:
If the drugs were legal, the drugs could be regulated then taxed to pay the regulators to tyrannize the drug dealers. Instead the boaters are legal and taxed to pay the regulators who tyrannize the boaters in the War On Drugs. In the immortal words of Earl Pitts…”WAKE UP AMERICA”
David Burnham
It doesn’t only ‘feel’ like a violation it IS a violation. Yet another apologist for jack booted thugs. I’m very happy I don’t live there.
Bosunj
It is not their job to violate anyone’s rights. I do not know the particulars of this situation but I am just saying that it is not their job to violate anyone’s rights. Their job is to enforce the law within the limits of the constitution. In the USA we draw lines and fences. They cannot cross the basic rights fences. It is for very good reason that we do this. I am curious, is a search warrant required to enter somone’s boat without their permission?
Edward Trzebiatowski
Click Here To View the 2010 Report That Prompted Mickey’s Comments
The Riverside Park discussed in the Daytona Beach News Journal link below is on the Waterway just north of the New Smyrna/Harris Saxon Bridge.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Riverside Park
Despite dredging in August of 2011, shoaling is occurring again in Ponce de Leon Inlet which intersects the AICW between Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach. Note that this shoaling is impinging on the inlet channel, NOT the inlet’s two intersections with the AICW.
NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 03/12
FL-Ponce de Leon Inlet – Ponce de Leon Inlet Temp Buoy 5A has been relocated to 29-04-38.365N 080-54-54.150W (08, 11/11) Chart 11485
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Buoy 5A
Despite dredging in August of 2011, shoaling is occurring again in Ponce de Leon Inlet which intersects the AICW between Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach. Note that the reported shoaling seems to be taking place in the inlet channel, and NOT at this passage’s two intersections with the AICW!
FLORIDA-TOLOMATO RIVER TO PALM SHORES-PONCE DE LEON INLET: Shoaling.
The Coast Guard has observed shoaling in Ponce de Leon Inlet. The shoal encroaches 10 yards into the main channel with a depth of 3ft at lowtide near Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighted Buoy 7 (LLNR 9540). Ponce de Leon Inlet Buoy 7A (LLNR 9543) and Ponce de Leon Inlet TEMP Buoy 7B the lowest depth is 4.5ft the channel has been shifted east to mark best water. The entrance to Ponce de Leon Inlet is subject to frequent changes in depth and direction because of shifting shoals. Mariners are advised to seek local knowledge prior to entering this inlet and to exercise extreme caution during transit. Chart 11484 and 11485
Ponce de Leon Inlet intersects the AICW between Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach and has been the subject of much shoaling and shifting of the channel in the past months. The message below references shoaling at the intersection of the so-called, “South Channel,” which leads (what else) south from the inlet towards New Smyrna Beach! Once again TowBoatUS gave able assistance!
We went aground near markers 18 & 18A by the Ponce de Leon inlet about 2 hours before low tide. It was a lower than normal tide so when we went through it was about the level of a normal low tide. A motor boat waked us to help us get off. Following the advice of the TowBoat US operator who offered us assistance on the radio we stayed close to the red side until reaching marker 16 and then moved to the center of the channel. We saw 7 ft at the lowest point.
Harriet Hardy
Subject: ponce de leon inlet
Cruising News:
We came through this area 2 hrs before low tide. Our Selene 48DH draws 5′ 11″. The coast guard was there surveying but surprisingly offered no info when we hailed them on the VHF. A local boater heard us and said there was what he referred to as a “speed bump” at R18 extending across the whole channel but we should get through. We touched bottom but did get through. Our depth sounders both read 5′ 6″.
Christine Stanley
It is so good of Terri to share her very positive experience with a Coast Guard boarding crew. And incidentally, New Smyrna Beach City Marina is A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Cruising News:
On Saturday October 15, 2011 my 38 ft Island Packet “Sailbatical” was boarded by the US Coast Guard for routine inspection and overboard discharge check. I was motoring on the ICW just south of the Coast Guard station at Ponce Inlet. The Coast Guard Rigid inflatable with 4 officers and crewmen hailed my vessel and asked to board for a routine safety inspection. They were professional, courteous and polite. This was my first experience with law enforcement on the water. I am a single female owner/operator and I have been sailing for more than 10 years cruising the ICW, the Bahamas and my home waters of New Smyrna Beach.
Volusia County waters are known among cruisers and locals for frequent boardings and citations. The ICW and Ponce Inlet in Volusia County is patrolled by 4 different law enforcement agencies including the US Coast Guard, Florida Fish & Wildlife, Marine Patrol & Volusia County Sheriff. In the past Vousia County has unfortunately had some bad press. As a new resident live aboard at the New Smyrna City Marina I want to dispel that myth. My Coast Guard boarding experience in Volusia County was very informative and educational. I am experienced enough to know that I need to have my vessel Documentation, Registration, and insurance documents on hand including my Passport. All mine are organized in a 3 ring binder sitting on my nav station. All my fire extinguishers and flares were in date and were easily accessible and secure. I had more than enough life vests and I happened to be sitting on my throw cushion as I was at the helm. My holding tank and seacock was locked and secured. The officer checked my bilge and hatches and found no evidence of oil or diesel. I should mention that there were no open containers and no one on board had been drinking. I am responsible for my vessel and passengers and I do not drink underway. Period.
The bottom line is be responsible and be prepared! A boarding can be unnerving. I’ll admit I was anxious but I knew I was prepared. I never left the helm and I didn’t have to fumble around looking for my documents and paperwork. Have your boat in order. Law Enforcement is there to do their job to keep the waters safe. I know that there were several boats that were boarded on Saturday. My boarding experience was positive and informative and relatively uneventful. The Coast Guard officers and crewmen were extremely courteous and polite. Kudos to the Coast Guard at Ponce Inlet! They were awesome!
Remember …..Volusia County waters have a lot to offer cruisers from the friendly dockmaster at Inlet Harbor Restaurant and Marina where I purchased diesel fuel ($4.24 on 10-15-2011) to the restaurant at Down the Hatch that serves a great grouper sandwich. Both have new cement floating docks and guys on hand to help with lines. And be sure to plan an overnite (or two) at the New Smyrna Beach City Marina. The facilities are first class with nice floating docks, clean bathrooms and laundry facilities, cable and WiFi and a great staff and friendly liveaboards. Transients are always welcome!
Terri Ivins
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the AICW/Ponce de Leon Inlet Intersection
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of New Smyrna Beach City Marina
The Ponce de Leon Inlet channel intersects the Waterway at mile 839.5 and again at mile 843. Cruisers’ Net has had Navigation Alerts for shoaling in both these areas for sometime. The dredging just completed, as reported by Capt. Bliss, was done ONLY IN THE INLET, not at the two intersections with the Waterway, according to the contact spokesperson listed below, so caution is still advised at the two intersections, mile 839.5 and mile 843.
About right now [Tuesday, 8/9] the Currituck [USACE split-hull dredge, is finishing the dredging of Ponce Inlet.
Capt. Jay Bliss
USCG Lic. Capt.
St.Augustine Port Commissioner Seat 5
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Waterway Intersections of Ponce de Leon Inlet
The Ponce de Leon Inlet intersects the AICW between Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach.
LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 21/11
Shoaling of 6 feet. Ponce De Leon Inlet TEMP Buoy 8A has been relocated to position 29-04-29.336N 080-55-22.262W to mark best water due to shoaling. All mariners are advised to exercise caution while transiting the area. Chart 11485
LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 21/11
Ponce De Leon Inlet Buoy 7A (LLNR 9543) has been moved due to shoaling encroaching 15 yards 11485 2211 channelward of the aid to 29-04-29.506N 080-55-17.144W. TEMP Buoy Ponce De Leon Inlet 8A has been repositioned to 29-04-29.336N 080-55-22.262W Chart 11485
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ponce de Leon Inlet
The South Channel departs the Ponce de Leon Inlet and intersects the Waterway at green/red marker east of red marker#18 at Statute Mile 843 near New Smyrna Beach, FL. This anchorage lies just north of the South Channel – AICW intersection. We rate it as having poor foul weather protection weather rating.
I suspect the shallow depths encountered by Captain Mason are part and parcel of the shoaling that has been taking place here for some time at the South Channel/AICW intersection. Deeper water would probably have been found a bit farther to the north, BUT you still have to bypass the unmarked shoals, and the tidal currents Captain Jason notes below are very much for real!
Tide moves too fast and there is bad shoaling. Boats go through sideways during a flow. Hit bottom 2 times with 5.8 keel, then finally got through with local help. You would be safer crossing the gulf stream with a north wind.
Skipper Jason
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of South Channel Anchorage
Seven Seas Marina and Boatyard is located east-northeast of unlighted marker #56, just north of the Port Orange high-rise bridge.
Nice small operation. VERY helpfull staff! Nice and quiet. Easy access from ICW and great breakfast restaurant on site. No glitz (a good thing !!), and the price is unbeatable for around here.
Off Our Rocker
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Seven Seas Marina
Rockhouse Creek is just north of New Smyrna Beach and northeast of Marker #12. This anchorage is not listed in our anchorage directory, but we have received other favorable reports.
Just past this point [marker #19] we enjoyed a very nice anchorage in Rockhouse Creek in 10-12 feet of water, plenty of swing room if there are not too many sailboats there.
Skipper Doug Cordello
Click Here To View An Earlier Posting on Rockhouse Creek
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Rockhouse Creek
As described in Captain Ted’s log, Adventure Yacht Harbor is accessed to the east from the Waterway through a narrow channel marked with private markers beginning midway between ICW markers #58 and #60 south of Port Orange.
It was an easy run from New Smyrna Beach to Adventure Yacht Harbor. I called Ben, Assistant Harbormaster, and told him we’d need fuel and a slip for the night. We were there soon after noon. Coming in to the fuel dock in the very narrow channel, we were met by a small runabout coming out who insisted on his right to the middle of the channel. We ran aground, again. Twice in two days. However, we backed off again as soon as the runabout had vacated the channel and continued on to the fuel dock, where Ben was waiting, but the new owner’s wife was waving frantically from the shore to warn us off. We’d been in before, and knew where the shallow water was, so we ignored her. After we refueled and registered, we took the long dock (use to be the fuel dock, apparently) where it was an easy in and out, and we were a short dock-walk away from Boondocks, where we planned to celebrate Malla’s birthday.
We had to wait for seating, but it was a pleasant evening. When they were ready for us our little beeper sounded. We were shown to a waterside table overlooking the fish-feeding area ($.25 in a coin machine for fish food for the kids) where the catfish and the seabirds hang out for their free lunch. The catfish don’t seem to be intimidated by the pelicans, and fish and bird challenge each other for what is thrown to them. We learned that pelican’s reject french fries, but the fish gobble them up. It wasn’t our french fries, BTW, but those from the next table.
Captain Ted Jones
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Adventure Yacht Harbor
The Ponce de Leon Inlet intersects the AICW between Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach.
We left St.Augustine this morning for Ponce Inlet. We again talked with TowBoatUS for local knowledge and they were right on!!! Ponce Inlet was a very simple and straight forward inlet, lots of traffic, but all of it was slow and cautious. Follow what Tow Boat tells you and you will have lots of water under you! It was high tide and calm seas so not a big challenge. We spent the past two days on the outside, with 2 foot or less seas, mild winds, no shoals to deal with and two inlets {St. Augustine and Ponce de Leon} that are really manageable under the right conditions. We will do all we can to go “outside” for these stretches in the future, so much nicer than fighting shoals! Hope this is useful, have a Happy New Year!
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ponce de Leon Inlet
Those of you who have been following the Cruisers’ Net, know there was an uproar in November of 2010, involving a boarding of a pleasure craft in Volusia County by sheriff’s deputies. Claims were made that the one of the law enforcement officers in question approached the captain below decks with a drawn weapon. That story is linked below, and we will not further comment on it here.
The incident described below is certainly less disturbing than the above referred happening, but it is troublesome nevertheless. All we can do is suggest that all cruisers proceed through Volusia County waters, ready for a boarding anytime, even when your vessel is about to pass under a bridge.
I was boarded by the Volusia County deputies on 10/27 as we were staged with several other boats waiting to go under the New Smyrna bascule bridge. We were dealing with wind and some current, and the deputies boarded us just as the bridge was about to open, so that I had to turn the helm over to my wife who took the boat under the bridge, while I escorted the officers below. I was surprised that they were not considerate enough to wait until we cleared the bridge before they approaced us, and that certainly added to the tenseness of the situation.
I showed the officer my diverter valve which was correctly valved to the holding tank, but cannot be secured because of extremely poor access. The officer agreed that it would be almost impossible to secure the valve with a lock or wire tie, but said that was not his problem. I explained that I had records of having pumped out the previous day and 4 times in the previous four weeks. He issued me a $250 citation.
The officer stated ” I spend three months in the spring and three months if the fall doing nothing but stopping boats going north or south”. I concluded that Volusia County is operating a “toilet trap” that is just like a speed trap, and that their primary interest is to raise revenue rather than to insure the cleanliness of the waters. It seems that this law has given them the perfect tool to generate funds for their raises and toys, while getting to spend their days boating, rather than doing the unpleasant work of serious crime prevention.
My take on the requirement for permission to board is that a boat is just like ones home on land. Boarding the deck is not an invasion of privacy, and if all crew members are on deck, it is not unreasonable to require all to stay on deck until the officer is escourted below.
However, a crew member below could be sleeping, undressed, showering, or adding to the holding tank contents. That person must be allowed to prepare for visitors and then grant permission for entry. If an officer violates this, he is guilty of invasion of privacy and should be subject to disciplinary action or worse.
A written policy should be published for dealing with this, so that all can understand their rights and limitations.
I was able to petition the judge with my pump out records and photos of my diverter valve compartment showing the access problem and the fine was lowered from $250 to $100. I am installing a lock on the compartment door to hopefully achieve compliance with the securing requirement. I must say that this requirement does little to prevent overboard discharge, since the captain and unlock and operate the valve at will (but then logic has never been a requirement for government regulations).
William Lackey
SV Jezabel
And, comments from fellow cruisers on the above incident:
As some folks are FINALLY beginning to realize….
THE LAND OF THE FREE….ISN’T.
William
I hate to sound unsympathetic here because I am not.
The premises and policies behind these laws are often flawed and contain a considerable animus toward toward boaters, especially those who do not vote in Florida and who have a long history of abusing Florida’s welcome both with public nuisance, sewage discharge and attempted tax evasion.
In many cases these local laws are the current cruising community reaping what decades of abuse by the prior community has sewn. These laws (if they should be changed) will not be changed soon. They are constitutional (not talking about anchoring here), they are tested, and they are proportional to the offense. I doubt if they are money raisers given what it costs to police and adjudicate them.
Before we cruise, we spend as much time on the relevant laws of the jurisdictions we are going to transit as we do the charts [well almost].
I would ask, had one been stopped by a highway trooper for improperly towing a dangerous load*, would difficulty in attaching legally required safety chains have been a sufficient defense. I think not.
We have a responsibility to fully honor the spirit, intent, and letter of the laws of those whose commons we share. If we, as a class, continue to seek special dispensation, we may well get it, but it won’t be the kind we were hoping for.
*having been seriously sickened by sewage during a pump out incident, I certainly consider it dangerous
Chris
Click Here To View the Article About An Earlier Volusia County Boarding
This bascule bridge crosses the AICW in Haulover Canal at statute mile 869.
Just a note to say that on Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend we could not raise the bridge tender on Ch 09, but (s)he opened for us on the one long/one short signal in perfect time to our speed. A little nerve racking for a moment, but just a tip in case you can’t make voice contact.
Captain Leigh Hough
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Allenhurst Haulover Bridge
The Coronado Beach/George C. Mosson Bridge in New Smyrna, FL was undergoing mechanical repairs earlier this week, but a call to the Bridge Tender today (11/26/2010) confirmed that the bridge is now fully operational and back to its normal opening schedule. Follow the link below to discover that schedule.
The George Musson Bridge, aka Coronado Beach Bridge, aka North Causeway bridge in New Smyrna Beach just south of Ponce de Leon inlet is closed for repairs since yesterday. We are presently in Vero Beach so don’t know present status but know it was still closed this AM when we left Titusville.
Captain Norman Quinn aboard s/v Blown Away
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Coronado Beach Bridge
"Ladys Island Swing Bridge Opening for Sailboat (Beaufort, SC)"
by: Bob Schwerzel
