The choppy water problem while running the AICW’s passage across Georgia’s St. Andrew Sound results from the Waterway’s passage practically out into the briny blue, in order to clear Horseshoe Shoal, which occupies the Sound’s mid-width. Recognizing the potential for very dusty crossing here, the US Army Corps of Engineers has provided an alternate route, known as Umbrella Cut, BUT low water depths on this passage can run as thin as 4 1/2 feet.
The exchange of views below has been copied from the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) list.

My progress south will take me across St. Andrews sound on Wednesday. Marine weather forecast for the area is NE 10-15 knots seas 4-6 off shore, choppy inland. What would you expect the sound to be like?
Bob
Chateau de Mer

Any east wind will cause issues particularly if in opposition to the tide e.g. ebb. There is an alternate route that is doable depending on stage of tide and draft of your boat. 6′ in St Andrews is very short and mean. Enjoy the Golden Isles and cut the shoal at your own risk if crossing the sound.
Joe
M/V “Carolyn Ann” GH N-37

We went through the area yesterday. It was beyond awful in the Sound, so we turned to starboard up the Satilla River to marker 8, turned to port and worked our way through the deeper water back to Cumberland River. This is NOT the charted alternate route, but much shorter and worked for us. It was about 2 hours after high tide and we were able to make it through. We draw 5′. Not flat, but the giant elephants in St. Andrews made it a no-brainer for us.
Take a look, and good luck!
Stephanie Wakelin
M/V September Song

We traveled through this route [Umbrella Cut] today about one hour after a 7′ high tide. We draw 6′ and never saw less than 5.5′ under our keel. Nice alternate to the breakers rolling in the sound.
glebreton

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the AICW’s Passage Across St. Andrew Sound

The message below comes to us from Charlie Waller, owner of Isle of Hope Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, and past president of the Georgia Marine Business Owners Association.  Charlie and his organization have been working tirelessly to get the archaic, often ignored, but still a threat, regulation limiting boat owners to a 30 day stay aboard, changed.  Congratulations to “GAMBA,” and everyone else who worked for this change.
As Charlie explains below, now, by filling out a simple form, cruisers can stay aboard for up to a year in Georgia waters! Finally, a real victory for the cruising community!!!

Claiborne,
Good News!
The State of Georgia has just modified the Live-Aboard rule so that it will be legal and practical to say on board your boat in Georgia for more than 30 days. A rule change will allow boaters to fill out a simple form to receive permission to be onboard for up to one year in Georgia so long as the boat is docked at a marina that meets the state’s minimum requirements for pump-out facilities. Isle of Hope Marina and just a couple of other marinas currently meet those standards, but I expect that other marinas will upgrade their facilities to take advantage of this rule change. I am heading a committee that will be working with the DNR to finalize the application form in the next few weeks. The rule change will be effective January 1, 2012.
Charlie Waller
Isle of Hope Marina

Below, we present a wide cross section of responses from the cruising community to this change in Georgia’s live-aboard regulations, As you will see, some cruisers are very appreciative, others question why any regulation is needed and/or justified, and at least one fellow captain points out the process of applying to live aboard in Georgia waters for more than 30 days is not necessarily “simple.”

We had a similar problem in Washington State years ago. The head of our DNR just flatly wanted no live aboards at all. We formed the Washington Live Aboards and fought and won. The big issues now is raw sewage being dumped and soap when washing your boat.
The best advise I can give is get together with the marina owners and managers, develop rules dealing with sewage and pump outs. Be proactive and get in front of the issue. Getting teamed up with marinas gives you more credability and greater influnce.
Final thought, don’t bad mouth the state and govermental officals its difficult to further your point of view if they’re pissed at you.
We work closely with Seattle, Tacoma and Everett and they are all pro live aboards and help keep DNR in check.
Detlev Willoughby
President Tacoma Live Aboards, VP of the Washington Live Aboards

The Seattle situation is still evolving, but it is shaping up to be about greywater. The City of Seattle has proposed limiting liveaboards (where marinas will accept them) to 25% of available slips. Current LABs will be allowed to stay, but once they leave the marina can’t rent to another LAB until they come below the 25% cap. The City has also proposed imposing a fee on marinas that accept LABs and additional administrative burdens. We all know that this will discourage private marina owners from renting to LABs and that the costs will flow downstream. My question re the Georgia situation is: what happens at the end of one year? That’s a good development for cruisers wanting to stay more than a month, but what’s the impact on full time residents of the state?
Gail L.

I think the title of this piece should be changed to “Liveaboards now tolerated at a few marinas in Georgia.” The word “welcome” does not come to mind. Like other long-term cruisers I prefer to anchor out, which means I won’t be living aboard in Georgia waters any time in the near future. By the way, I still highly recommend the beautiful ICW waters of Georgia for those who like to anchor and get away from it all–just don’t stay in one place for more than 30 days.
John Kettlewell

THANKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL CRUISERS
Bill

Thanks Charlie!!!
Betsy Basch

Oh Goddie! The awful is now only bad.
Why should I need a States permission to live on my boat? And why should I be forced to pay for dockage to do so?
I use a composting head and had have no need for pump-out facilities. My water and electric needs are also self met. I much prefer to live on the hook.
Bad precedent to set or accept. My opinion is that Georgia is still a place to pass through until this law is totally abandoned.
Philip

Charlie has done a great job along with many other people to help the liveaboard community.
We & MANY others each year just go off shore to avoid Georgia since they still JUST DON’T get it. They need to make their portion of the ICW navigatible at ALL tide levels. Our money their loss!
We feel sorry for all the businesses that are struggling, but until Georgia catches up with the rest of the world we & many others will just go off shore & NOT put up with the hassel!
Mike M/V Elan

Actually it is a little more complicated than just “filling out a simple form”. The 30 day law has not changed, now you must file for an extension of the 30day rule. You have to file for the extension to the Commissioner of the Georgia DNR. The commissioner, in his or her sole discretion, may grant or deny any request for an extension of time to occupy a live-aboard.
Again it is not just a simple form you must meet the following Eligibility requirements:
1. No live-aboard may be occupied in Georgia coastal waters subject to the jurisdiction of the CMPA for more than 30 days during any calendar year unless the live-aboard owner has been granted an extension of time in writing by the Commissioner.
2. The applicant shall submit a written request for an extension to the Commissioner.
3. The Commissioner shall promptly consider any written request that meet the following requirements.
a. The applicant submits the request on the application form provided by the Department to the Commissioner, c/o the Coastal Resources Division, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.
b. The Coastal Resources Division receives the request at least 15 calendar days prior to the requested extension start date.
c. The applicant certifies that the live-aboard has a secured mechanism to prevent discharge of treated and untreated sewage.
Examples of secured mechanisms considered to be effective at preventing discharge include, but are not limited to, closing the seacock and padlocking, using a non-releasable wire tie, or removing the seacock handle (with the seacock closed).
d. The applicant certifies that they will not discharge any sewage, treated or untreated, into Georgia coastal waters subject to the jurisdiction of the CMPA.
e. The applicant certifies that the live-aboard is capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water and is capable of safe, mechanically-propelled, navigation under average Georgia coastal wind and current conditions.
f. The applicant identifies the eligible marina at which the live-aboard operator will moor the live-aboard.
g. The applicant provides written documentation of a slip rental agreement with an eligible marina.
h. The applicant states the reasons for requesting the extension and the period of time for which the extension is requested.
Doesn’t seem that simple to me! Is working with the government ever simple? When you give them all that information you have given them all they need to through you out of the state and band you from ever entering the state on your way to Florida.
What about the fines when you break one of their laws?
There is no fee or tax this first year!
What other state do you have to go before a Commissioner to live in that state?
Kevin R. Quinn

I don’t see this as a victory for cruisers at all. It is a victory for the marinas. Many of us anchor whenever possible and stay away from marina life and all its distractions and expense. Trust me, I will continue to go outside and bypass Georgia altogether. My dollars are much better spent elsewhere.
Jerry Simpson

At long last. Thanks to all who brought this about. It makes sense.
Diana Prentice

I have to agree with the other posters–the title of this blog entry is complete propaganda. Shame on you for trying to spin this as some great win/win situation for boaters. As if we are too stupid to figure out for ourselves what the real facts are! Pathetic.
That form is the opposite of simple, INO. And way too intrusive, asking too many questions that have zero to do with the idea of living for a while in Georgia waters.
The sad thing is, that with this guy ‘fighting’ for us boaters, we can expect that the status quo for Georgia to boaters will continue for the foreseeable future. The Georgia ‘solution’ isn’t a solution at all, as obviously made note of ad nauseum above by most boaters responding. So I agree, we will continue to avoid lingering in Georgia waters. I can’t imagine how much money the marinas lose in Georgia because of the attitude of the State.
Alan Avante

Go to the bahamas instead. I was going to cruise North for a change, but with Georgias new regs and St. Augustines new 10 day anchoring limits upcoming why should I spend my money and time where I am not wanted. Please do not spend money in any places that are not cruiser friendly.
Dave C.

The Umbrella Cut Route northbound takes you from Mile 696 in Cumberland River through Floyd Creek, across the Satilla River and into the Little Satilla to rejoin the AICW at Mile 686 in Jekyll Sound. This is often considered the route of choice when the primary passage which passes through St. Andrew Sound, and almost out into the briny blue, is kicking up.

We used the alternate route on 9/19 heading south. We entered Umbrella Cut at almost exactly mid tide, according to the tide chart, but more likely equivalent to about 2/3 high tide due to a strong NE wind and our observations. We traveled at about 7-8 kts all the way through and took about an hour. Our depth readings were 10′ at A5 and A6 at the entrance to Umbrella Cut, the lowest on the whole route of 5.5′ at A10, 8.5′ at A24 to A26, and 7.5′ just south of A26.
Our boat is a 44′ long Endeavour TrawlerCat with a 3′ draft.
Ralph Small, M/V AmmyBoo

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Northern End of Umbrella Cut

Click Here To View An Earlier Posting on Umbrella Cut

This troublesome stretch that lies at the intersections of the Brickhill River, Crooked River and the Waterway, and we are happy to report good depths for now, especially in contrast to the shoaling in the spring.

Just to reassure that there are apparently no adverse changes since spring, we passed thru here on 9/21 heading north at 1 hour past low tide, per tide chart. The lowest reading we had was 15′ at R 60. The readings from R62-G63 to G59A were all just over 20′.
I ran approximately 100′-150′ off the Red markers and about 50′ off the Green markers. As others have said, forget your chartplotter and charts here, just keep your eyes on the markers which were all in place on the 21st and keep to the Green side.
Ralph Small, M/V AmmyBoo

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the Cumberland Dividings

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch

The St. Marys River flows into the northern tip of Cumberland Sound just north of Fernandina, FL. The town of St. Marys is an easy trip up the St. Marys River (Georgia-Florida state line) departing the Waterway at flashing green marker #29, statute mile 713.

St. Mary’s is a little gem with super friendly people and good food. Doc’s was a cool place with live jazz one night. My wife liked the martini bar at Seagle’s. Lang’s Marina was a great bargain at $1.00 per foot, docks were in great shape with very helpful folks who were tied up there. On the down side, the marina bathrooms appeared to have last been cleaned several months earlier. Also, the $15 price for pump out was over the top and had to be paid in cash directly to the marina dockmaster. Hmmm.
Skipper Bill Brubaker

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Lang’s Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Lang’s Marina

The best way to visit Cumberland Island is to leave the AICW a short hop north of marker #34, then work you way north along the wide, but mostly unmarked Dungeness Greyfield Channel which parallels the western shore of Cumberland Island. Drop the hook off the Park Service dock, also known as the “Sea Camp Dock,” and dinghy ashore. Once there, get ready for some of the most breathtaking scenery imaginable!

I would also add Cumberland Island just before Jekyll. You have to anchor, but you are only a very short distance from the dinghy dock. Great history, estates, hiking and a wonderful beach on the ocean
side, plus the wild horses.
Jack Robinson

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Anchorage Directory Listing For the Dungeness Greyfield Channel Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of The Dungeness Greyfield Channel Anchorage

The Umbrella Cut Route northbound takes you from Mile 696 in Cumberland River through Floyd Creek, across the Satilla River and into the Little Satilla to rejoin the AICW at Mile 686 in Jekyll Sound. This is often considered the route of choice when St. Andrew Sound is kicking up.

We used Floyd’s Cut to bypass St. Andrew Sound last spring in 2010 when the seas were predicted to be nasty. We left Fernandina in time to hit the cut just about at high tide so it was still rising a bit. It took about 45 minutes to go through and we were out before the tide started to go down. The least amount of water we had under our keel at one point was just under 6 feet. The depth sounder did read .9 at one point, but for a brief second, nothing we didn’t see on the ICW channel in spots. We draw 4.7. The most water under our keel was 25 feet! We asked for LOCAL KNOWLDEDGE BEFORE WE WENT.
It is a very pretty ride, saw deer and wild boar, and would definitely do it again, only when the tide is right!
Barbara and Jim Benjamin aboard M/V Golden Lily – Nordic Tug 42

And, a clarification from Captains Jim and Barbara:

In regards to 6 feet under our keel: We WERE in 6 feet of water at the lowest point with just under 2 feet under our keel. The route was well marked with buoys and on our chart and GPS.
Barbara and Jim

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Northern End of Umbrella Cut

Click Here To View Our Most Recent Posting on Umbrella Cut

About three miles off the Waterway, departing the AICW near statute Mile 711.5, this anchorage lies east of Drum Point Island and hugs the western shore of Cumberland Island. As Captain Hough notes below, cruisers anchored here can easily dinghy ashore and enjoy the magnificent maritime forest scenery on Cumberland Island, as well as visit several old estates. Even if you usually patronize marinas, don’t dare miss this anchorage!!!!

We stayed here for three nights, November 18-20. We rate it as the best reason to deploy the dinghy anywhere on the AICW. The holding was great, there was plenty of room – there were 15 sailboats plus multiple powerboats at one point during our stay – using many different parts of the anchorage. It would probably hold twice that many.
Going ashore and walking to the beach with our picnic (honor charge, $4/person, worth every penny) was one of the highlights of our trip south. There is reasonable protection from the east, less so from the west, and relatively little from north and south, but if you are well set you would be okay.
Captain Leigh Hough

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Anchorage Directory Listing For Dungeness Greyfield Channel Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dungeness Greyfield Channel Anchorage

Jekyll Harbor Marina lies along the easterly banks of the AICW’s passage through Jekyll Creek, immediately south of the 65-foot fixed bridge. These good folks are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, and one heck of a friendly stop!

Jekyll Island and the Marina are very special. The new dock master, Jessie and staff are working hard to improve everything. The new walkway, clean showers and pool area under the live oaks are the nicest on this coast. A bike ride to the beach or the historic district is in order when you dock here. No problems with depth at the docks and the channel is clear. Jessie and the staff cooked a wonderful thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings plus homemade Clam chowder for the cruisers docked here on Thanksgiving.
Sonny

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Jekyll Harbor Marina

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

Captain Botkin is responding to this week’s Spectacular Grounding photo posting and the Georgia AICW stretch to which he refers is the Cumberland Dividings, long a trouble spot for shoaling. Take his advice: look at the marks and be sure that they are AICW marks with either a gold square or gold triangle! Also, click the link below for Captain Adam’s explanation of ICW markers.

There’s a similar situation at about MM 703 where the Crooked River intersects the Brickhill River just south of the Cumberland Dividings. R62 looks like a marker for the Brickhill River, but it’s not. The chartplotter shows you aground, but you must honor all these red markers as ICW markers. Turn off your chartplotter! And ignore the magenta line!
Captain Danny Botkin

We will be going thru this tomorrow morning timed with a higher tide….but thought I would let you know that a power boat ended up aground there at r60 for several hours and there was a lot of talking to southbound boats by Tow Boat US who was waiting for some tide to come in and help float them out of a bad situation…..wakes from passing boats evidently had washed them even further into trouble….we could not see this from our anchorage but listened. We were aground here last year and have copious notes on our paper and elect. charts. Beware as of Nov 7th 2010 this continues to be a real problem.
Captains Sami and Barry

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Cumberland Dividings

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Cumberland Dividings

Click Here To View An Article on ICW Markers