The poorly marked entrance to Delegal Creek Marina leaves the combined paths of the AICW and Vernon River, immediately north of the infamous Hell Gate section of the Waterway. Captains Chuck and Claria give GOOD advice below for successfully navigating the tricky entrance passage.
The article below is copied from the American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association Forum!(http://www.greatloop.org/)

I’ll second the vote for Delegal Creek Marina, at MM 600 on Skidaway Island. Yes, it can be a little tricky getting in there the first time, their channel markers don’t line up with what’s on your chart plotter. Go to http://www.landings.org/delegal-creek-marina-3284 and then click on Delegal Creek Map under Marinas tab for directions on getting in. If you’re coming in with less than + 3′ of water on the tide table, call the marina office for instructions, and if your still a little concerned as to where the deepest water is they will come out and guide you in.
Then if you want a special treat for dinner, call Renee at 912-598-7929 and order Chicken Pot Pies delivered to your boat. Call her a few hours before you get there and she will deliver them hot, if you wait to call her until you get in late in the afternoon, they will be frozen. Of course, a delightful dinner at one of the club houses is always a special treat as well. An inexpensive stop you will enjoy, $.94 per foot with Boat US discount. We now stop every time we go by. It’s a nice 61 mile run from our home in Beaufort, SC.
Chuck and Claria Gorgen
ODYSSEE

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Delegal Creek Marina

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On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 597 – Who has abandoned the AICW south of marker #79, and cruised upstream, then anchored, on Vernon River near charted Beaulieu? Please describe your anchoring experience here.

Responses follow:

Vernon River? Been there, done that, loved it. Good holding ground. I stayed put through the squall seen in this SBO post:
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=148151&#post984707
I had two anchors out. The less experienced crew of a boat nearby just threw out one without really setting it and they only moved a little bit.
Next time south, I plan to explore farther up this river.
Roger Long
S/V Strider

On April 18, 2013, I anchored in the area referred to as Breakfast Creek. Plenty of room and good holding bottom. It was peaceful and quiet. Will definitely stop again.
Randy Hondros

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Vernon River Anchorages

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On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 590 – I know many of you have spent a night or two at Isle of Hope Marina. Please describe the marina and your experiences here. Did one of the local restaurants provide complimentary transportation to and/or from the docks?

Responses follow:

Spent one night at Isle of Hope in early April. Two courtesy cars. Allowed to retain keys for one overnight to transport a sick pet to a veterinary clinic the next morning. Office stayed open late for our arrival. Gave good information on restaurants and allowed use of courtesy car in evening for transportation to restaurants. Said one of the restaurants provided return transportation but did not pick up. Approximately 1 mile walk to restaurants. Marina in excellent condition. Highly competent, friendly, and helpful staff.
Howard Rockness
Sequel

Spent the night of 4/17/13 at Isle of Hope. It was our second time here. Has many positive attributes-Great dock hands, long face-dock, OK facilities, courtesy cars. You can use cars till after 5 pm. Have mixed feelings due to my problems using their fuel pump, too much air in fuel for my slow speed pumping (can’t slow the fast speed pump). Web advertisement says bring a buddy boat and get a discount. The buddy boat signed up first and after discussion were given the listed discount. When I signed up, no way was I going to get a discount. May stop again but other marinas to try first.
s/v/Skye

Is always a good experience.
Raymond W. Smith
“Fire Dog”

We stayed at Isle of Hope marina for 3 weeks in November/December 2012 while my husband was treated for an infection from a cut on his hand. He was in the hospital for 6 days. The marina staff were very supportive, friendly and helpful. I would have liked it much better if the bathrooms were cleaner. I only used them once and showered on the boat after that! Dinner at the Driftaway Cafe in nearby Sandfly was delicious. We went back twice for the Tybee tuna!
Harriet Hardy
sv Moondance

We had a great experience there. Lovely area to walk around. They provided a courtesy car to get some shopping done. Staff was very nice.
Patricia Sienstra

We have moved our boat there from Chattanooga because of the location and staff! Marina is set in a beautiful neighborhood and you feel like you are walking out of your house to your boat! Quiet area and everyone is so friendly.
Drift away is about a mile away but there are 5 other restaurants and a nice Piggly Wiggly grocery.
Just 1/2 of a mile away we always get greeted by Dolphins.
Tim Gaffney

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Hope Marina

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As part of a 4/22/13 NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 583 – If anyone has docked this spring at any of the marinas in Thunderbolt, GA, particularly Thunderbolt Marine and/or Bahia Bleu, please tell us about your experiences here. Did you dine ashore at Tubby’s Tank House? How did you find the bill of fare?

Responses follow:

Stayed at Thunderbolt Marina in early January. Stopped there with a radar problem. The yacht yard arranged for an electronics technician to be available to address our problem upon arrival. The technician was able to diagnose the problem but did not have parts to fix the problem that evening. The marina was well maintained and clean, had extremely helpful staff, and provided free donuts and a newspaper in the morning in time for our early departure. Ate a late lunch at Tubbies – a huge very good fish sandwich that was very good but bigger
than both our appetites. Service was very slow.
Howard Rockness
Sequel
Sabre 47

We spent a night at Thunderbolt Marine on our way south earlier this year and plan to spend a couple of days there on our way north this Spring. The floating docks are easy to tie to and facilities are first-rate. You can hop a bus a couple of blocks away that will take you to Savannah. We had a very enjoyable lunch at Tubby’s, which is a very fun place with great outdoor seating.
Captain Mary
Intermezzo

Have stayed in Thunderbolt several times this Spring. Once at Morningstar Bahia Bleu and twice at Hinckley Yacht Services. Stayed on the facing docks at both marinas. Plenty of water and easy approach. Bahia Bleu is a “real” marina and has some nice facilites, although the bathrooms/laundry are all on the 2nd deck of the building. Hinckley is a boatyard (wonderful boatyard by the way) so facilities are a little more spartan, i.e., no laundry. We’ve gone to Tubby’s Tank House restaurant everytime. Good food and a lively spot. Very short walk from Bahia Bleu and about half mile from Hinckley
Tom Callan
o/b Great Escape
53 DeFever POC

I spent 2 weeks at this marina [Thunderbolt Marine] and found it very pleasant and the personnel more than helpful. We dined at Tubby’s 7 times in a 2 week period. They have a great $5.00 lunch, but you need to get there before the 12 noon crowd. On Thursday night, there is an oyster roast for about 1hour outside the bar area and is supposed to be free, but donations are accepted. Happy hour beer is priced right all day long in the bar.
Good spot.
Philip W. Mullins (Phil)

If you go south on the Wilmington River from where the AICW joins the Skidaway River, about a half mile down is Turner Creek. In the creek right on starboard is Sail Harbor Marina Boatyard. It is certainly not fancy, but a great value. And they did very nice work on our boat.
Dunniganj

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

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On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 600.5 – Anyone visit Delegal Creek Marina on (what else) Delegal Creek. Did you have difficulty with the entrance channel? What depths did you discover on Delegal Creek, particularly at MLW?

Responses follow:

Went in at mid-tide and the low spot is only for a few feet and had not difficulty. We saw a huge boat come in. The dock master is maybe the best in the USA. The currents are ripping thru here and with the slips being parallel with the river, when you turn into to alley way, you can be swept into boats. Free cart to take to village is a must. This is a definite return stop for us, but we will work for slack tides in the future, even if it is low tide. Price is very good.
John Winter

Was there two times early 2013. A little tricky getting in the first time. Red entrance aid missing. Best to enter at mid tide. Nice docks etc. Part of a private community on Skidaway Island. Not your everyday stop over unless you are stopping to visit some one you know there.
Raymond W. Smith
“Fire Dog”

Stayed there in Nov., 2012. The creek is shallowest at the entrance. The staff was very helpful on the radio with specific instructions. ie. green side, red side, etc. The marina was fairly quiet in Nov. The amenities were, clean, neat and accessible. The kicker, though, was the free use of the marina’s golf cart. You can run into town for anything you might need. What a deal!
Jeff Moore

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Delegal Creek Marina

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Hinkley Yacht Services lies along the AICW’s western banks opposite Savannah Bend Marina, in Thunderbolt, GA. As Captain Winter notes below, this facility is more of a repair yard than a marina, but transients are accepted here for overnight dockage.

If you want to take a cab to Savannah, we recommend staying in Thunderbolt (we use Hinckley for price even though it is not as nice as other marinas there – it is a boat yard), but the cab ride to town is shorter, therefore cheaper. Also, docking at HInckley is a breezeThe bus from Isle of Hope to downtown is ok, but you have to make a transfer and it therefore takes some time.
John Winter

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Hinkley Yacht Services

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Not only does Thunderbolt Marine offer some pretty dockage directly on the AICW, but their repair facilities are EXTENSIVE. Just from the note below, looks like Captains Pam and Warrick found their work exemplary!

Were at Thunderbolt last year. Excellent service. Great bathrooms. Close to marine electronics store. Security guard on car park. Easy walk to bus but check that the office has given you the latest timetable. Buses stop around 6.30.
Pam and Warrick
Morning Star

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Thunderbolt Marine

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Morningstar Marina at Bahia Bleu - Click for Chartview

Morningstar Marina at Bahia Bleu guards the western banks of the ICW, south of the Thunderbolt bridge.

Stayed here 3 weeks in October, 2012. Good Diesel and gas available, clean, but remote, showers. I was able to ride my bike to stores and restaurants in the area. WIFI was good, AT&T cell phone was good. Downtown Savannah is about 5-7 miles, one way.
S/V Nomad

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bahia Bleu Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Morningstar Marina at Bahia Bleu

Our “onsite reporter”, Roger Long, gives us the good news that the bridge has been repaired. Capt. Long had been anchored in the immediate area waiting for an opening since early Saturday. Thank you, Roger! However, he warns that more problems with the old bridge may arise before the new bridge is completed. Skidaway Narrows Bridge crosses the ICW at Statute Mile 592.5. A new high-rise bridge is under construction immediately north of the old bridge.

Opened Sunday evening 12/23/12. In view of the big head shaking gathering by a bunch of people who looked like they had been pulled from church and family activities, I expect there will be more uncertainty about this bridge in its short time remaining.
Roger Long

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Skidaway Narrows Bridge

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Having just returned from a personal research visit to Hinkley Yacht Services on 11/2/12, I agree with Captain Day’s description. This truly seems like a quality operation!
The Savannah/Thunderbort version of the venerable Hinkley Yacht Services overlooks the Waterways’ western banks, immediately north of the Thunderbolt high-rise bridge.

In September 2011 we hauled our 34 year old, 44FT. Thompson Trawler, LILY MARIA at the Chesapeake Marine Railway, Deltaville, VA { Contact:J. Farinholt. {804}776 8833 } for serious bottom work.High pressure water utilizing a special nozzle removed old paint.Voids and dings filled, sanded and two coats of West Marine Premium Gold ablative anti fouling applied. This was our second visit to Chesapeake Marine Railway and have always been pleased with there work and consideration to customer needs. Good people!.
In May 2012 we short hauled for an insurance survey and seemingly the overly enthusiastic pressure wash removed most of the still active ablative paint.Four months in Georgias fast flowing, nutrient rich rivers found LILY MARIAs bottom reminiscent of a tropical rain forest, with abundant slime, weed and small barnacles. A marine biologists delight , a skippers horror show!!.
What to do?.Haul in Geogia or wait until we returned to Marathon for the winter?. Greatly reduced speed, slugish manouvering and no doubt increased fuel consumption favored Georgia.
By telephone we contacted 7 reputable boat yards including 2 in Florida where we had hauled in prevous years for quotations. For a fair comparison we reduced each quote to a $ per foot cost. The quotation from Hinkley Yacht Services in Thunderbolt GA came right in the middle of our tabulation. After several discussions with Gebel Seese , Hinkley Service Manager, {Contact: {912} 629 2400 } it became apparent to us that Hinkley offerred the best possible value consistent with top quality materials and skilled labor.
We found the Sea Hawk web site informative and following Gebel Seese advise we specified Sea Hawk, Tropikote, based on proven longevity and effectiveness of anti fouling properties. Further, via Sea Hawks appointed applicators a written guarrantee is issued which appealed to Jean and I.
Haul out day saw LILY MARIA in the slings for a full 8 hours while she was scraped,pressure washed and lightly sanded. Of special note,the running gear and scoops were restored to bare metal by the addition of a small amount of silicone sand added to the pressure wash water.This coupled with the extensive work undertaken the prevous year at the Chesapeake Marine Railway has restored the bottom of LILY MARIA to a clean fair surface. As one interested bystander said “Your 35 year old boat now has the bottom of a 4 year old”. We especially appreciated the care and hard work in prepping the bottom on which the finished job would depend.
Metal primed, 2 coats of Tropikote applied with 3 on the waterline and LILY MARIA was ready to be launched within 5 working days.
Durring the haul out we lived aboard with minimal inconveience. Hinkley provides good clean shoreside facilities adjascent to the work area. The work areas are tidy, well organized and the work scheduled so the job progresses without interruption.
The labor force,many of whom worked at the old Palmer Johnson yard, are experienced, skilled craftsmen and proud to carry on the the quality work that Hinkley is renowned for. This full service yard maintains many boats that are not Hinkley built and despite there insistance on customer service and quality there priceing is most competitive.Hinkley is not a do it your self yard.
We are extremly satisfied with our Hinkley experience which was beyond our expectations. The job was completed on time, within budget and to a high standard. On the run south we have noted at least a 1.25 increse in speed at cruising RPM plus resultant fuel savings.
Jean sums it up best of all by saying “the only problem I see with Hinkley is that we now have no choice but to return for all future haul outs!!
Colin Day
Jean Henderson

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Hinkley Yacht Services

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Captain Gaffney telephoned the SSECN offices a few weeks ago, and asked for marina advice in the Savannah, Georgia region. We suggested he check out Isle of Hope, Fort McAllister and Thunderbolt Marinas. Looks like he’s found a new home at SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Isle of Hope Marina!

Good afternoon.
Hope you and your better half are well!
I got your latest news briefing and it reminded me that I had not reported back from last weeks investigative trip to Savannah. Well we were all over!
We were treated so well by everybody from John Henson or Hanson, the manager at West Marine, who echoed your thoughts on Marinas. To Chris and Rick at Isle of Hope. To the folks at Fish Tales, the restaurant at Ft. Mcallister.
We visited both of the Marinas 3 times and fell for Isle of Hope. I can see myself there for a few years, with the town near by and the other things that offers us. Restaurants and hotels if family visit.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. Now, we just have to make the arrangements to truck the boat there early next year.
Tim

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Hope Marina

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

Delegal Creek - Click for Chartview

According to a spokesperson at the marina, the MLW in the entrance to Delegal Creek is 3 ft with a tidal range of 8-9 ft, so mid to high tide would be the best time to enter Delegal Creek. Once in the creek, there is plenty of depth, however the entrance channel is an issue if you draw more than 3 ft. The entrance channel begins northeast of waterway flashing daybeacon #86. just north of Hell Gate.

What a gem! Almost as nice as DIYC! We have just returned home from a wonderful weekend at the south end of Skidaway Island, GA, where we spent three nights at Delegal Creek Marina. This was the home marina for Bruce and Jeanne Elder when they were “looping” back in 2006-7. Bruce and Jeanne still live in The Landings near the marina. We had a nice visit with them.
Delegal Creek is just north of Hells Gate at MM 601 on the ICW. Neat, clean, and friendly, $1.25 per ft. Billy, the Harbormaster makes it happen. This a place to relax, no commercial venues close by, but you can order a very tasty Chicken Pot pie to be delivered to your boat. 96 miles of bike paths and walking trails on the Island. Courtesy vehicle is a golf cart.
If you’re just looking for a relaxing evening as you head south this fall, would recommend this to an alternate to Isle of Hope. One drawback, there is a shoal that is about 3.5 ft at 0 water at the entrance to the creek between G3 and R4, follow the channel not your chartplotter, so generally not accessable two hours either side of low tide, but channel is well marked and we had no problems getting in or out.
Chuck and Claria Gorgen
ODYSSEE

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

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High-Rise Bridge Under Construction to Replace Skidaway Narrows Bascule Bridge

As usual, our strategic partners, Captains Diana and Mark Doyle, founders and owners of On The Water ChartGuides, give us a penetrating insight into the topic of cruising the AICW. In this case, our dynamic cruising duo brings to light the eventual disappearance of low level AICW bridges.
While some may find the demise of these opening spans a bit of a nostalgic experience, I, for one, will be happy to see the last one fall. Over the years, I’ve waited far too long, and worked too hard to say off the fenders at the Wappoo Creek Bridge, south of Charleston, or pulled all my hair out at the old, now long gone, Sunset Beach pontoon bridge. Soon, as Mark and Diana note, all of this will be but a bad memory!

Hi Claiborne,
Diana and I went by Skidaway and took this picture for you. And it got us to thinking about the slooooooow demise of low clearance bridges.
Bridge by bridge, as easments and budgets allow, ICW low-clearance bridges are being replaced by high-clearance fixed bridges. For example, two legendary bridge pinch-points, Jordan Lift Bridge and Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge, are now merely landmarks to note on the chart as your boat passes underneath.
The Skidaway Narrows Bascule Bridge (STM 592.4) will be next, with the construction of a new 65-foot bridge scheduled for completion in July 2013. Currently they are working on the substructure, driving pilings, pouring footers and building retaining walls, none of which impacts boat traffic along the ICW.
The next bridge to succumb: the dreaded Dominion Boulevard Bridge (aka Steel Bridge), with a very restricted morning and evening schedule and only 12 feet of vertical clearance.
Recently the Coast Guard Bridge Office approved a proposal to replace it with a 95-foot high-rise fixed bridge.
This means that the days of “oh-dark-thirty” early-morning departures from Hospital Point anchorage to clear the troublesome trio of the Jordan, Gilmerton, and Steel bridges may someday only be a distant memory among veteran ICW cruisers.
Best and see you On the Water,
Captains Mark & Diana Doyle

Even though the demise of the old style bridges is way more “convenient”, we can’t help feeling the loss of a part of Americana as the old structures tumble, one by one, into the annals of history. Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge (and its crusty but friendly bridge tender) is especially missed, as is the Titusville (Max Brewer) Swing Bridge. We probably won’t miss Wappoo Creek as much, but still, after hours and hours of relaxed cruising, one needs a little stimulation to get one’s blood circulating again, and Elliot Cut/Wappoo Creek never failed to provided the necessary stimuli. Does anybody have any inside information regarding the replacement of the Socastee Swing Bridge?
Capt. Norman Quinn
www.OnTheWaterChartGuides.com