Hazard - Click for Chartview

This Hazard to Navigation flanks the AICW channel, just south of the fixed bridge at mile 951.5 in Vero Beach, FL.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH-INDIAN RIVER (SOUTH SECTION): Hazard to Navigation.
The Coast Guard observed a knocked down Manatee/No-Wake sign in Vero Beach Channel. The down sign is marked by an unlit Information/Regulatory buoy. The wreckage is just to the green side of center channel in approximate position 27-39-13.260N/080-22-23.844W as you make the approach from Indian River (South Section) LT 139 (LLNR 44180) to the first set of aids in Vero Beach Channel. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution when transiting the area. Chart 11472

I reported this to you two weeks ago, and as of today, it is still there. CG has put in a small floating marker to help you see it.
John Winter

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Vero Beach

Shoaling - Click for Chartview

We have a strange situation developing on the Eastern Florida section of the AICW, south of Fernandina Beach. Earlier this year, shoaling had become a major problem near marker #49, along the Waterway’s run through Sawpit Creek. But then, these waters were just dredged in March, 2013. All we can say is this dredging appears to have been particularly ineffective, as Fernandina Harbor Marina reports in late May, 2013, that Towboat/US has been making regular runs to the Sawpit Creek area due to groundings near marker #49. The extract below, cherry picked from the Local Notice to Mariners makes it official!
THE CRUISING COMMUNITY NEEDS LOTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE AICW SHOALING NEAR MARKER #49 ON SAWPIT CREEK. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE US A FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF THE AICW CHANNEL IN ITS PRESENT FORM NEAR MARKER #49. WHICH SIDE OF THE CHANNEL SHOULD BE FAVORED FOR BEST DEPTHS? DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY THE JUST COMPLETED SHOALING FAILED TO SOLVE THIS SHALLOW WATER PROBLEM?
Please send input directly to us at CruisersNet@triad.twcbc.com, or follow the “Click Here to Contribute Cruising News” link/button on the upper right of this, and all (except Chart View) SSECN pages.
YOUR FELLOW CRUISERS CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 22/13
Severe shoaling has been reported at low tide in Sawpit Creek on the ICW in the vicinity of Sawpit Creek LT 49 (LLNR 38190). All mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area.

I came through here twice, in the fall and just this spring (4/10/13), there was no change in the shoaling. All that is necessary is to shift over to the extreme red side, following the shore 20 to 30 ft off for 15 ft plus MLW, as you make the turn and then gradually return to the center of the channel. When going north this spring, I passed R50 within 10 ft with 7 MLW and then quickly got to the extreme red as as described above.
You cannot follow the magenta line! The line is incorrect here – but there is plenty of water on the red side.
Robert Sherer
s/v Fleetwing, 42 ft with draft 4’ 9”

We have a 41 foot sailboat with a 5 foot draft. We just went through this area ten days ago. Heading north you can pass red 50 close, 50 feet and then start heading for the West Bank. There is a green can middle channel. Treat it like it is the east edge of the channel ignoring the green piling marker. This will set you close to the West Bank, fifty to seventy five feet, but that is where the water is. Now we had 1.5 feet of rising tide when we passed and we did see 7.5 feet just after we passed Red 50. The rest was 10 plus feet. But the fun has just begun. Further north favor R44, G41, R38 and R36. We have made it a policy that we only travel these waters on a rising tide and with at least 1.5 feet of tide already in place. Happy days.
Dave Bell

We came through here at high tide on May 26th. We draw 5.5 ft. We ignored the charts and plotter, and backed up by aerial photographs, we imagined the east half of the channel as solid land. This suggested long gliding turn about 100-150 feet off the western bank from R50 to R48. [By hugging here, a quick swing east gives deeper water, but don't swing much.] In the vicinity of the surfaced ramp, we tucked in even more tightly to the west. Our lowest DS reading was 7.5 feet at high tide (range 5.4 at that time). Because of the wicked side-set and swirling, we only go through here 2-1 hours before high tide. It’s not surprising dredging isn’t all that effective here. Sand bars from Nassau Sound are being eaten away and deposited here via the old natural swash channel to the east. The towboat captain we talked to said most of his tows were people who had been side set into shallows before they realized what was happening.
Chris and Janet

I sailed past marker 45 northbound on May 20 at mid/ rising tide and noticed no shoaling. But on the return on May 25 at a rising mid tide I encountered a section 200 yrds south of marker 45 with depths of 5 feet. This reading caused me to immediately go to dead slow so as to evaluate my course. It appeared that I was in the middle of the channel, but as I navigate by paper chart and eyeball, I can’t prove it.
Perhaps “Sandy” moved in some additional sand last year after the dredge did it’s work?
During the above mentioned trip we were surprised by the odd placement of Can #45 in Sawpit Creek. But as it sits in a natural right hand turn in the creek, I assumed it meant shoaling to be found on the inner part of the arc.
Standard operation calls for favoring the outside of the turn in most cases, so we had no problem, just a bit more turn to the left going northbound.
G. Grizzard

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Sawpit Creek

Marker #132 - Click for Chartview

Damaged marker #132 flanks the western side of the Waterway just north of Vero Beach, FL.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH-INDIAN RIVER SOUTH SECTION: Hazard to Navigation.
Indian River (South Section) DBN 132 (LLNR 44150) is reported leaning so that only the top portion of the dayboard is visible. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11472

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Marker #132

Broken Marker #86 - Click for Chartview

This broken daybeacon lies east of Merritt Island and south of Cocoa, FL, on the west side of the channel in a straight stretch of the Waterway.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-TOLOMATO RIVER TO PALM SHORES-INDIAN RIVER NORTH SECTION: Hazard to Navigation.
Indian River (North Section) DBN 86 (LLNR 42230) is reported broken in half; the wood piling is broken above the waterline. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11485

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Daybeacon 86

Fort Pierce Inner Harbor - Click for Chartview

Fort Pierce Inlet pierces the Eastern Florida coastline between Dynamite Point and Hutchinson Island with an entrance range and an inner range which intersects the Waterway at statute mile 966. The destroyed marker, described below in this article cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariners, lies in the northeast corner of the intersection of the Inlet channel and the Waterway.
FLORIDA-FORT PIERCE HARBOR-FORT PIERCE INLET INNER HARBOR: Hazard to Navigation.
Fort Pierce Inlet Inner Harbor Light 16 (LLNR 9970) is destroyed. A TRLB “WR16” displaying Q R characteristics has been set in position 27-27-42.235N 080-19-06.285W channel ward of the destroyed structure. Mariners are advised to use caution while transiting the area. Chart 11475

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at AICW/Ft. Pierce Inlet

St. Lucie Shoaling - Click for Chartview

This shoaling is in a section known as Hell Gate just west of Sewall Point at the mouth of the St. Lucie River and near the easternmost section of the Okeechobee Waterway. The coordinates given in the Notice put the temporary buoy 17A in the middle of Sewall Point, but we have to assume it is near the charted green marker #17. Since the shoaling (charted) is encroaching from the west, favoring the green side of the channel is your best bet.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-ST. LUCIE INLET TO FT. MYERS AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE: Shoaling.
The Coast Guard has established St Lucie River Temp Buoy 17A in position 27-11-02.516N/080-11 49.228W. The Buoy marks a shoal that is encroaching the St Lucie River from the west. Mariners are urged to use caution while transiting the area.
Chart 11428

Claiborne,
That shoal has been encroaching VERY slowly for many years. It is high time NOAA revised the double dashed channel line; they should have ten years ago!
W.E. “Ted” Guy, Jr.

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position in St. Lucie River

Indian River Marker - Click for Chartview

This missing lighted marker, #169, flanks the Waterway’s eastern side along the AICW’s run along Indian River, north of Fort Pierce.

FLORIDA-INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH-INDIAN RIVER SOUTH SECTION: Hazard to Navigation.
Indian River South Section DBN 169 (LLNR 44825) is destroyed. A TRLB “WR169″ displaying Fl Q G characteristics is 5.51 yards channelward of the remains of the old structure. The remains of the old structure is 4Ft below the waterline. Mariners are advised to transit the area with extreme caution. Chart 11472

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position in Indian River

AICW/Ponce Intersection - Click for Chartview

This AICW shoaling is taking place hard by marker #18 at the southern intersection of the Ponce de Leon Inlet channel and the Waterway. These shallows are not related to earlier Alerts of shoaling in the Inlet itself.
Several years ago, there was major shoaling at this intersection, but dredging relieved the problem. Now, it looks as if these shallows are developing again. ALL AICW cruisers need to be on maximum alert when navigating these waters!!!
This shoally section of the Eastern Florida AICW is shaping up as one of the #1 trouble spots for the spring, 2013 transient season in the Sunshine State.

FLORIDA-ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-MATANZAS INLET- MOSQUITO LAGOON-PONCE DE LEON CUT: Shoaling.
Shoaling is present in the vicinity of Ponce de Leon Cut DBN 18 (LLNR 40610). A 5ft shoal extends approximately 10 yards into the channel at low tide water depth is approximately 5ft. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution while transiting the area.

Claiborne,
Another photo for you to illustrate a recent story appearing on Cruiser’s Net.
You can see two sail boats aground, both on the magenta line, a straight line between markers R50 and G49. You can also see the floating can indicating that the correct course between the two daymarks is a large curve. We followed the markers and found over 10′ of water 20 minutes before low tide.
When there is a conflict between the Magenta Line on the charts and Coast Guard installed markers, we have never found the markers to be incorrect.
Glen and Jill Moore
DeFever 40 Last Dance

We bumped hard at the shoaling mentioned at the south Ponce inlet crossing of the AIWW. We favored GR “C” and we hit bottom. This was at low tide on 6 February 2013. It would appear that shoal goes nearly all of the way across the channel from R “18″ to GR “C”. We draw 5.5 feet.
Bob Todd

This shoal has been a problem for a long time. I’ve bumped there myself, last time was probably two or three years ago. Best to avoid that spot anywhere near low tide.
Wally Moran

Traveled this area NB 3-9-13 at mid rising tide and the lowest water we saw was 7.7′. There is an 18A marker now, and we kept close to the shore on starboard side, and almost turned 90 degree to port as we passed in between R18 and GR C.
Captain Mike

We came thru Ponce Inlet Crossing this morning [4/28/13] in our Catalina 42 fin keel with 6′ – 10″ draft going north bound.
We took a course that split R18A and the RG markers heading towards the G17. When abeam of the RE 18 we headed down the middle of the channel. We saw no less than 8.5 feet with a tide of 2.5 to 3 feet. This low water point was when we were abeam of R18, So I would say the Coast Guard report of a 6 ft shoal at R18 is right on.
Capt Dennis Lawrence
S/V Thate Wata

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at AICW/Ponce Intersection

AICW/Ponce Intersection - Click for Chartview

This AICW shoaling is taking place hard by marker #18 at the southern intersection of the Ponce de Leon Inlet channel and the Waterway. These shallows are not related to earlier Alerts of shoaling in the Inlet itself.
Several years ago, there was major shoaling at this intersection, but dredging relieved the problem. Now, it looks as if these shallows are developing again. ALL AICW cruisers need to be on maximum alert when navigating these waters!!!
This shoally section of the Eastern Florida AICW is shaping up as one of the #1 trouble spots for the spring, 2013 transient season in the Sunshine State.

FLORIDA-ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-MATANZAS INLET- MOSQUITO LAGOON-PONCE DE LEON CUT: Shoaling.
Shoaling is present in the vicinity of Ponce de Leon Cut DBN 18 (LLNR 40610). A 5ft shoal extends approximately 10 yards into the channel at low tide water depth is approximately 5ft. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution while transiting the area.

This is indeed tricky. You used to just stay 20 off the red 18 and be ok but now the angle of the channel has shifted so that you must delay your turn northbound and cut on an angle from the GR C toward R 18 still keeping 20′ off. Both buoys are very close together. Pause and watch for the swifter water flow which seems on the ebb to head for the inlet channel. We passed April 9 and saw 8′ at plus 2′ tide.
Greg Han

We bumped hard at the shoaling mentioned at the south Ponce inlet crossing of the AIWW. We favored GR “C” and we hit bottom. This was at low tide on 6 February 2013. It would appear that shoal goes nearly all of the way across the channel from R “18″ to GR “C”. We draw 5.5 feet.
Bob Todd

This shoal has been a problem for a long time. I’ve bumped there myself, last time was probably two or three years ago. Best to avoid that spot anywhere near low tide.
Wally Moran

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at AICW/Ponce Intersection

Click for Chartview

Dredging was accomplished on the Ponce Inlet Channel in August of 2012, but shoaling is always an issue here. Ponce Inlet (as it is known to all the locals) intersects the AICW Statute Mile 839.5, with a second southerly intersection near St. M. 843. Note that the shoaling reported below plagues the inlet channel, NOT the AICW/Ponce Inlet intersections.

FLORIDA-TOLOMATO RIVER TO PALM SHORES-PONCE DE LEON INLET: Shoaling. 04/13
There is extreme shoaling present at low tide between Ponce de Leon Inlet Buoy 7A (LLNR 9543) and Ponce de Leon Inlet Temp Buoy 7B. A five foot shoal extends approximately 10 yards into the channel at low tide. Temporary aids 7B, 8A and 8B have all been relocated to mark best water and shoaling in the area. Mariners are reminded that temporary buoys are not charted and positions of the buoys frequently shift with changing conditions. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area.

FLORIDA-TOLOMATO RIVER TO PALM SHORES-PONCE DE LEON INLET: Shoaling.
Shoaling is in the vicinity of Ponce De Leon Inlet Buoy 7A (LLNR 9543) extending 15 yards to the northwest. Mariners are reminded that the positions of the buoys frequently shift with changing conditions. Use only with local knowledge.
Chart 11485

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Ponce De Leon Inlet

Shoaling at Marker #54 - Click for Chartview

Back on 8/28/12, we posted a “Navigation Alert” message about shoaling north of St. Augustine, 1.5 nautical miles north of the Vilano Beach Bridge, and hard by marker #54 (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=95521). Now, in the message below, cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariners, we have confirmation of this shallow water.
ALL CRUISERS should be sure to take extra care as they pass marker #54, and LET US HEAR FROM YOU about your experiences along this stretch of the Waterway. Send us e-mail directly at CruisersNet@triad.twcbc.com, or click the “Contribute Cruising News” link/button, found at the top of this all (except) Chart View SSECN pages!

FLORIDA-ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-TOLOMATO RIVER TO PALM SHORES-TOLOMATO RIVER: Shoaling.
The Coast Guard received a report of shoaling near Tolomato River Light 54 (LLNR 38830) north of St Augustine Inlet forming adjacent to the channel. Mariners are advised to exercise caution while transiting the area. Chart 11485

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Lighted Marker #54