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Please Note That Postings Below From Fellow Cruisers Are Listed in Chronological Order, Based on Publication Date
Yellow Background Denotes Navigation Alert Postings
Staging Area - Click for Chartview
This equipment staging area is in a narrow portion of the North Carolina AICW, immediately south of Carolina Beach Inlet. According to the original LNM, the dredging was scheduled to be completed by May 20, but from Capt. Yount’s report, it sounds as if it will continue for awhile. Watch for future Notices.
NC –MYRTLE GROVE SOUND TO NEW RIVER (AICW) – DREDGING EQUIPMENT STAGING AREA
Starting 26 March, 2013 and continuing until 20 May, 2013, WEEKS MARINE will have tugs, barges and floating pipeline along the east side of the AICW channel between New River-Cape Fear River Daybeacon 159 (LLNR 39750) and New River-Cape Fear River Buoy 155A (LLNR 39735). Equipment is in conjunction with the Carolina Beach/Kure Beach dredging/beach nourishment project. The tugs will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16. A NO WAKE transit is requested of all vessels. Chart: 11534.
Skippers should be aware of extensive ICWW dredging operations in the area extending from the Carolina Beach inlet nearly all the way south to the entrance to Snow’s Cut. Portions of the channel will/may be blocked as a result.
Noted today, May 18, 2013, were multiple barges, tugs and a rather large dredge, along with associated piping, floats, etc.
Exercise caution.
Gregory Yount, SV Intermezzo
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
On 5/9/13, as part of a North Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:
Statute Mile 282 – who has navigated Shinn Creek, from AICW marker #129, to Masonboro Inlet? Did you find sufficient depths in Shinn Creek? What about Masonboro Inlet itself? Please describe you passage through this inlet, and what you observed.
Responses follow:
Claiborne,
After a rough night at sea, from New Bern to Bald Head Island, we went in Masonboro Inlet a little before 8:00 am. There was a crane, rock barge, and tug in the inlet. Only comment is you need to be lined up straight to the inlet before you get there to see the location of the small buoys that mark the channel, follow them at mid channel depth about 14 feet (min).
At the marker for Banks Channel, green/red (I think ) “WC” look for the green straight ahead (#1), ignore the water to the left, continue on past green 3 and look for a small green can (?) which is 129 AICW, as another guide suggested take this as a green for Shinn creek, pass on left with good clearance and you are in the ICW. It looked confusing as I approached because of the house behind it. I thought it might be a private buoy, but read the number when I got close enough.
The depth was not a problem minimum at least 10 feet.
Bob,
S/V Pneuma
In late April 2013 we used the Mott Channel to enter the anchorage by the bridge in Wrightsville Beach. Late the following afternoon we navigated the Banks Channel and the Masonboro Inlet. The channel and the Inlet were well marked and easily navigated. We did notice the barge, but at that time it was anchored at the junction of the Shinn Creek and Banks Channel. We didn’t see any depths less than six feet.
Jim Murtha
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Masonboro Inlet and Shinn Creek
On 5/9/13, as part of a North Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:
Statute Mile 295- who has picked up a mooring at the Carolina Beach Mooring Field south of Snow Cut’s eastern entrance? Did you find the field easy to enter? What sort of mooring ball condition did you observe? Did you find anywhere to dinghy ashore? If so, did you find any good dining attractions in the town of Carolina Beach?
Responses follow:
The mooring field is easy to enter, with plenty of depth. The mooring balls are large, but the pendants are small and slimy. The dinghy dock is a long, long way down, at the end of the harbor. The moorings do provide a secure place to spend a night or to visit Carolina Beach for a day or two. At $20/night, they are over priced compared to other moorings. At the same price, St. Augustine offers a laundry, captains’ lounge, and quality heads/showers.
Glen and Jill Moore
DeFever 40 Last Dance
We have stayed in Carolina Beach on the mooring balls on 2 occasions. The mooring ball fields is easy to enter right off the channel. The mooring field is less than 10 minutes at no wake speed off the ICW. The tethers on the mooring balls seem short (maybe 5 ft) so it’s easier to grab the tether from the side of the boat rather than from the bow. The city sends a boat to collect the mooring fee about 6 PM each evening.
The City of Carolina Beach has a dinghy dock at the end of the channel which is less than 1/2 mile away. There is also a restaurant at the end of the channel that has a face dock. From the dinghy dock it is an easy walk to the beach.
Jerry Kusky
Knot So Fast
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Carolina Beach Mooring Field
On 5/9/13 as part of a North Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:
Statute Mile 280- who has traversed the Motts Channel in Wrightsville Beach, to the Banks Channel, and anchored south of the 8 foot bridge on the Banks Channel? Did you encounter any less than ideal depths on the western end of the Motts Channel? Did you find sufficient shelter when anchored on the Banks Channel? Did you dinghy ashore at the public park, and, if so, did you find any good shoreside restaurants in Wrightsville Beach?
Responses follow:
There is plenty of depth; however, leave plenty of scope. The current is strong, and the anchorage is open to the south. We did dingy to shore and walked around Wrightsville Beach, but did not eat ashore. There were a number of resteraunts some of which were closed for the season. Call ahead!
John Pholeric
Anchored below the bridge in Banks Channel on 5/7/13. Have anchored there several times. Left on 5/8 by way of Motts channel in morning at high tide with plenty of water. Will not consider entering by Motts channel near low tide. Confirmed potential problems with Boat US last fall.
s/v Skye
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Banks Channel Anchorage
US 74 Bridge - Click for Chartview
US 74 Bridge has a closed vertical clearance of 20ft and crosses the Waterway in the heart of Wrightsville Beach. Originally scheduled to end May 1, the reduced horizontal clearance of these repairs will not affect most cruisers, but the movements of the barge and crane might.
NC – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND – (AICW) – NEW RIVER TO CAPE FEAR RIVER – WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH – BRIDGE REPAIRS
1. Bridge rehabilitation on the US 74/76 Bascule Bridge at mile 283.1 on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina has been extended until July 27, 2013.
2. To facilitate repairs a crane barge will reduce the available horizontal clearance in the navigable channel from 90 feet to 50 feet. A one hour advance notice is required to remove the barge from the channel for vessels requiring greater than 50 feet horizontal clearance to safely navigate through the bridge. The US 74/76 bascule bridge tender can be contacted on VHF-FM channels 13 or 16 to arrange removal of the barge from the channel.
3. Mariners are urged to transit the area with caution at slow no wake speeds.
4. For any comments or questions, contact the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Waterways Management, (252) 247-4525, or at joseph.m.edge@uscg.mil
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For SR 74 Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of SR 74 Bridge
Seapath Yacht Club - Click for Chartview
Seapath Yacht Club lies northwest of Motts Channel’s unlighted daybeacon #21.
Located on Motts Channel, which is just south of the Wrightsville Beach bridge, the marina is on the north side of the channel about a tenth of a mile east of the ICW. This marina provides dockage for transient boats primarily on its long floating face dock. Fuel is available and stores and restaurants are within walking distance.
This marina is particularly useful as jump off point prior to the five bridges when going north on the ICW, or as an end of day port if making an offshore run from the Beaufort Inlet to the Masonboro Inlet just south of Wrightsville Beach. Access via the inlet to Banks Channel and Motts Channel makes it easy to reach Seapath. The only difficulty (that is well known) is that Motts Channel has a tendency to shoal where it meets the ICW (see Cruiser’s net report).
Ray Kurlak
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Seapath Yacht Club
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Seapath Yacht Club
Harbor Village Marina guards the Waterway’s northwestern shore hard by flashing daybeacon #94.
This marina is between the Surf City Bridge and the Figure Eight Island Swing Bridge near ICW red marker 94. It too offers a bail out point on those long days when bridge timing and travel speeds do not work out well. There are floating docks in this marina, which primarily caters to private slip holders. There are a few transient docks and fuel is available. There are no restaurants or stores nearby.
Ray Kurlak
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harbor Village Marina
SR 74 Bridge - Click for Chartview
With a 20 foot closed vertical clearance, the closure of the Wrightsville Beach Bridge, from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am DAILY, will be a real problem for late afternoon and early morning cruisers! And, note this schedule change runs from April 16, 2013 thorugh the remainder of 2013, and into the spring of 2014! Make your cruising plans accordingly.
Also, note the reduction in closed vertical clearance from 20 feet to 18 feet between 4/16/13 to 7/27/13!
NC – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY (AIWW)
Mariners are advised that the S.R. 74 Bridge at AIWW mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC will be closed to navigation each night, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., on April 16, 2013 through March 1, 2014; except, vessel openings will be provided if at least two hours advance notice is given to the bridge tender at (910) 256-4519 or via marine radio on channel 13 VHF. At all other times, the drawbridge will operate in accordance with the regulations set out in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Part 117.821(a)(4). In addition, a containment system is positioned under the draw span until July 27, 2013 reducing the available vertical clearance to approximately 18 feet above MHW. Vessels that can pass under the drawbridge without an opening may do so at all times and the drawbridge will be able to open in an emergency. Mariners should use extreme caution when transiting the area. Chart 11541
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For SR 74 Bridge
New Topsail Inlet - Click for Chartview
Despite dredging in the intersection of the Inlet/Waterway, as well as the Inlet itself completed in May of 2012, shoaling has begun again in this narrow inlet. This shoaling should not affect, at least for the time being, the depths in the Waterway intersection.
NC – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND – NEW TOPSAIL INLET – SHOALING
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineer survey conducted 10 January, 2013 indicates shoaling to a depth of 4.5 feet MLW in the vicinity of New Topsail Inlet Buoy 3 (LLNR 29995). Chart: 11541.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at New Topsail Inlet
The Motts Channel cuts into the southeastern/eastern flank of the AICW, a short hop south and southwest of the Wrightsville Beach Bascule Bridge, just past the host of marina facilities which congregate south of this span. The Motts passage serves at least two important purposes for cruisers.
First, it provides access from the AICW to cruiser friendly Seapath Yacht Club (Marina), and secondly, it is the most direct route to the very popular anchorages on Banks Channel. Over the years, the west end of the Motts Channel, near markers #25 and #23, has shoaled and periodic dredging has been required. Judging from Capt. Mike’s report, dredging is once again needed.
Cruising News:
January 12 came down Motts channel [traveling west] from Banks channel to icw and hit pretty hard mid channel 2 hours before low tide approx 100 feet from actual intersection. My intent was to catch Wrightsville Beach Bridge, and continue north to my slip. I have traveled at all tides for 6 years with 4 foot draft through same spot and never came close to grounding. Fyi stay close to green marker when approaching this spot.
Capt Mike
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Seapath Yacht Club
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Motts Channel
Surf City Bridcge - Click for Chartview
Because Sears Landing is not a marina, this restaurant with transient dockage will not be found in our NC Marina Directory, so we are very grateful to the Captain Tigar for bringing this spot to our attention. It certainly sounds YUMMY.
Cruising News:
Heading South on the ICW, just before the Surf City bridge, turn right and make your way in about 120 yards to Sears Landing. This is a restaurant with some overnight dock space. At low tide, you may have less than 5 ft. depth, but the floating docks are nice, a long garden hose gives water even in winter (regular faucets in warmer weather), there are power outlets, and the food is superb. Heads may not be available late night after the restaurant closes — this is a restaurant not a marina. For 11 years, this establishment has been here and gets by without advertising its attractions. Try the grilled or fried seafood, and for a wickedly delicious treat, try the island rolls.
Michael and Jane Tigar
Sears landing is an excellent restaurant and the four slips there, while adequate, are a bit pricey for what they offer. I spent 3 days in Surf City a month ago riding out some terrible weather while headed south. We couldn’t get in the Sears Landing channel (in fairness, it was dead low tide and we draw 4 ft) so we took the channel opposite, also just north of the bridge. The former docks at the south end of this channel are cordoned off with cable stretched across, this because of a foreclosure and resulting liability issues. However, we were fortunate to find a dozen or so slips at the [former] Beachhouse Marina dry storage facility that were available for reasonable price ($1.25/ft) and with full amenities. No water (winter, again) but everything else — clean 24 hr heads, 30 amps, laundry room, WiFi in the lounge, floating docks, supermarket via courtesy vehicle, accommodating and helpful personnel. Despite some storefronts in Surf City looking like a movie set for a spaghetti western, we found the town to have remarkable amenities with excellent restaurants, decent stores for basics (aimed more to the fishing crowd, though), and all within easy walking distance. Sears Landing is a short way across the ICW bridge and I’ll second Captain Jane’s comments about their offerings – top notch food and service! In all, Surf City is a good stop in a stretch of the waterway where such places are not often to be found. Sadly, as we reported in May of 2012, Beach House Marina has closed (see link below).
Andy Denmark
Click Here To View An Article on the closing of Beach House Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Surf City Bridge
SR 74 Bridge - Click for Chartview
This is a very advance notice of this 5-hour closure to navigation, so mark your calendar. The State Road 74 bridge has a closed vertical clearance of 20ft.
NC – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND – NEW RIVER-CAPE FEAR RIVER
To accommodate the Wrightsville Beach/Quintiles Marathon scheduled for Sunday, March 17 2013, mariners are advised that the S.R. 74 Bridge, across AIWW mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC will remain in the closed position from 5 a.m. through 10 a.m. Mariners able to pass under the closed span (20 feet MHW) may do so, and should adjust their transits accordingly. Chart 11541
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For SR 74 Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of SR 74 Bridge
Shoaling at Statute Mile 271 - Click for Chartview
This shoaling, reported in an article cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariners, is occurring immediately south of Statute Mile 270, near the AICW’s intersection with New Topsail Inlet. As you probably know, the mention of Cape Fear River is the USCG chart designation and does not refer to the Cape Fear area.
NOTICE THE REFERENCE BELOW TO THE AICW CHANNEL ONLY BEING “35 FEET” WIDE!!!!!! Yikes!!!!!
If ANYONE has traversed this stretch of the AICW within the last 30 days, PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE CRUISING COMMUNITY BY FOLLOWING THE “Click Here to Submit Cruising News” link on the upper right of this and all (except Chart View) SSECN pages!!!
NC – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND – NEW RIVER-CAPE FEAR RIVER – SHOALING
Shoaling to a depth of 1.0 ft. MLW has been reported between New River -Cape Fear River Buoy 99 (LLNR 39547) and New River -Cape Fear River Light 100 (LLNR 39550). Chart: 11541.
NC – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND – NEW RIVER TO CAPE FEAR RIVER (AICW) – SHOALING
Shoaling to depth of less than 4.0 ft MLW has been reported between New River-Cape Fear River 99A (LLNR 39548) and New River-Cape Fear River 99B (LLNR 39549). Channel width appears to have been reduced to approximately 35 feet. Chart:11541.
Seasons greetings! Today is 12/22/12 and at 10:30am we navigated this spot described as being very shallow. We are in a sailboat with a draft of 5.2ft. The tide was 30minutes on the flood side of low. Per advice from TowBoat US out of Wrightsville Beach, we favored the greens. The shallowest we saw was 6.3feet near Green can “99B”. A bit deeper near “99A”. TowBoat indicated the channel is about 35feet in width in this area. We didnt test it. Favoring green cans “99″, “99A”, and “99B” worked for us. Our thanks to TowBoat US and the man ashore with words of warning.
Barb Masinton, s/v Waterdog
April 18, 2013
This area must have been dredged since the above reports as the Corps survey of December 2012 and Feb 2013 show depths of 12 mlw or more from 99 South if you stay in the channel. G99 is actually well off the channel. To the North of G 99 the depths are shown as 9 mlw or deeper.
DG Lawrence
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Statute Mile 270
SR 74 Bridge - Click for Chartview
With a closed vertical clearance of 20ft, and a very restrictive opening schedule, the Wrightsville Beach Bascule Bridge crosses the AICW at Statute Mile 283, southwest of marker #125. This is one of the most irksome spans on the entire North Carolina section of the AICW, and now we cruisers are going to have to contend with adjoining shallows north of the span!
Note that the shoal described below, on the “green side” lies on the Waterway’s eastern flank, north of the Wrightsville Bridge. As Captain Hardy advises, ALL captains should be SURE to wait for a bridge opening in mid-channel, and make every effort to avoid a drift to the east. Otherwise, you WILL be giving the local Sea Tow captain some business!
12/04/2012
We ran aground at the bridge just north of the one mentioned here. We were racing the clock to be there on time, and being the only boat, the bridge tender did not open it for us, even though in the three minutes it took him to open the beige, we would have been in perfect position if he had started the opening at three. In backing out from the bridge, we ran aground on the east side. Worse than that, we ran aground again after going through the next bridge and hugging the shoreline to port coming around the corner to head for our night’s anchorage. didn’t bother looking at the chart; it seemed so simple, just stay close to the boats and head for green marker 23. Wrong! We ran up on the plainly marked shoal. this destroyed many years of boasting about almost never running aground, twice in one day!
Beverly Feiges
Cruising News:
At least 4 boats we know went aground while waiting for the Wrightsville Beach bridge to open in the past few days. The shallow spot is on the green side when approaching the bridge from the north. There aren’t any markers at the shoal but boaters should stay in the center of the channel when waiting for the bridge.
Harriet Hardy
Giving other boaters a tip when traveling south at the wrightsville beach bridge…. stop in center of channel before you get along side the false palm tree north and East of the Bridge and before coming along side of Green marker to port also for those anchoring in Banks channel and you are heading south following the shore south to just passed the Coast Guard Station on your port turn starboard at red and green marker keeping it to starboard following the green markers to ICW and turning south at floating green marker you are now in ICW.
Vance Neal
UPDATE! The water gauge was indeed incorrect, but that problem has now been corrected! See the first two notes below. We are proud that the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net was able to assist in getting the problem addressed!
Cruising News 12/05/2012:
The North Carolina Department of Transportation reports that they have corrected the tidal gauges on this bridge and that it has a height at Mean High Water of 64 Feet (NOT 65). The USCG states that they will have NOAA confirm this report and issue appropriate changes to the charts.
John Kremski
Mr. Gregory,
NCDOT Bridge Maintenance measured the vertical clearance at the North Topsail High-rise Bridge on Wednesday, November 10. The marker was found to be off by 8″ and was adjusted accordingly.
Please advise if you need any further information.
Thanks, Amanda
Amanda T. Glynn, P.E.
Division Bridge Program Manager
NCDOT – Division 3
And, here, below, are the postings which originally brought this matter to our attention, and began the correction process!
We ripped all of wind instruments and tri-color off the top of the mast. Our mast is 63 feet and the bridge marker said the bridge was 65 feet. Bad day in NC!
Captain Ashley Erwin
I understand high tides and we had previously waited several hours to be able to get under a bridge, for example the Atlantic Beach-Morehead City bridge. But to have the bridge marker wrong, is unsafe. High tides come and go, but there is no excuse for the bridge marker to be wrong.
Captain Ashley Erwin
SSECN Regional Editor, Captain Larry Dorminy, forwarded Captain Erwin’s note above to Captain Waverly Gregory, USCG “Bridge Administrator” for NC waters. Captain Gregory, in turn, forwarded the strongly worded e-mail copied copied below to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. It is to be hoped the inaccurate clearance gauge in question will soon be remedied.
This fortunate series of actions illustrates another way in which the SSECN is always striving to be an advocate for the cruising community.
To: Mr. Trevor Carroll,
We were advised of a discrepancy at Subject Bridge. It has been reported by marine interests that the vertical clearance gauges placed at the bridge are inaccurate. (See below hyperlink)
It is the bridge owner’s responsibility for the accuracy of the gauges and to re-measure the vertical distance of the numerals and foot marks below “low steel” of the bridge. Failure to maintain the accessories may make a bridge owner liable for civil penalty of up to $25,000 for each violation.
The discrepancy must be verified and corrected immediately and this office shall be notified as soon as possible as to the action taken.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me. Thank you. Waverly
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.
Bridge Administrator
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To An “Alert” Position At the Top Sail Bridge
Just completed in February, 2012, the new Carolina Beach mooring field is located south of Snows Cut, between markers #4 and #5 on the approach channel into Carolina Beach town waterfront. As expected, the new mooring field has prompted both pro and con comments.
We used the Carolina mooring field on 16/17 Nov 12 and found it very easy to use and well worth the $20/night. The moorings have short pendants with a float and loop at the end. Pass a line through the loop to moor up. Randy, the guy who collects the money, is a former live-aboard and generally helpful guy.
Access to the area is slightly complicated. Follow the ICW to G 161 and turn into the Carolina Beach basin channel’s R 2. Do /not/ try to round off the corner. A boat with 5.5′ draft hit and bumped when taking this shortcut.
Richard B. Emerson
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Carolina Beach Mooring Field
The Motts Channel cuts into the southeastern/eastern flank of the AICW, a short hop south and southwest of the Wrightsville Beach Bascule Bridge, just past the host of marina facilities which congregate south of this span. The Motts passage serves at least two important purposes for cruisers.
First, it provides access from the AICW to cruiser friendly Seapath Yacht Club (Marina), and, secondly, it is the most direct route to the very popular anchorages on Banks Channel. Clearly, this is an important side channel off the AICW.
Over the years, the western end of the Motts Channel, near markers #25 and #23, has shoaled and periodic dredging has been required. Judging from the latest reports here on the SSECN, shallowing is again being felt in these waters. Captain Harriet’s advice below will help navigators avoid these shoals, at least until they build farther into the channel!
It’s tricky making the turn into Motts Channel and guidelines on various sites vary. Boaters should be aware that the current will drag them as they make the turn. They need to stay very close to the green 25 and then gradually make their way to the red side. Also, swing wide at the turn from green markers G21 and G19.
Harriet Hardy
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Seapath Yacht Club
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Motts Channel
Other recent reports on depths in Masonboro Inlet have indicated no shallow water problems in the inlet itself, unlike the shoaling reported at the intersection of the inlet/Shinn Creek and the AICW.
Oct 6 Traveled outside to Wrightsville Beach Inlet [Masonboro Inlet], good place to re-enter the ICW, however, the boating traffic at Wrightsville on the weekends should be avoided at all costs, the most friendly inconsiderates along the entire ICW.
Doug Cordello
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Masonboro Inlet
Click Here To Read Recent Comments about Shoaling in the Masonboro/AICW Intersection
"Blue Run Springs Park Manatees – St. Johns River"
by: Glen and Jill Moore
