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Please Note That Postings Below From Fellow Cruisers Are Listed in Chronological Order, Based on Publication Date
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On 4/30/13, as part of a South Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:
Statute Mile 521.5 – who has left the AICW’s run through Coosaw River, and journeyed south by way of Parrot Creek to Morgan River, and spent some time at Dataw Island Marina? What did you think of this facility? Did you dine ashore at the on-site restaurant? How was the food?
Responses follow:
Dataw Island Marina – easy access of the Coosaw River via Parrot Creek at MM 521. Follow the markers (green on the port side) southeast through the creek and you’ll have plenty of water on your way into the Morgan River. The tidal current here is very swift at times so when you call the Dataw Island Marina office be sure and let them know you want to a spot on their long floating face dock and dock into the current. If you play an extended stay you can move around to the interior on slack tide. The staff is very helpful and courteous.
This is a beautiful and great location, albeit somewhat removed from Beaufort proper. If you need supplies/groceries, Port Royal Landing Marina has immediate access via walking or courtesy car to West Marine, multiple grocery stores as well as hardware stores.
Dataw Island is private but access and use of the marina is open to the public. They have 83 slips and a large (50T) travel lift as well as a very skilled yard staff which are actually employees of Marsh Harbor Marina. Immediately next door to the marina office are two great little places: Sweetgrass and The Outpost Coffee Shop. Sweetgrass has a great little bar and wonderful menu with local flavors and accents. One of the better marina restaurants we have enjoyed along the ICW.
Jeff Graham
s/v Far Niente
Excellent facilities, restaurant had new owners and was great when we were there a year ago. Great place to rent a bike and ride around. It is beautiful. Also, stop on the southern tip of Morgan Island (Monkey Island) and wait for the moneys to come out. Not too far off the ICW!
Tracy Hellman
Parrots Creek is well marked leading you to the Morgan RIver. Bearing to starboard entering the Morgan, you will see Dataw Marina on your port side up river. The marina is well kept and the people are most helpful. If you just want to dine, call on VHF, they monitor 68 and 16, and you can tie up on the face dock. The Sweet Grass Restaurant (dinner) and the Outpost (lunch) are both excellent. I believe the Outpost serves breakfast also. Check info@sweetgrassdataw.com . I am taking my wife, Robin, to Sweet Grass for Mother’s Day dinner this coming Sunday.
Emil and Robin Meyers
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Dataw Island Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dataw Island Marina
Dataw Island Marina - Click for Chartview
A short distance south off the Waterway via Parrot Creek, then Morgan River, Dataw Island Marina lies just west of marker #6, along the southern banks. Dataw Island Marina is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
2013 January transient N/B, 1 Night moving a customers MY from Jax to Baltimore. Staff at Marina is first class and could not have been more helpful. With all of our hook time, it was real nice to get off and have an awesome meal. Sweet Grass food and hospitality was great. Easy off the AICW, but watch your depths and mind your markers. It is shallow in spots. Will definately plan a stop here again! Absolutely beautiful,,,, Thanks Rhett!
Perry
Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Dataw Island Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dataw Island Marina
A short distance south off the Waterway via Parrot Creek, then Morgan River, Dataw Island Marina lies just west of marker #6, along the southern banks. Dataw Island Marina is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
If you would like some relaxing downtime from cruising but don’t want to anchor, this is definitely worth getting off the ICW for a visit! Dataw is a gated island golf and tennis community, very quiet and peaceful. If you like to walk for bike ride (marina has loaners) this is a terrific place, just beautiful. We did a pay for two nights and the third is free deal and will definitely stay here again, maybe for longer. The staff is wonderful. There’s a dinner restaurant as well as a very casual daytime eatery in the marina. Dinner in the restaurant last night has been my only disappointment. It was on the pricey side, which was to be expected, but to me the food was on par with a Denny’s. My husband enjoyed it but me, not so much. Regardless of dinner, I would stay at Dataw Island Marina again in a heartbeat!
Paula aboard M/Y Sea Eagle
1983 50′ Californian
Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Dataw Island Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dataw Island Marina
After following the mostly sheltered waters of the AICW running south from Charleston, while cruising to Beaufort, South Carolina, cruisers might well be excused when they exit the southwesterly entrance of the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff, for gasping just a bit at the wide swath of open waters which spread out before them. This mighty body of water is the Coosaw River, which the AICW follows mostly west to the northern entrance of Brickyard Creek (thence south to Beaufort).
Our very good friends, Captains Mark and Diana Doyle, have obviously explored these waters themselves over the past couple of decades while researching their superb “Managing the Waterway” series of guide books.
As you will read below, one stream where they had dropped the hook before was Wimbee Creek. This stream cuts off from the Bull River, which itself makes into the Coosaw’s northern flank near Statute Mile 521 (see chart to the above right). HOWEVER A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE GREETED OUR EXPERIENCED CRUISING DUO ON THIS OCCASION!
As you will read below, Diana and Mark discovered the hard way that a portion of Wimbee Creek has a very foul bottom. Farther upstream (see below), it’s apparently safe (or at least “safer”) to drop the hook, but the creek’s waters, southeast of charted “Chisolm,” where chart 11518 shows a sounding of “11″ feet, are definitely off limits!
The SSECN is declaring a Navigational Alert for these waters!
Hi Claiborne,
On June 10, 2012, we anchored in Wimbee Creek, a popular anchorage off Bull River, running north of the Coosaw River in South Carolina. In 13 feet (MLLW) we deployed a Bruce anchor with 120′ of chain, compensating for the expected additional 7 feet of tide in this area. Like nearly all our surveyed anchorages in Georgia and southern South Carolina, we anticipated high current.
Unfortunately, within a few hours our ground tackle started behaving abnormally. At first we attributed it to opposing wind and current, but it was soon apparent something more serious and unusual was occurring.
The wind continued to climb and thunderstorms could be seen advancing so we decided to retrieve the anchor and re-set. We were stopped short at about 60 feet of chain—in 13 feet of water—stuck on something so large that any attempts by the windlass or by “running over” the anchor merely pulled our bow down!
We were stuck, short-scoped, with strong thunderstorm activity predicted throughout the night, but with no choice but to wait for TowboatU.S. to bring a diver the next morning.
We payed back out the recovered 60 feet of chain and spent an uncomfortable night.
Roy Stegall, a cruiser on s/v Gideon who works part-time for TowboatU.S. Port Royal, and Gene Clark, an experienced diver, arrived on the scene at 0745 hrs. the next morning. It took Gene a couple of hours of blind handwork in the tannic, murky high current to get control of the situation.
His report from down-under: A wide area of huge “rocks”—which we later determined were likely dumped construction debris from an old foundation—covered the mud bottom. Some of the chunks were half the size of the TowBoatU.S. vessel! As the strong winds and currents continuously shifted, our chain had actually been pulled UNDER one of these huge boulders, requiring a rolling hitch and hard horizontal yank using the TowBoatU.S. vessel to pop it free.
This was no ordinary anchor-fouling. The anchor was free and about 20 feet from the boulder. This was a chain-fouling!
A resident yelled out from his dock that a nearby trawler, anchored further up the creek on what looked like a back-up nylon rode, had just lost its anchor and chain in the same area and was waiting to try to locate it.
So this area is a serious hazard and has claimed at least two boats.
The problem site is south of the center of Wimbee Creek, off the second residential dock. Do not anchor anywhere near the first through third docks. Instead, proceed further up the creek, and stay well off the shore.
The chartlet below shows our new anchored position, the fouled area, and the depths (and tides) we read thoughout this anchorage.
Our heartfelt thanks to the excellent team at TowBoatU.S. Port Royal for safely turning around what could have been an even worse situation!
Best and see you On the Water,
Captains Mark & Diana Doyle
http://www.OnTheWaterChartGuides.com
Not To Be Used For Navigation
Did I luck out! Two years ago, I anchored in that exact same spot (well, obviously, not exactly the same; I’d still be there).
Donovan
With his 6.25 ft draft, Capt. Pascal keeps a very sharp eye on the Waterway’s trouble spots and we can rely on the accuracy of his reports and the depths recorded here coincide with earlier reports of 5.8 feet at dead low in this perennial “AICW Problem Stretch” south of Charleston, SC. Penny’s report of Jan 23 suggests that the channel is shifting with the renewed shoaling.
I found shoaling to have worsened significantly over the summer in the southern section between the Coosaw and Rock creek. I follow the exact same path and found depths to be almost 2 ft shallower than back in May. I had planned to arrive with 3′ of tides remaining and ended up squeaking by with just a ft under the wheels (6.25 draft). This is definitely a play-the-tide stretch for most and close to Lil Mud River level.
Everything else so far is pretty much unchanged since spring.
Here are my notes:
MM516 Ashepoo Coosaw Southern section, 6′ to 7′ MLW most of the way but some 4.5 to 5′ MLW spots just north of R184. This is down almost 2′ from this spring on the same line. Make sure you come in or exit the southern end of the cut at an angle as shown on the charts (by R184/G195).
A new can G177 has been added by the FL G 177 to mark the shoal.
Note that the northern section of the cut off bet R166 and R172 is no problem, over 12′ MLW.
Capt. Pascal Gademer
Cruising News:
Claiborne
Just came through the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff roughly two hours after high tide, +5.8’, and the lowest depth readings were 10.8’, suggesting there would be only 5’ at low. Looks like severe shoaling; suggest transiting with this in mind.
So far, in our transit south this year from Sandy Hook to Delray Beach, this is the first serious shoaling we encountered.
Mike Horowitz aboard ALTAIR
Just came through the Ashepoo Coosaw cutoff 3 times in the last 6 weeks. At the southern end near the Coosaw river, I saw 6 ft. at dead low tide. Favour the red side going south.
The other two times I came through at mid tide rising and had no trouble. My vessel draws 5 ft. Hope this helps.
Phil Mullins
Just cleared the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff 1 hour after high tide with a 5 ft draft. Lowest water reported was 12 ft. near red 184. The new green can 177A is off station. Currently in the grass about 100 feet south of green day marker 177.
Dick White aboard M/V Emerald Lady
These updated reports are pretty accurate except showing even more shoaling as green markers 169 and 177 are standing in grass with 20-30 feet of sand/mud on the bank at just before low tide. Depth sounder went off more times than I care to count. stay exactly between R 184 and G 185 then hug south bank to avoid extending shoal just after before heading to R 186. Favoring red as mentioned in another report put us in the mud for a quick thrill.
Penny aboard Penelope
Click Here To View Another Recent Report from This Trouble Spot.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
A short distance south off the Waterway via Parrot Creek, then Morgan River, Dataw Island Marina lies just west of marker #6 at the intersection of Parrot Creek and Morgan River. Dataw Island Marina is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
The restaurant is open and is called Sweetgrass. The food is excellent. It serves dinner 6 nights and is closed on Wednesday.
Pat Judd
Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Dataw Island Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dataw Island Marina
Palmetto Moon with Jim, Su and Lazy Cat Alex have just traveled from Georgetown, SC To Brunswick, Ga. Palmetto Moon cruises at 8.5 MPH and draws 4.5 ft. Here are the issues and observations of their travels:
2-Isle of Palms (MM-456.9) to Port Royal Landing (MM-539.5) We left 2.5 hours before low tide.
In the White Point area (MM-495-500) at low tide
Between R-110 and G-121 center of channel;
At G-111 – G-113 we saw 4 feet under us
At G-115 – G-117 we saw 3.5 feet under us
Running at just above Idle Speed stirred up a lot of mud/sand through most of the area from G-111 G-119
This info is what we experienced in our travels. As always you are the captain of your vessel and should use this as info only. Safe travels.
Palmetto Moon
What a nice set of special pricing and discounts for cruising visitors to this SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!!! And, the offer to have groceries waiting for you upon coiling your lines is really going above and beyond!
Dataw Island Marina actually lies on the Morgan River. It is easily accessible from the AICW’s run along Broad Coosaw River, via Parrot Creek. Follow the link below for more information!
Cruising News:
Dataw Marina is offering free electrics for transients for the months of October and November. Stay with us for two nights and the third night is free! The Outpost Coffee Shop and Bistro is offering 10% off to transients for October and November. Sweetgrass Restaurant will provide a free bottle of house wine with the purchase of two dinner entrees (dine in only). If you need groceries or supplies, call ahead to the marina (843) 838-8410 before 12 PM and we will try to have them here for you when you dock. Don’t forget to ask about our long term storage rates. Hope to see you soon!
Carol Clayton
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dataw Island Marina
A short distance south off the Waterway via Parrot Creek, then Morgan River, Dataw Island Marina lies just west of marker #6 at the intersection of Parrot Creek and Morgan River.
Wanted to pass along an excellent review on Dataw Island Marina. We are on a trip from Charleston to Hilton Head and finally stopped there for what we thought would be one night and then on to Beaufort. Dataw was so incredible we spent two nights and skipped Beaufort this time! The one year old Sweetgrass restaurant was incredible – so good we ate there both nights. It looks like the most special beach home right out of a novel, with a great screened porch for dining, or inside that is truly special.
They just opened their “fishcamp” store while we were there – breakfast and lunch items that are great, as well as many general store items to stock up on. It looks like an old fishcamp, complete with vintage mementos.
The staff of the marina and restaurants all couldn’t have been more kind and made us instantly welcome.
We enjoyed the amenities available to those that stay, at the club – playing tennis and hanging at the pool one day. Next time we will pack the clubs as we could have played either of the two courses. Riding our bikes and seeing the beautiful island homes was also worth the visit – this is now on the chart as a MUST STOP!
Bill Saint
President and CEO Classica Homes
Office – 704-940-3923
Cell – 704-507-2068
bsaint@classicahomes.com
1101 Wood Ridge Center Drive #155
Charlotte, NC 28277
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Dataw Island Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dataw Island Marina
Captain Orin’s good experiences at Dataw Island Marina are not a surprise to anyone here at the Cruisers’ Net. Since the current management team took over, this has been a very well run establishment. Note that you do have to leave the AICW’s run through the Coosaw River, and then follow a marked passage south through Parrot Creek to Morgan River, in order to access Dataw Island Marina. The trip is worth the effort!
We stayed here one night this week and were extremely pleased. The staff is excellent and there have been changes since the last edition of Claiborne’s book. The restaurant is open. It is right in the marina and excellent. The shower rooms are private and the best e have seen in this area. All transients are likely to be on the face dock because the Morgan River current makes it too tough to get in the slips. The dock help is excellent. We are coming back!
Orin Guidry
As we have posted recently, Ladys Island Bridge is on a temporary on-the-hour-only opening schedule Monday through Friday. However, as Larry Shick states below, if you ask nicely or if it’s a weekend, you might get an opening on demand! Isn’t it grand when we get those little surprises?
Submitted on 2010/06/06 at 5:22pm
For what it’s worth, we went through this bridge today (6/6/10). The bridge opened “on request.” Perhaps this was because it was a weekend, but at any rate, the “only on the hour” rule did not apply this time.
Captain Larry Shick
Submitted on 2010/08/16 at 5:50pm
This bridge is very old, has problems, and the city has out grown it! There is far too much boat traffic holding up far too much road traffic, and causing traffic jams when people need to get places! Slow down SOME on highway construction and build a bigger, TALLER bridge that does not have to be opened!
Gilbert R. Murrell
Surprise, surprise!, This past Sunday morning, I tried to get through the Lady’s Island Woods Bridge (Swing Bridge from Beaufort, SC AICW mile 536). I hoped to transit on demand since road traffic was almost non-existent. No luck. It is obvious that the bridge tender has no flexibility.
Again, I called Gene Stratton, Bridge Management Specialist, Seventh Coast Guard District, Miami, Florida (305.415.6740) for clarification on when to expect the temporary change to be rescinded. To date there have been two confusing notices of the temporary change: one states the bridge opens on demand on weekends and the other states that there is no exception to the rule on weekends. Stratton said the temporary change would be lifted one year after the rule has been published in the Federal Register or whenever the new bridge is completed, which ever comes first. The temporary rule has yet to be published in the Federal Register so who knows.
This change to the bridge opening schedule was made without public comment. Stratton said he welcomes written comment on this situation and suggested that comments be sent to him at the following e-mail address: allen.e.stratton@uscg.mil.
Captain Ray Gallagher
15 miles north of Beaufort and just to the east off the AICW via well-marked Parrot Creek, Bass Creek offers 8-13 feet depths for secure holding and the peace and quiet of South Carolina’s many marsh anchorages.
Currently anchored here with one other boat and it’s delightful. Being Chesapeake sailors, we initially found these open marsh anchorages less than desirable and then they began to grow on us. Not for nasty weather, but usually a nice breeze and the sounds of the marsh birds make for wonderful relaxation.
s/v MicMac
Dataw Island Marina actually sits off the AICW’s run through Coosaw River. This fine facility is accessed by way of a marked channel running first through Parrott Creek, then across the Morgan River.
Dataw Island is an SSECN CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, and we are proud to number a facility of this caliber among our active supporters.
Things have changed at Dataw. The maarina keeps getting better and Ken and Carol Treadway are working to make it even better. The restaurant has closed but is due to re-open very soon. According to Ken, it should be a big step up. Call to check the status.
Plenty of help available if needed when arriving or departing. Fuel costs are generally much cheaper than other marinas in the area.
I have stayed several times totaly over two months. I have also taken advantage of their yard.
Capt Dave
Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Dataw Island Marina
I just read the notice below on the AGLCA (American Great Loop Cruisers’ Assocation) mailing list, and called Mandy Griffin (co-owner) of the Downtown Marina of Beaufort, without delay. Mandy was very surprised to hear about the upcoming change in the Lady’s Island Bridge’s opening schedule, and allowed as to how they had heard nothing about this upcoming alterating until my phone call.
Captain Mandy further informed me that the “construction” referred to below on the McTeer – High Bridge (St. M. 539) involves converting this span to four lanes of highway traffic. Sounds like this project may take some time to complete.
The USCG notice copied below does look very official, so I think it reasonably safe to say that beginning 1/10/10, and for some time to come, the Ladys Island swing bridge will be on hourly openings. By the way, the sort-of official name for this bridge is “Woods Hole” but EVERYONE calls it the “Ladys Island Swing Bridge.”
At the request of the Lady’s Island Business Association, the Woods Memorial Swing Bridge in Beaufort, SC will go onto a once per hour opening schedule beginning 1/10/10 per the attached Coast Guard Notice. This temporary schedule will likely be in effect until construction on the McTeer High Bridge is complete.
Chuck Gorgen
ODYSSEE
The temporary change in regulation you requested is approved and will appear in the Local Notice to Mariners effective January 11th 2010. The temporary regulation will read:
Due to ongoing construction of the new McTeer Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 539.0, Port Royal, South Carolina; Beaufort County has requested that the federal regulation on the Woods Memorial (Lady’s Island) bridge be changed to: The draw need only open at the top of the hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with the exception of between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. when the bridge need not open. This will be in effect Monday through Friday except for federal holidays. Tugs with tows, vessels in distress and public vessels of the United States shall be passed at any time.
We will also issue a Temporary Federal Regulation that will say the same that will be in effect, one year from the time it’s published. Please feel free to call this office if you have any additional questions.
Respectfully,
Gene Stratton
Bridge Management Specialist
Seventh Coast Guard District
Miami, FL
305-415-6740
The new schedule for the opening schedule for the Woods Memorial Bridge from Beaufort to Lady’s Island, SC was confirmed in the local Beaufort Gazette this morning. The announcement stated: “The Woods Bridge will open at the top of the hour between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, except between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The bridge will open at any time for tugs with tows, vessels in distress and pubkic vessels of the United States.
On weekends and federal holidays, the bridge will swing open upon request”
This schedule starts on Monday, January 11, 2010 and will likely last for a year or more while the McTeer Bridge is under construction. Vertical clearance under this bridge is 30′ at high tide and we have an average tide swing of over 7′, so this schedule should have little affect on most of our members doing the Loop.
Chuck Gorgen
ODYSSEE
Dataw Island Marina has always been a good stop on the southern South Carolina AICW. With the recent addition of an on-site restaurant and a ship’s store, what was really good, is now superb. And, these good people are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Dataw Island [Marina], off Parrots Creek, is the hospitable place we remember from a few years ago. Their red 4 is missing its red 4 — but the stick is there to guide you and gps showed it, too.
Captain Jane Tigar
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Dataw Island Marina
The entrance to Factory Creek comes up on the AICW’s southern shores, immediately east of the Lady’s Island Swing Bridge. Keeping to the good depths can be a little tricky for first timers at the creek’s northern mouth, but once on the interior reaches, you’ll find plenty of water, and enough swing room for most cruising sized craft.
We anchored between R14 & G15 along with 2 other boats on Monday 12/14/09, just across from the Snook Restaurant. Lots of water and had entertainment for the evening. Just follow the markers into Capri Pass…lots of water here. Will definitely come back.
Capt. RL & Karen
s/v Last Call
45′ Island Trader, ketch
The entrance to Factory Creek lies immediately north of the Ladys Island Swing Bridge in Beaufort, SC. This stream is also home to Ladys Island Marina. The anchorage is located upstream of this facility.
Be careful as you cruise from the AICW/Beaufort River into Factory Creek. Captain Emerson’s comments below and earlier reports here on the Cruisers’ Net indicate the channel is narrowing.
We got in on half tide without a problem but didn’t do quite so well leaving close to low tide. We draw 6′ and dragged a bit coming out, although it’s likely we were closer to G “1″ than we should have been. Once past this area, however, there’s plenty of depth. The anchorage area is strung out along a moderately narrow channel that curves around over 90 deg. along its length. The current in the creek is significant but manageable. The real challenge the creek’s width. On one side are docks (private or marina) and on the other side is marsh. With roughly 15′ depths, a short scope isn’t likely, but over-doing can be a problem, too. We saw some boats riding to a Bahamian mooring (to limit swinging in current) and some (ourselves included) riding to one anchor. The bottom held well enough to allow riding on chain and a CQR in breezy conditions; the hook was hard to break out when it came time to leave. The trip from Factory Creek to the “day dock” ramp area is long enough to make part of the trip on plane (but NOT in the No Wake areas!).
As mentioned, there are some derelict boats in the creek. We saw one, a motor boat, clearly on its way down. We called Ladys Island Marina to see if they knew about it. “Oh, that happens about twice a month. We worry if we don’t get called twice a month!”
Rick Emerson
Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For Factory Creek
On 9/1/09, as part of a “South Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:
39. Has anyone turned south from the ICW’s run west though Coosaw River, via Parrot Creek, and visited Dataw Island Marina since the new restaurant and ship’s store opened here. Could you please describe what you found?
Responses follow:
Dataw Island Marina. We visited this marina for the first time in April. They were extremely professional in all respects. It seems transient dockage is limited. Wi-fi works. The on site restaurant is OK–not great–limited menu and so-so service. But the setting of the marina is magnificent. The Admiral went for a walk and spotted several deer and other assorted wild life. (fortunately no snakes) It is a long trip back from the waterway but an easy one and well marked with plenty of depth.
Ken Stickrath
If you’ve been cruising the ICW for a while, a stop at the Dataw Marina is well worth the short trip from the ICW down Parrot Creek. Not only are all the marina amenities available to transient boaters, there are now opportunities to relax and enjoy all that Dataw Island also has to offer…..golfing on championship courses, tennis, outdoor pool, the fitness center with indoor pool, dining at the Dataw Island Club, and using the screened in gazebo next too the marina. The marina staff, and owners of the marina, ship’s store and Bobby Joe’s all work together to provide transient boaters, residents of Dataw, boat owners, and members of the Dataw Island Yacht Club a nautical atmosphere that is fun, casual, and entertaining. (Music on the outdoor patio many Friday nights.) Once you visit this well run marina, and take time to explore this beautiful, tranquil island you may just not want to leave.
Donna McKeown
We are now in Dataw Marina where we have been before. Ken and Carol Treadway are great people and do a fine job here. They have a restaurant open and a ships store which is a welcome addition. We have had work done in their yard on our last visit and plan to have the boat hauled to check for damage from our encounter with a rock north of North Myrtle Beach. We will continue south in January and plan to spend 4 months in Stuart, FL. We will report any local information as come accross it – and will continue our reports wehn we move south. Thanks for all you and your staff do. It makes the whole process a lot more fun and safer to boot.
All the best for a good Fall season and we hope your Chistmas Holiday will be the best ever.
David H. Jenkins
Temporarily not on board.
MV At Last
GB 46
Subject: Dataw Marina
Cruising News: Claiborne, We arrived here 9/10 and have one final tidbit of news before we go about our other life. Dataw Marina is a good place to stop for a day or a while. Ken and Carol as I have mentioned before are really great. They now have a restaurant (open 7 days) and ships store. The Country Club is open to transients for dining and a round of golf can be arranged. A dress code is enforced at the club so please check before going.
There is a pretty good tide run here so arrival at other than slack tides can be a little tricky but the dock hands (plural)are eager to communicate and assist. The tide issue will also be encountered at Port Royal and a little further south and at Skull Creek Marina on the north end of Hilton Head Island. Beaufort should have the same problem but possibly to some lesser extent.
If anything new or exciting comes along of interest, I will let you know.
All the best to you. We will be back at it in January.
Capt Dave GB46 AT Last
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Dataw Island Marina
"Early Morning at Snows Cut Bridge (North Carolina AICW, north of Southport, NC)"
by: Captain Sheila Dixon
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on Wimbee Creek, Southeast of Chisolm