I agree with Captain “Rapid Roy’s” comments below, in that if you have a well functioning GPS chartplotter aboard, entry into Cowen Creek is a pretty basic operation. My remarks in the South Carolina Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory are meant for those who do not have one of these electronic marvels. In this instance, there ARE several unmarked shoals which flank the entrance to Cowen Creek, here and there, which require careful DR navigation to avoid.

Hey Claiborne:
I really like your anchoring guides. However, I think you have some flaws in the entry you have for Cowen Creek. (Mile 544.5 on the Beaufort River, between Beaufort SC and Hilton Head). I’d like to suggest some corrections on this one.
1). I think it’s misleading to talk about “negotiating several unmarked shoals”. Yes, if you’re coming from the north, you must go far enough south to clear Cowen spit. If you watch your chartplotter, the entrance to Cowen Creek is wide and deep with NO UNMARKED SHOALS. Take a look at the wider area chart, and this should be self-evident. From the south, it’s a no-brainer. Coming from the north, you’re in good shape if you go far enough south to go around the south side of the old range light charted at 32 degrees 20.12N, 80 degrees 39.34W. Do that, and it’s a wide and deep water entrance with no issues.
2). Your little anchor symbol on the chart photo is way upstream in the creek. Yes, it gets narrower up there, but it’s all protected and nearly always flat water once you’re in the creek. Most cruising boats don’t go that far up to anchor. I’ve seen 3 or 4 cruising boats anchored in the area 32 degrees 21.64N, 80 degrees 38.89W. ( Middle of the creek, abeam of the “o” in “Cowen Cr” label on the chart.)
3). Optionally… there’s another anchorage area for someone who really wants a “Hurricane Hole”. It’s the straight stretch of the creek, t32 degrees 22.99N, 80degrees 38.54W. There is deep water all the way there so it allows even a sailboat to reach these areas, going past private docks on Distant Island and around a double set of bends. It is really protected. .
FYI… ( my credentials for sharing this…) I’m a full time live-aboard cruiser, and spend half of my time living in the Beaufort area and half time cruising on a 38′ sailboat. Cowen Creek is a nice, nearby wilderness anchorage, a few minutes away from the marina. It’s where I take “visitors” when they come to visit my wife and I, and they want to spend a night on the sailboat anchored out. (Smile!).
Rapid Roy
S/V “Gideon”

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Cowen Creek

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This nifty anchorage lies just off the AICW, north of Ramshorn Creek, and northwest of AICW marker #37. “Rapid Roy” is quite right about the strong currents present on these waters. Be SURE your anchorage is well set before heading below for a well-earned toddie!

I’ve anchored there around the bend, in the straight stretch of the river. A nice anchorage. You have grass on both sides so there’s no protection from high winds, but you’re well away from open water and boat traffic. Because of the local 8′ tides, be aware that you’ll have a strong current that reverses direction every 6 hours. My personal practice is to place one upstream and one downstream anchor, from the bow, so the boat swings from one to the other with the tide and current changes.
Rapid Roy
S/V “Gideon”

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For the Upper Cooper River Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Upper Cooper River Anchorage

Palmetto Bay Marina is the first facility you will encounter when entering Broad Creek from the AICW and Calibogue Sound. It will be spotted on the creek’s southern banks, just downstream of the high-rise, bypass bridge.

If you’re willing to go a few miles off the ICW, you can visit Palmetto Bay marina on Broad Creek. If you have a deep draft vessel, DO NOT try to cut across the sandbar at G29A. Local power boats do this, but it’s strictly “local knowledge”. The safe passage is go around Green 1 marking Calibogue shoal and enter the mouth of Broad Creek. This will lead you upstream to Palmetto Bay marina on the starboard side, just before you reach the bridge.
The attraction for traveling cruisers isn’t the marina ( although yes, it’s nice ) but that it’s co-located with a local shopping center. There are multiple restaurants and shops, making for a pleasant stop over and a night out.
Rapid Roy
S/V “Gideon”

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Palmetto Bay Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Palmetto Bay Marina

You almost have to think of Awendaw Creek as two different bodies of waters. First, there is the southwesterly branch, which is followed by the AICW for several miles, southwest of marker #50. Then, there is the seaward branch, south of marker #50, and bypassed by the Waterway. This latter stream can make for a good overnight anchorage, but, over the years, we have received reports from some cruisers who have found shallow depths here. Clearly, as you will see below, Captain Kent did not have that problem!

We spent an enjoyable night anchored in Awendaw Creek last night with two other sailboats. We entered Awendaw Creek at R48 on the north side of the creek to avoid clearly visible shoaling to the south side of the entrance. The tide was high when we approached and anchored and almost to peak when we left the next morning. Carina, our 34-foot sailboat, draws 4-1/2 feet and had no problem. Terrain is open marshland. Even the no-seeums weren’t horrible
We entered the creek on a high tide, avoiding the visible shoaled area on the south side of the entrance. We anchored in about 15 feet, surrounded by unprotected marshlands. It was a beautiful, quiet anchorage when we were there. The no-seeums hardly showed up. We left on a rising tide the next morning with no problems. Carina, a 34-foot sailboat, draws 4-1/2′. Read the tides, keep your eyes open when you enter and leave and enjoy the anchorage.
Captain Kent

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Awendaw Creek Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Awendaw Creek Anchorage

On 4/30/13 as part of a South Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 346 – who has cruised into Coquina Harbor, north of AICW marker #13? Please give us impressions of any of the three facilities in this harbor where you might have stayed, particularly Myrtle Beach Yacht Club. How about some dining recommendations within walking distance of this harbor?

Responses follow:

Both LKM and MBYC [Myrtle Beach Yacht Club] are very good stops. The Officers Club at MBYC has a very nice informal food. Good cruisers talk going on there all the time. Clarks, right next door is more upscale and is really good also. MBYC has fuel with pump out. Pools at both places. West Marine about 3 miles away. Food shopping about 2 miles. Very laid back nice stop over whichever you choose.
John Beaver

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Myrtle Beach Yacht Club

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Myrtle Beach Yacht Club

On 4/30/13 as part of a South Carolina Wish List we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 346 – who has cruised into Coquina Harbor, north of AICW marker #13? Please give us impressions of any of the three facilities in this harbor where you might have stayed, particularly Myrtle Beach Yacht Club. How about some dining recommendations within walking distance of this harbor?

Responses follow:

Both LKM [Lightkeepers Marina] and MBYC are very good stops. I favor Light Keepers mostly because I am a member there. But there are really good folks at both places. James Blanton is the dock master at LKM. He is always accommodating for transients and renters. Ask him about monthly rentals. We have some great pricing this summer. The Officers Club at MBYC has a very nice informal food. Good cruisers talk going on there all the time. Clarks, right next door is more upscale and is really good also. LKM also has pump out available. Pools at both places. West Marine about 3 miles away. Food shopping about 2 miles. Very laid back nice stop over whichever you choose.
John Beaver

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Lightkeepers Marina

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

As part of a 4/30/13 South Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 565 to 555 – reviews, impressions or experiences with any of the several marinas on Hilton Head Island would be very helpful to your fellow cruisers. In particular, if you visited Harbortown or Shelter Cove Marina, what depths did you find? Any dining recommendations on Hilton Head would also be very useful.

Responses follow:

Skull Creek marina is ok good restaurant in walking distance some weather problems in a east wind. Good fuel dock.
Jim Delligatti

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Skull Creek Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Skull Creek Marina

On 4/30/13 as part of a South Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 565 to 555 – reviews, impressions or experiences with any of the several marinas on Hilton Head Island would be very helpful to your fellow cruisers. In particular, if you visited Harbortown or Shelter Cove Marina, what depths did you find? Any dining recommendations on Hilton Head would also be very useful.

Responses follow:

Windmill Harbour is a real find, great protection in any weather, reasonable fuel, great food at the SCYC at marina.
Jim Delligatti

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Windmill Harbor Marina

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

We are glad to hear that Tolers Cove Marina is taking transients. In the past, this service seemed uncertain.
Watch out for entrance depths when approaching the back side of Tolers Cove, where you will find all their docks. Between dredging cycles, depths here can get thin.

I stay[ed] at a small marina, Toler’s Cove Marina, tucked in off the ICW just south of the Ben Sawyer Bridge. It is home to a number of sport fishing boats but they do have room for transients. One of the best things about this marina is there is no current to deal with. The only drawback is they have no restroom or showers at the present time. I found the location to be ideal. It is only about a mile from Sullivan’s Island where I walked to Poe’s Restaurant for one of their famous burgers. About 1.5 miles in the other direction are a couple of grocery stores, West Marine, and number of local restaurants. If you need transportation, the marina manager, Kevin, can arrange it for you. Great spot!
Randy Hondros

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Tolers Cove Marina

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May River, a beautiful stream to explore on a fair weather day, cuts west off the AICW’s trek through northern Calibogue Sound, west of Waterway marker #29. The river channel is fully marked all the way upstream to the historic community of Bluffton. There is just barely room to anchor abeam of the town waterfront.

Bluffton via the May River with a stop for seafood at the Bluffton Oyster Company should not be missed, a link to a fast vanishing past. I woke one morning to find myself in the middle of a fleet of decrepit outboard boats headed out oystering with their crews shouting back and forth to each other in Gullah.
I anchor off the beach just upstream of the BOC. Lots of current so it is a good place for two anchors. Be sure to ask at the BOC for directions to their restaurant.
Roger Long
S/V Strider

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bluffton, SC on May River

Inlet Creek makes off from the northern banks of the AICW, north (really east) of the Waterway’s intersection with Charleston Harbor, and is surrounded by marsh grass shores. We have always found the mainland branch of Inlet Creek to be an acceptable anchorage, and a good place to wait for daylight or fair weather to make good our entry into Charleston Harbor at Sullivans Island.

We got chased off the water on 4/25/2013 by fast approaching thunderstorms and severe weather warnings broadcast on the VHF. It was 15h30, just off celestial low at Ben Sawyer Bridge. We considered hiding at Toler’s Cove Marina, which has been a friendly stop for us in the past, but instead, we decided on Inlet Creek. The entrance is shoal to the south side, but center-line and north side depths carried 16′ – 17′ at approximately 1+ on tide. low water. We went in to about 200 yds from the shoal at the back of the creek, and dropped the hook in 13′, with a tidal range of 9′. We laid out 130′ of rode, and did not set out a second anchor. We had adequate swing room for our 40′ Sanctuary. We were later joined by a large sailing catamaran, greater LOA than ours, who also did not set out a second anchor. The holding was fine; no problems with the 35kt t’storm gusts we got. There were no small, fast fishing boat wakes, and the wind protection was “salt marsh average.” Sunset and sunrise were spectacular.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For the Inlet Creek Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Inlet Creek Anchorage

On 4/30/13 as part of a South Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 536.5 – who has anchored in the field northwest of AICW marker #239, hard by the Beaufort, SC waterfront? Were you able to dinghy ashore easily at the city dinghy dock? Did you find enough shelter in this field for a comfortable stay during fresh winds?

Responses follow:

I have anchored there several times in the last 20 years. Although the current runs very swift, the bottom is good holding, but you need to leave plenty of room to swing. Depths usually are around 12 to 15 ft.
The dingy dock is long and easy to get to. Tie up on the back side as the outside is for day boats. Then, you are right down town Beaufort. There are several good restaurants along Bay St. with entrances on the front or the back overlooking the water. Panninis , Luther’s , Plums are all good.
Philip W. Mullins (Phil)
s/v Katash

Tricky mooring field and you have to go to the parking space at the City Marina for going ashore ! GREAT town !!!!
Barbara and Ernie Roberts

Click Here To View the South Carolna Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Beaufort, SC Anchoring Field

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On 4/30/13 as part of a South Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 496.5 – anyone anchor on either Steamboat Creek, or Westbank Creek, south of the AICW’s entrance into the North Edistor, via Dawho River? Were you able to sight any of the nearby historic plantation houses from your anchorage? What depths did you discover?

Responses follow:

Anchored there [Steamboat Creek] 4 times in the last 2 years near the gazebo marking the landing. This is a private farm and I got run off by the caretaker while taking my dog for a walk.
Depths run 20 to 25 ft. near the dock. Last time I had to anchor near the eastern shore of the creek to try to get in the lee of the trees. Saw two bald eagles. The caretaker said there was a big nest nearby.
The creek runs some 3 miles long and there are several homes on up in it. There is a public dock/ ramp just south of the Steamboat gazebo and you can go ashore to walk your dogs. Good anchorage, plenty of water and swing room.
Philip W. Mullins (Phil)
s/v Katash

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Steamboat Creek Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Steamboat Creek Anchorage

On 4/30/13 as part of a South Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 457 – can someone who has stayed here recently give a report on Isle of Palms Marina, near AICW marker #117? Did you try the on-site restaurant? How did you find the bill of fare?

Responses follow:

I live at Wild Dunes and eat at Morgans Creek Grill at the Isle of Palms marina quite often. They do a very good job with fresh seafood. Happy hour is 4 to 7 week days as long as you sit at the bar, either on the first floor or upstairs. Appetizers are half price and beers, wine and cocktails are reduced price. The mussels (only available on the first floor) are to die for.
In season they have an oyster roast on Saturday afternoons in November, December. Usually have music on weekends. Good Spot.
Philip W. Mullins (Phil)
s/v Katash

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Palms Marina

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

On 4/30/13 as part of a South Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:

Statute Mile 565 to 555 – reviews, impressions or experiences with any of the several marinas on Hilton Head Island would be very helpful to your fellow cruisers. In particular, if you visited Harbour Town Yacht Basin or Shelter Cove Marina, what depths did you find? Any dining recommendations on Hilton Head would also be very useful.

Responses follow:

Last visited in April. Great dockmaster thoughtfully gave us a slip that would protect us from forecast high winds during the night. Easy in and out. Great shopping and food. Great people watching in beautiful surroundings.
Favorite stop.
John Wild

Harbour Town is a great stop lots to do, easy access to all needs, Only problem is at low tide there are some real depth problem.
Jim Delligatti

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Harbour Town Yacht Basin

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harbour Town Yacht Basin