Seaside Luxury at its bestWelcome to The City Marina The City Marina Wins Jack Nichol Award for Design See our feature on The Visitors Network Located on mile marker 469.5 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Charleston City Marina features 19,000 feet of linear dock space covering 40 acres of water.  The marina was named 2005 National Marina of the Year (Marina Dock Age Magazine), and offers state-of-the-art amenities and facilities to promise an enjoyable stay.  The City Marina's MegaDock extends 1,530 feet and is the longest free standing floating fuel dock in the Southeast.  These features, and Historic Downtown Charleston location, make The City Marina one of the east coast's most popular marinas.
Dataw Island Marina, 100 Marina Drive, Dataw Island, SC 29920 Mile Marker 521, 843 838 8410A Marina That's As Luxurious As It Is Convenient Close to Myrtle Beach with clear sailing to the Atlantic. The Harbourgate Marina Village is your  gateway in North Myrtle Beach to all the excitement aVHF 16 & 68   Located on the Sampit River, Harborwalk Marina is only a boardwalk away from Georgetown's Historic District, great food, shopping, etc. A safe harbor from bad weather and located in calmLadys Island Marina - Beaufort, SCThe Downtown Marina Of Beaufort, SC, 1006 Bay Street Beaufort, SC 29902 (843) 524-4422 or Marker #239 on ICWBoaters are our business and our only business. We are located directly on the ICW, and offer Exceptional Lowcountry facilities and hospitality. The Beaufort/Port Royal area is a beautiful and histori
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club is unmatched for its Lowcountry charm and gracious hospitality. Windmill Harbour Marina, Hilton Head SCTransients Welcome - Under new ownership - Located at mile marker 354 in Myrtle Beach South CarolinaAt Bucksport cruising visitors will discover all new docks, new power pedestals, a newly reopened on-site restaurant, clean – climate controlled showers and laundromat, as well as a warm welcome for the cruising communityHarbour Town at Hilton Head, with its familiar red-and-white-striped lighthouse, is a fine resort marina with an enormous number of amenities.Isle of Palms Marina is located on the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway, northeast of Charleston at Mile 456.5 and south of ICW Marker 116.  50 41st AvenueOsprey MarinaSkull Creek Marina - Hilton Head Island SC
sc-south-carolina

More Shallow Depths South of McClellanville at AICW Statute Mile 431

Posted by Larry | Posted on 11-06-2010

As you approach the southside of McClellanville on the AICW, please heed earlier advice to favor the red side, especially in the stretch between markers 37 and 38. Please open the links below for more information and a Chart View of this area.

After anchoring in the South Santee River we headed for Isle of Palms yesterday morning ( 11/5/2010 )… we traversed the McClellanville stretch 2 hours after high tide (falling) all seemed well in the middle of the channel until we sited depths in the 5 foot range in 3 different places through that run … all in mid-channel … had our water tanks been full, we’d have grounded for sure.

Transited the area today about 2 hours before low tide. While we did see the occasional 8′ or 7.9 we saw nothing approaching 5′ while following the channel. The channel does indeed favor the red in general (that is, it is NOT in the center of the water) but it was quite possible to transit in relatively low water.
Captain Leigh

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the “Alert” Section of the AICW South of McClellanville, SC Where The Shallow Water Described Above Was Encountered

Click Here To View An Earlier Posting on this Area

Advice on Low Tide Passage through AICW/Fields Cut (Statute Mile 575)

Posted by Larry | Posted on 11-04-2010

Until it was dredged this past spring, the Fields Cut stretch of the AICW, between Wright River and Savannah River, was the source of numerous groundings. Despite the dredging these comments support the contention that there is sto;; shoaling on the southeast side of southern Fields Cut, beneath the magenta line, just as the canal takes its last swing before entering the Savannah River. The advice given by Capt. Jamie and by others has been heeded successfully this fall.

Came through Fields Cut just above the Savannah River yesterday on our way south at absolute low tide with a 5 ft draft. If you stay in the middle and then closer to NW side at the southern end of the cut, depths were no less than 11 feet all the way. Do not follow the magenta line on your electronic charts.
Captain Jamie McLane aboard Wanderer’s Rest

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Fields Cut

Report on Barefoot Landing Transient Dock, N. Myrtle Beach, AICW Statute Mile 353.5

Posted by Larry | Posted on 11-04-2010

Barefoot Landing Transient Dock adjoins the popular Barefoot Landing Outlet Center and overlooks the ICW’s southern banks, a short hop west of the Barefoot Landing Bridge.

Just a quick note to say good spot, many restaurants and shops, very helpful dockmaster BUT at present no showers. Restrooms yes, showers no.
Leigh on Raconteur.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Barefoot Landing Dock

Charleston City Marina Announces Plans to Add 40 New Slips (Statute Mile 469.5)

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 11-03-2010

Welcome to The City Marina The City Marina Wins Jack Nichol Award for Design See our feature on The Visitors Network Located on mile marker 469.5 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Charleston City Marina features 19,000 feet of linear dock space covering 40 acres of water.  The marina was named 2005 National Marina of the Year (Marina Dock Age Magazine), and offers state-of-the-art amenities and facilities to promise an enjoyable stay.  The City Marina's MegaDock extends 1,530 feet and is the longest free standing floating fuel dock in the Southeast.  These features, and Historic Downtown Charleston location, make The City Marina one of the east coast's most popular marinas.Another SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR announces expansion plans!

Charleston City Marina plans to add 40 more slips………. see news article………
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/oct/31/plan-adds-40-boat-slips/
C. Winston Fowler

Wow.. have cruisers noticed the mention that they are going to take away from the public anchorage to shift the channel over? The anchorage that’s there is already one of the more difficult anchorages to deal with along the coast. There are numerous derelicts and the reversing current requires a lot of spacing between properly anchored vessels. When the wind picks up the chop gets fairly significant and requires even more scope. In other words, there’s not much room right now in the anchorage, and they’re looking to reduce its size? Their cost of building new slips is less than dredging. I get that, but what happens in another 10 years when they lose even more room to shoaling. Put a marina management plan in place to deal with the shoaling rather than taking away from the only “real” anchorage in Charleston! I’d be curious who to contact to express an opinion.
Captain Chris aboard s/v Pelican

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Charleston City Marina

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

Captain Pascal Reports on AICW Depths Near McClellanville, SC (Statute Mile 430)

Posted by Larry | Posted on 11-02-2010

Captain Pascal pilots a vessel with a 6.25 ft draft and, naturally, keeps a sharp eye on his depth finder.

MM430, near McClellanville,
[Found] 9′MLW between G35 and G37, 8′ to 9′ MLW between G37 and R40
Pascal

Alarming Depths on Clark Creek (near St. M. 429.5)

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 11-01-2010

Just across the AICW from Jeremy Creek, which provides access to the charming village of McClellanville, SC, cruisers can (BUT DON’T), cruise through Five Fathom Creek and Clark Creek, on the way an uncertain (to say the least) inlet east of Sandy Point. I have NOT recommended this seaward cut since since the channel was shifted from Sandy Point to Clark Creek. Some years ago, I sounded only 3 to 4 feet in this poor excuse for a channel amidst braking waves. We retreated in all haste.
Now, below, no less an entity than the US Army Corps of Engineers has provided the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net with the latest depth survey of this errant passage. Just take a gander at the mid-channel depths in the creek’s turn to the south, southeast, southeast of marker #6. Anybody want to tangle with these shallows in a very confused seaway. I think not!
ALL cruisers should avoid the (so-called) Clark Creek inlet without exception!!!!

Suggestion to Avoid Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff (Statute Mile 515, South Carolina ICW)

Posted by Larry | Posted on 10-31-2010

Captain Shick has proposed an alternate route to the Ashepoo Cutoff into the Coosaw River to avoid the shoaling at that intersection. We invite your experience and opinions on this alternate route.
Please note that the SSECN does NOT advocate this alternate route, as we have yet had the opportunity to sound it for ourselves.

Why not take the Ashepoo River instead of the cutoff? Yes, it takes an additional 4-5 miles, but if it avoids all this…?
Captain Larry Shick

Yes, you can do the Alternate route at Marker 184 you are talking about, but the shoals do shift some, so just be careful. I can not see why you would want to avoid the Cutoff unless it is dead low tide and you are a deep draft boat or want to anchor. We went thru there this summer with no problem.
Name Not Provided

Further on this: We went through the Ashepoo River – St Helena Sound – Coosaw River route this morning. The one surprise was that Combahee Bank (32-28N/80-26W) is rather larger than charted in my 11/2009 S57 chart. We saw 8′ (at +3′ tide, so 5′ MLW) in an area charted for 15′-20′. So swing a little wide, and watch your depth sounder if you choose to go this way. Otherwise, no problems.
Captain Larry Shick

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff

Dawho River Shoaling (near Statute Mile 497)

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 10-28-2010

Captain Bob Poovey has thoughtfully provided us with reports on several AICW problem stretches along the South Carolina and Georgia portion of the Waterway. This particular segment deals with the AICW’s run through the eastern end of Dawho River. This stream connects the Waterway between the North Edisto and South Edisto Rivers.
While Captain Poovey found no shoaling along this stretch, others most certainly have, and we actually have two navigation alerts in place for this stretch of the AICW. We, as well as your fellow cruisers, would love to hear what soundings you observed while cruising through these waters. Please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.

Came through this area heading south on Saturday, Oct 23 at 10:30 AM (45 minutes prior to high tide), We had received a report from the Coast Guard earlier in the day concerning “heavy shoaling” at this location near marker Red “110″. Did not observe this and found 22 ft. adjacent to this marker. Further south depths varied from 13 ft. to 17 ft. ending at Green “117.” Lowest reading came adjacent to Green “111″ at 12.8 ft. This is no significant change from my last three trips through this area.
Captain Bob Poovey

I went north through there from Beaufort, SC to Charleston in mid September and back through there obout Oct.1. You will have more trouble at MM 497, between R110 and G111, as you enter Dahoo River. You want to stay north of the charted deep water, it isn’t there now. We had trouble finding any deep water going north. As we came south, at dead low water, there was a tug boat ahead of us, figured he knew his way through there, and watched him go aground in the charted deep water, found out he drew about 5′. WONDERLAND was following us, they draw 4′ 6″. We went through that area further to the right in about 8′ of water. Turned out the tug was from Norfolk, VA and had never been through this part of the ICW, he followed us the rest of the way!
Captain Chuck Gorgan aboard Odyssee

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the “Navigation Alert” Section of AICW/Dawho River

Click Here To Read An Earlier Posting about AICW/Dawho River

Click Here To Read Another Earlier Posting about AICW/Dawho River

Successful Passage of A Crowded Fields Cut, AICW Statute Mile

Posted by Larry | Posted on 10-28-2010

ALLEZ is a 50ft trawler with a draft of 4.5 ft and had no problems with the dredged Fields Cut which is the final leg of the SC AICW before crossing the Savannah River.

Larry,
Fields Cut whole length was a piece of cake. Then we met a tug and barge coming into the southern entrance of the cut and we had to move to the Green and near the end of the dock on the left. This Captain was cool as he had to get the barge on the range and was right on the Red side close but talked us over to his starboard side, as he was port to the Red side and we made it.
The other side was also a piece of cake once we crossed the Savannah River. Trick: do this passage from two hours before high tide.
Captains Bob and Helen aboard M/Y ALLEZ

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Fields Cut

An Easy Anchoring in Upper Wright River, AICW Statute Mile 572

Posted by Larry | Posted on 10-19-2010

No Problems are Good Problems. We’re always glad to hear of uneventful anchorings along the AICW. This anchorage lies just to the west of the Waterway at the northern entrance into Fields Cut.

We spent the night here recently and had no problems. You can see the lights of the Savannah River industries from here. A boat pulled in farther upstream from us and anchored. It did not show an anchor light. We did.
Captain Ron

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

Recommendation for Reserve Harbor Yacht Club, AICW Statute Mile 388

Posted by Larry | Posted on 10-14-2010

The entrance channel into Reserve Harbour Marina cuts into the Waccamaw River’s southerly banks, just southwest of flashing daybeacon #71.

Another well-sheltered Marina with helpful management is Reserve Harbor YC on the Waccamaw River, mm 388. It’s also close to Brookgreen Gardens, a magnificent place to visit. Call them at 843/235-8262 for a monthly rate.
Captain Phil

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Reserve Harbour Marina

Good Words for Shelter Cove Marina on Hilton Head, AICW Statute Mile 564

Posted by Larry | Posted on 10-14-2010

Shelter Cove Marina is a man-made cove a good run off the AICW, eastward up Broad Creek. The final entrance channel -on the south side of Broad Creek – is narrow but accommodates vessels well over 50 feet.

Look at Shelter Cove, mm 565, on Hilton Head Island. $933/mo (incl electricity), but a very protected harbor and people there who will look after your boat while you are away. Call Pam at 843/842-7001.
Captain Phil

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

Good Times at Dataw Island Marina (Statute Mile 521.5)

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 10-08-2010

Dataw Island Marina, 100 Marina Drive, Dataw Island, SC 29920 Mile Marker 521, 843 838 8410Captain 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

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Dataw Island Marina

Good Words for Reserve Harbor Marina and Brookgreen Gardens, South Myrtle Beach, SC

Posted by Larry | Posted on 10-01-2010

Reserve Harbor Marina lies on the southern bank of the Waccamaw River’s at AICW statute mile 338, southwest of flashing daybeacon #71.

WONDERLAND and ODYSSEE have had a wonderful visit at Brookgreen Gardens, AICW MM 387. We stayed at Reserve Harbor Marina at MM 388, R71. They are a Morningside Marina, so with their ICW Gold Card, transient dockage was $1.75 per ft. including power. You can obtain a Gold Card at check in and then use at other participating marinas on the AICW. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Also visited Huntington State Park across hwy 17. Reserve Harbor was a great place to access the Gardens from and the Gardens are well worth a couple of days.
Chuck and Claria Gorgen aboard ODYSSE

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

Praise for Harbourtown Yacht Basin (Hilton Head Island, near Statute Mile 565)

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 09-21-2010

Harbour Town at Hilton Head, with its familiar red-and-white-striped lighthouse, is a fine resort marina with an enormous number of amenities.Harbourtown is absolutely one of the most unique stops on the entire AICW, and they are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

Harbourtown Yacht Basin – Hilton Head, SC, ICW mm 565. This is one of the finest marinas on the East Coast. We love this stop because it is a beautiful marina with excellent personnel, services, restaurants, shopping, golf, etc.. It is very convenient to the Atlantic Ocean and is directly on the ICW. It is our favorite launching point for going outside to Fernandina Beach, Florida. Or, if necessary, staying on the ICW is also a very workable option from this location.
Sabra Morgan

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

Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Marina:

Happy Times at Charleston City Marina (Statute Mile 470)

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 09-21-2010

Welcome to The City Marina The City Marina Wins Jack Nichol Award for Design See our feature on The Visitors Network Located on mile marker 469.5 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Charleston City Marina features 19,000 feet of linear dock space covering 40 acres of water.  The marina was named 2005 National Marina of the Year (Marina Dock Age Magazine), and offers state-of-the-art amenities and facilities to promise an enjoyable stay.  The City Marina's MegaDock extends 1,530 feet and is the longest free standing floating fuel dock in the Southeast.  These features, and Historic Downtown Charleston location, make The City Marina one of the east coast's most popular marinas.If we are going to berth on the Charleston peninsula, we choose Charleston City Marina every time. All the many attractions of the “Holy City” are within a quick bus or cab ride. And, these good folks are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!!!!

Charleston City Marina – Charleston, SC, ICW mm 470. This is a terrific spot to stop and see the sights. The marina is extremely competent, has all the services you could want, provides shuttle service from the marina to downtown, and is very professionally managed. There is a great restaurant at the entrance to the marina, called The Variety Store. They serve excellent southern style food, breakfast/lunch/dinner, with an unexpected gourmet flair to the menu.
Sabra Morgan

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Charleston City Marina

Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Marina:

Good Words About Downtown Marina of Beaufort (Statute Mile 536.5)

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 09-21-2010

We join with Captain Morgan in recommending the Downtown Marina of Beaufort, and that’s not just because they are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! Indeed, this facility sits hard by the downtown Beaufort business and historic district. There is so much to see, do and eat in downtown Beaufort, we simply can’t get enough of this place!

Downtown Marina of Beaufort – Beaufort, SC, ICW mm 536. We stop here each year and are always glad that we did. The location is super, great proximity to a very quaint downtown area and plenty of restaurants and shopping. There are excellent boating services, capable mechanics and technicians, so it is a very good place to stop whether you need services or not.
Sabra Morgan

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Downtown Marina of Beaufort

Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Marina:

News From Barefoot Marina (Statute Mile 353.5)

Posted by Claiborne | Posted on 09-20-2010

I’m very glad to hear that Barefoot Marina is progressing so nicely under its new ownership. By the way, don’t confuse this facility with the Barefoot Landing Transient Dock, which is located on the opposite (ocean) side of the Waterway.

Barefoot Resort – North Myrtle Beach, SC, ICW mm 354. This is our home marina!!! The ownership of this marina has transferred this past year, and the marina is doing great! The facilities are top notch, well kept, and definitely what you expect from a resort location. They are full service, with showers, laundry, and fuel onsite, and unbelievably great restaurants and shopping very nearby. Our harbor master and dock master are people who have been with Barefoot Yacht Club from its opening, and they are truly committed to serving the boating public. We have been members from the beginning and are thrilled with the changes that have occurred these past few months. We highly recommend this marina as a stop on your trip southbound this winter!
Captain Ron and Sabra Morgan

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

Advice Sought on Anchoring in the May River at Bluffton, SC, 5 Miles off the AICW

Posted by Larry | Posted on 08-02-2010

If you’ve had experience anchoring at Bluffton, please give a heads-up to the captain of Sea Huddle at tracyhellman@bellsouth.net.

Where exactly did you anchor? My daughter will be attending USCB this fall and we are looking for a good anchorage in the area.
Captain Tracy aboard Sea Huddle

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s for a Recent Report on Bluffton Anchorage

Warning on Dewees Inlet north of Charleston, SC

Posted by Larry | Posted on 07-15-2010

Between the Winyah Bay Entrance south of the AICW from Georgetown, SC and the Charleston, SC harbor entrance, there is really no safe inlet and Dewees Inlet carries this emphatic warning from Claiborne: WARN ANYONE OFF FROM USING THIS INLET. THERE IS NO CHANNEL TO SPEAK OF AND TO SAY IT’S TREACHEROUS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. IT COULD BE DEADLY!!!

We are headed back off-shore to the south – Charleston, but would prefer Isle of Palms as it takes about two hours off the trip… if we can get in through Dewees Inlet. Charts show no marked channel to the outside but inside the water is charted deep (no channel markers), tides run 5+ feet and there are some tempting areas that may not be shoaled up. Does anyone know if this passage can be made safely with a ~6 ft. draw at HT? Thanks
Captain Ric

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Showing the Location of Dewees Inlet