Tom Point Creek cuts the western shores of North Edisto River, well south, southwest of flashing daybeacon #102
The most delightful creek is Tom Point Creek. Keep going up it for at least 2 miles and you’ll have great protection from trees, deep water and perfect natural silence. I was visited there by a large loggerhead turtle and several friendly dolphins.
Captain Arnold
High praise from Captain Arnold for one SC’s most popular stops. Don’t overlook a stop at the Downtown Beaufort Marina. Not only is this an excellent facility, but they are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR
Everybody loves Beaufort. There’s a free city dock all day but you must leave by midnight and maybe come back next morning if you wish. Good mooring in Factory Creek and a free dinghy dock within walking distance of two grocery stores, a boat parts store and a great hardware store. Blackstones Cafe in Beaufort offers the best breakfast, Southern Sweets the best ice cream and there are two great secondhand book stores to peruse.
Captain Arnold
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Beaufort, SC
Captain Arnold offers suggestions on tying up free of charge on Daufuskie. The AICW runs past this isle, south of Calibogue Sound and Hilton Head Island, as the Waterway scampers south towards the Savannah River.
Several drop-by free docks on Daufuskie Island. First, at Mama’s Marshside restaurant – buy a meal there and they’ll let you stay overnight at the dock FOC. Second, just a little further north is a small failed marina where you can dock as long as you wish and nobody will question it. Walk about a half mile and you’ll come to Freeport Landing (Freeport Marina) with a great restaurant and ships store – very nice people rushing around on golf carts.
Captain Arnold
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Daufuskie Island
Good words about a GREAT marina, and Harbourgate is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
A great marina just north of the swing Bridge has lowered their advertised price from $1.75 to $1.50. Walk to four different restaurants. Provisioning can be arranged too. Pool, hot tub.
From the AGLCA Mail List
This cruise of the upper Waccamaw (all the way to the Conway, SC waterfront) is OFF the AICW, and the channel, while passable, is not as reliable as the Waterway. There is one fixed bridge to worry with, but unfortunately, we have never found a published vertical clearance for this span. I have estimated it to be about 35 feet, but please understand, that is just an estimate. At Conway, cruisers will discover a city marina in a delightful setting, surrounded by a beautiful park, and with some transient dockage available. There are several restaurants within walking distance.
I would like to go up river from the Waccamaw/ICW to Conway. I note that the charts indicate a good amount of water depth. I have a Carver 39MY which is 40’7″ long and about 18ft high. Do you know if it would be practical to take this vessel as far as Conway and overnight there? Any help or advice would be welcome.
Captain David Kelly
Larry,
I have never been all the way to Conway on the Waccamaw but I have a friend who did it years ago in a 27 footer and said it was fine. Another friend tells me that there are some fairly large boats docked in a marina near downtown but he is not sure if there are any bridge or draft restrictions for a boat like the 39MY. I have always wanted to make that run but it has never worked out.
Captain Bobby Gregory, Intracoastal Yacht Sales
David,
According to the dockmaster at the Conway City Marina, you will have no difficulty with your 18ft. clearance.
Larry
The anchorage reviewed by Captain Bill below lies off Little River Inlet, NOT off the AICW. You must actually run a goodly portion of the inlet passage, from the AICW out towards the briny blue, before turning off the marked track, and ducking behind Bird Island. Click the link below to see a Chart View image of this anchor down spot.
We have not hitherto listed this anchorage in our “South Carolina Anchorage Directory” as we have always suspected changeable depths here. However, Captain Bill’s observations below synch with the soundings I took here several years ago, so maybe the bottom strata is more stable than I thought. So, look for an entry in our Anchorage Directory soon for these waters.
Close by ‘“ about 2 miles ‘“ there is an excellent anchorage behind marker #8 in the Little River [Inlet] channel, just behind Bird Island. This is a well known secret to all the locals. A creek comes off the main channel just before you get to the jetties and runs NE. It is amazingly deep and affords a wide swing scope.
Open the hatches, catch the breeze and listen to the breakers on the other side of Bird Island all night!
Captain Bill Norris
aboard Nobody You Know
Within the protected shores of Coquina Harbor, which cuts into the northern banks of the Waterway opposite unlighted daybeacon #13, Lightkeepers Marina is a popular stop for cruisers.
Great place to stay’“very friendly staff, easy docking and spotless showers!
S/V Moondance
Georgetown Landing Marina has a long, welcoming transient/fuel dock that makes easy handling of the occasional opposing wind and river currents that can occur. Because of the expanse of open dockage, Georgetown Landing makes a great rendezvous spot for groups flotillas.
Great place to stay. The dock staff were very friendly and helpful (including Bella the yellow lab pup!) The bathrooms were very clean. It was an easy walk into town. We were inside the long face dock and had no problems in strong winds from both the south and north. Being at a sportfishing marina wasn’t a bad deal’“someone didn’t want their king mackerel catch and gave it to us!!
S/V Moondance
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For
I honest don’t think any pleasure craft facility has garnered more praise here on the Cruisers’ Net than Osprey Marina. This wonderful marina is accessed by way of a long canal, which cuts off from the AICW, a short hop south of the decrepit Socastee swing bridge. And, of course, Osprey is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
The posting below comes from Captain Ted Jones, former editor and co-owner of the late, great “Coastal Cruising” magazine. Captain Ted has been kind enough to exclusively share his cruising log with the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net during his still underway sojourn to points south!
1230: We departed Georgetown alongside a pretty green Canadian sloop with which we kept pace all day.
1700: We were looking for a spot to anchor as we were approaching the narrow canal through Myrtle Beach where there would be no place to anchor. We checked one out behind an island, but were skeptical of continuing to be fly bait. We pulled alongside the Canadian who told us they were headed for Osprey Marina where the rate was a buck a foot. We said we would tag along and see if they had room for two.
1730: Osprey Marina turned out to be a pleasant surprise and the find of the Century. One enters a narrow cut on the east side of the ICW. After a hundred yards or so, the cut opens into a large basin which has half-a-dozen docks, each with 30 or 40 slips. They put us on the fuel dock so we could pump the holding tank and while there we topped off with fuel.
The dockmaster walked me to our slip so I could see if it was okay and how to get into it, then we motored around to B-dock, slip 6 and tied up for the night. Osprey Marina is modern, clean, and has all the amenities. Nearby is an Italian restaurant which will pick you up or deliver your meal. We called and had an excellent pizza which was delivered earlier than expected. We ate half of it and have the other half for later. Osprey Marina gets our vote as one of the best deals around, but don’t blink as you pass the canal.
(All day we had seen signs with the word Osprey, but the rest of the lettering is too small to read. We didn’t know what they represented, perhaps real estate sales.)
0915: We bid farewell to Osprey Marina vowing to return. It’s biggest attraction to us, aside from being a great spot, is that it lets us avoid Barefoot Landing which we don’t care for partly because it has the worst, overpriced ice cream either of us has ever tasted. What a contrast: I forgot to mention in yesterday’s log that all overnight boats are given a care package which contains, among other things, a whole package of Helluvagood Cheese and two kinds of crackers to go with it, a couple of mints, a magazine, two drink holders, and a whistle with float plus information about the marina, the marina grill menu (breakfast and lunch), etc.
Ted Jones
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Osprey Marina
When I read the message below from Captains Todd and Brenda Lanning, it occurred to me that I misspoke last week when, in an SSECN Alert, I stated that the only AICW problem stretch left in the two Carolinas was found at the intersection of northern Alligator River/AICW and Albemarle Sound (in North Carolina). As Todd and Brenda learned, depths along the southern portion of Fields Cut (just a short hop north of this passage’s intersection with the Savannah River), can still run much too shallow at low tide.
So, you may be asking, why hasn’t this section of the Waterway enjoyed the “stimulus” dredging that has so enhanced the AICW along the rest of it’s run through both Carolinas. I asked the Army Corps of Engineers that very question not too long ago, and was told that their survey missed the shoaling on southern Fields Cut.
Dredging was performed, however, on northern Fields Cut, where this passage leaves the Wright River. If you follow the links below, you will see we have separate “AICW Problems” listings for both these waters.
So, do take care when cruising from Savannah River through the southern 1/3 of Fields Cut, and time your passage for mid to high tide if possible. Follow the links below for more specific advice.
Greetings again,
We just transited Fields Cut at low tide and registered water less than 4.5 feet. Fields Cut is located just after you cross the Savannah River going north. The shallow area is between the range marker at the south end of the cut and the cement pilings on the east shore, roughly 100 yards of shallow water.
Be careful out there!
Todd & Brenda Lanning
Life’s2Short
1985 40′ Oceania Trawler
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Southern Fields Cut
Over the weekend of 5/8/10 to 5/9/10, there was a discussion on the GL (“Great Loop) mail list about the marina facility at Barefoot Landing Shopping Center in Myrtle Beach. Most of the messages below center around the status of the docks behind the shopping center (which is still very much operational, but no longer free), but it would be easy to understand how confusion could reign here in regards to the two similarly named facilities facing each other on opposite sides of the Pine Island Cut/AICW canal.
The ocean side facility, which is the subject of this string, now goes under the name, “Barefoot Landing Transient Dock” (see link below). The mainland facility WAS “Barefoot Landing Resort Marina,” but it has gone belly up.
I visited the former Barefoot Resort marina on 5/1/10. I found good news and bad news. On the plus side, the marina was still operating and accepting transients. As a matter of fact, while I was there, the spring AGLCA rendezvous was in full swing at this marina.
However, I was also told that a “glitch” had developed in transferring the marina to new ownership, and the dockmaster was not sure when he might be able to begin offering fuel again, or when the new owners might take over.
While the docks appeared to me to still be in acceptable condition, the formerly lush shoreside landscaping was beginning to look pretty ratty, and the adjacent restaurant was long closed.
If anyone comes across any fresh information about “Barefoot Resort Marina,” PLEASE share this data with the cruising community by clicking the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below!
Good Afternoon,
Can anyone tell me if the Barefoot Landing free dock, listed in Skipper Bob’s 2005 version, is still available for cruisers? I did not see it listed in the “Friendly Mooring Places” list that was put together earlier this year by Jim on “Twins”.
Thanks in advance!
Todd & Brenda Lanning
Life’s2Short
1985 40′ Oceania Trawler
Ahoy Todd and Brenda:
The “Barefoot Landing Free Dock” is now the “Barefoot Landing Dock.” No longer free, but upgraded a bit with power and water.
Susie and I used to dock there twice a year going up and down the AICW, enjoy the “free” dock and spend usually a couple of hundred $s dining, buying tourist trinkets, etc. Now we continue on and anchor north or south of Myrtle Beach.
Wade Ehlen
New Bern NC
Hello Captains Todd and Brenda:
Yes, the dock at Barefoot Landing Shopping Center does still take transients. The dockmaster here has asked us to now call this facility the “Barefoot Landing Transient Dock.” You can get full details at:
/8-barefoot-landing-dock
Let me know if that works for you. Good luck and good cruising!
Claiborne S. Young
Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net
CruisingWriter@triad.rr.com
http://www.CruisersNet.net
According to the above reference, it’s alive but it is still not free again. Instead there is a $1.50/ft per night charge or, per cruiser’s comment, $5 charge to stop during the day for a few hours.
A link was provided to the Barefoot Dock, www.bflmarina.net. But it was broke for me. Perhaps someone else will have better luck.
Jim
(Oh if you want a free dock with easy access to town in the MB neighborhood, take the Waccamaw upriver to Conway, SC. It is a beautiful cruise.)
Subject: Barefoot Landing, Myrtle Beach mile 354
Cruising News: Hey everyone, we just wanted to post about a Great new place that just opened here, called the Flying Fish, public Market and Grill, We think other cruisers stopping at barefoot will appreciate it. They have and awesome seafood market and limited veggies and fruit, with great prices, not to mention some of the Best Happy Hour specials we have seen, Not only do they have house wines and house liquors for 3 bucks each during there 4-8 pm happy hour,(also beer 2.50) they also have lots of great appetizers for 5 bucks each, and they are big portions, for example 10 huge jumbo peel and eat shrimp steamed in nut brown ale with market seasoning, 12 oysters served raw with lemon and cocktail, Southern fried chicken tenders served with choice of dipping sauce,(huge order) , Sweet Potato fries topped with crumbles of blue cheese and blue cheese sauce diced tomatoes and red onions, Plus many more to choose from, Buffalo Shrimp, Fried Blue Crab Fingers, Crispy Calamari, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, California rolls, Spicy Tuna, all of these during Happy Hour in the Bar seating area for 5 bucks, and Yes they have some tables in that area as well. We Loved it, all great food, only problem, we couldn\’t eat dinner and had leftovers from the appetizers. Please stop by and enjoy, we felt it was worth writing up for others headed North to enjoy! We sure did!
Captain Clay aboard Gemini
Hey’¦.The Barefoot Landing Dock is still a nice place to lay over for a day or two even though it is not free anymore. Nice prople are running it. Try helping them out a little. Everything in life cannot be FREE!!!
Captain Raymond W. Smith aboard `Fire Dog’
Very nice comments about one of the growing number of premier marinas in the Charleston area, and this one is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! Charleston Harbor Marina is actually located on the Mount Pleasant side of Charleston Harbor, within a stone’s throw of the Patriots Point park exhibitions and facilities.
Stopped by to refuel and I was impressed with the facility. The `attitude’ of the entire marina seemed better than last fall and prior to that with the marina crew seeming to be happy to help with anything needed. I’m not sure what the change was, but the entire facility was more `user friendly’ and I’ll definitely stop by again. Food was good and the `Reel Bar’ is a blast. Customer service has definitely become `first class’.
Captain T Jones
Here’s a little story from Ted Jones, former editor and co-owner of the late, great and much lamented “Coastal Cruising” magazine. This tale signifies to me why we all cruise. Who else could have such an experience but cruisers, and Ted has written it so very well!
As dusk settled over the ocean on April 29th a land bird suddenly flew into the companionway and landed on Malla’s head as she was working in the galley. Reflexively, she brushed it away, and it flew out over the ocean again only to return, determined to find a suitable perch before nightfall. Malla identified it as a swallow. It had most likely been blown out to sea by the strong westerly winds of the previous several days. Swallows, she said require a perch before dark where they can safely spend the night. Ted was not surprised, having been visited by land birds on several occasions. They rarely survive the experience, and there seems to be no way one can help. We have tried, but the end always seems to be the same despite good intentions. Our little swallow eventually found a roosting place on the extension cord used to connect Ted’s computer equipment when we are dockside.
Both of us were mindful of our passenger throughout the tumultuous events of the wee hours of Friday morning and were concerned for its safety. Amazingly, it put up with the contents of the ice box counter crashing to the cabin sole at one point and the noise and vibrations of the engine sometime later. It clung to it’s tenuous perch despite the constant motion.
An hour or so after sunrise, with a `thank you’ chirp, our little bird suddenly took flight, out of the companionway, and with a quick orientation circle disappeared toward land, several miles away. We hope it made it to shore. We will never know, although we told it to say hello to Dorcas when it gets to Vermont.
Cheers,
Ted
Ted’s story about the bird that took refuge reminded me of a similar incident around 1982. While wrapping up a dive trip on the wreck of the City of Richmond some 30 miles or so off the Georgetown entrance a sandpiper landed on the instrument panel’¦and refused to budge. We knew right away the poor critter must have lost it’s bearings and flew out to sea. About the time we approached the Pee Dee entrance it got reoriented and flew away to the beach. Sigh.
Bill Norris
(Nobody You Know) Hatteras 40DCMY
Having visited this boatyard, formerly Charleston Boat Yard, on several recent occasions, I can attest to the excellent work being done by the new owner, John Brophy. Like most owner-operated concerns, Pierside Boatworks is having great success. 843-554-7775 and john@piersideboatworks.com
If you ever need a boatyard for maintenance: bottom paint, prop work, through hull fitting work etc. or just to have your boat on the hard for a period of time, please think Pierside Boatworks with John Brophy. He is an upfront owner who will give quotes and timing and then stick by them. John operates the yard to accommodate owners who want to do work themselves or to have his professional team look after your needs. The yard is secure and the staff is welcoming and professional in their areas of expertise. We have done business with John for the past few years and have not been disappointed. Please check them out.
Captains Tim and Marion Barnett (WHATEVER)
We spent almost a month on the hard here. While they raised our waterline by 3 inches and put a new bootstripe on, we spent 2 weeks compounding, polishing and waxing our sailboat from stem to stern and worked on various other projects. They took care of us every step of the way, and John Brophy deserves a lot of credit for the work he’s done to the place. They were incredibly welcoming, even allowing us to use their conference room to homeschool our kids while we were working on our boat. I can’t recommend them enough.
Captain Chris, s/v Pelican
Below, Captain Jane does her usual sterling job on one of our very favorite facilities in northeastern South Carolina. And, of course, Osprey Marina is one of our most loyal SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS!
We finally did it. We chugged far enough North on a long delivery skipper paced day to get us past the usual suspects of Waccawachee and
Bucksport to find out what that invisible Osprey Marina really is, how far it is down that narrow looking channel off Day Marker 26A and why it wins such praise. Here are our answers.
First, it’s a short ride down a deep water channel into a charming quiet cove a world away from speeding “go fast”‘ day boats, even though it appears to be home to many.
Second, while it only has room for five or six transient boats, and dockage is wedgie and modified-wedgie style, the eager welcoming staff
make it low stress and pleasant.
Third, it must be winning all those kudos because everyone is so helpful and pleasant and because it’s got the nicest land heads and
showers we’ve seen on the waterway, and we’ve seen a lot. Even the laundry room is fresh and spotless and includes an ironing board and
iron.
There’s a grill on site serving breakfast and lunch Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Plus there’s a highly touted Italian restaurant that will not only deliver but if you prefer will pick up and deliver you and give you time to shop at a supermarket next door.
Finally, Osprey Marina scores big with the best goody bag — cookies, cheese and crackers and a very cool key chain with warbling whistle
for hailing your first mate back into the cockpit when you are at the helm, just because you feel like it.
Jane Tigar
We would like to add our Vote for the Osprey Marina at mile 373 It was so nice to feel the warm welcome, to such a nice place, not only was the Marina one of the nicest we have stopped at, they made You feel so welcome and said Thanks for staying with us, with goodie bad and all. Great place, Great people, Great price!
Clay and Mary on sailing vessel Gemini
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Osprey Marina
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
I confirmed with Harbourgate Marina via phone that, unfortunately, there is no longer the 5% discount for BoatUS members. The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net’s “South Carolina Fuel Prices” directory has been updated accordingly. Please do note that Harbourgate is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
When we called to confirm fuel price listed on SSECN, we were told there is no BoatUS discount.
Jean Thomason
Calabash Creek Anchorage, just south of the North Carolina state line, remains a popular stopping point as verified by Capt. Jean. However, exercise caution at the creek’s entrance from the AICW, and be aware of two markers in the immediate vicinity, both numbered #2.
Anchored here 4-19-10 with nine other boats ‘“ 6 sail and 4 power altogether. It’s pretty tight with that many boats and I doubt the shrimpers will be please with those that are impinging on the channel. Not a lot of anchorage choices in this area however.
Jean Thomason
Lightkeepers Marina is one of the three pleasure craft facilities located in Coquina Harbor, which borders the Waterway’s western flank in Little River, SC. Another is Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, which, in spite of its name, is a marina, and they are also a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR as well!!!
Note that the reply originally below appeared on the AGLCA (American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association). and was in answer to a question.
If you can handle SC then Lightkeepers Marina in Coquina Harbor, Little River, SC is a nice safe marina with great rates. Phone and ask for James the Dockmaster, tell him what you want to do. It’s about 60 miles south of Wilmington, NC by road. It is in Horry County which is a county where you can leave your boat for up to 182 days per calendar yr without paying County or SC State Taxes. We have left our boat there several times for extended periods when we have gone home to Australia and have been very happy. We are 47ft with a 5ft draft and 18ft beam.
Regards from Rod and Pauline
Nova Scotia 47 Pilothouse Trawler
Here’s a quick, but informative comment about Harbour Gate Marina in Little River, SC. Not only does captain Susie run a great operation, but these good people are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! Note that we provide a link to Harbour Gate’s webcam below!
In Myrtle Beach, Harbourgate at the Swing Bridge is very safe, has a camera so you can see your boat on the internet, live.
Just Relax
Click Here To View Harbour Gate Marina’s live web/habor cam
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