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Please Note That Postings Below From Fellow Cruisers Are Listed in Chronological Order, Based on Publication Date
Osprey Marina lies at the southern foot of AICW section known officially as the Pine Island Cut (a. k. a. “the Rock Pile”), just as the Waterway sweeps south into beautiful Waccamaw River. Osprey Marina is one of the finest marinas you will ever discover, and these good folks are A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
We visited Osprey earlier this week (17th May 2012) on our 50′ Beneteau, with a 6′ draft in an attempt to avoid some nasty storms. What a great place, a real hidden gem! Great surrounding, helpful staff, including driving us into town to refill our propane tank. The marina is clean and well cared for. We will be back.
Andrew
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Osprey Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Osprey Marina
Good words about newly renovated (and under new ownership) Bucksport Marina and their on-site restaurant, continue to be recorded here on the Cruisers’ Net! Well, of course, these good people are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS NET SPONSOR! PLEASE patronize them and all our other sponsors whenever possible!!!!
We stayed at Bucksport on 4-5 and had a great time. Ralph sang all night and really did a great job entertaining us. We were the only boaters eating that night along with a couple other locals. It was the best time Sarah and I had had in a very long time. Food was great and very reasonable. Don’t pass this up on your way north or south. Its well worth an extra day devoted to the grand strand. Very pup friendly. Can’t say enough good things. Ralph and his wife treated us like family. See you soon.
John/Sarah Beaver. Forget About It 3.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Bucksport Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bucksport Marina
Good words about newly renovated (and under new ownership) Bucksport Marina and their on-site restaurant, continue to be recorded here on the Cruisers’ Net! Well, of course, these good people are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS NET SPONSOR! PLEASE patronize them and all our other sponsors whenever possible!!!!
Ahoy friends!
We are currently enjoying the warm hospitality @ Bucksport! Owner, Ralph said he will start sausage tomorrow! Best darn burgers we have had in a long time! Real meat and hand packed, yummy!
Live music Thursday, Friday & Saturday’s. Stop in and meet this fabulous group of people!
Be sure to say hello to Ralph!
Jay & Susan
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Bucksport Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bucksport Marina
Departing the Waterway at statute mile 375, four miles south of the Socastee Bridge, this “off-road” venture on the lovely, upper section of the Waccamaw River, abandoned by the AICW, has pleased many cruisers and has proven to be a worthy side trip. Please be sure to read the comments found in the links below.
One fixed bridge does lie between the AICW and Conway. We have never found a published vertical clearance for this span, but it has always appeared to us to be 30 feet or so. Clearly, the wonderful side cruise to Conway is off limits for most sailcraft.
We took the 15 mile trip off the ICW up the river to Conway Marina April 11, 2012. It was worth the time as the Waccamaw River along this stretch has a Tom Sawyer feel to it. The [Conway City] marina transient dock is basic. No water but electric service. Conway is a great town to ride a bike in with the well marked bike trail and river front park. Certainly worth a visit to Conway for anyone looking for a different stop for doing some sightseeing. Friendly people!
Doyle and LaVisa
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Conway City Marina
Island Anchorage lies off the rear of the loop stream, north and northeast of flashing daybeacon #29, 3.5 nautical miles south of Socastee Bridge.
We turned in northbound off marker 27A and rounded #1. We first motored north to investigate the entire reach of the oxbow but ran aground in what chart and plotter showed as deep water just as the channel turns back toward the ICW on the north side of the oxbow.
We reversed direction and anchored in the Oxbow near the 8 foot depth shown on the chart. We dropped our Bruce in 10 ft of water at near-low tide and the anchor dug in quickly. We first motored a circle to assure swing room and found the charted depths to be accurate.
Thinking back on our last time anchoring here, I regretted not rigging a trip line as I dropped our anchor because we grabbed some bottom debris on our last visit making anchor recovery difficult. On this visit, we luckily recovered our anchor easily the next morning.
It’s a beautiful anchorage and the bird life here is terrific. The only caveat, until sunset, is the waterborne cowboys who zip though the area like mentally challenged houseflies.
Max Miller
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Island Anchorage
Wow, my hat’s off to Captain Colam. I’m just glad it’s his hands doing the rowing and not mine.
So, if are cruising on the NC – SC portion of the AICW, PLEASE slow down, and give Lewis a friendly wave as you pass. He needs all the support he can get from the cruising community!
Claiborne,
Lewis Colam just left Georgetown this a.m. He left the boat here at Harborwalk Marina and was hosted by a local couple here in town. He was headed up the Waccamaw today. If you remember, he is the guy rowing from Miami to New York. If you send out any alerts, you might include one for vessels to watch out for him. He planned on making it to Wilmington by the weekend.
Chris Carroll,
Operations Manager
Harborwalk Marina
Lewis is in Southport, NC with plans to spend the night [4/16/12] near the Carolina Beach Area this evening.
Theo McCormick
The legal season for shad gill net fishing runs from Nov 1 to Mar 1. Gill fishing is only allowed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Fortunately for we cruisers, there’s only a few days remaining in the season. In the meantime, watch for these local fishermen and, as usual, give their small boats a very slow, no wake pass! As a kid, I helped my Dad and Grandad tend their gill nets in the Ocmulgee River in GA and we often fished well after dark.
Helping a friend bring his new boat from Little River, SC to Charleston, SC, we were cruising the ICW on the Waccamaw River when we cam upon a man in a jon boat waving an orange PFD at us and motioning us away from a line of what we thought were crab trap markers. We went on around and a few miles later had much the same experience only the guy waved and pulled up to us and told us he had a net strung between two floats.
We spent the night at a marina in Georgetown, SC and asked the staff about this. Apparently, there is a certain time of year when people are allowed to place nets across the river to catch shad. They cannot block more than one half the river and must be on duty the entire time to warn boaters away from their nets. Just FYI.
In 2010 – 2011 Bucksport Marina, now a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, closed for an extended period of time for renovation and expansion. Now reopened under new, cruiser friendly ownership and management, this facility, along with its also newly reopened, on-site restaurant, makes for a great stop between Myrtle Beach and Georgetown. Bucksport Marina is set in a lovely location on what many consider to be the most beautiful portion of the entire AICW, the Waccamaw River.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS FOR THE KIND COMMENTS AND INVITE ALL WHO PASSED US BY ON THE WAY SOUTH THIS PAST FALL,TO STOP ON YOUR WAY BACK AND TRY US OUT, I PROMISE YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS WITH AN RV WE HAVE OPENED OUR BRAND NEW CAMPGROUND WITH FULL HOOK UPS AND DRIVE THROUGH SITES. WE WILL KEEP OUR EYES ON THE HORIZON FOR NEW FRIENDS TO COME BY, SMOOTH SAILING TO ALL.
THANKS,
RALPH SIMMS,
BUCKSPORT MARINA
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bucksport Plantation Marina
This NEW Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net sponsor is really racking up the “kudos” during the early months of 2012! Well, of course, they are now an SSECN SPONSOR!
Cruising News:
Glad to see you have these folks as a new sponsor . They are very welcoming and should definitely be a stop.
Geoff Groat
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Bucksport Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bucksport Marina
In 2010 – 2011 Bucksport Marina, now a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, closed for an extended period of time for renovation and expansion. Now reopened under new, cruiser friendly ownership and management, this facility, along with its also newly reopened, on-site restaurant, makes for a great stop between Myrtle Beach and Georgetown. Bucksport Marina is set in a lovely location on what many consider to be the most beautiful portion of the entire AICW, the Waccamaw River.
1/21/12
We pulled into Bucksport Marina after deciding that too late to anchor in very deep anchorage. Nice accommodations at the tall wooden dock with great dock hands. There are floating docks but not for our 21 foot beam. had dinner at the Seaweed Grill and was very pleased. the steak was exceptional and the grilled cabbage was delicious. they have been open only a short time but are off to a good start with the new owners. Many locals were coming in as we finished our early dinner. would stop here again.
Dick Flaherty
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bucksport Plantation Marina
Osprey Marina lies at the southern foot of AICW section known officially as the Pine Island Cut (a. k. a. “the Rock Pile”), just as the Waterway sweeps south into beautiful Waccamaw River. Osprey Marina is one of the finest marinas you will ever discover, and these good folks are A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Subject: Osprey Marina
To: CruisingWriter@cruisersnet.net
Claiborne,
Osprey Marina. A quick 1/8 mile off the ICW!
Nice snack bar.
Great people!
Great fuel prices!
Good depth!
Very reasonable dock rates.
And with their new dock, they can accommodate 100ft boats. I have no trouble fueling up with my 63 Viking.
Stu Schechter
M/V Evening Star
There is nothing I can think of to say! The personell at Osprey are just the most professional, from the highly skilled dock master to the office staff. When we pulled in we knew just what to expect. Wonderful, if you don’t stop there you’ll miss a treat!
Terry and Charlotte
I happened to stop at Osprey southbound a year ago. Returning this spring I made a special effort to reach there arriving just at closing time. No problem. I requested an easy exit space because I had one cranky engine. No problem. The staff are all helpful, cheerful and positive. They are on my list for the next trip.
Jamiedhu aboard Gemini 34
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Osprey Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Osprey Marina
For many years one of the most popular stops between Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, Bucksport Plantation Marina, closed for an extended period of renovation, is now fully reopened after undergoing much needed upgrades. It is still a lovely location on what many consider to be the loveliest portion of the entire Waterway.
UPDATE – A late day conversation on 11/17/11 with owner, Ralph, reveals that the famous Bucksport sausage should be available by early next week (after 11/21/11), the on-site restaurant will have a “soft opening” this weekend, with the full menu available by Monday (11/21/11), and that the overnight transient dockage rate is indeed $2.00 per foot, per night!
Passed by 11/17/11, called and found that they are reopened. Restaurant will open this weekend. Facility looked neat and clean. Docks looked good as well. Was told that the restaurant will have an expanded menu and will be excellent. Will stop next trip.
Eileen Ankers
What a wonderful surprise- Bucksport Marina & Campground, in South Carolina, is open again!
The marina, grounds and restaurant have all undergone a major renovation. Everything looks fantastic! It is now a family owned and operated marina.
They have some great things in the works:
A ship store, which will carry sundries.
Concerts on the grounds
Sadly, the restaurant was not open, but will be on Friday (tomorrow). Dori was cooking chili and it smelled yummy! Jay is REALLY excited about the menu… inside out burgers)!
We were greeted by the friendliest group of people we have met in a long time!
If you are still heading south, stop in and meet Ralph and his family. You will not be sorry! 843.397.5566
We wish them all much success!
Jay & Susan Wigginton
The restaurant menu sounded great… I’m sort of a burger connoisseur and they have a good selection of burgers… from talking to them it’s actually the third owners
since the original owners that offered the sausage… the new owners own another 450 slip marina on an inland lake in SC… so they know what they are doing… sounds like this time Bucksport will remain open and has been added to our evening destinations.
Jay & Susan Wigginton
Hoping they will offer a “free” tie-up while eating at the restaurant. I’ll find out in a couple of weeks.
Roger Hitchner on Painter,
hoping the Bay doesn’t freeze over before I get away.
Never stayed there (too many great Waccammaw anchorages) but always stopped for some sausage! We’ve been looking for an alternative for quite some time but haven’t found one we like better. BTW, it’s made by a local company there in Conway, SC. I contacted them a few years ago when Bucksport stopped selling it and they were planning on selling it via mail order. Don’t know if they ever did.
Jim Fisher
Claiborne spoke with the owner of Bucksport, who made the following assurances: 1) Their famous sauage will be available beginning next week. 2) They will have a “soft opening” of the restaurant this coming weekend, 11/19-20. 3)The full menu will be available beginning Monday, 11/21. and 4) the overnight transient dockage is $2.00/ft.
Larry
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bucksport Plantation Marina
Upon receiving the message below, we immediately telephoned SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Osprey Marina, and learned that Captain Good’s observations below are quite correct. Due to slow landside traffic during the summer months, the on-site grill is indeed not currently operating. Also, South Carolina DOT work on a small “channel bridge” nearby has closed direct access from Ospry to Scatori’s Italan Restaurant, which normally picks boaters up from the docks and returns them to the marina after dining. The road work in question was originally slated for completion this November, but, surprise, surprise, that date has been put off until the latter part of December, 2011.
Fortunately, all is not lost when it comes to shoreside dining. The 707 Diner (843-215-7707) and Delaney’s Dog Haus (843-650-8336), will both make food deliveries to the marina parking lot. And, Captain Lynn at Osprey tells us Delaney’s has “the best cheeseburgers in the world.”
Even with these dining changes, Osprey Marina remains one of the very best marinas in northeastern South Carolina. Pay them a visit, and you won’t be sorry!
Cruising News:
We stopped at Osprey Marina 10/08/11 for fuel and to spend the night. Scatori will not pick up for dinner or deliver because of a bridge being out. The cafe at the marina is closed at present.
Nice folks. 1.00 per foot.tied up at their fuel dock for the night.
Reggie Good
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Osprey Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Osprey Marina
Certainly the Waccamaw River is one of the most scenic portions of the AICW. The dark waters and moss-hung cypress trees take you to another time before GPS and Iphones. Ben seems to have found a favorite spot in Thoroughfare Creek. These two anchorages lie west of the Waccamaw River/ICW flashing daybeacon #73.
We anchored here a couple years ago. We stopped here again a couple weeks ago but now we have a dinghy. We cruised the canals, then over to the beach for some swimming. We had some conversations with the locals who come there often for swimming. We hiked a little on the trails and then spent a quiet night on the hook. It’s a great anchorage.
There was a mention above about developers. The was a PBS special on this island, but the short story is, the state of SC bought it and recently turned it over to an environmental group. While there may be some more homes on the canals and in the traditionally black town on the other side of the island, there will be no bridge or “development”.
Skipper Ben
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Thoroughfare Creek
For many years one of the most popular stops between Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, Bucksport Plantation Marina, closed for an extended period of renovation, is now fully reopened after undergoing much needed upgrades. It is still a lovely location on what many consider to be the loveliest portion of the entire Waterway.
The current (7/24/11) ramp at Bucksport Marina near Conway on the Waccamaw River is not good for heavy boats. Our diesel 250 in 4WD lo could not pull out our Searay 260. Water tank was empty and gas less than half full. The ramp is too steep and tops out in gravel well before your boat is to the top of the ramp. A call two weeks prior to the marina was placed and we were told we were ok with our size boat. Unfortunately that was not so. The marina store is not open yet and we got no help out of the restaurant workers this morning (all kids) when we were stuck on the ramp. A nice gentleman that had his boat slipped there helped to pull us out and said they were supposed to be building two new ramps and opening the store soon.
Kes Crumpler
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bucksport Plantation Marina
Osprey Marina lies right where the Waterway leaves Pine Island Cut (a. k. a. “the Rock Pile”) and sweeps south into the beautiful Waccamaw River. Osprey Marina is A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
By the way, on a trip with friends to Georgetown on our boat from the Oak Island area, we stopped at several marinas (Obviously not in a hurry). Osprey Marina was a real treat on our way home. We arrived late, but had plenty of help from slip holders who couldn’t have been more friendly. Osprey mgmt left us a welcome bag, just as they said they would and we enjoyed our stay. One other point, their fuel was the cheapest on our entire trip and their charge per foot was much less than other marinas. Although we enjoyed each of the other marina’s where we stayed, Osprey was literally half the cost and offered first rate facilities. Thanks for the recommendation. We will be returning.
Mike and Carolyn Hackett
We, too, very much enjoyed our few days at Osprey Marina on our way North in April. It is a beautiful harbor in a lovely spot off the Waccamaw River. One feature that your reviewer did not mention is that the Italian restaurant in a nearby shopping area will send a car to pick you up if you choose to dine with them. After dining, you can do your re-provisioning and then you will be driven back to the marina. Very convenient and thoughtful. We recommend Osprey!
Maureen Nemecek
I totally agree with other favorable comments regarding Osprey; we stayed there in Nov. 2010 on the way South to Fl. and on our return trip. Prices are excellent and fair and the staff very helpful and friendly. What can I say, the owner is a Clemson man !!!
Skipper Pat Kenefick
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Osprey Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Osprey Marina
Sunday Boaters! Hot Dogging can occur anywhere – in a quiet anchorage or in front of a crowded marina where wakes and noise seem not to matter in the least to the offending boaters. The quiet waters of the beautiful Waccamaw River would be a very tempting playground for such Sunday drivers.
[Sunday, April 24, 2011] I was amazed – astonished – at the amount of small boat traffic on the upper Waccamaw. Many drunken kiddies showing off on a nice early spring day!
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Upper Waccamaw River
We have received a number of recent reports of shoaling south of McClellanville and have set a Navigation Alert near green marker #37, statute mile 431.
4/24/2011, we departed Dewees Creek NORTHBOUND, at 06h15, about 1 hour before low tide. That brought us through Andersonville and McClellanville through the low tide period in the area. Our chartplotter’s Tide Almanac reported the low tide at 0.3 ft above datum for that low tide. Several observations. It was a very quiet morning on the water, so we ran the charted midline course. For that entire 25 mile run, we never saw less than (to be very conservative) 8 to 8.5 ft of water. Yes, lots of mud flats and dock floats sitting on the bottom, and careful about following the magenta line, but no water depth problems! Second, after the tide started rising around McClellanville, we had a fair current all the way in to Myrtle Beach. In fact, we averaged about 1 mile per hour greater SOG than we run in normal, still water over that distance, and made 100 miles from 06h15 to 17h45, which we deemed a long but not uncomfortable day.
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dewees Creek
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at McClellanville
"Sunset After The Storms"
by: Susan Leaf
