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Below, you will discover our COMPLETE listing of Virginia to the North Carolina state line cruising news/postings from fellow cruisers, arranged in chronological order, based on publication date.
Top Rack Marina is just north of the Steel Bridge in the Virginia Cut at Mile 8.8
Cruising News:
Here we are again at the Top Rack Marina. Everyone knows about the great restaurant here, the Amber Lantern. And everyone knows about the great staff and service you get here. And everyone knows Brian and how he makes sure everything about your stay here is perfect. And Brian knows everybody. Need something? Ask Brian. This is the perfect location between the North Landing River and the Chesapeake Bay. Slip fees are free if you eat in the Amber Lantern. Diesel today (May 17, 2012) $357.9.
That’s why we’re here again. And will be, time after time.
Jim and Talley Powell
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s VA to NC Bridge Directory Listing For Steel Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Steel Bridge
This new fixed bridge construction is between the old Jordan Highway Bridge (mile 2.8) on which demolition was begun last fall, 2011 and the Norfolk and Western Railroad Bridge at mile 3.6.
Cruising News:
May 16, 2012
A liquid running off new bridge being constructed splattered our decks, canvas and isenglass with a type of dryvit mixture as we passed under the bridge. It is very difficult to remove, we have finally found that painting the product On/Off on it and scrubbing is taking it off the deck. Be very wary when passing under this construction.
Albion
We came through this area on Sunday, May 13 with no issues. You may want to schedule your trip for a time when the construction crews are not working.
Mike Marshall
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s VA to NC Bridge Directory Listing For Jordan Hwy Bridge
Top Rack Marina is just north of the Steel Bridge in the Virginia Cut at Mile 8.8
This morning as we exited the Deep Creek Lock, we turned south 1.5 miles to Top Rack Marina where we paid $3.79/gallon for diesel and you can stay at their dock for free if you eat dinner in the restaurant, which unfortunately is closed on Mondays, so we’re paying $1.25/foot while we wait for a diesel engine part tomorrow.
Cathryn and Bob aboard “Next to Me”, 42′ Jefferson Sundeck
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s VA to NC Bridge Directory Listing For Steel Bridge
Young Brit Lewis Colam left Miami on March 4th heading north. If you meet him on the Waterway, slow down and give him a hearty Cheerio! And he might welcome a hearty meal and a pint of grog!
From HUFFPOST MIAMI, March 21. 2012
He has no prior rowing experience, his boat is not designed for ocean travel, and his great-great uncle nearly died off the coast of Fort Lauderdale the last time his family attempted boating in the Sunshine State.
But 24-year-old Brit Lewis Colam has given up his London job and hopped across the pond to row 1,400 miles solo and unsupported from Miami to New York City, all in a bid to raise money for Alzheimer’s research [follow his adventure at iamfinechallenge.org.]
“[The boat] seems to float very well, which my mom will be happy to hear,” Colam told the Gainesville Sun before setting out from Miami’s Pelican Harbor on Saturday.
The novice adventurer plans to snake his way north rowing up to 18 hours a day split between open Atlantic waters and the Intracoastal Waterway — more Atlantic, he says, in part to avoid alligators.
The chart shows 10ft west of marker #42 and 9ft inside the creek north of the bridge. Tempting, but obviously, from Capt. Long’s observations, no longer viable as anchorages. Not until you get to the North River south of Coinjock will you find good anchorages.
Do not count on the anchorage just south of the bridge inside of R 42 at Pungo Ferry. I just barely dragged my 4′ – 3″ draft out of it with the help of a strong tailwind. Depths are about half what is shown on the chart.
This anchorage is shown in the International Marine ICW Chartbook. It’s the last shelter southbound until Coinjock and northbound until the marinas. I had a much longer day then planned after having to give it up. I tried a few other creek entrances but they all were about half the depth indicated. There was no “tide” line to indicate that the recent winds had lowered the water level.
Roger Long
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pungo Ferry
The canal-like entrance channel leading to Lambs Marina cuts east from the AICW/Dismal Swamp Canal Route’s trek through Pasquotank River, south of Sawyers Creek and north of the charted railway bridge. We have always been impressed with this facility’s wonderfully sheltered harbor, its on-site fresh seafood market, and the generally friendly attitude that cruisers can expect upon arrival. And, they currently offer the only readily available fuel on the entire Dismal Swamp Canal AICW Alternate Route!
Now, this facility has made even more improvement, as described by Captain Arnold below. What’s not to like!!!!
I’ve recently been able to design and upload a new website for Lambs Marina – they’ve been having trouble with a previous designer which is not yet fully solved. Please check out the new site at http://www.lambsmarinanc.com which thus far has been very well received by my cruising friends.
Larry Lamb is spending a lot of money upgrading services for cruising boaters – not to mention a recent (very expensive) dredging of all slips to an 8ft minimum depth. They’re trying hard to be rid of the previous common (though correct) perception that water depth was a problem at Lambs but not now. Any boat that can go through the Dismal Swamp Canal can now easily be accommodated at Lambs.
Lambs slip rates are well below average – and their fuel prices are very competitive since they also have a highway fuel stop well known locally for low low prices. Worth mentioning is that not many marinas have a fresh sea food counter, a gaming casino and a large flat screen television for the use of boaters! Our cup runneth over. 
I can vouch for them with confidence. A small marina no doubt – 60 odd slips – but with a big heart trying to do their best for cruising sailors in these poor economic times.
I hope you are well – drop by anytime.
Best Regards
Cap’n Parky (Arnold Parkinson)
MV Pisces
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Lambs Marina
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Marina:
Here’s some really good words for the New Year from SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Mike Marker 0 Marine Supply!
What a great year and we owe it all to you and your faithful followers.The marine community came and supported our new store. We are stocking up on all kinds of new products.
We are featuring “Rugged Shark” retail $79.00 sale $64.95
New england rope boxed dock lines 20% off reg line off the reel 20%
Lanocote spray or jar 20% off
Fiberglass propane tanks all sizes 20% off
Binoculars and hand held VHF radios 20%off
From Fort Myers, FL to Chesapeake, VA, Capt. Sassaman pinpoints sources of good diesel fuel prices. This message is reproduced from the AGLCA mailing list, an organization that all of us at the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net continue to highly recommend for anyone considering the exciting “Great Loop” passage.
My wife, Pat, and I have traveled aboard our boat around Florida and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway for several years, and below is a list of places we have found that have consistently lower, and sometimes much lower fuel prices than are normally found in each area.
• Fort Myers Beach, Florida – Ballard Oil Company – 239-463-7677 (commercial fuel dock that sells to pleasure craft). The fuel is $.50 – $.80 lower per gallon than other suppliers on the west coast of Florida.
• Miami, Florida – Palm Bay Club Marina – 305-751-3700. Stay one night at the marina ($2.00 per foot, plus they offer a Boats U. S. discount on dockage) and they will have a fuel truck come to the marina and deliver the fuel directly to the boat (200 gallon minimum and 24 hour notice required for fuel). The fuel is $.60 – $.75 lower per gallon than other suppliers in the Florida Keys, Miami, or Fort Lauderdale areas.
• St. Augustine, Florida – Rivers Edge Marina – 904-827-0520. Stay one night at the marina ($2.00 per foot, plus they offer a Boats U. S. discount on dockage) and they will have a fuel truck come to the marina and deliver the fuel directly to the boat. The fuel is about $.30 – $.40 lower per gallon than other suppliers in the area. If you do not stay at the marina, there is a surcharge of $.06 per gallon.
• Brunswick, Georgia – Ocean Petroleum – 912-262-9264. (Commercial fuel dock that sells to pleasure craft). The fuel is $.30 – $.70 lower per gallon than other suppliers in Georgia and northern Florida.
All of the above prefer to be paid by cash or check (even out of state checks are okay) but there is an additional charge for using a credit card.
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Osprey Marina – 843-215-5353. This marina consistently has the lowest fuel prices we have found in North and South Carolina. They give a $.10 per gallon discount for Boat U. S. members, there is no extra charge for using a credit card, no overnight stay is required, and their dockage prices are low.
• Chesapeake, Virginia (just south of Norfolk) – Top Rack Marina – 757-227-3041. This marina consistently has one of the lowest fuel prices we have found in the entire Chesapeake Bay area, there is no extra charge for using a credit card, and if you dine at their excellent on-site “Amber Lantern” restaurant, there is no charge for overnight dockage with power
and water.
I hope this will be of some help.
Patricia & George Hospodar aboard Reflection
One addition to George Hospodar’s excellent fuel stop list would be the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club. They generally match Osprey Marina’s price without Boat US requirement and will beat the price for volume and non credit card sales. Information for fuel prices on Active Captain is virtually useless.
Jim Thompson
Gold Flag
Agree with your post. We stopped at Top Rack (Gals 150), VA and Ocean Petroleum, Brunswick GA (Gals 515) and fueled. We saved over $500 by visiting these two places. Awesome!
Tagamor
According to their web site, Horn Harbor Marina lies on Horn Harbor Channel at “HH,”the Mo(A) buoy 4.3 nautical miles southwest of Wolftrap Lighthouse.
We kept our Boat at the Horn Harbor Marina , Boatyard & marine railway over the summer months while we went home. The staff at the marina took great care of our vessel. She went thru Hurricane Irene well protected and cared for. We have nothing but good things to say about this marina and the facilities that it has to offer. Floating slips, covered and open, gas and diesel, water and electric 50/30 amp. ship’s store , a pool, a very nice kitchen area and lounge, boat ramp, on site service and repair and wi-fi . Check them out on line @www.HornHarborMarina.com or call 804-725-3223, you will have a wonderful staff waiting to help you. Safely tucked away, Just inside the Chesapeake Bay at Port Haywood, Virginia.
Thank you Horn Harbor marina for taking care of our vessel, a catamaran
Sheila & Chris
” Neverbored”
Cruisers needing a good harbor in a storm or excellent boat yard repairs or just getting those hard to identify and locate boat parts could not do much
better than the Atlantic Yacht Basin in Chesapeake, just south of Norfolk, Virginia. Our boat, True North, spend two days in their capable hands and
felt blessed.
We have no business association with Atlantic Yacht Basin other than very happy customers.
Stay Safe,
Tom
And, a very different point of view:
As a counter to your good experience with AYB, my experience with them last year left me with a bad taste and unsettled as to the actual condition of my boat. Let me suggest that staying with your boat while its being worked on, or having pockets so deep as to not care, is probably the key to an acceptable outcome. Last July, I left my just acquired 1985 sundeck for some engine work recommended in the pre-purchase survey. AYB was recommended by the hired capt. I had at the time to help get acquanted with the boat and the intercoastal. I had estimates from the engine surveyor in Charleston and from AYB of around $3800. When I returned two weeks later
to continue our travels, I was presented with a bill 3 times the estimate and way beyond expectations. Since then, while continuing repairs and updates on the boat, I have seen enough to infer poor workmanship (replacement ofthe wrong ignition keys at the wrong locations), and even the possibility of items not done (all desolved zincs in the supposed dismantled and cleaned heat exchangers after only 2 months in seawater and 2 months in fresh!). Clearly, I was a new owner, on a schedule, and with other distractions related to a business. Time and travel have improved the first handicape, the second, scheduling, has been a little slower to overcome, and the work related distractions are nearly gone now that I’ve retired for good. Please, avoid the situation I found myself in, even with a business like AYB. A good reputation or recommendation can’t make up for poor staff or distracted management.
Jon Patterson
Fair warning and a word to the wise! Pungo Ferry lies along the North Landing River, just north of the VA – NC state line.
Cruising News:
A word of warning…yesterday traveling from Norfolk to Coinjock at Pungo Ferry we were stopped by skiff manned by three VA police officers. Our offense? Violation of a no wake zone. We are running a 55 ft. Fleming weighing 70,000 lbs. We had just done a slow pass of a small sailboat. The no-wake sign was buried in a marsh. Our wake was probably 6 inches. We were stopped and detained for about 45 minutes, while they also stopped other boats, mostly sailboats. They were “guilty” of doing about 6 knots…imagine that!! What huge wakes!
Bob Scalia
Came through today (11/2) no one in site. Could this have been a holiday prank?
Ken Christian
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pungo Ferry
This is not the first posting we’ve had here on the Cruisers’ Net concerning the great dining at Amber Lantern Restaurant, hard by Top Rack Marina. Really must give this place a try SOON!
Cruising News:
Wow what a great gormet meal and the dockage is free. We highly recommend this Restaurant, Could be the best on the ICW.
Ron & Audrey aboard Lucky Girl
The Lock in Great Bridge, VA was closed on 10/23/11 for a few hours while divers removed debris. It is now on a normal schedule of operation.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s NC-VA Bridge Directory Listing For Great Bridge Lock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Great Bridge Lock
Wow, even though the naval craft involved in these exercises are small, Greg and Susan’s video is nothing short of eye opening. DON’T DARE MISS THIS ONE! Click on the link below and watch.
Incidentally, Pungo Ferry lies on the primary North Carolina – Virginia Cut/Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal section of the AICW, just north of the Virginia/North Carolina state line.
We spent the night at Pungo Ferry at the old marina dock to hide from the winds. At 7:30 AM we were “attacked” by the Riverine patrol of the US Navy Norfolk. Smoke Grenades, miniguns, concussion grenages erupted all around us. Well we were forewarned of the ambush by the Navy photo crew stationed on the dock. The HD video I have which was too large to post online was even more thrilling.
http://tinyurl.com/3ob5oue
Greg and Susan Han
USCG 100GT Master, Near Coastal
Key Biscayne, FL
Allegria — Krogen Whaleback #16
“Live-fire” means using lethal ammunition. So methinks this was not live-fire otherwise we would be hearing of a court martial and/or trespassing cruisers arrested.
And we may still, as this video depicts a training scenario where civilians were too close to the action to be within DOD Guidelines. (I served as a munitions officer.)
Still, I have no doubts about which side of those warriors I would rather be on. Whohah!
Chris
Well the firing seemed live enough but all the ordnance were dummies, thank god.
Gregory Han
Bridge center support now removed. Construction of new high bridge is underway just south.
Gregory Han
Cruising News:
We stayed at Top Rack Marina, ( just before Dominion Highway Bridge) Chesapeake VA last night. They have the cheapest Diesel in the area. They also have some slips available. We have a 62′ Vicking. She is really too big to stay here but they made it work. For smaller boats it is perfect. The folks here are very nice and helpful. If you dine at the Restaurant and spend at least $75.00 the stay at the Marina is free. The Restaurant is five star. Food, presentation, service, ambiance is perfect. Will be back.
Claudia Young
Cruising News:
Still the best stop for either the Coinjock jog, or the Dismal saunter. Free overnight and electricity if you eat in the really outstanding Amber Lantern. $336.9/gallon diesel.
Dock boys waited for us until after 6:00pm due to a delay at the Gilmerton Bridge and a really long coal train. Fuel, pump out, outstanding dinner, and a good night’s sleep. We’ll come back this way again and again.
Jim & Talley
Cruising News: Amber Lantern Restaurant Top Rack Marina
Wow, what a great gormet meal and the dockage is free. We highly recommend this Restaurant, Could be the best on the ICW.
Ron & Audrey aboard Lucky Girl
The following discussion has been copied, with all author’s permission, from the MTOA List Serve. All of us at the Salty Southeast Crusiers’ Net continue to highly recommend a membership in the MTOA for ALL trawler owners. You won’t find a better bunch of cruisers anywhere.
The one and only lock on the primary AICW North Carolina – Virginia Cut/Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal route, is located at Great Bridge. The discussion below centers around dockage and shoreside opportunities at this location.
I have never had the good fortune to sample the dining attraction reported on below by Captain George, but it WILL be on my to-do list, effective immediately!!
Just a Note we passed through Great Bridge on 9/28 and stayed at the south dock before the bridge and found a couple of boats had been there for a few days and were staying longer the stay is posted for 24 hours but some are not doing that so the wall can get over loaded very fast. You can also tie up to the wall on the other side as long as you stay back from the bridge so the tow’s can get by, you have to tie to the trees or drive a stake in the ground. When we went through the bridge the dock on the east side had signs on it that it was closed for the park construction my guess is that you can use it but it looked very hard to get off the boat because of the construction fence barrier.. just our observations.
Larry & Margie Ross
Wanderin’ L&M
55′ Hampton
While you are at Great Bridge DO NOT FORGET to eat at Franks 2 Italian Restaurant.It is located north of the Great Bridge in a shopping center just past Kellys Pub.Frank is from NY and his food is very good.If you like N.Y. pizza then you must stop at Franks.I love good Italian!
George Kay
Summer Slopes
36 Marine Trader
We came through Great Bridge on Oct 19. The Lock Master told us that the dock across from Atlantic Yacht Basin had been closed off and docking banned by the company building the museum on that site. The usual wall between the lock and bridge had been full the night before and the locktenders let people tie up to the entrance wall on the Norfolk side of the lock. She also said that tying up to the trees on the left side between the lock and bridge was risky as commercial traffic had priority on that side and could demand that you move.
Chuck Berry
The so-called “Carolina Loop” cruise consists of a journey north on the Dismal Swamp Canal, to the Norfolk, VA area. Most cruisers stay here for night or two, then cruise south via the AICW principal route, alternately known as the “North Carolina – Virginia Cut” and the “Albemarle – Chesapeake Canal.” This latter passage flows through a lock at Great Bridge, VA, then down the North Landing River, across a dredged passage bisecting northern Currituck Sound, through a canal bisecting the marina rich, but tiny village of Coinjock, NC, down the North River to a short hop west on the Albemarle Sound, and finally north on the Pasquotank River to Elizabeth City, NC. This latter community is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, and has the deserved reputation of being one of the most cruiser friendly stops anywhere.
Of course, you can start the loop at any convenient place, and there are variations, but the account above lays out the general route. It’s a great trip!
I did the Carolina Loop last year from up in the Chesapeake to Norfolk then to Coinjock, Elizabeth City, Great Bridge, Norfolk and home. It was a total of 245+/- miles. It is a wonderful short trip with a lot of wilderness and undeveloped river country. It was not a difficult trip from a navigation or logistical point of view but a nice introduction to canal, river, sound and swamp cruising. I recommend it as a test cruise and short adventure for anyone in the Tidewater area. There are three locks (Great Bridge, South Mills and Deep Creek), a few bridges and some open sound to traverse. The only real issue is the limited opening times of the locks. That changes from time to time based on water levels so check before you leave as to what schedule they are operationing on now. In Coinjock there are two marinas for fuel, food and lodging. There are many in Norfolk and Portsmouth and Elizabeth City has free docking at the town docks but not power. Water depth was never an issue but be alert to snags in the Dismal Swamp part and the North Landing River sections. Have a good time.
Jim Wagner
(Daddy’s Dream
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Mariners Wharf Docks
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Midway Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Midway Marina
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Coinjock Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Coinjock Marina
"Sunset After The Storms"
by: Susan Leaf
