Cruiser's Net

Darien, Georgia Looks to Attract Cruisers (7 nautical miles off the AICW, near St. M. 652)

Claiborne — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:33:52 +0000

Back in February, of 2012, I visited the small, but surprisingly bustling community of Darien, Georgia by land yacht. I was impressed with the number of restaurants, the waterfront wine shop and the very welcoming attitude towards myself and cruisers in general. Now, with free 48-hour dockage, the city of Darien is making a real push to lure mariners along the 7 mile cruise from Darien River’s intersection with the AICW, to the town waterfront. And, with a well marked channel, featuring 12+ feet of MLW water, this is now a decidedly enticing proposition.
We would LOVE to hear from fellow cruisers who have made the trek to Darien’s waterfront. If this accurately describes you, please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.

Hello Claiborne,
I don’t know how long ago it was that you were here but we have made a great deal of improvements and added a lot of businesses near the waterfront. We are going all out to provide dockage, information and assistance to the cruisers in Darien and this is a big step. We really appreciate this and I am looking forward to seeing it on the Cruisers Net.
Thank you,
Captain Phillip

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For the Darien City Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Darien City Docks

Dragging Anchor Problems at Tarpon Bellys Keys Anchorage (“Back Route” from Marathon to Key West)

Claiborne — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:32:03 +0000

The small collection of islands known as the Tarpon Belly Keys flank the northeastern side of the Cudjoe Key Channel. This latter cut makes into the so-called, “Back Route” from Marathon to Key West, west of the turn at Harbor Key Bank Light. It’s a great spot, and we have never had a problem getting the anchor to hold. Then again, we do not usually undertake the anchor setting procedure described below by Captains Chas and Bev.
Has anyone else had a similar or dissimilar experience anchorage hard by Tarpon Belly Keys. If so, please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.

We are in the Keys and tried to anchor at Tarpon Belly Key, a pretty remote place. We have a 43 Mainship with 75′ of chain and 250′ with a 75 lb. Rocna, 8 feet of water and 7 feet of pulpit. Our usual procedure is to drop about 20′, let it settle while slowly reversing and add in about 20′ segments until we feel a good grip, then bump reverse multiple times to deepen the set and eventually increase
reverse a few hundred rpm’s to set. When we did the set, the anchor released. A few efforts to set and we finally pulled up. Holy cow! A massive ball of grey clay (looked and acted like cement) and grass. Could have been a small planet. Boat hooks, dunking and dragging thru the water finally got it off. We tried 3 other locations at the same anchorages with the same, but smaller ball, result. At 5PM, we finally went to a marina. Just beat sundown by 15 minutes.
Our question is should we not done the finally set, as we usually do, on this type of bottom? Would the anchor, with time and gentler prodding by the wind and tide, eventually buried deeper? (I wouldn’t have been able to sleep)
The Rocna has been great for us and we love it.
We also have a 45 lb. Bruce and a Fortress. Would it have made sense to try them?
Thanks,
Chas & Bev
…and Everywhere

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Tarpon Bellys Keys Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Tarpon Bellys Keys Anchorage

Leland Oil Company New Docks Photo Gallery

Claiborne — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:13:18 +0000

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Photos of Leland Oil Company’s New Floating Docks (McClellanville, South Carolina – AICW, Statute Mile 430)

Claiborne — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:08:18 +0000

Back in April (2012), we published several reports from fellow cruisers detailing the very welcome new, floating docks at McClellanville, South Carolina’s Leland Oil Company (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=81422 and http://cruisersnet.net/?p=85795). I had always wanted to recommend stopping in McClellanville, as this idyllic village is a real throwback to yesteryear, with its moss shrouded lanes, and quaint homes that look as if they just stepped out of the early 1900′s. However, until these new docks were added, the roughness of Leland Oil Company’s dockage facilities were a real trade-off against the community’s other charms. Now, while no-one will ever mistake this facility for Fort Lauderdale’s “Pier 66,” we can recommend a stop here!
Just a few minutes ago, the dockmaster at Leland Oil Company transmitted a series of photos detailing his new docks, You can see one to the right. Follow the photo gallery link below to check out the rest!

Freedom and Jeff

Claiborne — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:31:04 +0000

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with cruising, but if you are an animal lover like yours truly, and particularly if you or a loved one suffers from the scourge of cancer, then don’t dare miss this moving tale! As someone whose first-rate, first-mate has been, and still is, heroically fighting “never smokers lung cancer” for 4 years, I cannot read these words and see these images, no matter how many times they pass before my eyes, without getting choked up.
Please go to:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=87742

Port Tarpon Marina Goes Above and Beyond (on the Anclote River Just Downstream of Tarpon Springs)

Claiborne — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:49:10 +0000

Port Tarpon Marina is the largest of several facilities gathered along Anclote River’s northern banks near marker #40. Recommendations like the one from Captains Bob and Ann below are perhaps the very best indication of a quality operation!!!

While on our trek home from Florida to Nashville, TN my wife came down with a very bad case of vertigo. What to do? We decided that we would have to cut short our journey but where? We ended up staying at Port Tarpon Marina.
The management of that marina went above and beyond what we could have asked them to do. Not only did they make sure that we had transportation to and from town but also the doctor and the pharmacies. The beauty of this marina is not only the management but it is the first marina on the port side as you approach Tarpon Springs, the water is over 9 feet at the dock, so there is no worry about running aground. The marina was clean, etc. I can not say enough good things about Port Tarpon and the crew.
After talking with them they are now members of the AGLCA so if you are going to stop at Tarpon Springs, please stop at Port Tarpon Marina.
Bob and Ann Levine
Sandpiper 44 Endeavour Cat

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Port Tarpon Marina

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

ARGUS Shallow Water Report on Channel from Clearwater Pass to Clearwater Yacht Club and Municipal Marina

Claiborne — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:22:48 +0000

One of the real advantage to our new ARGUS service, is that we receive advance warning of new shallow water reports directly from Survice Engineering. Be SURE to follow the “Chart View” link below to get a bird’s eye view of where this shallow spot is to be found. After following the link, turn on the new Argus layer by clicking in the “Argus (MLLW)” checkbox.
As you will see, the shallow soundings in question seem to lie just north of the intersection between the Clearwater Pass inlet channel and the marked, northward running cut which leads to Clearwater Yacht Club and Clearwater Municipal Marina, between markers #2 and #4.
We would WELCOME reports from local Clearwater area cruisers who have seen similar or dissimilar soundings along this stretch!!! Please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.
We are establishing a Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net Navigational Alert between markers #2 and #4!

Capt. Bill of Reality Check Sailing provides this report on the approach to Clearwater Marina. Capt. Bill noted water depths as low as 5 1/2 feet, confirming previous indications now available through Cruisers Net.
John Hersey
ARGUS Development Team
SURVICE Engineering

http://argus.survice.com

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on the Channel from Clearwater Pass to Clearwater Municipal Marina

Dining Recommended at Marina Jacks (Sarasota, FL, St. M. 73)

Claiborne — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:18:08 +0000

Everyone refers to the large, downtown Sarasota, Florida “city marina” as “Marina Jacks” but, in reality, that is the name of the on-site restaurant, and the maritime part of the operation is officially known as “Marina Operations.” For twenty years, I’ve never heard a single, fellow cruiser use this moniker.
Whatever you call it, the food at Marina Jacks is certainly good, In March of 2012, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Sarasota Power Squadron, upstairs at Marina Jacks. A GOOD time was had by all, particularly yours truly!

Don’t miss Marina Jack, Sarasota. Dining from outdoor casual to upstairs white tablecloth. !st class marina facilities, and professional staff. Lovely city waterfront park on-site. Easy walk to Main St. with dozens of more dining choices.
Blake Whitney

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Marina Operations/Marina Jacks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Marina Operations/Marina Jacks

Free Waste Boat Pumpout at Tarpon Basin Anchorages Praised (FL Keys Inside Route, 1139.5)

Claiborne — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:17:59 +0000

Tarpon Basin is crossed by the FL Keys Inside Route, just south of Blackwater Sound and Dusenberry Creek. There are at least 3 good spots to drop the hook here, and creative skippers will find more.
A couple of years ago, Monroe County established a pump-out boat serving vessels anchored in Tarpon Basin, and the locals chipped in with a dinghy dock on the nearby shoreline (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=24226).
Sounds like Captain Mary found the pump-out service very polite and most useful!

We used the free pump out boat at Tarpon Basin by the government center today. We told the guy that we had planned on pumping out at Gilberts Marina. He said they don’t have a pumpout, but he will go up there in his boat. I called Gilberts and verified that, and they said they don’t have a pumpout, but they have a phone number that you call for someone to come there and pumpout. The phone number for the Monroe County pumpout boat is 305-747-2388.
I might add the Monroe County pumpout is FREE. The guy was very nice and said he usually works M-TH, but they try to be accommodating. I asked him how far he will go and he said he goes up to Gilberts Marina and down to Tavernier. He also said that eventually all of the Keys will have pumpout boats.
Mary Dixon

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Tarpon Basin Northern Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Tarpon Basin Southern Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Tarpon Basin Interior Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Tarpon Basin Anchorages

GREAT News – Restaurant Now Open Beside Marineland Marina (Statute Mile 796)

Claiborne — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:48:24 +0000

The best just keep getting better. Marineland Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, has been racking up a whole series of impressive reviews here on the Cruisers’ Net and elsewhere. Now, one of the only drawback to staying here has been remedied. Looks like there’s now a good lunch spot just across the road from the dockage basin. Must give this spot a try when next our travels take us to these waters!

Welcome JT’s Lunch Shack to the Town of Marineland……located just across the street from the marina!
A fantastic and affordable menu that includes sandwiches, wraps, beer and wine, etc. right next to the beach and the Marineland Dolphin Adventure!
Just a short walk from the Town of Marineland Marina!
Open from 10:00AM to 4:00PM daily.
Chris Kelley, dockmaster
Marineland Marina

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Marineland Marina

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