Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

May 24, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
South Carolina Natural Resources Blog: Back to Basics . .
Good thoughts on safe boating from SCDNR.
Back to Basics . . .
by David Lucas
Boating Safety should be the business of everyone that plans to spend time on the water.
You might guess that someone who’s spent as many years as I have working for the S.C Department of Natural Resources would be an expert boater, but you’d be wrong. Growing up, my family didn’t own a boat, and when we’d got the chance to go out fishing or riding on the lake, it was generally with someone else — friends or extended family. Later in life, even though boating held some interest for me, there was always something else that was more of a priority to spend the time and money on. So, boating experiences were fairly few and far between, and almost always involved someone else at the controls. That’s actually the case for many adults who take up boating later in life, and for those folks in particular, a solid grounding in the basics of safe boating is key to enjoying their new hobby. READ MORE
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May 24, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Photo Journal, Fernandina, FL to St. Simons Island, GA
If you haven’t cruised this segment of the Waterway, this report from Coastal Living will definitely whet your appetite to steer that way.
Dream Trip: Boat from Fernandina Beach, Florida, to St. Simons Island, Georgia
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May 17, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Florida Keys Reef Photos
Our thanks to longtime cruiser, Tony Pozun, for sharing his photos of our Florida Keys reefs.
I’ve been diving Florida keys for 45 yrs,.. we need to take better care of our reefs for our kids. Some pics:
Tony Pozun
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May 17, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 27.1663,-80.18079999
Fish Where the Fish Are… in Martin County, Florida

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At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
Fish Where the Fish Are…
in Martin County, Florida
Martin County, Florida, is popular with fish. Lots of fish. More than 800 different species within a ten-mile radius of the St. Lucie Inlet, to be exact, according to Dr. Grant Gilmore, a renowned marine scientist.
On the Atlantic coast, Martin County is just 85 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, in the overlap of two climate zones. This environment, along with a healthy reef system and the warm Gulf Stream current, bring lots of fish to these waters.
Which makes for excellent fishing here, regardless of what type of angler you are and what type of fish you like to catch.
Stuart, the county seat, has been called “Sailfish Capital of the World” since the 1950s, and with good reason. A 1949 Palm Beach Times article tells the tale of a fishing captain who ran out of bait and had to turn back after boating 19 ‘sails in a single outing. Sailfish are the fastest marine predators, and in winter months, it’s not uncommon to hook multiple sailfish at one time.
One recent angler tells the story of reeling in a mahi when a marlin came up and ate it. An hour and a half later, the fisherman landed the marlin on a line meant for a mahi. Other salt-water species that lead to mighty fish tales include Wahoo, pompano, grouper, snapper, cobia, sea bass and kingfish.
Martin County is renowned for its fresh-water fishing, too. The county stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the fresh waters of Lake Okeechobee on the west, with a rich system of rivers and canals in between. It’s possible to fish from Stuart all the way to Fort Myers and the Gulf of Mexico via the Okeechobee Waterway. Snook, tarpon, bass, redfish and seatrout are just a few of the fish that are plentiful and fun to catch inshore.
They call this area Florida’s Treasure Coast. Fishing enthusiasts who visit know why. It’s enough to make you say Wahoo!
Fish Here!
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Intersection of AICW/Okeechobee Waterway
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May 17, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 29.8928,-81.30739999
Elske visits St. Augustine, FL, AICW Statute Mile 778

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David and Jaculeyn continue sharing the log of Elske via their delightful blog, The Voyage of Elske on America’s Great Loop. This page recounts their visit to St. Augustine, a popular north Florida stop for Waterway cruisers.
CLICK HERE FOR ELSKE’S LOG
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Augustine
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May 15, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
USCG Focuses on Paddle Craft
This information is for those of you who carry kayaks or canoes on deck.

News Release
May 12, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast
Contact: 1st District Public Affairs
Office: (617) 223-8515
After Hours: (617) 717-9609
Coast Guard focusing on paddle craft safety as 2017 priority
The Coast Guard and partner agencies are focusing efforts to educate paddlers on how to “have fun, be safe, and paddle smart.” (U.S. Coast Guard illustration)
BOSTON — The First Coast Guard District, spanning from Maine to Northern New Jersey, is promoting greater paddlecraft safety awareness during the 2017 boating season in the Northeast, where paddlecraft fatalities have skyrocketed.
In 2016, the Northeast saw 28 paddler deaths, more than double the national average according to preliminary data.
“Multiple factors affect boating statistics from year to year,” said Walt Taylor, the recreational boating safety specialist for the First District. “This year, we are focused on paddlecraft safety, awareness, and enforcement to reduce the number of paddlecraft fatalities this boating season,” he said.
Additionally, the Coast Guard is partnering with paddling organizations, retailers, and local authorities to collaborate, and promote paddlecraft safety, as well as provide safety information, found at www.uscgboating.org.
“This paddlecraft safety initiative is a multi-partnered effort to educate and remind new, casual, and experienced paddlers to assess the risks, envision the consequences, and be properly prepared for what can and sometimes does go wrong,” said Merri Walker, Massachusetts boating law administrator with Massachusetts Environmental Police.
“We want all boaters and paddlers to enjoy their time on the water and, most importantly, return home safely,” said Cmdr. Matthew Barker, director of the First Coast Guard District’s Northern Region Auxiliary.
Barker said paddlecraft safety is a critical concern and information is included in all Auxiliary public education courses and numerous events are held to demonstrate the proper handling of canoes and kayaks. Find classes here: http://a013.uscgaux.info/pe.htm.
Moreover, paddlers in Massachusetts are required to wear life jackets from Sept. 15-May 15; in Connecticut, Oct. 1-May 31, and in New York, Nov. 1-May 1. All mariners should be aware that most states require children under 12 to be in a life jacket at all times while on the water.
MEDIA NOTE: The First Coast Guard District public affairs office is seeking partnerships with local media to share safety information to Northeast paddlers. For interviews, stories, and access to Coast Guard crews and assets, members of the media are encouraged to contact 617-223-8515.
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May 13, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Underwater Virtual Reality Dive Gallery from NOAA
With only your computer or with smart phone VR goggles, if you are interested in the health of the coral reefs off the Georgia coast and around our Florida Keys, you will learn a lot from these virtual reality reports from theverge.com.
Take a VR swim around these breathtaking national marine sanctuaries
Dive around a school of Atlantic spadefish and marvel at the coral reef
by Alessandra Potenza@ale_potenza May 12, 2017, 2:25pm EDT
CLICK HERE FOR THE REPORTS
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May 13, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
CCCC Visits Fishermen’s Village, Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda, FL
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is a group of dedicated cruisers who always provide unique reports from the marinas they visit. Fishermen’s Village Resort and Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is absolutely the most event active marina on the Gulf Coast for all seasons. As confirmed by CCCC’s recent report, you will feel right at home on your visit to Fishermen’s Village and Punta Gorda, also A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, on beautiful Charlotte Harbor.
April 2017 Cruise to Fisherman’s Village
By Jeff & Joanne Ziemer
It was great! We had a final count of seven boats who found their way to Fisherman’s Village via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway for our April 18-21, 2017, cruise. Three boats came all the way from Burnt Store Isles in Punta Gorda! In total, ten boats arrived after braving Charlotte Harbor on a somewhat windy day. We all made it safely and settled in for a fun-filled, three-day adventure.
The afternoon of Day One was a time to settle in, catch up, shop, or take a dip in the pool. We had snacks and docktails and a few rounds of cornhole before dinner. Dinner was pork tenderloin on the grill accompanied as usual, by some superb sides brought by members.
On Day Two, 16 CCCC members came by car to join us for a delightful cruise up the Peace River aboard the Lady Charlotte, a nearly new passenger/cruise vessel. Cruisers were treated to sightings of playful dolphin, beautiful Roseate Spoonbills, and a couple of good-sized gators. The tour was narrated by our own Captain Doug Rhees who is well versed on Florida wildlife! A few more carloads of members drove up from Cape Coral later to join us all for dinner at The Village Fish Market in Center Court of Fisherman’s Village. We had a hungry crowd of 48 diners! What a delightful turnout.
Day Three folks were free to explore on their own. A few took advantage of Punta Gorda’s free bike rentals and, literally, went to town! Other folks walked the hiking trails and checked out the workout stations along the way. Several others peeked into the many shops FV has to offer … I saw shopping bags! (And some of us napped!) Dinner was ‘on your own’ and there were several restaurants in the downtown area waiting to satisfy everyone’s appetite! As it turned out, twelve of us headed in one direction, while eight of us headed in another. After dinner, the evening… and the cruise… culminated with yet another magnificent Florida sunset!
Dolphin break the surface long side the Charlotte Lady
Thanks to everyone who came and helped make this a fun experience! What a great group of people that comprise the Cape Coral Cruise Club!
Roseate spoon bills on a Rookery island on the Peace River
Cruise vessel Charlotte Lady
Members enjoy an outside dinner at the Village Fish Market At Fisherman’s Village
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is open to new members who own a boat with overnight accommodations and reside in the Cape Coral / Ft. Myers area. For membership information please contact Phil Kryger at 239-541-0236. Read additional Club information on its website, www.c-c-c-c.org Like us on Facebook.
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Fishermen’s Village
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fishermen’s Village
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Punta Gorda Waterfront Anchorage
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Punta Gorda Waterfront
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May 13, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 27.2747,-82.55789999
Red Tide Concerns on Florida’s West Coast

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It’s hardly a new phenomenon — in fact, it’s been around for thousands of years — but Siesta Key residents fear red tide blooms are getting worse.
by: David Conway Deputy Managing Editor
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT from YourObserver.com
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Siesta Key
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May 9, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 33.3639,-79.28239999
Expansion and Renovation at Harborwalk Marina, Georgetown, SC, AICW Statute Mile 403

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Georgetown and Harborwalk Marina, both SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS, continue to do everything possible to make your visit a special one. Located on the Sampit River, Harborwalk Marina is only a boardwalk away from Georgetown’s Historic District for history, entertainment, great food and shopping.
HARBORWALK MARINA
525 Front Street ! Georgetown, 29440 ! PO Box 274 ! Phone: 843-546-4250
E-Mail: stay@harborwalkmarina.com Web: www.harborwalkmarina.com
May 9, 2017
Harborwalk Marina Expansion/Renovation
Georgetown SC
Harborwalk Marina of Georgetown, SC, will double its capacity to serve transient boaters on the Intracoastal
Waterway with an expansion expected to be completed by September. [expand title =”Read More!”]
The marina, an affiliate of Evening Post Industries located on the Sampit River at the foot of Queen Street in
Georgetown, broke ground May 1 on the project that will add 825 linear feet of new floating dock that includes a
new 100-foot fuel dock with new high-flow dispensers for gasoline and diesel.
Improvements will also include a fuel hut on the dock for more convenient transactions, including ice and pump-out
service, over 385 feet of new bulkhead and drainage allowing the marina to be dredged to 8 feet MLW, and
improvements to parking and the marina building that will follow.
“Harborwalk Marina accommodates over 1,600 individual boats a year,” said manager Chris Carroll. “This brings a
major economic boost to the downtown Georgetown area. We are the closest marina to the downtown, and many of
our customers shop and dine on Front Street.
The marina, formerly known as Gulf Auto Docks, has been a Georgetown boating landmark for years. It was
purchased by Evening Post Industries in 1989. It was renamed Harborwalk Marina in the mid-1990s. A major
renovation in 2008 provided travelers with a new building offering climate-controlled showers, restrooms and
laundry facilities, 725 linear feet of floating transient overnight dockage with WiFi, cable TV and clean municipal
water seven days a week. With 7 to 12 feet of depth, the marina can accommodate vessels up to 200 feet. The
building provides space to sell ice, batteries, oils, soaps, shirts, hats and boat supplies along with a wide porch and
rocking chairs for travelers to enjoy the sunsets over Winyah Bay. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
“We like to think, we are not the biggest marina on the ICW,” Carroll said, “but we are one of the best.”
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Harborwalk Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harborwalk Marina
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