The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is pleased to announce an exciting, new feature/capability, which will allow an even closer integration of the “Cruising News” and “Chart View” modules of our web site. And, this same fresh service will also allow our editorial staff to insert comments/information based on our combined 60+ years of cruising experience.

Well, enough of the big build-up. As you have undoubtedly noticed from this section’s title, and the sample icon, the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net now has the ability to insert “I”nfo icons on our Chart View pages wherever they might be useful.

About 70% of the time, when you click an “I” icon, a window will open displaying an index of multiple posting titles submitted by your fellow cruisers, which provide meaningful information about the body of water, channel or other nautical feature in question. Clicking any posting title within this window will take you to the full article, which will open in separate window or tab. Once you are finished reading, close the second widow or tab, and you can quickly return to your chart perusal.

Less often, when you click an “I” icon, a window will open displaying the title of an article/posting, created by yours truly and/or the SSECN editorial staff, which imparts some useful navigational tip. And, finally, we will also use the “I” icon to pass along information about historic points of interest.

As always, a couple of examples are worth another thousand words or so. First up, when you clink the link below, a Chart View page will open centered on the AICW Dismal Swamp Canal route, where this passage crosses the Virginia – North Carolina border. You will also see one of the new “I”nfo icons. It may take an extra second or so to appear, so just hang in there.

Click this “I” icon, and a window will open showing a whole list of postings/articles, authored by your fellow cruisers in which they share their experiences while “Doin the Dismal.”

Pick one of the posting titles, click on it, and a new window/tab will open showing the full version of the posting. Close the additional window/tab when you are finished reading, and presto-chango, you’re back to the Chart View page where this process began.

Give it a try at:

/cruisersnet-marine-map/?ll=36.545961357480735,-76.37677428693928&z=14

Here’s another example. Click the link below, and you will be taken to a Chart View page showing the Old House Channel between North Carolina’s Roanoke Sound and Pamlico Sound. You will actually see three “I” icons on this Chart View Page. Click the middle one, near marker #OH. A window will open displaying a posting title, “Change in Marker Colors on Old House Channel.” Click this title, and a new window/tab will open, displaying a short article yours truly has authored concerning a mind bending marker color change along this section of the channel.

Give it a try at:

/cruisersnet-marine-map/?ll=35.76202073127289,-75.56593941192624&z=14

Finally, follow the link below, and you will be transported to the AICW’s passage through South Carolina’s South Edisto River. Notice the “I” icon on shore, east of marker #151. Click this “I” icon, and the index window will appear. Now, click on “Prospect Hill Plantation History and Legend.” You will then have the opportunity to read a fascinating story about this plantation and its original owner.

/cruisersnet-marine-map/?ll=32.58150061777632,-80.39343805647047&z=14

By the way, DON’T FORGET, OUR CHART VIEW PAGES ARE NOT STATIC. All you need do is put your cursor somewhere on the chart, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the chart in whichever direction you prefer. You can drag as far north as Maine, or south to the Florida Keys.

One word of warning! We are just beginning to populate our Chart View pages with the new “I” icons. As of this writing, most are centered on northeastern North Carolina waters. That will change rapidly over the next several weeks, as we place more and more “I” icons!

And, that’s how the new “I” icon works. We hope you find it useful. Our goal is, as always, to provide more and higher quality information that helps the cruising community safely explore and enjoy all Southeastern USA coastal water!

We would welcome hearing comments about this new feature from the cruising community. Just send your “words of wisdom” to CruisersNet@triad.twcbc.com.

Many thanks in advance!