Here are the latest Local Notices to Mariners and NAV ALERTS that are relevant to ICW cruising in Districts 5, 7 and 8, the OBX, AICW, OWW, Keys, GIWW and adjacent waters. Open each LNM link for the USCG notice and a chart for each location. Listed north to south to north. NAV ALERTS will also be posted on our Homepage.
For previous Local Notices, go to the Specific State or Region on our Homepage
This week’s lowest current marina fuel prices as of Jan 07 Diesel Range: $2.96 to $4.39 Lowest @ Wacca Wache Marina in (South Carolina) Gas Range: $2.85 to $2.85 Lowest @ Galveston Yacht Marina in (Texas) Remember to always call the marina to verify the current price since prices may change at any time. Also please let us know if you find a marina’s fuel price has changed via the Submit News link.
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Lowest Diesel Price in Each Region
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Ft. Pierce City Marina specializes in overnight dockage and 22 hour fueling.
The National Hurricane Center chart below updates automatically and shows the latest storm positions. Click the chart for the full NHC report. While port conditions are primarily for commercial mariners, they give a strong indication of the Coast Guard’s appraisal of the storm’s severity.
Categories:
Category 1: winds between 74 m.p.h. and 95 m.p.h.
Category 2: winds between 96 m.p.h. and 110. m.p.h.
Category 3: winds between 111 m.p.h. and 129 m.p.h.
Category 4: winds between 130 m.p.h. and 156 m.p.h.
Key Lime Sailing Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always has very special offers for their visitors! Key Lime Sailing Club is a unique slice of KEYS ENJOYMENT…give it a try and let us hear about your experience.
And the Winners Are…
We are thrilled to announce the results of our 2025 Contests!
2025 Photo Contest Winner: Mo Chandler (Entry #71) – Congratulations to Mo! Her stunning photo of a sunset by the Key Lime Sailing Club Tiki Hut brought back fond memories for so many of our guests. Mo has won a FREE 3-night stay at our cottages in the breathtaking Florida Keys!
2025 Video Contest Winner: Franklin Smith – A massive congratulations to Franklin! His video perfectly captured the fun of sailing and kayaking at KLSC, and even featured a catchy original song! Franklin has earned a FREE 5-night stay in paradise.
Thank You! We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and voted. Your creativity and enthusiasm make this yearly tradition a success. We can’t wait to see what you create next year!
Win a FREE Vacation
January 1, 2026 to December 15, 2026: We are accepting all entries for this year’s Photo and Video contest. Please read the following information if you are interested in winning free stays at Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages (KLSC).
Video Contest
This contest is open to all our guests. Submit a video of your KLSC vacation and get a chance to win a free 5-night stay! We are looking for the most creative and exciting video that tells people about your stay with us.
To our guests who didn’t enter the previous contests, this is your chance!
How to submit: Just upload your finished video to YouTube and email us the URL to your video. All links must be emailed to keylargocottages@keylimesailingclub.com.
Please include the dates you stayed, in which cottage, and under whose name it was reserved. If you send several emails, include this information in each one.
Evaluation Criteria
Videos will be judged by the following criteria:
Overall Impact (fun and informative)
Creativity
Memorable Content and Delivery
Clear Message about what vacationing at KLSC is all about
Video quality
Terms:
Winner must be 25 years of age or older.
Winner can choose the dates from August 1st to December 15th for their stay (holidays not included).
Main House is not eligible.
Winner can add their free nights or extend their established booking nights if the booking is between August 1st to December 15th, and if the cottage is available on those extended dates.
Chosen dates cannot be rescheduled to other dates. No exceptions. (Please finalize your dates before booking.)
The reservation will be for two adults and the number of children allowed for the preferred cottage. However, if there are more than two adults, the winner is responsible for the extra adult fee of $35/per adult, per night plus tax. If bringing a dog to one of our dog-friendly cottages, the winner is responsible for the dog fee of $35/per night plus tax.
KLSC reserves the right to use all submitted pictures and videos for its promotions and websites.
Contest is open starting January 1 to December 15. We will announce the winner on our Facebook page and newsletter within the first week of January. There is no limit to the number of videos submitted. So, create your videos now and share them with us!
Respect for Existing Copyright
Everything in your video must be your own work. If you include photos, clips, or music made by someone else, you must have their written permission to use it.
Using Music: Music rights can be tricky. Here are your safe options:
Original is Best: We love original music, even if you are just humming! High-quality AI-generated music is also accepted.
Royalty-Free: You can purchase a cheap track from a royalty-free stock music website.
YouTube Library: Some popular songs are allowed because YouTube has an agreement with the publisher. Please verify this before using the song, or your video may be taken down.
Photo Contest
Pictures can include couples sailing, families sailing, Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages (KLSC) activities (non-sailing), sailing lessons, etc. There will be a voting period on our Facebook page where the owner of the photo with the most “Likes” will get a free 3-night stay at KLSC. There is no limit to the number of photos entered. To our guests who didn’t join the previous contests, this is your chance!
Make sure to include captions with your submissions. Add the dates you stayed, in which cottage, and under whose name it was reserved. If you send several emails, include this information in each one.
Terms:
Winner must be 25 years of age or older.
Winner can choose the dates from August 1st to December 15th for their stay (holidays not included).
Main House is not eligible.
Winner can add their free nights or extend their established booking nights if the booking is between August 1st to December 15th, and if the cottage is available on those extended dates.
Chosen dates cannot be rescheduled to other dates. No exceptions. (Please finalize your dates before booking.)
The reservation will be for two adults and the number of children allowed for the chosen cottage. However, if there are more than two adults, the winner is responsible for the extra adult fee of $35/per adult, per night plus tax. If bringing a dog to one of our dog-friendly cottages, the winner is responsible for the dog fee of $35/per night plus tax.
KLSC reserves the right to use all submitted pictures and videos for its promotions and websites.
Contest is open starting January 1 to December 15. We will announce the winner on our Facebook page and newsletter within the first week of January.
Enjoy a snorkel or sunset cruise on the bay side as well as several boats for rent from 22 foot to 37 foot through Morning Star Sailing Charters. Call us at 305-451-7057.
SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE is sailing into 2026! Well, not literally…. Thanks for staying aboard while we save our piece of maritime history! ~J
If you’ve just joined our engaging little community, please read SPARS & SPARRING, my introductory piece.….and share it, if you are so inclined….that works wonders.
On the first day of 2026, I was just about to toss an empty bottle of cheap vodka through STEADFAST’s unzipped doorway when two yellow gloves appeared at the top of her ladder. Between the year’s end and Mother Nature’s Arctic blasts we’ve been the only folks in the boatyard for days, and I definitely did the whole “what are the chances?“ double take. Without a traditional greeting, the voice just behind the hands was an octave above its normal tone. “Holy f*#k you did a great job!” I laughed out loud in surprise and when Steve appeared from below, the visitor’s sentiment was repeated exactly (and then one more time at the end of the conversation; let me add that this man knows of what he speaks), heartfelt, and oh-so-very-appreciated. “You’re so much closer to be being done!” he told us.
I nodded with an unexpected wave of emotion, blown in through the doorway like the biting north wind. That evening, after an exquisite hot shower (our joys are simple), I sat down on this very Mac and delved into the thousands of photos I’ve taken with both Canon and phone over the last twelve months. It occurs to me, each time I do this, how complex, layered and impressive big wooden vessels can be; there is so much hidden beneath the planking. So many steps, so much time. Here’s the bow one year ago and yesterday. Nineteen months ago today, we investigated the tiny brown spot that led us here.
Port side, one year ago and yesterday.
Slightly different view; for reference note the transducer bottom right, blue painter’s tape..
Starboard side: new purpleheart stem (front of the vessel) was installed one year ago.
The views from the interior during the rebuild are even more striking to me.
Purpleheart stem through the bulkhead crash hatch and port hullside under a bunk.
Eyebrows did raise when our visitor took in the multiple 1.75liter bottles of the least expensive 40-proof grain alcohol we could find to winterize the plumbing. “We’re serving the same thing at the launch party,” I joked.
We are truly SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE this year in much of North America. I added a fourth layer and paid another 50.93usd for kerosene to keep the workspace warm enough to function. Winds here peaked at nearly 50 knots last Friday and have been consistently above average as a string of cold fronts sweeps through. The day before, our sky was deep azure and clear as crystal with a chill wind that indicated it would not be that color for long, although it’s amazing what the sun can do. The solar power created through our plastic enclosure is remarkable, forty degrees warmer inside than out when conditions are right.
My workboots were propped up on the sawhorse which is used as a table and as legs and a sawhorse and a roller for the planer. Pretty handy, that thing. Purchased at the beginning of this land-dwelling adventure for 34.95 from some horrifyingly big box store so we didn’t have to make them ourselves; after all, we weren’t going to be here very long. There’s a little burro emblazoned on one corner. Not a horse, a burro. For a moment, I ponder why and then I ponder why on God’s green earth that could possibly matter and direct my gaze elsewhere. On the very long list of things that don’t matter, that could be right near the top. I then contemplate a fleck of fiberglass resin on my sunglasses that I fear is irremovable and will need to be ignored. Epoxy resin is as permanent as permanent gets and any attempt at removal would surely lead to extra scratches and a curse or two. Of course, that’s the whole point of this project, isn’t it? To make STEADFAST as permanent as she can possibly be. To make her outlast me, the Sailor and most of you perusing this story.
“I’m quitting after this last three feet,” he told me above the din of the air compressor, grinder, fans, and constant, mellow classic rock at the highest volume the thirty year-old speakers will handle. The sailor was sanding the sunny side waterline so that it didn’t cure too much and make that task (even more) difficult. A whole lot of curving surfaces come together at STEADFAST’s waterline, a whole lot of forces, both inside and out, and you already saw that he did, in fact, smooth our bottom. A thick, intimidating layer of snow-white fiberglass dust covered every imaginable surface.
“I feel lazy,” I called through the plastic. People, myself included, pay money to meditate, do nothing, relax, reflect and regroup. On this particular day, I wasn’t comfortable. I had just dropped lunch down the line used for that purpose, descended the ladder and sat in my now-a tad-rickety teak rocker, but I wasn’t working as I have come to know boatwork. I don’t grind the fiberglass to its desired finish; that careful work is not in my skillset nor my job description and Steve was just as dusty and worn out, maybe even more so, than I was last week when we finished the application. “That stuff is awful,” I had told him, stripping off my TYVEK suit for what I thought would be the final time. I shouldn’t have lamented having nothing urgent to accomplish; as soon as he finished, my work began in the doo-rag of the week.
Many of you don’t know that my Sailor Steve Uhthoff retired from a successful career in yacht repair, rebuild and refit as well as keel design. Some of you Annapolitans might remember the notorious Steve’s Yacht Repair and more recently Annapolis Fiberglass & Gelcoat based near and within Jabin’s sprawling marine operation. “We did that work because no one else wanted to, I liked it, and I made money doing it,” the hard labor was a trade-off, but who thinks of these things when life is happening full-tilt, full of challenges and a desire to be the best? That business sold just after he and I met in 2019 so he could venture back out on the water, see if I was worthy of such a life and also decide if it still brought the same joy he remembered. I’m not sure worthy is the main description I would use for me.
We’ve come a long way, year after year, project after project. I can’t say that I wouldn’t change a thing, now, can I? That might be a lie. In this case, neither one of us knew what we were in for, but it’s all gonna be worthwhile. BTW he’s a Marine Surveyor, too. I think folks have wondered how on earth we could possibly have completed this venture, and so now you know, as they say, the rest of the story. Well, no, but you have a sample chapter with a few surprises.
See you next week in our usual time slot. ~J
This Tri-color Heron guards our harbor year-round. Brrr.
Do you believe that my work is share-worthy? If so, please do! It’s easy to pick another water-lover in your life and forward this email, or simply ‘restack’ with the little arrows below. I appreciate your creative comments and encouragement, especially last week when all those MILESTONES were tumbling around! Thanks for whatever support you send, in whatever way you send it. ~J
My work here will always be free for everyone, but if you are able and choose to support me for 75 cents a week, that would keep me in clean TYVEK and new doo-rags. To those of you that have already invested in my curvy writing path, I cannot thank you enough.
These stories often come to me out of the darkest darkness, late at night, on watch, when the sound of the unseen sea can be either unpredictably raucous or quietly hypnotic, when the motion of the vessel can either rock you gently to sleep or jolt you awake, adrenaline flowing. I couldn’t possibly hit all the right keys under the latter conditions, so …
Read full story
I so appreciate your support of my work. Have a wonderful week!
Cruisers Net is proud to be a member of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association, whose lobbying work is crucial to keeping the Waterway navigable and safe. Your membership dollars directly support their vital work. Please join and encourage your boating neighbors to do the same, regardless of their home port.
Congress releases FY26 Energy & Water Appropriations Bill
On January 5, 2026, top appropriators in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives released text of three bicameral, bipartisan fiscal year appropriations bills: the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bills. All signs point to bipartisan support for passing the minibus bill prior to the upcoming deadline of January 30; however, no vote has yet been scheduled as of this article.The proposed Energy and Water Development bill would provide $58 billion in FY2026 funding to the Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the Bureau of Reclamation. The allocation for the totals $10.44 billion, which is $1.74 billion over the FY2025 amount of $8.70 billion. Of specific interest to our association is the Operations & Maintenance Account (O&M Account) that funds dredging and associated projects along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The O&M Account includes $2.33 billion and the AIWA-specific breakdown is shown in the table and described below.
VA – Albemarle Chesapeake Canal – President’s Budget Request- $3.597M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $3.597M VA – Dismal Swamp Canal – President’s Budget Request – $1.816M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $1.816M NC – President’s Budget Request – $12.490M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $16.712M, an increase of $4.222M over the President’s Budget SC – President’s Budget Request – $9.213M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $9.213M GA – President’s Budget Request – $6.265M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $6.265M FL – President’s Budget Request – $4.830M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $4.830M Total for the AIWW/IWW – President’s Budget Request – $38.211 Million, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $42.433 Million Total for the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway – President’s Budget Request – $1.715 Million, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $1.715 Million
The great news for the waterway is that Appropriators included Congressman Greg Murphy’s Community Project Funding request for an additional $4.222 million for North Carolina in their final bill. This funding was an advocacy goal for the Association for FY2026 and we are grateful for Congressman Murphy’s support.
We also have the opportunity to secure additional funding through the Additional Dredging Needs funding pots included in the appropriations bill listed below: General Navigation – $509.482 million Inland Waterways – $47.243 million Small, Remote or Subsistence Navigation – $300 million
Looking ahead
We are hopeful that Congress will vote on the Energy & Water appropriations bill prior to January 30, especially since it is the result of bipartisan negotiations between the House and Senate. Fortunately, work continues unimpeded along the waterway and more projects are underway and planned for 2026 and beyond. We are also beginning to formulate our funding requests for FY2027, and will be meeting with Congressional members and staff in the coming months.
Resources Below are links to the FY26 Energy & Water Appropriations Bill of interest to our members:
AIWA Board of Directors ~ Gratitude for your support and service!
As we begin the new year, we offer gratitude for all of our supporters and members in 2025, especially the organizational sponsors highlighted below. We would not be successful without your financial contributions to ensure our abilities as the Voice of the Waterway.
We would like to introduce our association leadership for 2026: The board is led by David Kennedy, Chair, BoatU.S.; Janet Zimmerman, Vice-chair, Florida Inland Navigation District; Devon Carlock, Treasurer, Cottrell Contracting Corporation; and Kristin Meira, Secretary, American Cruise Lines. Board members include: Dennis Barbour of NC Beach Inlet & Waterway Association, Paul Barger of Colonial Group, Ken Craig of Taylor Engineering, Mark Epley of McDonough Marine Service, Michael Gerhardt of Muddy Water Dredging Solutions, Richard Jaques of Cross State Towing, LA Mullis of Vulcan Materials Division, Ben Murray of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Bos Smith of Stevens Towing, John Vannoy of Orion Group, and Kevin Wikar of Moffatt & Nichol. Thank you all for your service in 2026!
10-Step Methodology for Effective Passage Planning
With the southern migration underway to warmer anchorages, we wanted to share the following blog posting from our friends and partners atAquamap:Savvy navigators know that planning a passage includes a careful blend of seamanship, navigation, meteorology, and oceanography. Even if the trip is one you make every season, the solution will differ because some variables will change. I developed this 10-step methodology to ensure that all the bases are covered, and I use it when teaching marine weather and passage planning to students, and when planning my own voyages. It breaks the process into discrete, manageable chunks and is scalable for short hops or long voyages. Following these steps will allow you to optimize all the factors involved for a safe, efficient passage.
Know your boat – performance and constraints. This includes performance under both sail and power. Sailing polars are part of the picture, but ensure they are scaled for a cruise-laden boat with a non-racing crew. When inshore, will your boat’s mast height or draft be a factor? Assess your boat’s cruising speed, available fuel, and range under power. Consider your available fresh water, including tankage and watermaking capacity. Does your crew have constraints, whether timing or physical? Do you have the communications gear to support your navigation plan? Evaluate your distance offshore against the range of VHF, cellular, or satellite communications.
Climatology. Studying long-term patterns for weather and currents over a geographic area is often the most overlooked step in the passage-planning process. There are numerous resources, including pilot charts (paper and digital), cruising guides, the National Hurricane Center, and NOAA’s 6-month Climate Forecast System (CFS) model. Studying climatology helps you select the right ocean for the right season and provides insight into what to expect and prepare for. Some sources provide route guidance based purely on climatology – that’s a great starting point for long-range planning.
Navigation plan. Whether you prefer paper or electronic, you need to use reliable, accurate charts of an appropriate scale. I like to have a planning chart that depicts the entire route, and to supplement it with large-scale (small-area) charts for the departure, destination, and en route portions that require high-resolution data. You can find the correct scales in chartbooks or in electronic apps like Aqua Map. If you primarily use a chartplotter underway, be sure to have backup charts on a smartphone or tablet. Plot the shortest navigable route to your destination, considering your draft and air draft. Use meaningful, transferable waypoints, especially if you’re working between paper and electronic charts. Modify your route based on climatology (e.g., do you need to get east before turning south, anticipating trade winds?). Using a realistic cruising speed (remember step 1) and the distance on your navigable route, calculate the estimated time en route. Plot your anticipated daily progress on your chart – this will help focus your weather analysis.
The AIWA is a national non-profit organization with the mission of securing funding and support for the maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. We are the only organization dedicated to ensuring the future of the AIWW and proudly represent all stakeholders of the waterway.
BoatUS and Savvy Navvy collaborate to improve boat safety across the USA
BoatUS and Savvy Navvy partner to boost navigation confidence among recreational boaters
Photo Credit: Savvy Navvy
Springfield, VA, January 6, 2026 – With grounding incidents among the leading causes of on-water assistance calls in the United States, BoatUS and navigation technology company Savvy Navvy are thrilled to announce a partnership for recreational boaters to navigate more safely and confidently.
The partnership aims to address critical skills gaps, particularly among newer boaters who may lack experience with chart reading, tidal patterns, and route planning. Savvy Navvy – often referred to as “Google Maps for boats” – delivers an intuitive, all-in-one app that helps boaters plan safer routes with ease. Earlier this year, Savvy Navvy launched new features including NMEA Connect, which seamlessly integrates NMEA-enabled boat instruments with the app, providing real-time data and enhanced AIS visibility.
BoatUS, the Boat Owners Association of The United States, is the nation’s leading advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters. Providing on-water towing assistance to its members, this new partnership will enable its 740,000 members with a discount on a Savvy Navvy Premium account, providing enhanced access and functionalities for safer navigation.
“BoatUS does great work for its members, and its mission to eliminate preventable recreational boating accidents aligns perfectly with why we founded Savvy Navvy. As a leader in digital navigation, we firmly believe in formal training, understanding navigation, and knowing what’s going on in the background while the app is doing the heavy lifting. With human error and inexperience behind so many on-water incidents, this partnership enables more boaters to access Savvy Navvy, enhancing safety and peace of mind whilst out on the water,” says David Cusworth, Head of Partnership and Innovation at Savvy Navvy.
“We’re excited to partner with Savvy Navvy and offer our members a discounted rate to access the Savvy Navvy navigational app,” said Elio Betty, Director of Partnerships at BoatUS. “Our hope is to connect our members with a seamless navigational experience when on the water and ensure our members reach their destination safely.”
To become a member of BoatUS for only $25 annually and enjoy benefits such as the Savvy Navvy Premium Account, a subscription to BoatUS Magazine, complimentary DSC-VHF radio registration, discounts on marina fuel, transient slips, repairs and more, visit BoatUS.com/Membership.
Unlike other navigation solutions, Savvy Navvy provides smart routing, giving users the optimal route and dynamic ETAs based on real-time data: departure time, chart information, weather conditions, tide, boat specifications, and local regulations. With more than 3 million downloads worldwide, the United States continues to be one of Savvy Navvy’s fastest growing markets. For more information, visit www.savvy-navvy.com.
About Savvy Navvy Simplifying boating technology has always been the aim of savvy navvy, founded by lifelong sailor and ex Googler Jelte Liebrand. He was baffled at the amount of data sources you needed to get a clear picture of where you were, what the tide was doing, what weather to expect, how to plot your course to steer and how to find a good anchorage or marina and then how to share your plans with your buddies and family. He focused on tech that is already in the hands of most boaters. So, turning a phone or tablet into your boating buddy seemed like an obvious next step. In less than six years, savvy navvy has attracted global users from all over the world all using the app to help their experience on the water. As part of savvy navvy’s continuous growth, they have expanded to support kayakers, jet-skiers and paddleboarders with simplified navigation. Today savvy navvy is available on Android, IOS, PC and Mac and can be used on an unlimited number of devices. Find out more on www.savvy-navvy.com .
About BoatUS Celebrating 60 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with more than 740,000 dues-paying members. BoatUS is the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill, fighting for their rights. The TowBoatUS® fleet is available 24/7 to assist our members on the water when boats break down or run aground with some 660 vessels and 330-plus locations across North America, bringing our members safely back to the launch ramp, marina or dock. On the road, we are The Boat Owners Auto Club™, helping ensure roadside trailer and tow vehicle breakdowns won’t slow you down. BoatUS offers GEICO boat insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and the superior service they need. Award-winning BoatUS Magazine is the largest circulation recreational marine publication in the U.S. with engaging content that speaks to the passion for boat ownership, while our 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers the nation’s only free online boating safety course and many other programs that keep boaters safe and our waters clean. Visit BoatUS.com for more information.
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Keep your calendar clear: Every season in Washington, NC brings something new and exciting. Enjoy local festivals, area concerts, or waterfront adventure.
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