Martin County Moments: October 2020, Stuart, FL
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
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At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
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Staniel Cay Yacht Club, a longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and a favorite destination for cruisers in the Exumas, is excited to be welcoming guests as coronavirus restrictions are eased. With commercial airlines limiting and cancelling flights regularly, Makers Air is continuing to schedule flights with every safety precaution in mind. Growing from its initial operations servicing Staniel Cay, Makers Air is today’s premier air service to and from the Out Islands of the Bahamas.
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Multiple buoys missing in St Augustine Inlet
St Augustine Inlet Buoy 2
St Augustine Inlet Buoy 3
St Augustine Inlet Buoy 4
St Augustine Inlet Lighted Buoy 5
St Augustine Inlet Lighted Buoy 6
St Augustine Inlet Lighted Buoy 7
St Augustine Inlet Buoy 10 Chart 11488 LNM 39/20
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
How are you feeling about attending events in the coming months?
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St Marys Inlet is the US military’s channel into Kings Bay Atomic Sub Station and is extremely well maintained.
Coast Guard removes fishing vessel from St. Mary’s inlet, GA JACKSONVILLE-Fla.— The Coast Guard completed pollution mitigation and removal efforts for the fishing vessel Phuong Mai in St. Mary’s Inlet Georgia, Friday. The vessel posed a hazard to the marine environment and was an imminent threat to obstruct passage of the navigation channel. As the Federal On-Scene Coordinator, Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville federalized the response using the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Over 500 gallons of oily water was pumped from the vessel, and contractors successfully removed the vessel and debris from the water. The Coast Guard rescued two adults after their fishing vessel ran aground on Thursday, August 20th on the north jetty in St Mary’s Inlet, Georgia. A Coast Guard Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew arrived on scene and hoisted the two adults to safety with no reported injuries. The 40-foot fishing vessel encountered damage to their fiberglass hull and sank in approximately 20-feet of water. “The Coast Guard is responsible for safeguarding the American people, ensuring security in a complex maritime environment, and ensuring the economic prosperity of the region,” said Petty Officer First Class Justin Chartier, the Federal On-Scene Coordinator representative on the response “This was a unique response that included 6 out of 11 Coast Guard missions: Ports, Waterways, & Coastal Security, Search & Rescue, Living Marine Resources, Marine Safety, Defense Readiness, and Marine Environmental Protection. We are thankful to the multiple federal and state agencies that assisted on the response. With their help, we were able to quickly remove the vessel from the water, prevent the threat of pollution to the local area and eliminate a hazard to navigation in a port of national significance.” For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook. -USCG- |
AREA SPONSORING MARINA
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fernandina Harbor Marina
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is home to Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and a hub of boating activity and events of interest to boaters.
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The quarterly Gone Coastal column is one of many ways that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Division of Marine Fisheries Management is helping recreational anglers understand complex saltwater regulations and learn more about saltwater fishing opportunities and issues in Florida.
Gone Coastal: Lifejackets: Variety is the spice of safety
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is home to Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and a hub of boating activity and events of interest to boaters.
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This bascule FEC RR bridge crosses the Waterway west of Jupiter Inlet.
FLORIDA – EAST COAST – BETHEL SHOAL TO JUPITER INLET – LOXAHATCHEE RIVER FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILROAD
BRIDGE: Bridge Replacement
Scott Bridge Company Inc., acting on behalf of the bridge owner Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway, will be replacing the Loxahatchee River Railroad Bridge. The replacement of the FEC RR Bridge across the Loxahatchee River is expected to commence late July 2020. To facilitate launching barges, a temporary access bridge will constructed on the northwest corner of the RR Bridge. The access bridge may extend slightly into the northern edge of the channel. The contractor will perform the bridge/trestle replacement from an 80’ x 80’ spud/crane barge and 85’ x 140’ catamaran/crane barge. All in-water equipment shall be properly lighted. At no time will the entire waterway be closed to navigation without prior Coast Guard approval. Anticipate future waterway restrictions and/or closures. If you have any questions regarding the waterway, please contact USCG Sector Miami Waterways Division at (305) 535-4317, email D07-PFSECMIAMI-MARINE-PERMITS@USCG.MIL
UPDATE
From July 13, 2020 through August 3, 2020, the contractor will be conducting soil borings on the west side of the bridge from two spud barges. No work will be performed in the channel and equipment will be properly lighted.
Ref: LNM 27-20 Chart: 11474
Our thanks to Michele Bennett of St Augustine Cruisers Net for this Facebook posting.
Broward County, FL, includes Waterway communities such as Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. These actions follow in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases in south Florida.
Broward to shut down businesses that don’t comply with social distancing and mask rules
Sun Sentinel
As COVID-19 cases surge, let’s hope this requirement is not too little, too late.
Masks to be required in public places in Palm Beach County
Sun Sentinel
Fort Pierce City Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and a public facility, is located west of the Waterway, just south of the Fort Pierce high-rise bridge and well north of unlighted daybeacon #188. See FOCUS ON for more on this excellent facility.
Click here for Video Report from Fort Pierce City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fort Pierce City Marina
Our thanks to Gene Faatz for sharing his navigation of Lake Okeechobee. Few of us cruisers ever get to see 26kts, so it is interesting to read his report.
Other than a couple of canoes and crew boats we saw very, very little boat traffic on the St. Lucie River to the St. Lucie Lock. After locking through with a 10 ft. lift it was smooth cruising at 26 kts. all the way to the Port Mayaca Lock which was open for pass through. When clearing the lock and entering Lake “O” it is VERY shallow with depths going down to about 4 ft. and you MUST favor the green markers and idle for about 3/4 of a mile to deeper water. The lake has plenty of water even though it was officially at 11.3 ft. all the way to Clewiston at 26 kts., but at the junction of the rim canal it has shoaled on the NW corner but all was good to the Moore Haven Lock which at this time is about a 1 ft. drop.
Gene Faatz
Click Here To View the Okeechobee Waterway Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For St. Lucie Lock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the St. Lucie Lock
Click Here To View the VA to NC Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Moore Haven Lock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Moore Haven
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is home to Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and a hub of boating activity and events of interest to boaters.
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Cruisers Net is always grateful for Greg Allard’s observations and willingness to share his vast experience with our readers. Be sure to read and view his several Letters and photo journals from the Bahamas. Harborage Yacht Club Marina is in Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and a major hub of boating activities.
Harborage Yacht Club and Marina
Stuart, Florida
772-692-4000
https://harborageyachtclub.com
In February of 2020 we spent two weeks at the Harborage, which is just northeast of the three bridges in the center of Stuart.
In past years we had docked there a couple of times, and had found it to be just ok, but not great. During that period it was a Loggerhead marina and between deferred maintenance and a hurricane, it had suffered. All of that has changed, and I’m pleased to report that the marina has been virtually redone and is now a solid choice for boaters and cruisers.
The northerly set of fixed docks are like new, with composite decking and new electrical and water supplies. From what we observed, most transient boats are assigned to the fixed docks, where you are permitted to stay aboard for any length of time. The southern section of the marina consists of floating docks which can also be rented for transient or longer term; staying aboard there is limited to four consecutive days, and nine total days, per month. The southern section is a much further walk to reach the pool and clubhouse area. The marina has a total of 300 slips, 150 are fixed and the rest are floating.
One of the issues with this marina, in the past, has been the depth of water in the basins and slips. When we were there almost two months ago, dredging was underway full time. The dockmaster now reports that the dredging has been completed (except for a couple of slips which had boats in them), resulting in 7.5’ depth at MLW in both the slips and the fairways. While some marinas in the area have issues with current, we observed none of any significance here.
The shore side facilities are excellent – pool and spa, outdoor fire-pit lounging area, free OnSpot wi-fi, a laundry,
Captain’s lounge with TV, new bathrooms and showers, fitness center, boatside (golf-cart) pumpout, poolside bar and grill, and good security. They offer golf-cart rides from your boat to landside. There is an easy-approach fuel dock, with competitive prices and pump out.
On site is the TideHouse restaurant, not operated by the marina. We had a very good bar-menu meal on the outside deck, with live music. There is a full dinner menu for inside.
Across the street from the marina, in a shopping center, is a casual Italian restaurant, Uncle Giuseppe’s, which is easy to recommend – a comfortable place, reasonably priced, with good Italian dishes and pizza.
While the marina facility is now first-rate, this is also now a well-managed marina. The Dock Master, Scott Fletcher, is a true professional, and has his hand on the pulse of the place. The dock staff he has assembled are exceptional and understand customer service. They could just not do enough for you. We had the most contact with excellent dockhands Nick and Jim. The general manger of the facility, Allison Ackell, gave us a warm welcome as we checked in and provided a detailed tour of the facility.
The long term dock rates are 17-$18 a foot, per month, with metered electricity. Daily rate is $2.95 a foot, plus flat fee electric. The long term rates makes sense for a stay of more than about two weeks. A full list of rates is on their website, listed above.
There is a Sam’s Club, a West Marine and a Publix market a couple of miles north on Federal Highway, along with any other stores you might ever need. Enterprise delivered a rental car to the marina for us. On Saturday mornings, in the neat historic section of Stuart, there is a small but quality farmer’s market.
From the GIWW, to enter the marina you leave the main channel at marker 23, (which is northeast of the high, fixed New Roosevelt bridge) and steer for the green buoy which is just outside the entrance to the marina, between the breakwaters; that heading is approximately 310M. From 23 to the green buoy the depth was around seven feet at MLW. If you are uncertain of your track, the dock staff will “talk you in” to the marina on VHF.
Is everything perfect? They need to add more dock carts – there always seemed to be a shortage. Additionally, since parking spaces are really tough to find, it would be a welcome service if the marina provided a van type shuttle to Sam’s, West Marine and Publix a few days a week.
A couple of people have commented about the noise from the nearby railroad. Yes, there is some noise, but every marina in the area, including the nearby Sunset Bay, is subject to the same thing.
The Stuart area is a hub for boaters on the east coast of Florida, and dock space is invariably hard to find. The rebirth of this marina makes for a great new facility in the area.
The Harborage Marina is open and running during these difficult times, with a number of boats having arrived from the Keys and from the Bahamas.
Greg Allard
M/V Meander
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Harborage Yacht Club Marina
Fort Pierce City Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and a public facility, is located west of the Waterway, just south of the Fort Pierce high-rise bridge and well north of unlighted daybeacon #188. See FOCUS ON for more on this excellent facility.
4/18/2020
Just wanted to update you. We are fully open for fuel and pump outs. We are also taking boats for 1-6 nights (basically those that are waiting for a weather window. We will take new monthlies; but only as a “drop and go”. They can stay for a day or two to get there boat secured and then they will have to leave. We are not letting anyone besides our regular tenants use the facilities, in an attempt to try and contain any germs.
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Anne Bowen | Marina Concierge | City of Fort Pierce
City Marina
Phone: 772.464.1245 | Fax: 772.464.2589 |1 Avenue A Fort Pierce 34950
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fort Pierce City Marina
A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Harbortown Marina lies off the southern shores of the Canaveral Barge Canal between Sykes Creek and the Banana River. This fine facility has now expanded their ship’s store!
Harbortown Marina – Canaveral (Merritt Island) COVID-19 UPDATE
Fort Pierce City Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and a public facility, is located west of the Waterway, just south of the Fort Pierce high-rise bridge and well north of unlighted daybeacon #188. See FOCUS ON for more on this excellent facility.
4/9/2020
BIG NEWS!! Our fuel dock will be open on Saturday 4/11!! Fuel prices are as follows: Diesel 2.269 discounts applied with BOAT US and quantity amounts. Gas price is 2.769 all taxes are included and the same discounts apply.
We are also allowing overnight transients, but they will need to use the facilities on their boat. We are trying to help those boaters that are on the go, but also trying to protect our own tenants.
Also, we are allowing what we call a “Drop and Go”. If a boater needs to leave their boat for a month or more they can bring it in and stay one night and then they must depart the Marina.
Our pump outs are also up and running.
Thank you for sharing our update with your readers and stay safe and HEALTHY!!!
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Anne Bowen | Marina Concierge | City of Fort Pierce
City Marina
Phone: 772.464.1245 | Fax: 772.464.2589 |1 Avenue A Fort Pierce 34950
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fort Pierce City Marina
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
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