One of Claiborne’s favorite side trips along the southern Georgia portion of the AICW was to leave the Waterway at marker #34 and cruise up the Cumberland Island channel to anchor off the west side of Cumberland Island and east of Drum Point Island. Our thanks to Chris and Alyse Caldwell for this report.
Cumberland Island GA anchorage allows you access to the most pristine beach you can imagine. Wander in by dinghy from the southwestern side of the island, stroll under the canopy of trees over to the incredible dunes of the Atlantic Ocean and I will bet you encounter peacocks, goats and wild horses. This national park offers overnight camping but limits the number of daily visitors. It is a must see for us every time we traverse the east coast. See you on the water… Chris and Alyse Caldwell
Today we celebrate 36 years of protection for Georgia’s special live-bottom habitat that supports wildlife in the Atlantic Ocean and along the southeastern U.S. coast. With your support, Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary will continue to be an area teeming with diversity and an abundance of marine life, supported by healthy habitats in clean ocean waters. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE
PLEASE NOTE: The purpose of this warning is to remind you to slow down and watch your wake wherever you are, not to assist you in avoiding law enforcement. This specific warning of a speed trap is based on hearsay and it’s the first such we’ve had in a long while. However, a word to the wise calls for carefully watching your speed and wake through this area. If you encounter speed/wake enforcement in Thunderbolt, let us hear from you. Our thanks to Steve and Barb Sipe for this report.
Have heard reports in the past few days of speeding violations being issued on the GA ICW around Thunderbolt, in the area of G33 to G37. Reports indicate LEO’s are stopping vessels for speeding/violation of no wake zones and issuing warnings and in some cases, citations with a fine of $1,000. No specific information as to the enforcement agency conducting the stops, either state or local, not USCG. Might be worth a mention on the site as a problem area. Steve & Barb Sipe Solo 4303 “Maerin”
I am a safe and courteous boater and yes I come from the north, but still south of the Mason/Dixon line. I got stopped just passing Thunderbolt with a sog ( that’s speed over ground for you locals) of 3 kts and a good current against. I was told by GDNR sargent that I had to do idle speed! I asked him what idle speed means and he answered 1000 rpm?? I told him if I did 1000 rpm I would be doing 6 kts. and as others have said no solid object can go through a fluid without making a wave. I got a warning, but the Sabre behind me got $1000…. I must not be looking like the 1%ers!
I try my best to abide by any no-wake or speed regulations but there are two problems: 1) Many, many waterfront homeowners have posted their own “no-wake” signs making it hard to distinguish the real ones from the fake ones. I realize that some homeowners are concerned with excessive wakes, but they have no more right to post these signs than I have to post fake speed limit signs in front of my property. 2) Wakes are subjective, rather than objective. As someone else mentioned, you can’t move a boat through the water at any speed without making some sort of wake. So when does a ripple become a wake? And in whose opinion? How do you defend yourself in court if you get a ticket? We can’t measure a wake height and neither can a LEO.
Someone mentioned boating into a current. If you’re boating into a two knot current, you have to make two knots just to stay in place and four knots to make two knots over ground.
Yes, we should do our best to boat safely and obey boating laws. Sometimes, it’s not as easy as it might seem to people other than boaters.
Rich Tanner S/V Feral Cat- December 3, 2016 - 8:43 am
I agree with Tracy. They are breaking the law, increasing erosion and sometimes creating hazardous wakes. There are reasons for No Wake and speed limits. I absolutely don’t think your publicizing the locations is a good idea.
We call it the Parade. All the boats coming from up north going to Florida. There are a lot of them and it looks like a long parade of boats. We love Yankees the talk fast drive fast have fast women and money. The drive fast thru no-wake-zones and bridges. In Georgia it is against the law to make a wake going under a bridge like the one in Thunderbolt. “No wake Idle speed only” means no bow wake you know the little bitty six inch wake your bow is making; It is a wake. When Yankees slow down from 35 knots to 25 knots that doesn’t count. Thanks for the money. It is only money go as fast as you want. Don’t worry about respecting your fellow boaters tied to the docks in those no- wake-zones
Just conjecture here: went by there in early November and someone chastised me about my wake over the VHF. I have a sail cat and was doing less than 6 kts. My wake was quite minimal. I wonder if soneone’s complaints is causing a crackdown. Let’s keep the wakes down but not get crazy unreasonable.
Because No Wake is ambiguous at best. You cannot move a solid thru a liquid without creating a wake. Add to that a full flood tide on the nose and the Slow Speed – No Wake issue is subjective. That’s how I talked my way out of a citation near Vernon View.
Captain Wes is referring to a narrow stretch of Waterway northwest of Dolbow Island off Altamaha Sound and is responding to an earlier report of shoaling in Little Mud River, see /161445.
Another area to keep a close eye on is just south of the little mud river starting around FL 4s “202” to daymark “206” passed through about 2 hrs after low water and bumped in the middle of the channel and the boat behind bumped as well, that was a surprise! Luckily just mud…. Both of us draft 5′-5″ were on plane so calculate how you like, I lose about foot [to 4’5″] while on plane. Like Terry I was transiting this same area the same day. I was aware of what lurked ahead as I’ve transited these waters for 15 years now, it always has my full attention!!! Wes
Today’s Waterway Guide reports shoaling at Marker #60 in Cumberland Dividings, a SSECN Problem Stretch, where channel shifting at the Waterway/Brickhill River intersection is perennial. For good advice on this Problem Stretch, go to: /153352
Little Mud River is almost universally acknowledged to be the worst section of the entire Waterway from Norfolk to Miami. This AICW Problem Stretch lies some 21 statute miles north of Brunswick, Georgia. SSECN continues to recommend navigating this stretch at mid to high tide only. Our thanks to yacht delivery Captain Terry for this newest update. For a comprehensive report from Little Mud River, go to /?p=128659
Navigated Mud River on Nov 30 boat 48 Viking, kicked up plenty mud, many seagulls following wake. 50 ft Sport Fish hi and dry aground, missed the turn, soft mud, Sea Tow pulled off mud flat, no damage to boat or running gear. Terry
12/8 Follow-up: Larry, there were four boats traveling together, I was on Lockout a 48 Viking en route from Manasquan NJ to Palm Beach, Sea Tow came out and pulled him out after the tide came in, it was around 15:48 Dead low tide (7ft tide swing). We all stayed over at St. Simon’s Island and met for dinner. There was virtually no damage to the 54 Sport Fish and the Captain had around 40 years experience. I will not mention the name of the boat due to respect. Remember it can happen to anyone. If it has not happened, with time it is certain to happen. Terry
Another area to keep a close eye on is just south of the little mud river starting around FL 4s “202” to daymark “206” passed through about 2 hrs after low water and bumped in the middle of the channel and the boat behind bumped as well, that was a surprise! Luckily just mud…. Both of us draft 5′-5″ were on plane so calculate how you like, I loose about foot while on plane. Like Terry I was transiting this same area the same day. I was aware of what lurked ahead as I’ve transited these waters for 15 years now, it always has my full attention!!!
Causton Bridge had been closed to navigation for repairs over this past weekend, but has now been partially repaired allowing traffic through a single span. With a closed vertical clearance of 21 feet, the Causton Bluff – Sam Varnedoe Bridge crosses the Waterway at Statute Mile 580.
We post this complaint only to compare the experience of this skipper with Imron versus Awlgrip. We also trust that the results of this particular work are not typical of Hinkley’s expertise. See Tom Law’s comments below.
You don’t always get what you pay for! With such great reviews we decided to use Hinckley to paint our boat. We got a bid to have our 49 Hylas yacht painted in Awlgrip in January 2016. We have used Awlgrip paint before and found it to be durable, easy to clean and long lasting. A few weeks after we got the bid to paint the topsides in Awlgrip by the manager, we were handed off to [another worker] to coordinate the work we needed done. Then came emails and phone calls to use Imron paint. Imron paint is cheaper than Awlgrip. Although we loved Awlgrip we decided the “professionals” knew better and so we went with their product Imron. We felt that on every step Hinkley encouraged us to do more and more work than we felt unnecessary. It always started with “at Hinckley we do it this way because it’s the best”. They faired the transom and built it up with a compound to fix a few dings. We were not in Florida when the work was done which was Big mistake. When we arrived in late January the first issues started. First issue was we had covered our boat to protect the deck from the harsh Florida weather .We always do this when leaving our boat in storage. Hinckley removed it when they stepped the mast right after we left and never replaced as they deemed it unnecessary. We reminded them to put it back on after the mast was stepped and were assured they would do so. We had new [name] signs put on the boat. When I showed [the worker] that they were peeling, he suggested a little clear nail polish on the edges to keep them from peeling off! I was starting to regret using Hinckley. Most worrisome was the paint job. The Imron just wasn’t the right type of paint for a sailboat that actually gets used. This became apparent a few months later. We sailed from Hinckley directly to the Bahamas and Cuba for 4 months. The boat was only in a marina once where it was rinsed down and washed. It was there we noticed that salt had etched the paint. When we returned to Hinckley five months after the initial painting we had to haul the boat and they had to use an acid to remove the salt. Even the yard and paint distributor said they had never seen anything like it. Never in 25,000 miles of sailing with Awlgrip had we ever used anything but Awlgrip wash to clean our boat of salt residue. It always looked great. Next issue was discovered by the guys who polished the boa. He t noticed small cracks all over the transom. Brian tried to explain it as fiberglass from under the bonding they used was suddenly erupting through the paint. Riduculous? Of course. But our choice was to stay in Florida and haggle with Hinckley or just consider this a VERY EXPENSIVE lesson. We realized we would never be satisfied and left. We are currently in Europe and have now noticed that everything scratches this paint. Mooring lines that rub remove the paint down to the primer. Bumpers rubbing wear off the paint, a small bump on a plastic dock scratches. Even my finger nail can scratch through the paint! Two professional painters here in Europe laughed at their explanation on why the transom had cracks. Both explained it was too much compound used and the compound was cracking underneath. This of course makes more sense. I will say that Hinckley did reimburse me the costs of the signs. Lessons learned. Never would I recommend Imron paint and never would I recommend Hinckley Boat yard. Maureen Gapp
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Comments from Cruisers (1)
Tom Law- November 15, 2016 - 10:18 pm
I think this refers to Hinckley, Stuart. Not Hinkley, Thunderbolt. Perhaps, a minor point; however, I’m sure it will be appreciated by Hinckley, Thunderbolt. We had our 43 foot American Tug painted with Imron at Hinckley, Stuart, a few years ago and were very pleased with the workmanship and the result. Different boats and different experiences; however, I did want to state a positive experience with Hinckley, Stuart.
DNR to Host Public Hearing on Proposed Rule for Coastal Private Docks Brunswick, GA (Oct 18, 2016) – The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has announced the rescheduled public hearing for proposed new rules for private recreational docks. The public hearing, rescheduled due to Hurricane Matthew, will be held in Brunswick on October 27, 2016 at 6:00 PM.
The proposed new rule would codify standards and conditions for issuance of a revocable license authorizing construction, maintenance, or modification of private recreational docks located over state-owned tidal water bottoms. The proposed new rule would also provide penalties for non-compliance with these standards and conditions.
“The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for insuring that private docks in coastal areas are built in a manner that balances environmental impact with access to tidal waterways for recreation such as boating and fishing,” explained Spud Woodward, director of the Coastal Resources Division of DNR. “The proposed rule will formalize in state law the same standards for dock size and configuration that have been required in federal law since 2012. Harmonizing state and federal law will eliminate confusion in the regulated community and strengthen the ability of DNR to resolve situations when docks are built knowingly and willfully in the wrong location or in the wrong manner.”
The public hearing on the proposed rule will be held in Brunswick at the Georgia DNR Coastal Regional Headquarters campus in the Susan Shipman Environmental Learning Center on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 6:00 PM.
Written public comment will be received through Monday, November 07, 2016. Comments should be legible, concise and limited to the proposed rule change. Following the comment period, the Board of Natural Resources will consider the proposed rule on December 13, 2016 at 9:00 AM at the Lake Blackshear Resort, 2459-H U.S. Highway 280 West, Cordele, Georgia.
Mail or email comments to:Doug Haymans, Coastal Resources Division, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA 31520; email: doug.haymans@dnr.ga.gov
Carmen and Cathy Salemno traveling south through SC and GA report that traffic is very light and that visible debris is sparse. They also report that most marinas look good, but that many private docks, especially the ones with longer walkouts, have suffered damage. The dock houses appear to be undamaged, but the walkouts are gone.
The owner of Sunbury Crab Company in Brunswick, GA reports that the marina’s sign was damaged in pre-Matthew winds and a portion of the sign with their phone number was lost. Days later after Matthew, a phone call was received from a boater in Vero Beach FL who had found the broken sign part! Thanks to Carmen Salemno for relating this remarkable tale!
Very good advice and information re the Waterway from Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources’s Coastal Resources Division.
Brunswick, GA (Oct 11, 2016) – The Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division (CRD), under authority granted pursuant to the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act and the Shore Protection Act, finds that an emergency exists due to Hurricane Matthew within all the coastal counties of the State of Georgia.
CRD has initiated Emergency Order #1 and #2, which places a moratorium on nonessential construction/alteration within the jurisdiction of the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) and the Shore Protection Act (SPA). This moratorium is effective immediately and will be in place until further notice.
“High winds, storm surge, and flooding have caused damage to many structures located in Georgia’s tidal waterways, over marshlands and along barrier island beaches. We know that private, public and commercial docks have been damaged as have beach crossovers on our barrier islands,” stated Spud Woodward, director of the Coastal Resources Division. “Our staff will be working with public, commercial, and government entities to facilitate a quick recovery from Hurricane Matthew but we need information about the extent of the damage. We want to focus our efforts on recovery so action on non-essential projects currently in the queue will be delayed. ”
CRD staff has set up a call center to gather information about impacts to beach front property, private docks, bank stabilizations, marinas, commercial docks, or other structures within coastal waters, marshlands or along barrier island beaches. Staff will also be available to answer questions about permitting/regulatory processes and needs for areas impacted within the jurisdiction of CMPA or SPA. If you have questions or need to provide information please contact call our office at (912) 264-7218 between the hours of 8 AM and 4:30 PM. You will be directed to a customer service representative who will collect information and respond to questions.
We hear lot of stories of extreme shallows at Hell Gate, so this report from longtime contributor and experienced skipper, James Newsome, is good news, PROVIDED you take his and our advice to wait for mid to high tide if you draw more than 4ft. See /156050 . And see 9/24 report below.
I negotiated Hell’s Gate on Sunday 08/28/16 traveling northbound exactly two hours before low tide. High tide was approximately 7.3′ for this day. Therefore, we calculated that we had 1.25′ per hour x 2 = 2.5′ of water over low tide. The least water we saw was 8′ which means the net low was around 5.5′. We steered pretty much down the middle following the magenta line, not favoring any marker. I draw 5’8″ to 6′ loaded which means I could have made this passage through Hell’s Gate an hour before low tide and barely had water under the keel. At low tide I could not have made it through. Based on the draft of your vessel, Hell’s Gate is only a concern within an hour or two of low tide, and if you only draw 4.5′ you can travel through here any time of the day, unless there is a negative tide perhaps. Just take it slow and easy on the south side of Hell’s Gate. There is some squirrelly current on the southern entrance to Hell’s Gate, but it’s nothing to be too concerned about. James Newsome
9/24 Nelms Graham had a less easy passage, even 3 hours after low tide and in a shallow draft vessel!
Transited Hells Gate on 09/24/16 three hours after low tide, “bumped” in channel approx. 75ft. from marker “89”, in vessel drawing 2-‘6. Nelms Graham
Longtime cruiser and SSECN Contributing Editor, Captain Jim Healy, shares his knowledge and experience in these observations on this portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Thank you Jim!
The entire region from Charleston to St. Augustine has high tidal ranges, ranging from 5′ at St. Augustine to as much as 9′ in Savannah/Beaufort/Charleston. Those high tidal ranges create swift tidal currents, and especially for first-times, docking is easiest in the 1/2 hour before and after slack.
There are many areas of shallow water in the region. The very best resource for current data on low water and caution areas is available via www.activecaptain.com. Two other websites that all ICW travelers should know about are www.waterwayguide.com and www.cruisersnet.net. I’m sure you are familiar with the Waterway Guide book series. The “Salty Southeast Cruiser’s Net” (SSECN) is really a boating group. It was founded by Claiborne Young. After Claiborne’s untimely loss, the group continued in operation. The Cruiser’s Net website specializes on the US Southeast. There is some duplication of material between the WWG site and the SSECN site, but there is unique value to both. Both are excellent resources for fuel prices, marinas and anchorages. These websites would make a good sidebar for any ICW article. Two of these websites require registration – SSECN does not – and all three are free, and all are very useful to ICW boaters. Both WWG and SSECN also have smart phone apps that duplicate and augment website information and are very useful on small-format devices.
There are some generalizations that apply to the region, including the stretch from Georgetown, SC all the way south to below Fernandina Beach. In some of those areas, boats drawing more than 4′ will want to consider not traveling at low tide; especially celestial low tides. The Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for dredging the ICW. USACE is funded by state congressional delegations. In recent years, the money congress allocates to dredging has been diverted to “more pressing needs,” and so many areas of the ICW are shoaling, and in fact, the ICW resource is slowly being lost; well, allowed to die, really, by congress. There is a not-for-profit called the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association. The Executive Director is Brad Pickel; bpickel@seahavenconsulting.com. That would make another sidebar for any article on the ICW. There are some local knowledge bypasses around some shoal areas. All of the cruising sites above can provide additional detail.
Renting a car in any of these venues greatly expands what a boating visitor can see and do. Some, but not all, marinas have courtesy cars. Generally they can’t be used for long periods, but they are useful for re-provisioning when needed.
Hope this helps.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Ft. Myers, FL
A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Jekyll Harbor Marina lies along the easterly banks of the AICW’s passage through Jekyll Creek, immediately south of the 65-foot fixed bridge. Our thanks to Dick Lawson for this excellent review and for the name of a good mechanic.
First time to Jekyll in a couple years. Marina under new management and services are good. The adjoining restaurant, DJ’s is closed, but being renovated by new owners and supposed to be open later this year. New town center on the island is beautiful with groceries, shopping and several restaurants – quite an upgrade from the past. It’s within walking distance, or the marina will let you use their golf cart for up to 90 minutes at a time. I required some engine work and they recommended Leo Ross, 912-266-1323, from Brunswick. He did a good and reasonable job and is also recommended. Dick Lawson
We had the pleasure of staying here Oct 16-18 while waiting on some weather to pass. This is ONE FINE MARINA. From the dock staff to the dock master PROFESSIONAL and HELPFUL. Dockage, diesel fuel and 20lb bags of ice were reasonably priced. The restaurant serves EXCELLENT food (shrimp and grits first night and fried shrimp and flounder the second night). They have a swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Clean showers. Bikes for touring the island. Or if you prefer you can get a golf cart for 90 minutes. Flash foods and Dairy Queen are within walking distance if you are looking to get a BLIZZARD. Plus they have safe and protected walking trails all the way to the resort. I am so glad for my friend Fred recommending we stop here. Call ahead and reserve your place they fill up fast. Great marina, restaurant, and friendly staff are what we all want after a day on the water.
In the 7 years we were at Jekyll Island Marina the work we hired done and observed on other people’s boats done by Leo Ross and his son was first class. As a 40 year veteran of the automotive repair business I know a good technician when I see/meet/hire one. Leo is fine Southern Gentleman of the old school where honesty and integrity are the mark of a craftsman. He also knows where to catch the nicest Georgia Shrimp in the area. Hope to get back to Jekyll one day before JIA sells it out to the rich and famous.
Skipper Dick Lawson joins others in praising Sunbury Crab Company in Brunswick, GA. Sunbury Crab Company Marina lies off the Waterway along the western shores of the Medway River, on the charted Sunbury Channel, north of Dickinson Creek.
This marina is 8 miles up the Medway River from the ICW. Plenty of deep water. Marina facility is basic but docks are good with water and power. Restaurant serving fresh local shrimp was excellent, but only open Wednesday thru Saturday nights. Ask for the owner, Elaine, and she will make sure you have a comfortable stay. Dick Lawson
Contributing Editor, Captain Jim Healy, shares his perspective on Charleston and Beaufort, SC and Savannah, GA where several SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORs are located. Thank you Jim!
Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA: magnificent old southern cities with many points-of-interest and fine restaurants; our strategy is to take a tour bus around the city. Look for a tour company that has same-day on-and-off privileges. (We do this every time we arrive somewhere we’ve not been before, including Canada). We take the entire tour circuit first, then go back to places that we think we’d like to know more about. At Charleston, start at the Welcome Center. Or, take the tour boat to Fort Sumter; nice aquarium near the Ft. Sumter ferry docks. In Charleston, there is a water taxi from the Charleston Maritime Center that goes back and forth to Patriot Point, which is where the USS Yorktown is located. In Savannah, there is a nice stage theater within walking distance of the downtown waterfront (http://www.savannahtheatre.com). The Savannah waterfront is very interesting, with a large riverwalk, wonderful park overlooking the River, and large shipping and commercial traffic as well as every kind of small-boat and pleasure craft. There are several architecture tours in both cities, and both have lots of weekly and seasonal activity for visitors. From Savannah (there are marina options in downtown Savannah on the Savannah River or at Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope), boaters can also visit Tybee Island (light house and Fort Pulaski).
Beaufort, SC: from the Beaufort Downtown Marina, take a carriage tour through the historic ante-bellum homes in the area. The downtown is friendly with many shoppes and good restaurant options.
Brunswick Landing Marina, a very popular facility with long term resident cruisers as well as transient cruisers, sits off the direct path of the Waterway, flanking the eastern banks of Academy Creek off Brunswick River, near the heart of downtown Brunswick, Georgia.
I love this marina! As a delivery captain and salesman, for Prestige Yachts, I stop in many marinas. Brunswick Landing is in a safe hole, with little boat traffic, easy fuel, FANTASTIC staff, free beer, and bicycles to pedal around town. The floating docks are great, the restrooms are very clean, ice at tge end of the docks, and coffee in the morning on the fuel pier. I’ll be back in a few weeks. Thanks for the hospitality. Brad Heil
Yep. I totally agree. One of the nicest marinas on the entire ICW, in my opinion, with great staff. Its also dog friendly! I no longer boat, but if I did, I’d still be there.
Charlie and Jackie make another entry in their log with this report from Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles which lies along the southern reaches of the Frederica River, between Lanier and St. Simons Islands, south of the charted 9 foot bridge.
5-4-16 Now at Morningstar Marina at St Simons. At MM590. One of my favorites. Restaurant at top of docks is very good- under new management and got liquor license last Thursday. Great app’s and a great margarita!! Make res’s as very busy. Mitch- dock hand- is the beat. Current can be very bad and combined with wind can make docking no fun. Listen to Mitch (or Chick) and he’ll get you in safely. Showers are very nice and laundry also. If on south end of face dock, long walk to take out dog, go to Coastal Kitchen or borrow the loaner car (but we need the exercise!!) A very nice CRV loaner. 1 hour limit. Of course best things are the muffins and newspaper delivered to your boat every morning– best muffins anywhere!!! one of our favorite marinas!! Almost forgot– if need diesel mechanic that I think is not only good but honest– ask for Wayne. He impressed me and that is not easy!! Charlie and Jackie on Traveler.
The Ridleys continue their log with a report on Isle of Hope Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! which lies along the northwestern shores of the Waterway in the body of a hairpin turn northwest of Waterway marker #46A. And in case you missed their FOCUS ON, see /150925.
5-3-16 Now at Isle of Hope Marina at MM590. Went to fuel dock first– $2.09/gal. Dock (34′) and 30 amp for $75.00. great place to walk around old homes, etc. cable not work but pulled several channels off antennae. Put us on very northern end and very weak wifi. OK for email but not much else. Loaner car and bicycles available and a reasonable ships store. Strong Verizon. Really a great place to stop. Jackie and Charlie on Traveler.
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