Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

Jun 22, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.9796,-81.05619999
Good Visit to Isle of Hope Marina, Savannah, GA, AICW Statute Mile 590

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A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!, Isle of Hope Marina lies along the northwestern shores of the Waterway in the body of a hairpin turn northwest of AICW marker #46A.
Isle of Hope Marina, Savannah, Georgia
Isle of Hope is a great place to stop. It’s not real close to Savannah but they do offer loaner cars. The cars are loaned out for 2 hours, if more time is needed you can call the Marina and if no one is looking to borrow the car they will let you have it longer.
Since we wanted to go to Tybee Island and do so some shopping, taking more than just 2 hour, we called Enterprise rent a car, this was a Saturday morning, They said they would be there by noon. We were stood up. Tried to call them back after waiting for an hour but they close at noon on Saturday. The Tybee Island trip was shot. Monday we called Enterprise rent a car, spoke to a manager, they apologized and set up another delivery. Again we cooled our heels for 45min. The gal in the marina told us to take one of the cars and not to worry about the time. Saved our day, we got to see Savannah, do the carriage rides and all. That evening upon our return we talked to the marina and they confirmed that again Enterprise was a no show. I will no longer trust Enterprise to pick you up.
Close to Isle of Hope is the Wormsloe plantation. A good relaxing, walking, sightseeing, history and nature sight. We loved it. We also enjoyed the restaurants in the area.
All in all we did enjoy our stay, the crew at Isle of Hope are great, helpful in every way.
Phil and Sandy Herl

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Hope Marina
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Jun 14, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.1544,-81.49969999
A Good Visit to Brunswick Landing Marina, off AICW Statute Mile 680

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Brunswick Landing Marina, a very popular facility with long term resident cruisers as well as transient cruisers sits well off the direct path of the Waterway, flanking the eastern banks of Academy Creek off Brunswick River, near the heart of downtown Brunswick, Georgia.
Brunswick Landing Marina, Georgia
Brunswick Landing is another stop that is a little out of the way. ( 5-8 miles) The reason for our slight detour was fuel prices. We were not low but when the price is right I will top everything off. Brunswick Landing is literally downtown, two blocks from the marina and you are downtown. During our stay they had a wine and cheese sampling, after 5:00 the stores stayed open and you could walk through or around, listen to music and partake of the wine, cheese or other snacks.
We ran into two other boats heading north and at one of the evening get together we started talking about any difficult areas coming up. One of those areas was Hells Gate. Our new friends have made the trip several times both north and south so we would follow them. We delayed our departure until they received their repair parts.
The next morning a 190 ft Yacht was on the end of the dock. Her name was `Grace E’ we found out it belonged to the Green Mountain coffee owner also related to Keurig coffee makers. Now I know where our money is going, we love Keurig the boat.

Grace E
Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Brunswick Landing Marina
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May 28, 2015by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment 31.1544,-81.49969999
Continued Praise for Brunswick Landing Marina, off AICW Statute Mile 680

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Brunswick Landing Marina, a very popular facility with long term resident cruisers as well as transient cruisers sits well off the direct path of the Waterway, flanking the eastern banks of Academy Creek off Brunswick River, near the heart of downtown Brunswick, Georgia.
We had the opportunity of staying at Brunswick landing twice during the month of may 2015. The rates are excellent for the services offered, such as low dockage rates, free laundry, clean bathrooms, and loaner bikes. Sherri the dock master has an uncanny ability to remember boats and names, and treats everyone like family. The marina also hosted a mothers day supper and several wine nights for all boaters. The town offers good restaurants, a great hardware store, and friendly courteous people. On our trip home we had the opportunity of having their mechanic (Wayne), work on our boat. He was an exceptional gentleman of character and knowledge and provided reliable repairs at a fair price. Overall we had a wonderful time there and intend to use this marina again.
Chris and Kate Nelson
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Dawn & Bruce Turek - May 29, 2015 - 3:28 pm

So glad to hear Brunswick Landing Marina is still doing well. We stayed with Sherri & Cindy several times. Safe haven, well maintained and convenient to downtown shops & restaurants. Lady Hawk
Reply to Dawn
May 4, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.4035,-81.39179999
Blue N Hall Marina on the North River, west of AICW Statute Mile 651

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The North River departs the Waterway at statute mile 651 and the Blue N Hall Marina reported by Skipper Fell is upstream from the two recommended North River anchorages. The marina is primarily a fishcamp but does have a few slips available. There are plans to expand their dock space later this year. Charts show plenty of depth up to the marina and, if you are looking for an interesting side trip, this might be a cruise for you.
There is a Marina just north of Darien a few miles off the ICW up the North River.
http://www.mcintoshrodandgunclub.com/blue-n-hall-marina.html
(912) 437-4677
31*24’20’
81*23’30’
They have marine gas there. [No diesel yet]
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May 4, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.1544,-81.49969999
More Good Words for Brunswick Landing Marina, off AICW Statute Mile 680

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Brunswick Landing Marina, a very popular facility with long term resident cruisers as well as transient cruisers sits well off the direct path of the Waterway, flanking the eastern banks of Academy Creek off Brunswick River, near the heart of downtown Brunswick, Georgia.
We stayed here waiting on weather and had a great time. Sherry and not the Sherry were wonderful. Helpful, personable. Bathrooms clean, as was free laundry. Farmers market next parking lot. Wine get together several times a week. Reasonable rates and easy to get in and out. Nice little downtown. Not really a place to provision without a rental car but couldn’t ask for a nicer marina to stop at.
Mary and Al Boutin
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May 2, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.0648,-81.42869999
More Shallows Reported at Jekyll Creek, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 683

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We are receiving regular reports of shallow water and groundings in Jekyll Creek, a perennial trouble spot. SSECN recommends extra care and mid to high tide only for this passage. See Navigation Alert from October. Markers 19 and 20A are on the north side of the Hwy 520 fixed bridge. For good advice on this Problem Stretch go to: /?p=145894. Jekyll Creek is home to Jekyll Harbor Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Unluckily, I had to pass both Hell Gate and Jekyll Creek at dead low tide the last couple of days. Both were 4 feet. Jekyll was 4 feet from beacon 20A to 13. High banks of mud less than 50 feet on both sides means the channel cannot be more than 100 feet wide when full. I consider this to be a no passing zone. Hell Gate was 4 feet from just before beacon 89 for another few 100 feet. I draw 3′-9″ and just had my Fathometer rebuilt, so I now have confidence, but have not touched bottom recently for the final accuracy test.
Ray Schmidt
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Jekyll Creek
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Apr 24, 2015by: Larry Dorminy 3 Comments 31.8609,-81.08369999
Extreme Shoaling at Hell Gate, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 602

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We began hearing of extreme shallows at Hell Gate last year, see /?p=145174 and /?p=146335. Now Captain Healy gives us up-to-date confirmation that MID TO HIGH TIDE is a requirement for passage through Hell Gate. This is trusted advice…TAKE IT!!
Larry:
As of 4/22/2015 at 19h45:
Egg Island, GA, tide data: L – 17h09
Range: -0.2 to +8.0
Readings at 19h45: +2.8
– NB, one-half way between G91 and R89: 6.2′
– At G89: 5.8′
– 100 yards north of G89: 5.6′
Conclusion: minimum depth at normal low would be 3.0′, less for celestial low tides; not navigable at low tide for most cruising boats. Channel is narrowing, and tidal currents require careful attention.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently northbound at Hilton Head, SC
http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com
Monk 36 Hull #132
Unluckily, I had to pass both Hell Gate and Jekyll Creek at dead low tide the last couple of days. Both were 4 feet. Jekyll was 4 feet from beacon 20A to 13. High banks of mud less than 50 feet on both sides means the channel cannot be more than 100 feet wide when full. I consider this to be a no passing zone. Hell Gate was 4 feet from just before beacon 89 for another few 100 feet. I draw 3′-9″ and just had my Fathometer rebuilt, so I now have confidence, but have not touched bottom recently for the final accuracy test.
Ray Schmidt
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Hell Gate
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martin -  April 24, 2015 - 4:19 pm

Just another reason to wait for a 24 hour window and bypass Georgia completely by leaving out of Port Royal sound and gliding along the coast to Florida. This usually takes me 20-24 hrs under sail.
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Al McGillivray -  April 24, 2015 - 3:34 pm

SV Airtime (draft 5′ 3″) passed through Hell Gate from the south this morning (April 24, 2015) at 10:00 approximately 2 1/2 hours after low tide. Low tide at Egg Island was at 07:32. The lowest depth I saw was 6.0 feet but I know I was a little too far to starboard expecting the incoming tide to set me more to port. We were behind 2 other sailboats with drafts of 5 feet + that passed through approximately 1 hour previously. The lowest depth reading conveyed by radio was 6.2 feet.
My advice for this passage is trust the aids to navigation, do not believe your chart plotter, stay centre channel and exercise caution.
Reply to Al

Richard Ross -  April 24, 2015 - 3:06 pm

We passed thru Hells Gate in early March, within 1/2 hour of a normal low tide, and saw a minimum of slightly over 5 feet. We draw 4.5 feet, and did not touch bottom. However, another boat closely following us on a slightly different track reported 3.5 feet. From this, and from Jim Healy’s remarks, it would seem that the channel is now very narrow. The problem is to figure out just where the deep water is.
Reply to Richard
Apr 14, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.6677,-81.16199999
Good Words for Walburg Creek Anchorage, off the AICW at Statute Mile 619N or 623.5S

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Walburg Creek shapes the east side of Walburg Island and the Waterway lies on the west side. Good depths and great beach combing. My young daughters always called the beach spooky because of the skeletal trees and dense forest to the east! While the creek has both a northern and southern entrance from the AICW, we prefer the northern passage, though there is still an unmarked shoal northwest of Middle Ground in St. Catherine’s Sound which must be bypassed. Our thanks to Skipper Lombardi for this report posted on AGLCA’s Forum.
Walburg River, St. Catherines Is,
This is also called the Graveyard of Trees as the island is moving south. We anchored in the north end of Walburg Creek by the beach. Fabulous beach, great walk among the “stranded” hardwood trees on the beach, and dog friendly. Public is limited to the beach area on the north side. It is a popular beach spot for folks from the area, so I would avoid the week ends. Weekdays are good.
We anchored in the current and had great holding. Lots of boats seem to go down to the dock that you cannot use. We didn’t notice any difference in current or wind down there. This area is boot camp for bugs, so bring your
No Natz. You might get lucky and see some of the Lemurs on the island, so look up.
Corinne Lombardi
Click Here To View the Georgia Anchorage Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Walburg Creek Anchorage
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Mar 23, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.1544,-81.49969999
Still More Praise for Brunswick Landing Marina, off AICW Statute Mile 680

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Skippers Golden and Walker join the list of satisfied customers at Brunswick Landing Marina, a very popular facility with long term resident cruisers and many positive comments from your fellow boaters. BLM sits well off the direct path of the AICW, flanking the eastern banks of Academy Creek off Brunswick River, near the heart of downtown Brunswick, Georgia.
It was a very pleasant experience to return to Brunswick Landing Marina after an absence of several years due to illness and varying travel plans. Shelley is still a remarkable dock manager with a great memory of her customers, their likes, must haves and dis-likes. The lounge and laundry areas were meticulously clean. We really enjoyed the fresh produce at the Farmers Market on Saturday morning before we left to push north on the ICW. Although the Cap’n enjoyed his hike to the West Marine and grocery store and a local family gave him and his packages a ride back to the marina, a courtesy car (even one we had to donate to for the convenience and the fuel) would have been handy. Unfortunately we did have to miss the local restaurants this time due to having the newest member of our crew on board ‘“ Mocha is a GoldenDoodle pup and at 9 months is still mischievious enough to not be left aboard alone. We definitely will return and will tell all our boating friends about the good experience at Brunswick Landing.
Forest Golden and Susan Walker
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Feb 23, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 30.9479,-81.44249999
Proposed Space Launch Sites on Cumberland Island, AICW Statute Mile 695

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This article by Emily Heglund in the Tribune and Georgian does not discuss the impact of the proposed launch sites on the Intracoastal Waterway which parallels the west side of Cumberland Island and, as Skipper Long suggests, the possibility of Waterway closures during each launch seems very real. As shown in the map below, the site of the spaceport would be on the western shore of the Waterway south of St. Andrew Sound. Cumberland Island is a barrier island and noted as one of the most spectacular natural habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. It is hard to see how such a habitat with its wild horses and native wildlife could be preserved with launch corridors at both north and south ends of the Island. If you have further information into this turn of events, let us hear from you.
Camden spaceport could be ‘turning point’ for Ga.
by Emily Heglund

Camden County residents could see the first ever launch from a local spaceport as soon as 2018.
But that’s only if the community can stay focused on the process of bringing a spaceport to the area, according to county administrator Steve Howard.
The idea that two years ago seemed outlandish to some is quickly gaining momentum as Howard and other county leaders work toward a purchase agreement with the two landowners who currently hold the proposed 11,000-acre site at the east end of Harrietts Bluff Road. The land has already served as the site of the Thiokol chemical corporation and, most recently, of Bayer CropScience.
On Tuesday morning, Howard and Georgia Tech professor and space expert Dr. Robert Braun addressed the Camden Roundtable, a non-partisan citizens group dedicated to furthering community discussion and participation.
Braun said Georgia could leverage the skills of its already-thriving aeronautics industry to aid the setup of a spaceport in Camden.
Click here for the full article.
This could have terrible impacts on Cumberland Island and result in frequent waterway closures.
Roger Long
I believe it would actually be across from Cumberland Island on Floyd Creek near marker A31 N30 56.034 W81 30.643. We passed the abandoned industrial site when we took the inside route. Still the impacts on the island and waterway would be severe as the flightpath would be over both.
The “protector” of Cumberland Island, Carol Ruckdeschel, who we saw briefly but didn’t get a chance to talk to is a very interesting person known as the “Wildest Woman in America”. Her biography is titled “Untamed”. Her web site is: http://www.wildcumberland.org. She is someone you should definitely touch base with if you want to look into this further.
BTW Floyd Creek is an excellent alternative to getting beat up out in the sound although another mid rising tide only passage for most boats.
Roger Long
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Feb 14, 2015by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment 31.3522,-81.33159999
Report from Problem Stretch Little Mud River, AICW Statute Mile 655

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This AICW Problem Stretch lies some 21 statute miles north of Brunswick, GA and SSECN recommends navigating this stretch at mid to high tide only. By turning on the ARGUS feature of the attached chart, the thinnest water shows around Mile 655, just north of where Little Mud joins the Altamaha. As you plan for your northward migration, please remember to use ARGUS to guide your through these Problem Stretches. Our thanks to Slipper Wilreker for this report.
Is there a description on transiting the Little Mud River. When I went through the on the 6th I was following a trawler that had a draft of 4.5 feet (same as my sailboat) and there were a few times I thought I was plowing and not boating. Good thing the bottom is loose mud. It was close to low tide at the time. We both made it through ‘“ just a little tense. BTW, that river is well named. The mud looked thick enough that my boat may have been sitting higher in the water because of the change in the water’s density!
Vic and Elaine Wilreker
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Little Mud River
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Chuck Baier - February 14, 2015 - 9:27 pm

Larry, Some of those Argus tracks are from Beach House. We transited most of the problem areas on the ICW at or near low tide so we are sure we had an accurate depth readings. We transited the Little Mud at 2 hours before low tide and on a falling tide. Based on this the following, depths would be at low tide. At Red “192″ depth of 5 feet. At Crooked Creek, depth of 4 1/2 feet. Approaching Green “193″ 4 feet, then 3 feet very near “193″. Just past Green “193″ 3 1/2 feet. At Red “194″ 3 1/2 feet and just past Red “194″ 3 feet. From Red “194″ to the turn onto the Altamaha is all about 4 feet. Fortunately there were no other fools except us transiting at this low of a tide. We hope this will help others STAY AWAY at anything less than 2 to 3 extra feet of tides. Chuck and Susan, Trawler Beach House
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Feb 4, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.9796,-81.05619999
More Good Words for Isle of Hope Marina, Savannah, GA, AICW Statute Mile 590

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A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!, Isle of Hope Marina lies along the northwestern shores of the Waterway in the body of a hairpin turn northwest of AICW marker #46A.
Loved this marina! Our first visit here, but will not be our last. Very friendly and helpful ‘“ loved the little town and Driftaway Cafe. Be careful to check operating hours, however. They were closed upon our arrival ‘“ we had made reservations on line and I had my home phone on contact so they were not able to let me know. Only tiny thing to say could use improvement is washer/dryer needs updating and the free roaming of a dog (boxer) who belongs to a marina resident.
Ann Bearden
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Hope Marina
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Feb 4, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.3675,-81.43539999
Another Good Visit to Darien, GA, off AICW Statute Mile 651.5

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Darien City Docks lie along the northern banks of the Darien River, hard by the charted 31-foot fixed bridge, in the heart of downtown Darien, which is 7 nautical miles off the AICW via the fully marked Darien River Channel, featuring minimum 14 foot depths. Recent repairs to the docks add to the attractiveness of this lovely river port.
Found plenty of water on the Darien river. Chose to dock here to wait for tide to transit Little Mud creek. It is 7 miles up the river, but was more than worth it. Free dock with electric ‘“ only 30amp ‘“ David the volunteer dockmaster was very friendly and helpful. dinner at Skippers was great and the best Key Lime pie ever!
Ann Bearden
Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Darien City Docks
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Jan 27, 2015by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.1544,-81.49969999
High Praises for Brunswick Landing Marina, off AICW Statute Mile 680

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Skippers Wilson and Simmons join the chorus of satisfied customers at Brunswick Landing Marina, a very popular facility with long term resident cruisers and many positive comments from your fellow boaters. BLM sits well off the direct path of the AICW, flanking the eastern banks of Academy Creek off Brunswick River, near the heart of downtown Brunswick, Georgia.
Brunswick Landing is by far one of the finest marinas on the East Coast. Whether it’s for a night, or long-term. The staff and facilities are top notch and the boating community that gathers is a fun group. We have called BLM our home for over 12 years, and as we return each season from cruising, they know us, they know our slip and they welcome us with open arms. It is at the top of our recommended list of home port marinas.
Robert Wilson
We have spent the last 5 or 6 summer and fall seasons at Brunswick Landing and have found it to be a wonderful experience. As with many places we have stayed, the people, manager, dock office and cruisers alike make the difference. The new manager has been instrumental in completing the new boaters lounge that is second to none as well as working to restore the yard’s reputation. Proximity to downtown Brunswick, St. Simon Island and Jekyll Island provide much to see and do.
The marina is well protected and provides good access to both the ocean and ICW.
S/V Dream Chaser Morgan 41OI
Don and Anne Simmons
Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Brunswick Landing Marina
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Jan 16, 2015by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment 30.8504,-81.47689999
Local Report on Cumberland Dividings, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 704

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Skipper Reeves cruises out of Jekyll Harbor Marina, A SSECN SPONSOR, and always provides us with reliable local knowledge about problem stretches in his area. Cumberland Dividings, south of Jekyll Island, is a perennially shifting channel that has moved away from your chartplotter’s magenta line.
Here Garmin shows the track going into the marsh. The dividings are a easy to navigate IF you follow the Reds and not the thin magenta line on your GPS.
Sonny Reeves
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the Cumberland Dividings
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Bob McLeran - January 30, 2015 - 4:40 pm

It’s been this way at that location for years. Anyone who has his/her face stuck in the chart plotter and doesn’t look outside to follow the markers is asking for whatever problem might come along!
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Jan 6, 2015by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment 31.8609,-81.08369999
More on Depths at Hell Gate, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 602

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The Waterway follows a short and narrow, man-made canal known as Hell Gate between the Vernon and Ogeechee Rivers. These waters have been an “AICW Problem Stretch” for years and mid to high tide is recommended for vessels drawing 5ft or more.
Today, Jan. 5th 2015 went thru Hell Gate at 14:00. Found only 2.7 feet at low tide. Very shallow, luckily my PDQ 34 power cat made it.
Sailors be aware!
Reiner Zeppenfeld
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Hell Gate
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Captain Vic Wilreker - February 10, 2015 - 12:01 am

We came through Hell Gate at 1500 that same day (January 5, 2015). It was low tide. Add to that a NW wind blowing water out of the rivers all day and the tide was very low. Well, anyway, Hell Gate was closed to 4.5 foot draft vessels. Our first indication was the temporary green and red buoys laying on their sides in the mud completely out of the water. We dropped the hook to wait for the tide. An hour later, the tide had come up two feet, the buoys were floating, and we got through without a problem.
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Dec 17, 2014by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.3675,-81.43539999
A Good Visit to Darien, GA, off AICW Statute Mile 651.5

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Darien City Docks lie along the northern banks of the Darien River, hard by the charted 31-foot fixed bridge, in the heart of downtown Darien, which is 7 nautical miles off the AICW via the fully marked Darien River Channel, featuring minimum 14 foot depths. Recent repairs to the docks add to the attractiveness of this lovely river port.
We just spent a couple days on the town dock in Darien GA. We were greeted by the most friendly dock master David. Darien had been on our list of places to visit for quite some time. We highly recommend this side trip ‘“ about 6 miles off the ICW. This town is very boater friendly and the people were welcoming. They have a great coffee shop Blondies, one block from the marina. We also received a complimentary glass of wine one night while visiting the Waterfront Wine & Gourmet, who also had live entertainment and a great wine selection. We are some if the best shrimp we’ve tasted at B&J Seafood. We visited King George Fort and the Rice Plantation. Well worth a visit. A must do!
Ron & Tina Main
Sea Gypsy
Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Darien City Docks
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Dec 1, 2014by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment 31.0648,-81.42869999
Advice on Jekyll Creek, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 683

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We are receiving regular reports of shallow water and groundings in Jekyll Creek, a perennial trouble spot. SSECN recommends extra care and mid to high tide only for this passage. See Navigation Alert from October. Markers 19 and 20A are on the north side of the Hwy 520 fixed bridge. Ours thanks to Skipper Reeves who keeps us posted on all things Jekyll! Jekyll Creek is home to Jekyll Harbor Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
First pic G19 is circled and sailboat is heading South. Second pic Sailboat is clear of 19 by staying 40 ft of marker. The channel is very narrow and the sand/mud bar is moving East into channel.
Hope this helps as many are swinging wide and running aground. Hug the East bank & line up on next marker.
Call the marina for local knowledge or Boat US
Seeya,
Sonny Reeves
The Office

Green 19

Sailboat at Green 19
And then, there is this strange advice from a tow boat captain:
While in Jekyll Creek in July this year with our 6′ draft sailboat, I called Boat US to ask about areas to watch for. I thought they were supposed to be a resource. The guy who I spoke with told me that I shouldn’t worry, he takes 6′ draft boats all up and down that stretch of the ICW and I should just stay in the middle of the channel. When I told him that sometimes the middle of the channel isn’t always obvious, he said that I should travel at low tide so as to be able to see it! Counter intuitive for a sailboat!
Joni Goodman
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Jekyll Creek
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Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Jekyll Harbor Marina
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Doug Jacoby - December 2, 2014 - 11:10 am

Draw 5.5′ successful 7 passages with this strategy…confirmed.
Doug Jacoby
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Nov 2, 2014by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.1714,-81.42499999
Tall Masts: Use Caution at Torras Causeway Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 674

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Skipper Dammeyer offers good advice concerning air clearance on fixed bridges: check local knowledge. Several factors – tide, wind, excessive rainfall – can affect clearance above the water surface and height boards may not always be accurate. The F. J. Torras Causeway, Mackay River Bridge crosses the ICW at Statute Mile 674, south of unlighted daybeacon #242.
Larry
At MM 674.5 we arrived at the Torras Causeway Bridge about an hour before High Tide to find the South Bound bridge board missing. A trawler reported that the N.B. Bridge Board read only 63′ so we circled with our 63′ 10″ air draft and went sight seeing for three hours.
When we finally went through the N.B. Board read 65′. The dock crew at Morningstar said there had been some confusion over clearance as one
of the boards had slipped, but we are not clear as to which one. Tall masts are advised to check local knowledge if approaching at or near high tide. We’ve waited for tide to fall at this bridge on previous trips.
Rick Dammeyer
Promise
Catalina 445
31 10.282 North/081 25.494 West
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Oct 30, 2014by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment 31.8609,-81.08369999
More Shallow Water Reported at Hell Gate, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 602

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The AICW follows the short and narrow, man-made canal known as Hell Gate between the Vernon and Ogeechee Rivers. These waters have been an “AICW Problem Stretch” for years and mid to high tide is recommended for vessels drawing 5ft or more.
SSECN is glad to hear that Skipper Dammeyer and our friends, the Salemnos, stopped at Sunbury Crab Company Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! which lies along the western shores of the Medway River, on the charted Sunbury Channel, north of Dickinson Creek
Larry,
We passed through Hell Gate this morning about 2 1/2 hours after low. Favoring green 89 by about a boat length we saw 6 1/2 to 7′ for just a few yards and then the water deepened again. On the way in I tried to cut behind the shoal at the Northern approach as marked on the chart, but the water went to 8′ and less, so I turned around,
went back to the river and made the turn just before the north green in plenty of water. This seemed to be consistent
with what boats in front of me were reporting.
Rick
PS we just tied up with Carmen and Cathy at Sunbury Crab.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Hell Gate
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
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Comments from Cruisers (1)

Jim Healy - November 7, 2014 - 9:54 am

Sanctuary and crew came through Hell Gate yesterday, 11/6/2014, at 06h30. The chart plotter almanac said we were at +8.4 ft on a +9.1 ft tide. The tidal range was a celestial range around the full moon.
On both sides of G”89” in the cut, we saw depths of 11.4 ft. At MLLW, that would be 3.0 ft. Yesterday with negative spring tide, it would have been only 2 ft.
We did not do the Little Mud complex as we would have arrived there at low tide. Instead, we went out at St. Catherine’s Sound and came back in at St. Simons Sound. To avoid the shoaling on the shelf, we ran about 6 miles offshore in acceptable seas of 2’ – 3’. It was a good alternative of 64 StM, and put us in Brunswick at 15h30. Fuel at Ocean Petroleum is $3.04 per gallon, including tax.
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, southbound at Brunswick, GA
http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com
Monk 36 Hull #132
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