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

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Robert Sherer is author of 2015 ICW Cruising Guide: A guide to navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. See /?p=150181. SSECN is grateful for Captain Sherer’s willingness to share his knowledge and experience with our readers. Jekyll Creek is home to SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Jekyll Harbor Marina.

I’ve been through Jekyll Creek a dozen times and although there is a channel with 5.7 MLW depth, the problem has always been how to find it. This time through I found a good fit using ENC charts as displayed on the iPad app, Charts and Tides. I would think that any app that used NOAA ENC charts would display the same route (my laptop with ENC charts showed the route correctly).

At Jekyll Creek just south of the bridge

Sitting at anchor just south of the bridge on 4/22/216, we were astounded when we saw two huge tugs with several hundred feet of dredging pipe go through Jekyll at dead low tide, one tug on each end of the pipes. I followed in my dinghy. The mud stirred up was incredible. They stopped multiple times and rev’ed up the engines and plowed through. It took 20 min to round G19. In other words, they created the channel and successive runs is what keeps the channel open.
After they passed I got in my dinghy to measured the deepest spot by G19, R20 and R20A, going side to side with a portable depth sounder and found that 80 to 100 ft off each mark was best, at least now after the two tug plow team.
Route notes:
– Do not hug any marks, stay off R20A, R20 and R19 by 80 to 100 ft.
– Garmin charts are useless here but NOAA ENC charts work well.
– The depth readings were taken the day after two tugs passed (plowed!) through.
– A GPX file of the route is available here or go to http://tinyurl.com/hvugdss

Route depths:
Bridge 10.6 MLW, use as a check on general water depth, the bridge height gauge read 65 ft (it was near high tide when I passed through but all readings have been corrected to MLW)
Heading north:
– 1/2 way 6.7 MLW
– R20A 8.3 MLW
– 1/2 way 6.2 MLW
– R20 6.6 MLW
– By docks 9.2 MLW
– 1/2 way 8.1 MLW
– G19 5.7 MLW (80 ft off )
– At shoal mark 7.6 MLW
– G17 9.1 MLW
– R16 7.8 MLW

Deeper the rest of the way north.

I don’t claim this is the best route but it worked on 4/22/2016 for 5.7 MLW.
Robert Sherer

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Bypassing Marker #32 in St. Andrew Sound to avoid open ocean waters has been the topic of much discussion in the past, see /130975 and /130801. Rick offers a straight forward course that does not require extra miles of travel. Mid to high tide would be essential for this route. If you try this course, let us hear from you.

Cruising News
We are local to this area and find that if we run along a line between the larger water tank on Jekyll with the lighthouse on Little Cumberland we have no problems with depth. We only draw 4.5′ but I don’t recall ever seeing single digit depths along this line. I’m not recalling any number below 12′. In timing out passage through Jekyll Creek we try to pass here at half tide which would be +3 above normal MLLW.
Rick

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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.

If it were not for the exposure to the weather, I would have given this marina five stars. You are tied up to a face dock and wind out of the south can make things exciting. There can also be a wake problem when one of the jerks who can not understand the “no wake” sign come past.
Aside from the above the place is wonderful. It is right on the ICW, has fuel, a pumpout ($15.00) and the rate is reasonable. The staff is on the ball and will be happy to help you with any questions. There is a restaurant at the marina but for serious dining you want to head for the Jekyll Island Club. In fact, if you have the time a tour of the historic district is a must. You can find out how the rich and famous lived back around 1900.
They have made quite a few changes over the last few years. There is now a high end market available next to the convention center. It is well stocked and also has a few restaurants inside. Be forewarned, nothing on Jekyll Island is cheap.
Public transportation is very limited, so bring your bikes or be prepared to rent a car from Enterprise, in Brunswick, they will pick you up at the marina. If you rent a car, everything that you will ever need is in Brunswick.
If you like to ride bikes, the Island has over 20 miles of trails. The locals will stop for you where the trail crosses the road. Most tourists, not so. They will flatten you ass in a heartbeat.
We arrived in early December and ended up staying for the entire month. We will be back in the spring.
Dave Boxmeyer

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It is always nice to get good reviews and especially nice when it is on one of our SPONSORS! Jekyll Harbor Marina is one of my favorite stops – even Jimmy Buffett stops here! Jekyll Harbor Marina lies along the easterly banks of the AICW’s passage through Jekyll Creek, immediately south of the 65-foot fixed bridge.

Once safely through the shoals before the bridge, Jekyll Island Marina justifiably remains a favourite friendly stopover for boats of all shapes and sizes. Not only impeccable facilities but now they offer a courtesy golf cart enabling you to visit the brand new Beach Village stores and ogle at the huge mansions once owned by JP Morgan, Rockefeller and other “robber barons” of bygone years. Wonderful golf courses and even croquet amidst impeccable and super clean landscaping wherever you go. An onsite restaurant offers great local sea food dishes. Other amenities include a laundry, free WiFi, fish cleaning station, clean showers and fuel at competitive prices – I was able even to have Pisces pressure washed at very reasonable cost. Both staff and fellow boaters will do everything possible to make your stay pleasant and safe. During “snowbird” season, you might like to make a reservation either via VHF 16 or telephone (912) 635 3137. Undoubtedly a Five Star rating…….
Cap’n Parky

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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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Jekyll Harbor Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!, lies along the easterly banks of the AICW’s passage through Jekyll Creek, immediately south of the 65-foot fixed bridge. All Waterway cruisers, north or southbound, will pass Jekyll Harbor Marina. Our thanks to Sonny Reeves for bringing us this good news from Jekyll Harbor Marina. Those golf carts will be perfect for Jekyll touring!

Hi Capt Larry,
The dockmaster Scott Todd @ Jekyll Harbor Marina has worked hard with the owners to get two golf carts for boaters to use on the island. These are excellent vehicles to visit the Historic district and the shopping center on the island.
In addition a new set of washer and dryers are now in our renovated laundry room. The Showers have been tiled and updated. Very nice and just in time for South bound cruisers to stop over on Georgia’s Jekyll Island. With 30 miles of bike trails you can ride one of the marina’s free and new bicycles to the beach, the forest or river view trails in safety off the roads.Enjoy!
Sonny
1 Harbor Rd
Jekyll Island Georgia 31527

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This is certainly not the first time vessels have anchored in the Waterway channel east of the narrow anchorage: See /?p=129784. Please take care when choosing an anchor-down location in this small anchorage on the western side of Jekyll Harbor. The narrow area is one of the reasons SSECN has never designated this a recommended anchorage, but as Skipper Reeves sates, it is used a lot. Our thanks to our good friend Sonny Reeves for keeping us updated on all things Jekyll!

Hi Capt Larry,
The pictures are from last night taken from the Jekyll Harbor Marina docks. They show a common occurrence anchoring in Jekyll Creek South of MM 685 and near Red 24. The Trawler in the pictures is almost in the middle of the channel and a sailboat has drug anchor into the channel. Tow Boat US is going out to help the sailboat and ask the trawler if they have seen the huge fuel barges that come by often taking a wide swing at Red 24? A few years ago a small sailboat was lost, the owner survived being rolled by a barge in the same location as the trawler. Each year hundreds of snowbirds use the anchorage. And each week we see boats anchored in the channel. Call the marina or tow boat for local knowledge as it is a good anchorage if you know where to safely anchor. I am also amazed at the powerboats that roar past the marina waking the face dock.. I know you can but does that make it right? You are responsible for your wake.
Sonny Reeves

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