As this article by Capt. Ken Kreisler of Power and Motoryacht states, every yacht should carry a portable Automated External Defibrillator. Knowing what to do with the proper equipment onboard during sudden cardiac arrest can help avert a tragedy.
For you folks planning to do underwater work on your boat or just take a dip in the next few weeks, here is a terrific link from NODC, National Oceanographic Data Center, showing the average water temperatures for our neck of the woods. Scroll down under Access Data to find the temperature table for your area.
https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/cwtg/satl.html
Skipper Reeves continues his exploration of the St. Johns River with a visit to Hontoon Island State Park Marina/Dock, south of Lake George and north of Lake Monroe near Deland, FL. located east-southeast of flashing daybeacon #53 and the northeasterly mouth of Hontoon Dead River.
Very quiet and laid back. Lots to explore here with many creeks to visit in the dink.We are planning on moving our residence to Florida next week and we can visit here for half price $10 a day all inclusive. I wanted to stay here for ever. There is a marina across the river that does not have good reviews and is very high on fuel prices. Right around the corner is Holly Bluff Marina that has better prices and service. Rick in the shop found me a hose to fix a problem and was very helpful. Rick carries a lot of parts and can get anything you need. Several boaters in little trailer tugs came by and said they stop here all the time. This is not nowhere but you can see nowhere from here.
Anchored at Lungren Island with the dink at the island for a dog walk.
Hontoon Island State Park has a lot of slips but only the T dock has enough water for our trawler and we plowed a little soft mud at 5 ft on the T dock to the West. We picked up WiFi from across the way and the dock has 50 amp service, water and is almost new. Very nice park with hot showers and clean restrooms. The rangers are super nice. No groceries or laundry. All this for $20. a night. Only $10 if you are a Florida resident. https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Hontoon-Island
Docked at Hontoon Island only 5 boats were there the week we were there.
At Blue Spring you can beach and tie up to the South of the swim area. Do not dock on the dock. Self serve on park fee of $1.00 per person. We want to come back when they allow swimming in the spring . The water is 72 F year round.
Looks green to me but they call it Blue Spring. The board walk goes all the way down to the “Boil” of over a 100,000 gals per hour.
Additional Information from Skipper Reeves on 6/15/2015
A most excellent place to be on the river. The rangers are hard working and very helpful. The deep water (we saw 5 ft) is at the T dock as you approach from the North it is first one on your starboard. Do not get too close to the shore when you come in. The nice floating docks are self serve. Rangers are not allowed to help you dock. The T dock has 50 amp power and water. $10 a nite if Fl resident, $20 if not. The inside docks are for small craft only. We stopped for a few days going to Sanford and a few more on our return trip. From here you can visit Blue Springs and take a trip in your dink or kayak all the way around on Snake Creek. The Rangers rent canoes. Just like the Amazon with all the wildlife. We visited in winter. Watch your pet around the shore. Alligators everywhere. The park trails, the fishing, all is Good! We had some wifi from across the river on our booster. The park has limited supplies, more across the river. It is a no wake zone but idiots will blast through sometimes. Very quiet and laid back at night and week days. You can anchor in the creek to the North if you wish. The showers are hot and clean. Day use is allowed for a small fee. See more and pictures http://ontheofficewautoteacher.blogspot.com/2015/03/hontoon-island-state-park-has-lot-of.html
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Hontoon Island State Park
While not a secret, this is one of the least known areas on the St. John’s. Take your dink and explore the “Hontoon Dead River” that runs behind the island. It is too shallow in places for anything deeper draft than your dink, but you will be rewarded with the most spectacular display of wildlife anywhere on the St. Johns. You will see alligators, turtles, beavers, wild turkeys, raccoons, birds of all kinds, and the list of wildlife goes on and on including a very large population of manatees. Start your trip by going in a counter-clockwise manner around the island. There are three canals that connect the St Johns with the “Dead River” but only a couple are navigable. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! Then finish with a stop at Blue Springs before returning to your boat at Hontoon Landing. Plan on at least an entire day for a round trip you will not forget.
Many fond memories of Lungren Island. Back in the ’60s, Dad and I’d camp on Lungren Isalnd over the weekend and fish for Specks on Lake Dexter. As a kid, I’d explore the marshy north 2/3 of the island with a Daisey BB gun in hand…felt like I was exploring the Amazon River basin – to a 10 year old.
This article by Angel Streeter in the Palm Beach Sun Sentinel outlines plans for a new drawbridge to replace the Southern Boulevard drawbridge, which has a closed vertical clearance of 14ft and crosses the Waterway and southern Lake Worth at Mile 1025 in West Palm Beach. Flagler Memorial Bridge, Royal Park Bridge and Southern Boulevard Bridge always present a challenge to a skipper’s patience if an opening is needed, especially during these continuing periods of construction.
State makes plans to replace Southern Boulevard Bridge in West Palm Beach
By Angel Streeter
Sun Sentinel
Construction on new Southern Boulevard Bridge in West Palm Beach will begin in 2016.
The Southern Blvd Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway looking west from Palm Beach. The Florida Department of Transportation is unveiling its plans for replacing the Southern Boulevard Bridge. The new Southern bridge will cost about $78 million, and work is expected wrap up in late 2016. (Mark Randall, Sun Sentinel)
Another drawbridge is coming down in Palm Beach County ‘” but just until its replacement is built.
The Florida Department of Transportation is unveiling its plans for replacing the Southern Boulevard Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach while it’s still in the midst of building the replacement for the Flagler Memorial Bridge. Both bridges connect West Palm Beach to Palm Beach.
This time, the state hopes to avoid the pitfalls that have come with replacing the Flagler bridge. The state transportation department plans to build a temporary bridge to the north of the existing Southern Boulevard bridge to keep traffic moving between the mainland and the island.
Click Here for the rest of the article.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Flagler Memorial Bridge
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Royal Park Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Royal Park Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Southern Boulevard Bridge
This AGLCA Forum report is another concerning options for a west to east crossing of Lake Okeechobee. See /?p=147224. Skippers Jenny and Kenny Beach chose the rim route despite warnings about the numerous pitfalls possible.
Today we did the rim route west to east. Thanks to all the replies which took away the unnecessary anxiety. It was beautiful, totally void of debris, and a much smoother ride than the almost straight across route had to offer. We cut the northeast corner off by heading for the canal entrance from day marker 24. We stuck to the rim route at marker 60 since the lake was very choppy at that point and the rim route provided some wind and wave protection. I think the lowest depth we saw all day was 9.8′. There is no reason to be hesitant at all about exploring this scenic area.
Jeanne & Kenny Beach
Daybreak
Glad you had such a good trip. We made the same trip in 2002, very scenic BUT our 3.5′ draft plowed through sand and went we got to Fort Lauderdale we were overheating as the sand had chewed up the impeller. We wished we had gone straight across, SO make sure you know the depth and leave some to spare, OR a calm day. With a 3.5′ draft I’d want 5′ minimum per the charts/Okeechobee lake level.
This AGLCA Forum report documents the Beach’s careful planning for a rim route versus direct route crossing of Lake Okeechobee. For their decision and description of their crossing, go to /?p=147301.
So the captain would like to take the rim route to cross the lake. The lock tenders say it is not recommended. The other boaters here at Roland Martin’s, who have not made the trip, say it is a bad idea. They claim that
everyone they know who has done it says it is loaded with debris, tree limbs, old refrigerators, and such. The captain is not buying the horror stories but the admiral won’t go since “everyone” says it is a bad idea.
Would love for some “experienced” boater feedback. Today’s water depth was 6.88′; we draw 4′.
Jeanne & Kenny Beach
Daybreak
Did the rim route last April in a 44′ Trawler with 4′ draft. Had no problems.
Don’t believe the stories you hear. We have crossed several times by both routes. The rim route shallow spot is between 4 and 4B just south of Port Mayaca lock. But you can exit the rim route around red 54, and head direct to green 5 on the lake route and avoid the shallows. This way, the rim route is actually slightly deeper than the lake route.
There are two down sides to the rim route. It is about ten miles farther, and the Torry Island swing bridge is manually operated, and the operator will not begin opening until he sees the boat waiting.
It’s been 6 or 7 years since we traveled the rim route and we heard the same stories about hurricanes pushing debris into the channel. Went anyway. Draw 3 feet and never saw less that 10 feet on the depth gage. Never saw any debris.
Outlined in this article by our good friend, Make Ahart of Waterway Guide, are steps for you to submit your comments regarding a multi-year vessel documentation. While the multi-year documentation would affect the average boat owner, it would appear that the implementation of the new process will have the most effect on large fleets.
Multi-year documentation renewals being considered
Date Reported: Mar 3, 2015
Reported By: Mike Ahart, News Editor
Source: Federal Register Volume 80, Number 41
Back in August 2014, the Coast Guard instituted a $26 yearly fee for vessel documentation renewals. In the comments submitted before the ruling, many boaters felt the fees were reasonable, and others did not; however, most wished for a multi-year renewal option.
Boaters ‘“ especially full-time cruisers ‘“ will be glad to know that the Coast Guard is considering offering a two-year and/or three-year option, making renewals much more convenient. Since the fee itself was instituted due to laws requiring federal agencies to recover the processing costs of services, it stands to reason that multi-year renewals will also afford a discount compared to renewing year-by-year. The “Request for Information” section does not mention any discounts for multi-year renewals; however, the “Supplemental Information” section mentions a possible modification to the fee.
Comments can be submitted online or otherwise on or before June 1, 2015. From the Federal Register:
The Coast Guard seeks public comment on whether to increase the period of validity for renewing endorsements on Certificates of Documentation. A separate fee of $26 for annual renewals of endorsements upon the Certificate of Documentation was established in a recent rulemaking. The Coast Guard is considering options for implementing multiyear renewals and updating the fee for services, and seeks information on factors to consider when implementing these changes.
DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to the online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before June 1, 2015 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.
Click Here for the full article.
Multi-year documentation is a good idea. I’m not happy with a multi-year fee. I don’t like the idea of the USCG charging for work they don’t perform. So I would urge them to charge a minimal processing and record-keeping fee. I would not presume to know the administrative costs associated with this.
I would vocally oppose any scheme which raises requirements, or adds paperwork to what is presently, a simple and efficient process. Bureaucracy being what it is; somebody will try to gather more information, or make something more complicated than it is. I hope that doesn’t happen, but I won’t hold my breath.
USCG Master Captain Robert S. Viola – USNR (ret)
With the long…and in my opinion…unreasonable processing time for new boat documentation requests, I believe a multi-year documentation would be in the best interests of boaters as well as the obviously overworked staff at the vessel documentation center. I am in favor of a multi-year documentation…perhaps 3 to 5 years would be practical.
Offering a multi-year option for vessel documentation would go a long way in simplifying life for cruisers abroad. The online option will be a big step towards this improvement, but having a multi-year option would be a huge advantage. Many of the areas visited have either poor Internet service or poor mail service or both. Being able to have valid documentation over several years, reduces the impact of these barriers while not requiring a trip home each year to secure the documentation renewal paper.
Skipper Reeves continues his exploration of the St. Johns River, stopping at spots a bit off the beaten track – good for you Sonny! (See /?p=147232.) Bryant’s Wharf is on the east shore of the river where “Ramp” is charted.
Locals very friendly. Nothing here. Other than a nice metal concrete floating dock that is well lighted at night. Small 20 x 24 ft slips. Good depths, Most boats on River slow down but wakes are minimal. The town appears closed up there is a convenience store a few blocks East. Restaurant onsite is closed. A grill and cafe is a hike. We did not go there. Restrooms reported at top of hill in a recreation park. Old Florida small town pop 586. Dock is free with no electric, water or trash pick up.
Sonny Reeves
Dock from hill looking West
Public boat ramp to South of the free dock.
A closed maritime museum
Showers at Welaka Park
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bryant’s Wharf
Spooky looking building with windows out right at the docks with unsavory individuals hanging out inside. Looking at everyone like old buzzards.
Murphy Island is south of Palatka and separated from the mainland by Murphy Creek, making for good exploring by dinghy as Skipper Reeves mentions in this report which makes picturesque Murphy Island sound so nice compared to the commercialism of large marinas.
The dock is short for our 40 ft boat. Water depth is 6 ft at dock and over 30+ ft in river. But it is a nice floating dock with ramp to picnic and camping. We stayed two nights and saw no one except fishermen going fast on the river that waked us. The island has a marked trail that winds around. Very nice! The bugs did not bother us. We were fogged in both mornings until 10ish. Did not see any sign requesting fee. There is one porta potty and some fire pits for campers. The treat is a dink ride around the island. Lots of wild life, alligators and eagles. Would not want to be here in heat of summer. Exposed to North. Georgia Boys Marina on Dunn creek to East.
Sonny Reeves
Click Here for more photos of Murphy Island
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Murphy Island
This AGLCA Forum report by Skipper Healy is prompted by a discussion of the Okeechobee Waterway which mentions Clewiston, Florida, which has long been a good source for checking depths in Lake Okeechobee. See /?p=147224. Peg and Jim Healy are longtime contributors to SSECN.
What’s interesting about Lake “O” is NOT the datum for the surface of the lake – which can be very misleading – but the actual depth of the water on the navigation routes. As a reservoir for Southeast Florida, lake datum is important as a measure of water reserves for the Palm Beaches. But to boats, water depth is all that matters. This really matters in the spring, as the annual “dry season” progresses toward summer. Today’s lake datum is 14.72 feet, but the Route 1 (cross-lake) water depth is only 8.66 feet and Route 2 (Rim route) is only 6.86 feet. Here’s the USACE website for nav route WATER DEPTH data: http://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml. The good news is, that status in early March should make for a comfortable season for spring crossings this year.
Also be advised, the basin at Roland Martin is VERY shallow, and the bottom is sticky mud. If the cross lake route gets to 5 feet, the basin in Clewiston will be less; maybe 4 ft. One who gets stuck in there is thoroughly stuck. Roland Martin is a bass boat marina, not a cruising boat marina. Careful consideration of water depths is advised for cruisers.
There is a definite wind-driven “tide” on Lake O. Prolonged winds from the south can make the lake quite lumpy with short period seas and drive water depths on the south end of the lake a foot less than the datum would otherwise suggest. Which leads to my last point. The most “risky” part of the cross-lake route is the channel out of Clewiston leading into the Lake. That is a dredged channel that’s about 100′ wide on the south end. Most people think Florida is a big sand bar, but the bottom of lake O is limestone. Limestone is soft stone, but plenty hard enough to hurt props and rudders. It’s extremely important to stay in that channel and not get blown sideways; the channel edges are VERY unforgiving, like the “Rock Pile” in Myrtle Beach. That channel is probably 5 StM in length to G”1″. The farther out of Clewiston one gets, the farther apart the markers become. The prevailing winds on the lake will try to blow boats sideways out of the channel, SO PILOTS MUST BE ABLE TO BACKSIGHT THE MARKERS TO BE SURE THE BOAT STAYS IN THAT CHANNEL. Otherwise, there will be this very
disheartening crunching sound… And, there are no Tow BoatUS/SeaTow services on the lake.
Hope this is useful!
Peg and Jim Healy
We would add this to Jim’s excellent observations. A few other points in looking at the COE website for navigational depths. An 8.66 depth on route 1 does not mean that the entire route is 8.66 feet. It means that 8.66 is the shallowest depth you will find if you stay in the channel along route 1. The same goes for route 2, the Rim Route. There are only two areas that you will find the shallow depths. Along route 1, that will be in the approach channel to Clewiston. Along route 2, it will be in the channel immediately after turning south out of the Port Mayaca Lock. The shallow depths can be avoided on route 2 by heading out into the lake and turning south. Then re-enter the route 2 channel at Pahokee. Depths in the Lake will be 10 to 14 feet and the rest of the route 2 depths will be 12 to 20 feet based on today’s reported depths. There is no alternative for the route 1 shallow area and the advise is simply, stay in the channel and go slow until back on the rim route. Across the Lake, depths will be 10 to 15 feet, and deeper once back on the Rim Route.
Chuck Baier and Susan Landry
http://www.tgboa.com/
http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/
My Navigational Notices
http://www.marinalife.com/navigationUpdates/index.cf
This report is from News5 WKRG.com, Panama City, home to two SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS, St. Andrews Marina and Panama City Marina, where you will absolutely never be bothered by great whites or any other sharks! Click on the banners above to be connected to their respective websites.
Panama City Beach –
A rare Great White Shark sighting on the Gulf Coast, this one actually caught in the surf near Panama City Beach.
According to the Dark Side Sharkers fishing club, Derrick Keeny caught this 9′ 8 1/2″ Great White Sunday, March 1st.
They snapped a few pictures, tagged and released the shark.
We found these images on Facebook.
It’s pretty unusual to see this species in the northern Gulf of Mexico, especially so close to shore.
You can follow the Dark Side Sharkers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @DSSharkers.
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For St. Andrews Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Andrews Marina
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Panama City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Panama City Marina
Our thanks to Skipper Reeves for this thorough review of Crystal Cove Marina which lies on the western banks of the St. Johns River with a well marked entrance channel.
Laid back with Southern hospitality. Don the dockmaster could not be more helpful. The crew is very nice Jerry and Billy handled the lines and met us late Sunday. We stayed the week, very quiet. There is a pool we did not try due to the weather. Restrooms showers, etc all here. Old docks but safe. Easy approach with 5-6 ft depths. Very little current or tide. The electrical was good and the wifi worked for us to watch movies. Rental car from enterprise. Gas on site. Diesel by truck. Town is a few miles to shopping center. $5.00 a ft is quoted price for a month. Pets welcome. Lots of liveaboards. The 45 slips were full when we got there. They rent pontoon boats and the boat ramp is used by fishermen. One restaurant at hotel was closed for renovation, A Grill Cafe is open, Hotel onsite with laundry. The grounds are kept up clean. We will be back!
Sonny Reeves
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Crystal Cove Marina
I agree with skipper Sonny about the 5-6 foot approach depths to the main pier at Crystal Cove…however the 4.5 foot keel on my Cal 29 sailboat grounded about 60 feet before reaching the much shorter fuel dock last year. Now I use the end of the long pier when visiting Crystal Cove.
Port of Call St Augustine has launched their new Cruisers’ Shuttle servicing Mariners at the City Municipal and Hidden Harbor Marinas. The current schedule will transport visitors to all the necessary provisioning spots and watering holes.
Clean and efficient transportation at a great price has finally arrived. Five dollars will buy you an all- day pass and Albert, the extraordinary bus driver, makes every effort to be sure your provisioning is complete. Our Shuttle is designed to meet every requirement of the transient mariner. For example, the West Route can accommodate your propane tanks with the best price in town on refills. As far as purchasing supplies, there is no such thing as buying too much. The back of the Shuttle is designed to stack and carry all the groceries and supplies you can stand to buy. Our eight passenger Scuttle bus will tie up any loose ends with the 10 am Scuttle Run which handles everything from clearing Customs to supply deliveries from the local chandleries. Special handling can be arranged through our office if you call ahead. Tune into the local Cruisers Net Radio at
9am VHF CH 72 for daily information or go to our website portofcallsa.com for the latest information on the Shuttle schedule.
PORT OF CALL SAINT AUGUSTINE: YOUR SOURCE ON THE WATER
Portofcallsa.com
904-429-5045
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Augustine City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Hidden Harbor Marina
3 cheers for Albert and 3 more for Sandy for setting up and providing this service for cruisers. I just cruised over to their website for the first time (with thanks to SSCN for piloting) and bookmarked that page on my android phone. With Saint Augustine Race Week coming next month I’m sure they will be seeing a lot of activity…:D
As described by Sue Cocking in the article below from the Miami Herald, a new buoy is now available to be used in lieu of the traditional diver down red flag. Keep a watch for these new buoys and do not approach.
A new safety device for divers, boaters
By Sue Cocking –
scocking@MiamiHerald.com
02/28/2015 4:16 PM
As a 31-year veteran officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its predecessor agency the Florida Marine Patrol, Dave Bingham has handled more than his share of cases of boats striking divers.
During recent lobster miniseasons, Bingham has stepped up enforcement of laws requiring boaters to stay away from divers and divers to display the standard diver-down flag (red with a diagonal white stripe) while in the water.
But the accidents continue, such as last summer’s well-publicized case of lobster diver Adrian Winchell, who was injured by a hit-and-run boater off Hollywood despite displaying the required flag.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/outdoors/article11521520.html#storylink=cpy
With the reported groundings and marker confusion at this intersection (/?p=144468), it is definitely wise to follow the advice given below by Skipper Brass: “pay close attention to the charts and keep a watchful eye out for the markers ‘“ particularly the floating ones ‘“ instead of following the Magenta Line in this stretch of the ICW” - just as SSECN has advised by many months!
From a January 19 Navigation Alert:
On Saturday January 17, we experienced a hard grounding with bent shafts (2) and destroyed props (2) at this location. Knew about previous reports but marks were not where the deep water was. Strong current must have moved them. We are now on the hard waiting for shafts and props.Shame that this continuing problem is not addressed Our current bill is $26,000 to be removed back from the bar, and about $80,000 for shaft abd prop repairs! Navigation marks are not maintained!Douglas JemalJust happens that I may have been the next boat to pass the location of this grounding. At 10:20 AM on 17 January, I was delivering a boat to Charleston and came up on a large powerboat stopped in the middle of the ICW at 34-35.847N, 077-14.568W (34°35.8470N / 077°14.5680W, 34.597450 / -77.242800) . The stopped boat had passed us a few miles further North, headed southbound at around 20 knots.As I approached the spot, SeaTow came up and began setting up to unground the boat. It seemed to me that the boat had been on course directly from R60 to G63, which are the prominent daymarks before and after the inlet, and from the appearance of things the boat had been traveling pretty fast.This is a traditional problem area in the ICW, and both my Active Captain software and the Garmin plotter on the boat I was delivering sounded alarms for the hazard.Floating marks G61A and R62 were both in the location shown on my chart software, which is well over to the north side of the waterway (Starboard if you are heading south) and only about 75-100 feet from the shore. Made me quite nervous as we went by, but we saw 8 to 9 feet of depth in the channel at about an hour before local low tide.Object lesson is: pay close attention to the charts and keep a watchful eye out for the markers ‘“ particularly the floating ones ‘“ instead of following the Magenta Line in this stretch of the ICW.Rick Brass
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the AICW/Browns Inlet IntersectionClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Just went through here and did not see less than 6′ . Follow the marks and you’ll be fine.
We went aground about a mile beforeOnslow Beach Br, @239MP. Several boats are aground as I write this. Luckily with got off (4.5 draft)
Came through 10/11/2015, honored the buoys and saw 7 MLW at the lowest. Saw one boat ahead of me that attempted to follow the magenta line but couldn’t get through, he turned and then followed me through successfully.
Came thru on June 4th and R61a was missing. This critical buoy is at the south end of S bend that should be about 50 ft off the red shoreline. Use extreme caution.
Skipper Burnham has been a tremendous help in helping boaters avoid this sunken trawler in the Gulfport mooring field, see /?p=145996, /?p=146123 and /?p=146113. And again, he has shown true seamanship by attaching a new marker to the wreck. Well Done David! Gulfport is one of the newest SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS!
Yesterday, we attached a yellow DANGER marker to the sunken wreck in Boca Ciega Bay to more clearly mark the hazard. The yellow marker has my name and cell phone number on it in case it goes adrift as the wreck breaks up.
There is obvious damage clearly visible on the upper part of the wreck where it has been struck by boaters.
David Burnham
new yellow marker over the wreck
the original marker anchored to the south of the wreck
Attached are two photos showing the new yellow marker over the wreck and a separate view of the original marker anchored to the south of the wreck.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
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
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Proposed Spaceport
Here is a not-so-typical story of the dangers faced by our Coast Guard as they answer the needs of boaters in distress. Elizabeth City and Mariner’s Wharf are located at the southern end of the Dismal Swamp Canal.
Coast Guard crews battle snow, ice to transport injured boater
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City prepares to land at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Friday. The crew medevaced and transported an injured crewman from a motor vessel off the North Carolina coast.
The Daily Advance
Friday, February 20, 2015
PORTSMOUTH, Va. ‘” Coast Guard crews from Air Station Elizabeth City transported an injured crewman today from a motor vessel about 170 miles east of Oregon Inlet.
The Coast Guard 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth, Va., received a report from the 1,052-foot, German-flagged freight ship Dalian Express Thursday at about 4 p.m., stating a 62-year-old male crewmember suffered an eye injury while changing a valve in the engine room about 350 miles east of Oregon Inlet.
To enable a medevac, the crew of Dalian Express, en route to Italy from Norfolk, changed course toward North Carolina to meet with a Coast Guard helicopter crew.
A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and C-130 Hercules aircraft crew launched Friday from Air Station Elizabeth City, at about 5:45 a.m. The crews flew through intermittent snow and icing conditions before arriving at the Dalian Express at about 6:45 a.m.
The helicopter crew hoisted the injured man and transported him to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, arriving at about 9 a.m.
The man, whose name was not released, was reported to be in stable condition.
No one deserves this honor more than Southport Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, located just west of the Cape Fear River along the northern banks of the Waterway hard by flashing daybeacon #2A. Congratulations Southport!
ValvTect Names Marina of the Year
North Carolina’s Southport Marina Honored
Northbrook, Illinois – In 2006, Preston Development Company of Cary, North Carolina purchased an aging marina in Southport, North Carolina, on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).
What started as a simple remodeling project grew into a multi-million dollar, multi-year rebuild of the entire location. The result is one of the finest full-service marinas along the ICW. With 225 wet slips and 240 dry slips, Southport Marina can dock and service vessels from 20′ to 100′. By balancing Southern Hospitality-based customer service with first-class facilities and amenities, Southport Marinaï‚Ž has become one of the most popular marinas for boaters cruising the ICW, local sport fishermen and local power and sail boaters.
Left to right: Paul Craufurd, ValvTect Regional Manager, Robin Rose of Preston Development, Hank Whitley CMM, of Southport Marina, Thad Moore of Preston Development and Jerry Nessenson, founder of ValvTect Petroleum
`To recognize Southport Marina’s accomplishments for customer service excellence, environmental stewardship, community involvement and marketing of ValvTect Marine Fuels, we are pleased to present the 2014 Certified ValvTect Marina of the Year award,’ said ValvTect founder Jerry Nessenson. The award was presented at the ValvTect Marina of the Year award dinner held last month at the International Marina and Boatyard Conference (IMBC) in Tampa, Florida.
Accepting the prestigious award were Robin Rose and Thad Moore of Preston Development Company (owner’s representatives) and Hank Whitley, CMM (Southport Marina Manager). All stressed their ongoing efforts to make Southport Marina a destination for transients and local boaters alike. `By striving to exceed our customer’s expectations we have been able to develop strong loyalty from both transient and local boaters,’ said Hank Whitley. `Throughout the renovation process, our effort to build a top-notch facility was accompanied by a focus on environmental impact. Our efforts have earned us Certified Clean Marina status by North Carolina and the appreciation of our customers,’ said Thad Moore. `We are proud to support the nation’s veterans and our community by hosting the Military Appreciation Day Fishing Event, sponsoring the North Carolina Maritime Museum and various other community activities,’ added Robin Rose.
In addition to the 2014 Certified ValvTect Marina of the Year, Southport Marina was recently named as one of the Top 25 Marinas in North America by Power and Motoryacht magazine. It also earned the 2013 Marina Dock Age Marina of the Year and received the Southport Chamber of Commerce `Golden Pineapple Award’ for Excellent Customer Service.
More about Southport Marina: Southport Marinaï‚Ž is located on the ICW at mile marker 309 approximately 30 miles south of the Port City of Wilmington, NC. It is the first mainland marina upon entering the Cape Fear River Channel from the Atlantic Ocean, which is the passage all ships enter to come to Wilmington. Southport is a full service marina and boat yard that services boaters cruising the ICW as well as local fishermen, recreational power and sail boaters. There are 225 wet slips for boats from 30′ to 225′, 260 dry slips, 2 boat ramps, a 75 ton lift and ValvTect Marine Gasoline and ValvTect Marine Diesel. We also provide housing for NC Boat Rentals, MarineMax, Freedom Boat Club and North Sails and have been certified as a Clean Marina in North Carolina.
More about ValvTect Petroleum: ValvTect Petroleum Productsï‚Ž is the largest supplier of fuel additives to the nation’s fuel distributors that supply specially formulated fuels under its brands of ValvTect Marine Fuels, Diesel Guard Premium Diesel, ThermoGuard Heating Oil, AgriGuard Farm Fuel and BioGuard. It is also a major supplier to the nation’s largest fleets and engine manufacturers. In the marine industry, approximately 700 Certified ValvTect Marinas in 42 states supply ValvTect Marine Fuels, which are `specially formulated for marine engines’.
Courtesy of Boating Magazine: http://www.boatingmag.com/valvtect-names-marine-year
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Southport Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Southport Marina
Taken on Manatee River near mouth of river into Tampa Bay – Winston Fowler
“Sky Marlin”……….. looks like a huge Marlin leaping from the sea.
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