Sombrero Marina resides on Boot Key Harbor’s southerly banks, near the bay’s easterly limits, just east of unlighted daybeacon #5A. Skipper Reeves points out the marina’s pro and cons.
We stayed @ Sombrero Dockside for 1 month. Never could get internet as promised. The people on the docks are wonderful and are very welcome to new comers. They love the place. Dave the Prince of Poop is a hard worker and will POUT on Thursdays and Mondays if needed the fee is $5 and $10. Dave is always cheerful even when replacing old dock boards in the hot sun. The parking lot is right at the docks and locals/tourists speed through the curve fast so watch out when biking/walking to nearby stores. There is a golf course across the street with a nice walking trail. A patch of grass is provided as a dog walk and some users from the marina never pick up after their large dogs. The Dockside Cafe is on the grounds and is a good place for a cold beer and has a great Mahi sandwich, but the music is so loud the acoustics so bad you can’t hear the music for the sound level. I assume the singers are good. The tiny kitchen is quickly overwhelmed by the crowd and service depends on the size of the crowd. You share the showers and such with the bar. The laundry is in a shed and seemed to always have one or more machines out of order. The huge demand for dock space in the winter keeps the place full at $23 @ Ft plus elect and pump outs.
Boca Chita Key is a smallish island surrounded by the waters of Biscayne Bay, south of Miami. It is part of Biscayne Bay National Park, and the Park Service maintains a small harbor and “marina” here. Services are minimal, and we have never been able to find more than 4 1/2 feet at MLW, while making our way to the dockage basin. On the other hand, many, including Skipper Reeves and yours truly, find a visit to Boca Chita to be quite charming, particularly on weekdays.
We stayed here two nights in January 2014 on our travel south. Beautiful and safe . Tied up to the wooden wall around the man made basin. Walked the grounds. Winds high enough for no bugs, nice! Two boats tied up during our stay. We were there during the week and not on weekend. Saw 7 ft at HT coming in. Suggest you hug the island on entering. Last green marker is missing. Sorry to say we picked up a stowaway that we finally caught two days later. A large rat. The rat apparently climbed the dock lines and was topsides. A good old Victor trap fixed the problem. We will tie up next time with Clorox bottles on the dock lines as we did in the Bahamas to prevent the little pests from boarding. Sonny Reeves
The recently improved and expanded LaBelle City dock overlooks the south side of the Okeechobee Waterway, just west of the LaBelle bridge. Skipper Burnham gives high, well deserved marks to LaBelle for its new docks and hospitality. Our thanks to David for this thorough report!
IDLER arrived yesterday at the free city dock at LaBelle and registered for an overnight stay. Then our crew walked the seven tenths of a mile to the Log Cabin on Hwy 80 for the meatiest half rack of Baby Back Ribs we’d ever eaten. Along with free soup and ice cream dessert we had to give our meal 4 and a half out of 5 stars. I’m giving the service all 5 stars even on a.busy Friday evening. Not to be missed for a great taste of Americana. A year ago I didn’t stop at LaBelle because the free city dock was full with three boats stern-to. Today the NEW dock has stern-to berths for six vessels between fifteen foot fendered concrete pilings. One large sixty foot yacht is anchored and tied to the dock immediately to the east of the six berths with room for one more her size to the east of her. This is a rare treat for cruisers in Florida to be welcomed with generous hospitality and LaBelle is the NEW standard to be met by communities looking to pull in the boaters that would pass them by to get to LaBelle. LaBelle could be the poster child for waterfront communities, but I’m only speaking for the cruising community. It will be at the top of our must stop list now whenever we cruise the OWW. The only drawback is a lack of fuel docks but small amounts of gas are available at the CITGO station on the north side of the OWW is you are willing to hike over the drawbridge and back. Of course gas and diesel are available dock side at the small marina to the east of LaBelle, IF they are open that day and you don’t run aground at the entrance. Otherwise, the six 16 foot wide stern-to berths and the four adjacent open slips on the west side of the drawbridge with water and 30amp service OR the two smaller slips on the west side of the drawbridge with no water and electricity but nearer to the public park and bathrooms are just the beginning of a great visit. The registration log at the west side dock allows a 3 day in, 8 day out registration system that is a model for any waterfront community that can serve the transient cruisers. I have included some photos of the dock in LaBelle Florida. The first is of the two slips on the east side of the drawbridge in the park with no electric or water but near the public restrooms with no shower taken from the drawbridge. The others are of the ten west side berths that do have water and electric. David Burnham
A lot of you have probably been in the same situation as Skipper Len. If you have recommendations for storage of his 28ft sailing vessel, let us hear from you or you may contact Len at his email below.
Searching for affordable dry or wet storage for 28 ft. sailboat from st. Marys to Charleston and points in between. Or a boat yard with crane for loading sailboat on trailer and use a rv storage facility. lencad@gmail.com Thanks, Len
Lang’s Marina in St. Mary’s GA is a good option. I’ve not used this boatyard but understand they will allow owners to work on their boats there, which is a rarity in GA. http://www.langcharters.com/Lang_s_Marina.html Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles is an excellent dry and wet storage marina with a public boat ramp across the road from the marina. They do not normally lift sailboats but can handle boats in your size. The staff is awesome. Just ask for the manager, Chris Ferguson. He is very nice. This is my home marina. http://www.morningstarmarinas.com/golden-isles Probably the least expensive option is Two-Way Boat Yard near Darien. This is where I have my boat work done. It’s not pretty, but they do good work and will work with you better than any place I’ve dealt with. http://www.twowayboatyard.com/ James Newsome
Sunbury Crab Company Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, lies off the AICW along the western shores of the Medway River, on the charted Sunbury Channel, north of Dickinson Creek.
Although my visit to Sunbury Crab Company and Marina has been over a year ago, I feel compelled to submit kind words and a hearty recommendation for this excellent marina and restaurant whenever I find the opportunity. Everyone is always looking for a little local knowledge and treasured stopovers when traveling the ICW. Sunbury is one such place that flies below the radar of most cruisers. Located along an isolated stretch of the GA coastline and several miles up the mostly uncharted Medway River, the marina & restaurant are not well known. One trip there and you will never pass this stretch of the ICW without making Sunbury Crab Company & Marina a regular stopover. The marina & restaurant are owned and run by Elaine and Bernie Maley and their sons. They literally catch the crab from the river, cook them, bring to your table, mix your drink, and do it all! During weekend visits I think Bernie even plays in the band. I wrote a review for TripAdvisor and called this place a little piece of heaven and the keys all bundled together. For Elaine and her family it is their paradise, and they are willing to share with everyone who stops by. I suggest calling ahead to make reservations. Calling is much better than email for some reason. After the first couple miles off the ICW the Medway River is not marked. There is a tricky crossover point with 5′ or less water at low tide. After my visit there I marked the channel on a chart and sent to Elaine. It is now posted on their web site. There are many good articles and reviews about Sunbury Crab Company on the facility’s web site. Believe every word you read! While the crabs are excellent, I think the boiled shrimp are the best I’ve ever eaten ‘“ and believe me I’ve eaten a lot of shrimp!! James Newsome Contributing Writer ‘“ SOUTHWINDS Magazine
Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles – Click for Chartview
Recently, SSECN has received reports and opinions on Brunswick Landing Marina and Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles (/?p=135526 and /?p=135528) Now Skipper Newsome provides a fair and comprehensive comparison of the two facilities.
Both BLM and Morningstar at Golden Isles are great marinas. Over the past 14 years I’ve spent 6 years at BLM and 8 total years at GIM. I’m currently located at GIM and overall prefer it, but it is strictly a personal preference as to what you are looking for in a marina. DIFFERENCES: Pool‘“ GIM has a pool, BLM does not. this is very important to us. Captain’s Lounge ‘“ BLM has a newly expanded GREAT Captain’s Lounge with free laundry facilities. GIM does not have Captain’s Lounge but does have an open air Observation Deck with covered roof and grill. There is a laundry room, but it is coin operated. Restaurant ‘“ BLM has no restaurants on the marina property, but there are a few in the downtown area. The walk from the marina to the downtown is reasonable if you’re on the first few docks, but not so much if you’re on the docks closer to the Captain’s Lounge. GIM has a restaurant, Coastal Kitchen, on the property. It is very good, but a little pricey. Staff ‘“ This is the real difference in my opinion. BLM has recently hired marina manager who was the Commodore of the local sailing club. He is doing a great job, but otherwise the staff there is limited to one lady. I have pulled up for gas there and never had her put down the cell phone or quit smoking cigarettes to even help me dock, pump gas, or cast off. GIM has a highly professional staff who are on duty 7 days a week from 7am until 6pm or whenever is needed. I’ve seen them leave after 9pm because they were waiting on a transient to arrive. Current ‘“ No comparison here either. BLM doesn’t have a current, it’s all over at GIM. Depending on your docking skills this is important. While it’s nice not to have a current to deal with, I personally prefer a current. I’m a better skipper because of learning to deal with current at GIM. Docks ‘“ Top notch concrete docks at BLM, and well maintained wooden docks at GIM. No dockboxes at BLM. Large dock boxes at GIM. Managers ‘“ Both marinas have excellent managers. I know both personally, and suggest that you contact them for a tour of their facilities. Golden Isles Sailing Club ‘“ I’m a member and there are members at both marinas. If you’re a sailor then I invite you to join. Great activity all year long with excellent racing opportunities. Some of the member will appear to be a little standoffish, but most are very friendly. It’s one of those things where you just have to walk up, introduce yourself, and then go make your presence known on the race course. Parking ‘“ More than enough at BLM. Not enough at GIM, but you can always find parking. Access to St. Simon’s Sound ‘“ As already pointed out you are very close to open water at GIM. It is a haul from BLM, but not unreasonable. Because BLM is located further inland it is more protected from strong ocean wind. BLM is also very hot in the summer. At low tide you are below the level of the land and it can be like a sauna. GIM is closer to the ocean so if there’s a breeze you will feel it. Social ‘“ Both marina do have active boat owners who are regular visitors to the docks. Social interaction depends a lot on which dock you’re on. I was located on Dock 9 at BLM and for some reason there were very few active boaters there. Seemed like most were just moving up from Florida during hurricane season. I’ve found a much more active social interaction at GIM, but I know it exists also at BLM. In particular the GISC (Golden Isles Sailing Club) members tend to occupy two or three of the finger docks. There are other differences but these are the ones I consider important. Hope this helps. James Newsome
To be fair, BLM has TWO full time staff, and is single handed only two low traffic days a week. Our arrivals and departures and pump outs have all been handled by both staff together. Secondly, BLM has virtually zero current. GIM extends well across a tidal channel that makes all but slack water arrivals a big challenge ‘” not really an issue if one doesn’t come and go. Chris
Tidewater Yacht Marina in Portsmouth, VA, is located on the west side of Town Point Reach in the Norfolk harbor, hard by Mile Zero, and has served for many Waterway cruisers as a jumping-off point for their voyage “down the ditch.” Tidewater Yacht Marina’s website is href=”http://www.tyamarina.com”>www.tyamarina.com
The link below from Tidewater Biz of Hampton Roads was sent to us by Captain John Kettlewell.
Lorelei Cabana Bar and Marina lies perched on the northwesterly shores of Upper Matecumbe Key, hard by the southeastern corner of the popular Islamorada anchorage. This review comes from our friends at Trawlers and Trawlering.
Our favorite bar/restaurant in the keys is the Lorelei in Islamorada. It includes a small marina, and the local anchorage is 300 yds away. They have the best happy hour specials we have found, and there is nearly always live entertainment at the tiki bar from around 5PM on. There’s a nice small grocery a few blocks south, and the local public library another couple blocks south. Mark Richter
Home to a very popular, busy anchorage and mooring field (usually has a waiting list), Boot Key Harbor lies in the heart of Marathon and north of Vaca Key. This review comes from our friends at the “T&T” (Trawlers and Trawlering) nautical mailing list.
Boot Key harbor in Marathon has a few hundred mooring balls at a reasonable rate that includes dinghy dockage, showers, car parking and laundry access. The harbor has better breezes than on the mainland or in canals. There are many restaurants nearby, Sunset Grill facing west adjacent to the 7 Mile Bridge being our favorite. There are many other favorites too with great Happy Hour specials such as Lazy Days. The popular Salty’s however recently burned to the ground. There is a local theatrical group and movie theatre plus Publix, Winn-Dixie and Kmart are nearby. Next door is the city park with ball fields, tennis courts and amphitheater. During the winter months there are numerous flea markets, festivals and other special event. Its 50 miles to Key West by city bus, inexpensive. Rick aboard “Dark Star”, 44′ Marine Trader DC
One of the most important personal marina visits on my Western Florida speaking/research tour of 2/9/14 to 2/16/14, was to call at Boca Grande Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, on lovely Gasparilla Island. I knew this facility has just dredged, and sported entirely new docks. And so, it was with more than a little pleasant anticipation that I drove my “land yacht” across the causeway and down the length of the island, on my way to Boca Grande Marina. The reality I discovered upon seeing the new iteration of this fine facility was NOT disappointing. The new, modern, composite decked docks represent a huge improvement over the old, tired, wooden decked piers. And, tied up in the marina’s wet slips, I discovered a whole host of friends from Isles Yacht Club, where I had just spoken the previous evening. Everyone agreed that Boca Grande Marina was now a facility “worth visiting again.” I also had lunch at the on-site Eagle Grill, located on the second floor of the building overlooking the harbor. My grouper sandwich was yummy, and the view was all that might be asked. The interior furnishings were what could only be described as “sumptuous.” All in all, a GREAT spot for a memorable lunch or dinner. Downstairs, cruisers will discover an open air dining choice, known as Miller’s Dockside, recalling the original name of this marina, back in the “bad old days,” thankfully, now long in the past. I did not get the chance to sample the cuisine downstairs, but if it’s anything like the upstairs bill of fare, you will want to make the acquaintance of this dining attraction as well. As usual, I’ve wandered a bit from my subject, which is to describe Boca Grande Marina’s entrance channel, and the good effects on this passage brought about by the recent dredging. Prior to the dredging project, the problem with accessing Boca Grande Marina was that, for years, a long, long shoal had been building farther and farther to the west from Boca Grande Bayou’s southside entrance point, south of marker #7. While, due to permitting restrictions, the marina was not allowed to entirely remove this shoal, the dredging did drive it back to the east. That represents a considerably improvement, but Dockmaster Garrett Lown still suggests cruisers observe the following procedure: After passing marker #7 to its northern side, proceed on to the west for a boat length or so, and only then turn to the south, heavily favoring the westerly shores. This procedure will cause your vessel to pass west of the shoal, and hard by the private homes and docks which flank the bayou’s western shoreline. I also observed two green, spar type, floating buoys outlining the western and northwestern edge of the entrance shoal. DO NOT APPROACH THESE SPAR BUOYS CLOSELY. They are founded in the edge of the shallow water. The marina staff also suggests that you give them a call on VHF channel 16 prior to running the entrance channel, and they will be glad to update you on any recent changes to the above procedure. So, now you know how to safely visit one of the most improved marinas on the Western Florida coastline, and some of the reasons to choose a visit to this facility. There are LOTS more attractions in the nearby village of Boca Grande, all within walking distance, but that’s another story for another day!
a month or so ago i took a dingy ride into this marina, had to push a boat off the bar coming into #7, watch you stern coming in. I have heard the the dockage price is a little steep other then that it looked nice from the water. nick chavasse sv war depart
Claiborne, Your praise of Boca Grande Marina was well placed. We love it. However, Millers Dockside Grill is great. However, I don’t look at the old Miller’s Marina as the `bad old days’. It was just different. We loved it, too. It was a happening place with fishing boats coming and going. I have saved one of the `T’ shirts from the 25th anniversary tarpon tournament for a souvenir. Don on Moonstruck
Claiborne replies: Captain Don, my reference to the “bad old days,” was not meant to cast light on the old, informal marina as a whole, but rather at what I considered to be very indifferent management in those days. Again, those times are now only a distant memory. The present dockmasters couldn’t be better!
The boater’s praise of Boca Grande Marina prompted me to view it on Google Earth where it appears to have a soft and shallow bottom in the current view presented…:D
The North Lake Worth anchorage dinghy landing is simply a small beach just north of Little Lake Worth bridge.
Good news! we anchored at this location, took [our] dinghy to the bridge and walked to all the local stores. No problems. It should be mentioned the landing for dinks is a high crime area and [we] highly recommended to locking your dinghy. I never had any problems [over] the years, but do not take a chance. No one has come to collect at anchor. A great area to rest. Plan B
I’ve anchored in North Lake Worth at least a couple of dozen times and have never heard of anyone trying to charge a fee for anchoring. It is good to hear that the dinghy landing near the bridge is once again available. This is a prime spot for those stocking up and making general preparations for a crossing over to the northern Bahamas’“just don’t listen to all the amateur meteorologists on the VHF. Judge for yourself when the weather is right for you to go. John Kettlewell
Loggerhead Club Marina lies west and a bit south of the AICW’s marker #122 in Vero Beach, FL. Our thanks to Skipper Mo for this thorough report!
Greetings, I have a report on the Vero Loggerhead. We are in the `Loggerhead Club’ for a month and Vero was a spotless very well run marina. Steve, the Dockmaster/Manager runs a super marina. Publix and a CVS, Walgreens, Brooklyn Water Bagel, Asian House and a nail salon and barber and hair salon are all an easy 3/4 bike ride. The biking is fantastic in the Great Harbor Development (which is where the marina is located). The pool is immaculate and the boaters lounge and bathrooms are spotless. Great washer dryers at $1.25 a load. Those are the BIG pluses. The only drawbacks ‘“ to get to restaurants you really need a vehicle. You can bike to the Riverside which is about 4.5 miles away but it’s not a friendly ride ‘“ some side walked and a lot not, so you are on a highway. The marina is so nice, many folks wondered why they didn’t have a little tiki bar set up (to overcome the restaurant issue) and a spa. There is room for it for sure. The owners should consider this ‘“ it’s not a huge investment and will make it a more fun spot to stay a full season. Again, spotless, well run marina with a staff that is fantastic! We’ll be back! Mo s/v Mi Amante
SSECN is grateful to Skipper Steinbrunner for the kind words as well as the location of another source of LPG/Propane. Bimini Basin anchorage is found in the charted lake-like body of water, lying just west of the `Cape Coral’ designation on Chart 11427.
Quick note to say `Thanks’ for the LPG/Propane availability feature on this website (we use it all the time), and to pass on an addition. From the Bimini Basin anchorage on Cape Coral near Ft Myers, Lee County Plumbing Supply at 532 SE 46th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL, 239-542-4618 does propane refills. It’s less than half a mile walk from the anchorage which has a dinghy dock available at the park. Thanks again for all you do to make this cruising life easier, safer and a lot more fun. Lori Steinbrunner
Burdine’s Waterfront Marina overlooks the Boot Key westerly approach channel’s northerly banks, just a quick hop east from Pancho’s Fuel Dock.
Please make your cruiser’s aware that B100 biodiesel is available at Burdines in the Florida Keys. It is locally produced, not imported from Miami. Nancy Lillie Marathon BioDiesel, Inc 305-522-9136 888-842-9315 Fax
The Punta Gorda pumpout boat has been in operation since November of 2013 and has definitely been good news for cruisers visiting SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Punta Gorda, on Western Florida’s Charlotte Harbor/Peace River.To see the schedule and locations, go to: http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/leis/boating.html
Question: What days of the week is the pump out boat operating? I would like to get a pump out. Answer: The pump out boat is available on Monday’s and Thursday’s, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Contact Laishley Marina at 941-575-0142 for more information. You can hail them on VHF16/19. The marina suggests calling ahead and scheduling the pump out so they can be of the best service to you. The resident who took this photo said the staff who run the pump out boat gave them a reward card that is good at the following businesses: Burnt Store Marina, Fishermen’s Village Marina, Laishley Marina, Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club, Isles Yacht Club, West Marine-Punta Gorda, Porto Bello Restaurant, Village Fish Market and King Fisher Fleet. For more information about the marine disposal, click here Steve Johnson
There are two possible routes for cruising the Florida Keys, the offshore Hawk Channel passage, and the “Inside Route.” Hawk Channel features more, but not all, marinas, while the Inside Route offers the greatest bonanza of wonderful anchorages to be found anywhere in the Southeast. Trouble is that I have personally sounded 5 feet at low tide directly between the markers in places on the FL Keys inside route. Mind you, only in places, but nevertheless, this is a real concern for those piloting vessels that draw more than 4 feet. Skipper Zimmers expressed his concern in the question below and received several answers via the AGLCA Forum.
We are in Marathon and arrived here from Key Biscayne via Hawk Channel. We want to return on the ” inside” via the ICW from Marathon to Biscayne Bay. We have a Nordic Tug with a 4.5 foot draft. Is the ICW deep enough for that draft?? Thanks, Herb Zimmers aboard GiddyAp
We draft 4 feet and have done it several times. Never had a problem. Steve and Gina Smith M/V Island Time
Herb, You should have no problem. Just pay attention to your charts and stay in the channels through the cuts. Those are the places you can get into trouble if you get distracted. Chuck Baier
Try to go on a rising tide Mike and Rosie
I carry a five foot draft and the last time I went the inside route, I ran hard aground right around marker `60’³ on a low tide. I could see I was scraping the bottom for a mile for finally stopping. I used my dingy to heel me over and got loose and never touched bottom again. On a high tide, I wouldn’t have touched anywhere. R. Holiman
We did the inside from Biscayne Bay to Marathon. We draw 4 ft and at low tide we had some mud in our wake near R80 to Steamboat channel. What was more of a problem was the crab pots and now some are marked with green, brown and blue floats. Our friend had his boat hauled yesterday and the props were wrapped with a bushel basket full of ropes. I may have been out of the channel sometimes but it seems the pots are in the ICW with no regard for boats. May be the prop shops are paying the crabbers to place the green floats in the ICW:) Sonny Reeves
We just arrived in Marathon from Key Biscayne. Our Cabo Rico draws 4’10’³. Although we encountered some less than 5′ depths, we made it through with no drama. We did time our passages through channels with the tides. Beth
The heartland USA waters which are the subject of the article below are well outside the geographic focus of the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net, but so many of our readers and contributors are interested in cruising the “Great Loop, and are members of the American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association Forum (http://www.greatloop.org/), we wanted to share this disturging news from Skipper Mike Ahart of Waterway Guide http://www.waterwayguide.com/
On February 5th, legislation was introduced to congress that would authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to permanently close the waterway between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system to prevent Asian carp and other destructive species from reaching Lake Michigan. The act would effectively close America’s Great Loop Route if no other alternatives were implemented. The “Defending Against Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2014” (H.R. 4001), introduced by Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), would “authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out certain activities to prevent the interbasin transfer of aquatic invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River, and for other purposes.” The three-page bill was assigned to a congressional committee, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole, according to the bill overview. The bill would require that hydrologic separation of the two water systems be designed “not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,” and that construction would commence “not later than 180 days after the date on which design activities undertaken…are completed.” The recently passed waterway bill, Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), had no mention of measures to stop the spread of Asian carp, which had been outlined specifically in the U.S. Senate version. If a permanent barrier is put in place, existing transfer ports would be modified to accommodate commercial shipping (cargo is usually off-loaded from freighters to barges already); however, smaller shipping vessels and pleasure craft would be severely impacted unless and until systems are built allowing those to be lifted, ramped or railed from the Great Lakes system to the river system — about 41,000 non-cargo vessels transit the locks per year, according to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study. (Transfer costs, vessel size and weight limits, and other details have been discussed, but no guidelines have yet been developed, as far as I have determined.) Here’s the link, if you want to read more: http://www.waterwayguide.com/newsupdate.php?area=11&id=3382
I currently have my family on the Loop. We are on the adventure of a lifetime in our 30′ Sailboat. This is no doubt in my mind that closing the loop would destroy an economy that depends on the river traffic and Loopers to make a living. If the loop were closed and traffic was no longer allowed to transit the area, it would hurt the barge traffic as well. The whole proposition of closing the loop completely sounds extreme, tragic, and a job killer. In this economy, it would kill people who lose their businesses. Can we beg Politicians who can’t seem to create jobs to at least stop destroying them for once? Terry Day
We have previously published several strings of messages about the Florida Pilot Mooring Field program. Some hate it, some like it, and some are not sure exactly what to think, and just want additional information. Linked below you will discover a series of messages which recently appeared on the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) mailing list. As you will see, again, there is a wide range of opinions, but we found some of these notes extremely well thought-through, and definitely thought provoking. Note that some of these contributors are referring to the FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission) report on Florida Mooring Fields, which was recently published, and about which we will have more to say editorially soon! This series of messages is sooooo lengthy, instead of pasting them all below, we invite you to visit:
This just in from our good friend, Skipper Susan Landry, co-author of “The Great Book of Anchorages” series (http://www.tgboa.com/), including their new volume on Bahamian Anchorages! Excellent books – REALLY! Anyway, the first link below to the “wind map” will be of use to virtually every coastal cruiser, while the “current map” will be more valuable to blue-water mariners!
A while back we shared the Earth map with almost real time wind flow,
From our friends at the American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association Forum, (http://www.greatloop.org/), comes this excellent review of the Murphy Creek anchorages. This stream breaks off from the St. Johns, hard by Dunns Creek, several miles south of Palatka, and eventually loops around and rejoins the St. Johns south of marker #26. We have always suggested entering Murphy Creek by way of Dunns Creek, as the former stream’s westerly mouth channel is somewhat constricted. But, hey, looks like Captains Elaine and Russ were able to successfully navigate both entrances in their 37 foot trawler. Of course, note they have a shoal draft of only 3 feet!
We have a 37′ trawler 3′ draft, 16′ beam. Murphy Creek is one of our favorite anchorages. We have traveled the entire Creek entering both the north & south and exiting both as well. The North entrance is shallower at times but stick to the chart. I have some amazing pictures from our times on anchor. Its a quiet peaceful anchor spot. We spent several months last year traveling the entire St. Johns after purchasing our boat. Its a great river. Elaine & Russ Sturm Twelve Stones
We were there in November 2013. It is fine as an anchorage with no depth problems as long as you stay in the marked channel. We cruised the entire length of it and never saw less than 7 feet at any time. We did not stop here, but had it planned as an alternate if the weather turned bad. You will see wildlife here, but nothing like what you will see further south. If you are interested in our trip down the St. Johns, our blog is at http://www.wacithree.blogspot.com. The wildlife gets better and better the further south you go and reaches its peak in the Blue Springs area near DeLand and Hontoon Island State Park. Be sure your dinghy is ready to explore areas your boat will not be able to navigate and you will see a part of Florida that few cruisers have a chance to see. The St. Johns has been the highlight of our Loop so far. Check our blog for details. Dave & Nan Ellen Fuller Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Murphy Creek Eastern Anchorage
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