The progress made in mapping U.S. waters through 2019 represents the cumulative work of federal and state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private contracting partners, and crowd-sourced contributions.
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Bahamas Chatter is produced by Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS NET PARTNER, which has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Corona virus
Corona virus
Posted: 17 Mar 2020 05:31 AM PDT
Does anyone know if the Bahamas are going to close their borders to cruisers due to the Corona virus?
As of today March 18, borders are open to North Americans. Closed to Europe, South Korea, China and a few other Hot spots. There will be a 10 AM update from PM today
This presentation by author and experienced cruiser, Bob Sherer, HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
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Florida’s Gulf-side Clearwater and Sarasota offer low-key adventures for beachcombers and ocean lovers of all kinds.
The forgotten coast
Dallas Voice
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY
ARNOLD WAYNE JONES | Executive Editor
Bahamas Chatter is produced by Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS NET PARTNER, which has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: EXPLORER CHARTBOOK Far Bahamas 7TH EDITION READY
EXPLORER CHARTBOOK Far Bahamas 7TH EDITION READY
Posted: 13 Mar 2020 05:25 AM PDT
The latest edition of the EXPLORER CHARTBOOK FAR BAHAMAS, 7th ed.
has been published and is ready to ship. Order NOW from our website at
Don’t go to The Bahamas or Turks and Caicos without it!
So much time, energy, and money has been expended to correct the problems caused by HB201. I hope legislators have learned that stakeholders need to be involved and issues vetted in public forums before laws are passed. We could have avoided all this with some discussions ahead of time. Thankfully DNR is now willing to work with us.
Visit Save Georgia's Anchorages on Facebook for updates on this important issue.
The FWC is spitting into the wind when asking boaters to slow down. Those of us ICW slow-boaters know from experience that there are skippers who go well above reasonable speeds regardless of the circumstances.
FWC to boaters: Slow down to save manatees.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding boaters and personal watercraft operators to slow down and keep a keen eye out for manatees as they enjoy Florida’s waterways this spring.
During this time of year, manatees leave their winter refuges and are more likely to be found in rivers, canals and nearshore waters. The sunny spring weather also appeals to Florida’s boaters, meaning that they are likely to cross paths with the state’s official marine mammal.
“Spring is one of the best times to be out on the water but it’s also a very active time for manatees.” said Ron Mezich, who heads the FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Section. “Boaters can make a big difference and avoid injuring or killing manatees by slowing down and being alert this spring.”
Some of the same actions that keep manatees safe also keep people safe. Everyone on the water should be paying attention to surroundings and operating at safe speeds.
From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being struck by motorboats or personal watercrafts. FWC law enforcement officers are on patrol in state waters to remind boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take enforcement actions when appropriate.
Manatees can be difficult to detect when underwater, so it is important for operators of boats and personal watercrafts to be vigilant while out on the water. You can help protect manatees by following these simple guidelines:
Resources for boaters, educators and other interested members of the public are available at MyFWC.com/Manatee. Click the page’s “Information & Guidelines” tab for helpful tips on respectfully viewing manatees, additional guidelines for boat and PWC operators, and information on what you can do to help these amazing aquatic mammals.
Those interested in supporting the FWC’s manatee research, rescue and management efforts can purchase a “Save the Manatee” Florida license plate, or donate $5 to receive an FWC manatee decal. Both are available from your local Tax Collector’s office.
Spring is an active time for many of Florida’s wildlife species. For more information on wildlife in spring visit MyFWC.com/News and click on “Spring Wildlife News”.
General boating safety information is available at MyFWC.com/boating.
News you can use from NOAA Planet Stewards.
Planet Stewards Program – The Watch – March 11, 2020
Boating United is a community of boating businesses and supporters, working together to shape policies that affect boating, angling, and outdoor recreation. See Stand Up for the Coast Guard.
 ACTION ALERT Projects that impact our access to public lands and waters are up for discussion right now, and we need to make sure the needs of our industry are prioritized. Tell Congress to support recreation infrastructure by supporting the Safe Harbors for Our Recreation Economy (SHORE) Act! The SHORE Act would require federal agencies to account for recreation’s economic impact when approving infrastructure projects, which in turn support our job growth, access to our waterways, and recreational boating and angling communities. Outdoor recreation is serious business, but it has been unappreciated for far too long. There’s still time to act – tell Congress to support the SHORE Act!
National Marine Manufacturers Association, 650 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 Boating United is the grassroots platform of the recreational boating industry. It is comprised of boating manufacturers, businesses and supporters who share the common goal of protecting and promoting the industry. Take action, learn about the issues, and more at boatingunited.org. |
Cruisers Net joins Ted Arisaka of Save Georgia’s Anchorages in thanking you for your support of their efforts to correct the restrictions on anchorages in recent legislation. Keep your fingers crossed!
Your emails imploring Georgia legislators to support Rep Stephens HB833 have been successful. Today March 10, 2020, HB833 was voted on favorably in The Rules Committee and will proceed forward to the full House floor for vote Thursday.
Following an anticipated favorable disposition in The House, it will go to The Senate on legislative day 28, aka “Crossover Day”.
Ted Arisaka, Save Georgia’s Anchorages
Cruising skipper, Brian McMahon, is wisely requesting recent depth information on an area noted for shoaling, Gordan Pass, which is the inlet into Naples, FL. Shoaling is regularly reported in the channel from its entrance to the point where the channel joins the Naples Channel in Naples Bay. Is you can provide local knowledge, please let us hear from you!
Hi. Planning on cruising south on Florida west coast this month. Was hoping for more recent information regarding depth of Gordon Pass. I draw 5′ and charts don’t really give any information on current shoaling conditions.
Thank you In advance,
Went in Gordon Pass on 03/15/2020. Favored the red "4" and saw 13' on my sounder with 1' above MLLW, 11' at the Gulf channel entrance. Seems water is deep enough as long as the north side of the channel is avoided. Should also note that during daylight hours traffic in the channel is very heavy and navigation rules are generally not followed.
This is informational only, of course… OLOH (60' M/Y, 5' draft) transited Gordon pass on 2.12.2020 at 0700 which was 90 minutes before low tide at +.1'. While I cannot report actual depth readings, we hugged the south side of the channel through the pass between G1 and R4 and had no concerns.
Thank you very much for the intel on Gordon Pass.
Winston, thank you so much for the update on Gordon Pass. You are the best!
More excellent educational articles and videos from NOAA.
Click here for SHIPWRECKED! Ocean Today Full Moon Video Collection
I spoke with some folks who used Gordon Pass in late February 2020 and all was very good.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is a group of dedicated cruisers who always provide unique reports from the marinas they visit. Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and voted Best Small Marina in 2017, overlooks the westerly banks of the Matanzas Pass channel, west of marker #13. Pink Shell Beach Marina is a favorite of the CCCC, see 2019 Cruise to Pink Shell.
CAPE CORAL CRUISE CLUB
CRUISES TO PINK SHELL MARINA
By Captain John Queen, Past Commodore, Cape Coral Cruise Club
Each month, the Cape Coral Cruise Club takes a scheduled cruise to a different marina in SW Florida and stays there for several days enjoying the amenities and hospitality of that area. We do that nine times a year along with an extended cruise each Spring and take a break during the summer months of July and August. For February 2020, our destination of choice was Pink Shell Marina at Fort Myers Beach.
Pink Shell has been a popular destination for the club since the Marina expanded its floating docks a few years ago, and this year was no exception. We had 13 boats arrive on Tuesday, February 18th and it was nice to see the long line of yellow club burgees flying on the bow of each boat. Our club burgee sports our club mascot – a dolphin holding a drink of some sort (an adult beverage, I would surmise). After safely docking Tuesday, club members convened in the late afternoon for cocktails, snacks and conversation. The weather could not have been better.
We fired up the marina’s grill around 5:00 and cooked up hamburgers and hot dogs, and along with a slew of side dishes prepared by club members, had a wonderful feast on the marina lawn.
After dinner, club members returned to the marina lawn to play a little game I called “The Whoa Nellie Jelly Belly Deli”. Each year, when my wife Pati and I host the Club’s cruise to Pink Shell, I’ve created some kind of crazy game for members to play. In this game, there were 40 numbered plastic cups, each with jelly beans underneath. The object was to match 2 cups that had the same quantity and color of jelly beans. Couples took turns picking cups until all pairs were matched. The winners were the couples who had collected the most jelly beans. Additionally, all of the couples walked away with the cool U.S. Coast Guard holographic cups that were used for this game!
Wednesday morning, we provided breakfast for all club members consisting of scrambled eggs, sausage links, fresh fruits and pastries. We had to let the boat air out for a few hours after cooking up all that sausage!
After breakfast, club members met at the marina lawn at 10:00 for second game – a scavenger hunt! The scavenger hunt consisted of 10 questions where all the answers can be found on the property of Pink Shell resort and Marina. For example, one of the questions was “Unscramble ‘BISNALE WIVE’ and ‘PICAVAT SLIVAL’ – which one is ‘190’? These letters unscramble to Sanibel View and Captiva Villas, two of the named buildings on Pink Shell property. The street address for Captiva Villas is 190, hence the answer. Easy, eh?
The rest of Wednesday found many club members relaxing in the pool, walking the beach, or shopping downtown Fort Myers Beach at Times Square. Wednesday evening, the winners of the scavenger hunt were announced and more prizes were awarded. We all took the Lee-Tran open-air tram to Nervous Nellie’s for dinner. We had about 30 members in attendance and the restaurant provided us with great food, drinks, and a private area to dine.
Thursday morning was another round of prepared breakfast with eggs, sausage, fruits and fresh pastries. Club members spent the rest of the day enjoying Pink Shell resort amenities, visiting with friends, and just plain relaxing. Thursday night, everyone headed off to dinner on their own. My wife and I joined another couple and had dinner at the Fresh Catch restaurant in Fort Myers Beach and enjoyed great food, great company, and a gorgeous sunset!
Fortunately, Mother Nature was quite cooperative during our stay at the marina and we were truly blessed with lots of sunshine.
On Friday morning, we slipped lines and headed home. Much appreciation goes to Dave and Craig, the dock masters at Pink Shell Resort and Marina, for their hospitality and special accommodation to the Cape Coral Cruise Club for making our trip a wonderful event to remember.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club was founded in 1963, and has offered members unique cruising opportunities to a variety of destinations in SW Florida. We hold monthly gourmet picnics at our private island on Caloosahatchee River near Alva, FL. We’re a great club to join if you live in the Cape Coral or Fort Myers area and have a power boat with overnight sleeping accommodations. For more information, contact our Membership Chairman Terry Carlson at (239) 770-6955, or visit our website at: www.ourgrouponline.org/CapeCoralCruiseClub.
Pink Shell Marina
Cruise leader Queen giving scavenger hunt instructions
Dinner at Nervous Nellies restaurant
Member boats at the marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina
The potcake dog is a mixed-breed dog type found on several Caribbean islands. Its name comes from the congealed peas and rice mixture that local residents traditionally eat, as the overcooked rice that cakes to the bottom of the pot would be fed to the dogs. A worthy cause! Donate, or better yet…adopt!
Click here for Pennies for Potcakes
Donate at Nassau Humane Society
See also St Augustine Cruisers Net Facebook Page
Great account and photos of their journey from these Loopers’ completion of the Great Loop!
Bill and Geni Stevenson: Living on the water is retirement
CapeGazette.com
Bahamas Chatter is produced by Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS NET PARTNER, which has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Visual Piloting Rules must be used entering Bimini Harbour
Visual Piloting Rules must be used entering Bimini Harbour
Posted: 29 Feb 2020 05:49 AM PST
Both red and green buoys are now missing at the entrance to Bimini Harbour. The shoal extending south from Entrance Point of North Bimini continues to extend to the south across the entrance of the channel to the harbour. Boats attempting to enter the harbour are running aground more frequently because they are relying exclusively on GPS positions on chart plotters and not attempting to look at the water and go where the water looks deeper. Visual piloting must be used here and is more important than electronic navigation in this area and others in the Bahamas. The bottom is easily seen here with good light and weather conditions.
The Bahamas Government has a long history of not maintaining aids to navigation and this should not be expected to change.
The current Explorer Chart for the Bimini Entrance was posted here on April 10, 2019. (Go to Posts, View All Posts, Click on Bimini on left menu, scroll down seven posts to “Continued shoaling at Bimini Harbour Entrance,” and click on read more.)
Expect the shoal to slowly continuing to move south.
The City of Gulfport and Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always have a full Calendar of Events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
FOCUS ON Gulfport, Florida
Gulfport is a beautiful, quaint, waterfront “village” with good-ole southern Florida hospitality, charm and civic pride.
So many things to see and do in this seaside village that honors its past while enjoying the present. Truly a very unique historic village along Florida’s west coast.
Hosting all who arrive by sea is the comfortable, clean, protected and welcoming Gulfport Municipal Marina.
The marina is located on roughly eleven acres with over seven acres of marina waters protected by a concrete seawall and with 192 wet slips and 25 dry boat storage spaces. There is a boat ramp if needed and 70 trailer parking spaces available. A Florida CLEAN MARINA with a well-stocked ship’s store, two fueling stations, guest docking facility, showers and restrooms. If the marina is full, there is the Gulfport Mooring Field, also conveniently located near the heart of town. The well-engineered moorings offer a variety of amenities for the transient boater wishing to hangout in the bay. You are invited to stay a day, week or month. Many have even made Gulfport their new Homeport!
All this is located close to the town’s diversity of amenities and an enjoyable walk among the historic southern Florida homes, many with historic legacies. You can’t miss this town’s sense of community pride. You will find its unique civic engagements throughout the town, bringing daily non-partisan opportunities for the town folks to share a beverage and get involved.
The town has many very talented artists whose works you will see not only in shops, but throughout the community. On your walks around town, you may find a local artist at work in their favorite studio – their front yard, as this gentleman is illustrating.
On the first Friday and third Saturday of every month, there is the Gulfport Art Walk, an enjoyable walk on Beach Blvd and chance to witness the many independent artists at work, as well as their exhibits.
During your walks enjoying the artists’ work, you will often find live music at various venues throughout the town.
Getting tired of canned veggies? Well, you will not want to miss the chance to visit Tuesday Fresh Market !
Taking place every Tuesday on the following seasonal schedule.
October through April – 9:00AM until 3:00PM
May through September – 9:00AM until 2:00PM
Gulfport waterfront
Gulfport has very interesting shops where you just might find that treasure you’ve been looking for, for sooooo long.
Then, how about celebrating your finds at some of the town’s lively venues for food and beverages, several right on the waterfront, others along charming main street.
Check out the Visit Gulfport Florida website for more information, so you can enjoy as much as you desire.
And, yes sir, tired of walking? Grab a ride of the Gulfport Trolley.
Catching a beautiful sunset, walking the quaint streets of a genuine “village town” in the unique settings of Gulfport, is good for the body, mind and spirit.
So, set your course for Gulfport, Florida, and plan to stay with your perfect local host, Gulfport Municipal Marina or Gulfport Mooring Field. 
Harbormaster, Denis Frain, and his staff will make sure your stay is comfortable and enjoyable. The marina is withing easy walking distance from the heart of this quaint and fun waterfront town. It is an easy, refreshing, and often entertaining stroll.
Enjoy your visit, your stay, and share you experience with Cruisers Net.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
If you are living aboard and are typically very independent minded, you will find agreement and disagreement in this article of suggestions.
Boating tips for living aboard
thewashingtondailynews.com
What implications such bans on this watersport will have on other boaters are unclear at this point, but one would almost forecast an increase in No Wake zones.
Wakesurfing is a water sport in which a rider trails behind a boat, riding the boat’s wake without being directly pulled by the boat. After getting up on the wake, typically by use of a tow rope, the wakesurfers will drop the rope, and ride the steep face below the wave’s peak in a fashion reminiscent of surfing. Wikipedia
One of our industry’s hottest sellers, boats designed to deliver perfect wakesurf waves, and boaters who cruise through Georgia could take big hits if legislation and new regulations are approved.
Earlier this month, State Sen. John Rodgers introduced legislation (SB 69) that would effectively ban wakesurfing in Vermont by prohibiting boat “plowing.” The bill would also allow and/or require the development of regulations to outright ban wake-sports boats from specific public waters.
Now in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, the bill is believed to be the first to call for a statewide ban of ballasted boats. Preventing this ill-conceived bill from becoming law is a top priority for the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the Watersports Industry Association and marine dealers in Vermont.
But dealers nationwide that sell towboats, indeed any boats for that matter, should be on guard for similar proposals in their states. Here’s a terrifying thought: The Vermont bill passes and becomes a model for other state. It’s not a fantasy. Here’s why.
The New Hampshire legislature has already commissioned a task force to look at wakesurfing from “every angle,” which other states could use to justify their actions and legislation. In fact, legislatures in Indiana, Idaho and Minnesota are now hearing bills related to wakesurfing. The Idaho bill would require a 200-foot buffer from shore or other structures; in Indiana the proposed buffer zone is 600 feet; and in Minnesota there’s a bill calling for 1,000 feet offshore.
In Oregon, the State Marine Board recently rejected a petition from an environmental group to close the Willamette River to wakesurf boats. However, the board acknowledged it’s in the early stages of considering rules related to wakesurfing. Accordingly, NMMA, MSIA, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and others are opposing the Minnesota and Indiana bills, though not the Idaho legislation. Lobbyists have been retained in Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Idaho and Oregon.
Dealers and marine trade associations wanting the latest information can contact Dave Dickerson, NMMA’s vice president for state government relations, at ddickerson@nmma.org.
Trade Only Today of Soundings joins the fray to highlight the very restrictive legislation recently enacted in Georgia. See Georgia Anchoring Advocacy Fund.
Don’t Drop Anchor in Georgia
Fighting the good fight for boating and boaters never ends.
BoatUS is leading a push against a new Georgia regulation restricting overnight anchoring within 1,000 feet of any structure, such as public and private docks, wharves, bridges, piers and pilings, except in areas near a marina.
How did boaters get hammered this way? There was little notice or engagement with recreational boating groups by the Georgia legislature in approving House Bill 201. It was then quietly signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.
The legislation directed the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to develop rules regarding the anchoring of vessels in estuarine areas of the state. DNR proposed a rule that has rightfully raised serious concerns in the boating community.
“This 1,000-foot offset needlessly eliminates anchorages all over the state,” says Chris Edmonston, vice president of government affairs for BoatUS. “It will affect numerous boaters, many of whom transit Georgia waters as part of the annual migration along the Intracoastal Waterway. There is no reasonable safety or waterway-management reason for taking such a significant swath of state waters away from the boating public.
“Boating and fishing,” Edmonston adds, “are the second largest outdoor recreational activity in Georgia, bringing in more than $500 million a year in economic activity. Eliminating scores of anchorages will put a severe damper on this very important economic driver to many coastal areas that gain from boater spending.”
He went on to acknowledge the so-called “Marina Zones” that will allow boaters to anchor as close as 300 feet to marinas or facilities that provide fuel, dinghy access, provisions, vessel maintenance or other services. But that won’t reduce the negative economic impact of this poorly crafted legislation and resulting rules.
Perhaps the most persuasive argument is the BoatUS position that the final rule runs counter to the Public Trust Doctrine as codified in Georgia law. It states:
“The State of Georgia, as sovereign, is trustee of the rights of the people of the state to use and enjoy all tidewaters which are capable of use for fishing, passage, navigation, commerce and transportation, pursuant to the common law public trust doctrine.”
BoatUS submits that anchoring is an integral part of navigation.
Georgia dealers, employees and boaters should join the efforts of the grassroots group Save Georgia’s Anchorages, which was created in response to the law.
BY NORM SCHULTZ
As poorly as Georgia maintains the ICW, this is just one more reason to bypass the state when traveling north/south. It's a shame as I have always loved anchoring in the marshes of Glynn, visiting Savannah, etc.
Instead, I will take my tourist dollars elsewhere. That will also impact marinas such as Thunderbolt, Isle of Hope, etc.
Too bad they are so short-sighted, all to coddle some wealthy interests.
"As poorly as GA maintains the ICW." Could you be a little more specific?
James Newsome…Areas like “Hells Gate” mm 600 , or “ The Little Mud River” to name a couple.
BoatUS is always supportive but certainly did not "lead" this effort.
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