Shared Photo: Bimini Sunset, Bimini, Bahamas by Tony Pozun
Our thanks to Tony Pozun for this beautiful sunset!

Our thanks to Tony Pozun for this beautiful sunset!

Personal security and property security are becoming larger areas of concern these days and these linked articles seem particularly appropriate to boaters, especially transient cruisers.
How the Collier County Sheriff’s Office is keeping you safe on the water
Wink News
“Carfax for boats’ law will alert buyers to vessels’ shady pasts
Sun Sentinel
Tip of organized theft ring targeting boats, motors leads to arrest of 3 men in Melbourne
Florida Today
Our thanks to Greg Allard for sharing his gift of photography.

Sunrise at Spanish Wells, in the Bahamas, where commercial fishing boats greatly outnumber cruising boats.
Always hoping you never need their services, it is good to know they are there.
NEWS From BoatUS![]()
Boat Owners Association of The United States
5323 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22151
Read this press release online at: https://bit.ly/2JmcikB

Photo Caption: Capt. Mike Ammons aboard his 24-hour boat towing and response vessel
For Boaters Crossing Florida, TowBoatUS Has You Covered
LaBelle is fourth location for TowBoatUS on the Okeechobee Waterway
LABELLE., Fla., May 8, 2019 – Most boats crossing the state of Florida on the Okeechobee Waterway are transient, only trying to get from one coast to the other as quickly as possible. That means their captains may not have local knowledge, and if they need assistance for an unexpected grounding or engine problem, the newly opened 24-hour on-water towing and assistance service for recreational boaters, TowBoatUS LaBelle, is ready to help.
It’s the fourth TowBoatUS port servicing the 134.3-nautical-mile waterway, which includes bookend locations in Stuart and Fort Myers, and in Okeechobee. TowBoatUS is the only national, 24-hour on-water service delivering professional assistance on the waterway from end-to-end, providing boaters with routine help with dead batteries, soft ungroundings, running out of fuel, or a tow back to the launch ramp or marina.
TowBoatUS LaBelle is the second location for Capt. Mike Ammons, who opened TowBoatUS Lake Okeechobee in 2018. Prior to that, Ammons owned three TowBoatUS ports in the early 2000s. Today, TowBoatUS has over 300 locations and 600 towing response vessels across the country.
Much like an auto club, BoatUS offers on-water Unlimited Towing Memberships for boaters and anglers for just $159 per year. Boaters without BoatUS towing services face costs that average $750 per towing incident, with some paying thousands out of pocket.
TowBoatUS LaBelle and TowBoatUS Okeechobee offer extended service areas, including Lake Okeechobee in its entirety and the Caloosahatchee River. St. Lucie Canal service is provided by TowBoatUS Stuart.
TowBoatUS LaBelle operates a 22-foot power cat response vessel with twin outboards, easily recognizable by its red hull and TowBoatUS logos emblazoned in bright white letters on its sides, rigged and ready for towing, jump starts, fuel delivery and soft ungroundings.
Boaters can reach TowBoatUS LaBelle by hailing on VHF channel 16, by calling the company directly at (239) 600-0140, by phoning the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at (800) 391-4869, or via smartphone using the BoatUS App. More information can be found at BoatUS.com/Towing, or call (800) 888-4869.
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About TowBoatUS:
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate, services and safety group for recreational boaters. We are the Boat Owners Auto Club and provide our more than half-million members with a wide array of helpful services, including 24-hour on-water towing that gets you safely home when your boat won’t, jump starts, fuel delivery, and soft ungroundings. The TowBoatUS towing fleet is North America’s largest network of towing ports with more than 300 locations and over 600 red towing assistance vessels, responding to more than 70,000 requests for assistance each year. The BoatUS App makes it easy to summon water and road assistance 24/7 and can speed response times (BoatUS.com/App). For more information go to BoatUS.com/Membership.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of LaBelle on the Okeechobee Waterway
A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, popular Osprey Marina is at mile marker 373 on the Intracoastal Waterway south of Myrtle Beach, SC. Thankfully, Osprey Marina has almost completely recovered from the damages of hurricane Florence. Our thanks to Loopers Steve Quinn and Brenda Sanderson for these good words as posted on AGLCA’s Forum.
I needed about three weeks of harborage myself in the same area so I chose Osprey Marina. Great folks, clean family run marina and very well protected. I called pretty much last minute to make reservations and they did work me in. Highly recommended. I will be returning to my boat approximately May 10.
Steve Quinn
2nd Steve Quinn’s recommendation. if you can go North a little more, you won’t find much of a friendlier and well protected marina. Last trip through southbound, they paid two dock hands OT to receive us an hour after closing to make sure we made it in. Cheap diesel too. We love Osprey. On our way north recently we stopped to fuel and pump out at Wacca Wache. Over 25 cents more per gallon on diesel than Osprey and a whopping $25 for a pumpout.
Brenda Sanderson
Click Here To View the Cruisers Net South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Osprey Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Osprey Marina
For our tall-masted friends thinking of exploring the upper St. Johns River, Bruce Phaup kindly reminds us that the Shands Bridge with a fixed vertical clearance of 45ft connects Red Bay and Smith Points just south of Green Cove Springs. Funds have been approved for the replacement of Shands Bridge by the Florida Legislature, see links below. The bridge portion of the project is scheduled for completion in 2030.
The Shands Bridge, just south of Green Cove Springs, has a clearance of 45 feet. The Shands Bridge is the controlling height for the entire navigable extent of the St. John’s River, extending south to Sanford, Florida.
Bruce Phaup

Current Shands Bridge
Click here for Renderings of the new Shands Bridge
Click here for State funds $763M to replace Shands Bridge, extend beltway
Our thanks to Tony Pozun for this lovely photo!
Nice photo, Tony.
This long overdue dredging is very welcome, but as Richard Ross confirms, the dredging has not been completed so GO SLOW and KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE DEPTH FINDER! Because the channel through this Problem Stretch seems to shift with each tide and until the dredging proves otherwise, Cruisers Net still recommends mid to high tide passage.
By now everyone cruising the ICW should know that Jekyll Creek is being dredged.
We came thru there today (May 2/19) near high tide and saw 2 ft MLW near the infamous marker 19. The dredge is at the north end and will be working its way south. Completion is scheduled for June 15. So don’t strike this off your list of Georgia problem stretches yet.
Richard Ross
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Jekyll Creek
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
AREA SPONSORING MARINA
Click Here To View the Cruisers Net Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Jekyll Harbor Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Jekyll Harbor Marina
In reply to Dave and Bob. Sorry it took so long, we have been out cruising.
MLW depths mean the water depth at low tide. Of course the water was much deeper at close to high tide when we went thru (We draw 5 ft), but I subtracted the tide when calculating water depth. The bottom line is that until the dredging is finished, most boats will not be able to pass this section at low tide.
Can someone please verify this? Seems to be an exaggeration
With all due respect, it is hard to believe that there was 2 ft mlw in Jekyll Creek today near high tide. These kinds of reports are useless to cruisers and actually are detrimental because they do not potray a complete picture. Exactly where near green 19 were you when you saw 2 ft? I suspect you were quite far off G 19 and which direction were u heading, north or south? I travel through here several times a year and have never heard of 2 ft at mlw except if you are out of the channel, off course or have not paid attention to the many tracks and routes posted online to easily traverse this area.
Things that go bump… Normally, the ride through Dismal Swamp is best described as idyllic and unforgettable, but because of its heavily wooded banks, dredging in the Canal can sometimes stir up more than the usual amount of debris. It is unfortunate that vessels occasionally make contact in the Canal, even when no dredging is underway. Our thanks to Loopers Jeffrey and Cathy, Richard and Terrie for sharing their recent experiences with us. Dismal Swamp Canal is home to Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR.
We came through the Dismal Swamp today and to tell the truth, I can’t recommend the route at all. We went through with three boats. One boat which draws 5ft struck submerged logs numerous times and bent the prop. Our Mainship 40, which draws four feet, struck something twice and ran over a dredge hose in the canal. There is a dredge working the canal but he has a plastic pipe across the canal and I asked him to submerge it. He came back on the radio and said he did sink it. I went over it and hit it both with the bow and my prop. If you take this route please use caution. If I had to do it over again, I would go the Virginia cut. Good luck.
Jeffrey and Cathy Guttenberger
R Time
2005 Mainship 400
We came past the dredge a few minutes ago and had no problems … we draw 4.5 feet. The dredge operator was very helpful and contacted us after we passed to ask if we had hit anything. I think he was feeling bad about yesterday’s incidents. My depth finder alarm was set at 6’ and never went off. The lowest depth I remember seeing was 7.2’. We did bump something a couple times but for us it wasn’t a big deal.
Richard & Terrie Dukes
Avalon
Director of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, Donna Stewart, offered this response:
A boater mentioned this second hand to us yesterday, but I had not had any complaints…..at all. We have been consistently asking people, and also have checked in with Robert [Lock master]. Of course, most of our boats are heading north right now, with a few southbound. I’m sorry to hear this report…… After the wind on Friday, we had a report of a tree down at mm19 on Saturday morning, but all boats got through and I’m aware the contractor came and cut the tree to clear passage. I’ve had so many positive comments this season, and it has been so good. This is disappointing.
All the comments we have received from boaters have been very positive, which has been encouraging and we have asked. We are advising boaters the company is monitoring Channel 72 and please contact them for any information in moving through. I’m sorry to hear someone had issues.
Donna Stewart![]()
Our boat "Kissed Some Frogs" 42' with 3.5' draft, and 2 others in our group, another 42' with 3.5" draft, and a 53' with 5' draft, all transited the lock and past the dredge with no issues. We saw a few floating logs/sticks, and there was a bump or two with the 5' draft, but no worse than other wooded edge waterways like the Waccamaw River. We also saw three other sailboats (which we assume all had deeper drafts) two south bound and one north bound behind us, that transited without issue.
We called the Dredge Barge on channel 72, they asked us to hold for a few minutes while they got the pipe out of the way, and we proceeded past very slowly. While passing over the pipe, we went into neutral and glided across just to be safe, but none of us had any issues. The Dredge operators were very friendly and helpful.
We stayed overnight at the welcome center with 2 other boats, a cruiser and a sailboat, and it was great. The paths in the State Park are beautiful! All of the staff (Lock masters, Welcome Center, State Park employees), were friendly helpful and were showing real concern for the reported issues. They were not aware, and asked that anyone who did experience issues, contact them as the Dredge Operator carries insurance.
Don't miss the opportunity to experience this amazing part of our boating history. Just take it slow, (we kept to about 5 knots), keep your eyes open, and stay in the center of the channel. You'll be glad you did!
Our thanks to experienced cruiser, Jim Healy, for sharing his expertise on this subject as originally posted on AGLCA’s Forum.
Blair has summarized the problem well. His summary should provide awareness for the AGLCA fleet. This problem is becoming more and more common as the years roll by and marina upgrades are done. I have written extensively about this problem over many years, and all my articles are all on my website. All of my articles are free to all.
What Blair has not done is to explain how individual boat owners can test their own boats and then, what to look for as potential causes of sensor tripping (continuous and/or nuisance). I wrote an article for individual boaters to use to test their own boats. Here is a link to that article: https://gilwellbear.
There are many, many causes for ground faults/leakage faults on boats. Here is a link to an article that may help individual boat owners to isolate symptoms: https://gilwellbear.
In addition to the above, I have articles on ELCI devices as recommended by ABYC, Electric Shock Drowning, reasons it may be quite difficult to hire professional help with these issues, why 240V boats will sometimes find 208V at docks, and much more.
All boat owners should know the basic “somethings” about their boat’s AC Systems. For that, I have two introductory articles. AC Fundamentals Part 1 describes shore power as found in a single family residence (building/condo/apartment). Understand that is extremely helpful to understand boats. AC Fundamentals Part 2 describes how the pieces fit together on boats. These are introductory articles and WILL NOT turn readers into electricians, but they will enable readers to discuss issues, problems and proposed corrections with a professional, and understand what the professional is telling them.
Discussion on this and other forum lists come and go, but the website is always available.
Questions are welcome.
Jim
http://gilwellbear.wordpress.
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436
Greg Allard is so kind to share his beautiful Bahamas photos with us.

One reason to go to the Bahamas. This photo was taken on Money Cay in the Berry Islands.
Now that is what I call "Island tranquility".
"Mental Floss"…. "Heaven On Earth"…
Cruisers Net is proud to be a member of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association whose lobbying work is crucial to keeping the Waterway navigable. Your membership dollars directly impact their vital work. Please join and encourage your boating neighbors to do likewise, regardless of their homeport.


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Copyright © 2019. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association. All rights reserved.
The AIWA is a national non-profit organization with the mission of securing funding and support for the maintenance of the AIWW [Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway]. We are the only organization dedicated to ensuring the future of the AIWW and proudly represent all stakeholders of the waterway.
Contact:
5A Market * Beaufort, South Carolina 29906 * (843) 379-1151
AIWA The Unified Voice of the Waterway ~ Celebrating 20 Years in 2019
Love these sunrise photos! Thank you Coby and thank you all!
Riviera Dunes Marina is A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!

The United States Coast Guard doing what they do best – even when off-duty! Well done Chief Matthew Hare!
Off-duty Coast Guardsman rescues boater from capsized vessel near Cumberland Island

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An off-duty Coast Guardsman rescued a boater from a capsized vessel Friday near Cumberland Island, Georgia.
The Coast Guardsman, Chief Matthew Hare of the cutter Hammer, notified Coast Guard Sector JacksonvilleCommand Center watchstanders he noticed one boater sitting on his capsized 16-foot boat at 7:30 p.m while on his personal boat. Hare retrieved the man from the water and transported him to Fernandina Harbor Marina.
“Even when we’re out of uniform, we as Coast Guardsman are always on duty,” said Hare. ” The maritime community is always there for each other.”
The boater was reported to be in good condition.
The owner of the vessel is coordinating salvage.
For more breaking news follow us on Twitter.
Bravo Zulu, Chief Hare! Always prepared.
Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary protects Georgia’s special live-bottom wildlife habitat in the Atlantic Ocean and along the southeastern U.S. coast, an area teeming with diversity and an abundance of marine life.
Explore your ocean treasures at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
| Upcoming public meeting, student robotics competition, and special volunteer recognition |
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Lenny and Meryll’s frustration really isn’t with faded NO WAKE signs, but with the fact that too many boaters are not being good neighbors in this very crowded area though downtown Delray Beach. So…SLOW DOWN! With a closed vertical clearance of 27 ft, Linton Blvd bascule bridge crosses the Waterway at Statute Mile 1041.
The NO WAKE signs on the Intracoastal North of the Linton Blvd bridge in Delray Beach are faded and mostly ineffective. There is only one and it can barely be seen. Would you know who I could contact about this?
Thanks SO much!!
Lenny and Meryll
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers Net Bridge Directory Listing For Linton Blvd
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Linton Blvd
Ridiculous … even big yachts will occasionally plow right by marina areas … they all know better!! Need signs between Linton and Atlantic Ave bridges.
Our thanks to Gene Faatz for this descriptive report and detailed information from his recent crossing of Lake Okeechobee.
Crossed the lake from Stuart Fl. to River Forest YC LaBelle in Moore Haven Fl. The St Lucie lock has a lift of about 15+ feet at this time but no issues locking through or in the canal all the way to Port Mayaca Lock. Did see the JFK Presidential yacht Honey Fitz tied up along the way. Mayaca Lock is open for pass through. Leaving the lock is shallow showing 4 – 5 ft for about a mile out of the lock,after which we were able to power up in 7 ft or more with plenty of water all the way to Clewiston. Never less the 7 ft in the channel. The canal from Clewiston to the Moore Haven lock is clear all the way with no work going on. Moore Haven lock has about a 1 ft drop at this time. Canal from there to River Forest is showing 18 to 25 feet all the way. Made the trip [about 75 miles] in under 5 hrs.
Gene Faatz
Georgia’s 105 mile coast has been given an A- for this year, the highest grade since the grading began in 2014. This is good news for everyone. See links below for the full story.
CRD: Coastal report card shows improved environmental health
The Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources today announces the release of the 2018 Coastal Georgia Ecosystem Report Card. This annual snapshot of Georgia’s 105-mile coastline examines key indicators in human health, fisheries and wildlife.
This year, the report card’s metrics scored our coast at an “A-“, which is the highest score for the report card since its inception in 2014.
Here is a link to a press release, and the report can be downloaded directly by visiting https://coastalgadnr.org/sites/default/files/crd/PressRelease/Report%20Card%202018.pdf or clicking the link above.
Have a great day,
Tyler Jones
Communication Specialist
Coastal Resources Division
(912) 262-3140 | M: (912) 230-9709
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Buy a hunting or fishing license today!
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Palm Coast Marina, one of our newest CRUISERS NET SPONSORS, is located just west of the Intracoastal Waterway at Statute Mile 803 between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Our thanks to David Grimes for these kind words.
Kudos to Chris and staff. Great dockside help with lines. Protected setting immediately adjacent to ICW. Little current and only 1.5 foot tidal range. 120 V shore power, unlike some other local marinas with <100 V. Excellent dockage rates as well. David GrimesClick Here To View the Cruisers Net Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Palm Coast Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Palm Coast Marina
April is Water Conservation Month. This month is traditionally one of the driest of the year and marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers.
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