Our thanks to Captain Jerry for sharing this information on obtaining propane. Sneads Ferry marinas have also always had a good reputation for lower fuel prices. Diesel is $2.45 at New River Marina as of May 12, 2015. See their directory listing below for weekly updated prices.
Just a note to staff; While traveling The ICW in North Carolina, at Mile Marker 247 there are two marinas where you can receive help filling or exchanging propane.
Propane Company in Sneads Ferry, N.C. Refill or Exchange Sneads Ferry LP Gas Company 777 HWY. 210 Sneads Ferry, N.C. 28460 (910) 327-2541
Village True Value Hardware in Sneads Ferry, N.C. Exchange Only Village True Value Hardware 2135 HWY. 172 Sneads Ferry, N.C. 28460 (910) 327-3646
New River Marina 104 James Rd. Sneads Ferry, N.C. 28460 (910) 327- 2106 ICW Mile Marker 247
Swan Point Marina 123 Page St. Sneads Ferry, N.C. 28460 (910) 327- 1081 ICW Mile Marker 247
Both of these Marinas are customer friendly and willing to help. Captain Jerry First Mate Jill Vessel: MISS JILL
Swan Point Marina guards the Waterway’s western banks, immediately south of the AICW/New River/New River Inlet Problem Stretch intersection, just north of marker #4. These good words for Swan Point Marina were posted by Skipper Schucker on AGLCA’s Forum.
Swan Point Marina is the place for you. Small, family run marina by Tina and her mom. Floating docks that hold 8 boats, good power, a little exciting to get into when the tide current is going, but hey, you are a Looper you can do this. Great dock help, cheap rates ($1.50 per foot, no electric up charge) and the cheapest fuel in NC is right next door. Sold? But wait there is more! The Riverwalk Restaurant will send the manager over to pick you up. Great food, decent wine/beer selection, home made pies. We loved the free hush puppies, our steaks, blacked fish and two giant pork chops. Baked potatoes the size of a Westerbeke Oil filter. And they will cart your “in a food coma” body back to the marina. Get the pie to go. Don’t want to leave the boat? There is a great build it yourself pasta and pizza place that delivers. Laundry? Got it covered. Local boaters to meet and swap tales with? Done. Great Sunset? Why of course, rain or shine the sun sets here every day! Tina, the manager, just brought us a quart of strawberrys. The perfect jump point to Beaufort, catch the bridge, watch the Marines do live fire across the ICW.
You loved the friendly family marinas in Canada, NY, down the Middle Rivers, in Florida and up the coast, this place ranks in the top 10. Foster Schucker
The Waterway typically shoals either immediately north or south of the four-way intersection with New River and New River Inlet. Dredging at this intersection was last done in February of 2013. Skipper Johnson’s detailed comments were posted on AGLCA’s Forum and see /?p=142854 and /?p=146808 for more information and good advice for the New River Inlet area.
As you make your way northward to the rendezvous there are a couple of areas that warrant a caution. Both are always areas to be cautious, but this year are even worse than ever. First, just as you pass by the Marinas in Sneads Ferry, NC (New River Marina, well known for cheap fuel, and Swan Point Marina) you come to the junction with the New River Inlet, where you make a sharp turn to the right. The shoaling, to a depth of less than 3 feet at low tide, is in the vicinity of markers 72 and 74. This is immediately before you reach the popular Mile Hammock Bay anchorage. Then a few miles later after you pass under the Onslow Beach Bridge, Browns Inlet is always a point of concern. Follow the markers very closely, erring to the west if you are in doubt. Betsy Johnson
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 BrassClick 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
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Comments from Cruisers (4)
Susan Parker- November 6, 2015 - 3:25 pm
Just went through here and did not see less than 6′ . Follow the marks and you’ll be fine.
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.
Our thanks to Skipper Boyd for this message and link in response to one of Claiborne’s “tales” – see /?p=117868. And see “Young’s Yarns” on our Homepage for more of Claiborne’s sagas! Lockwoods Folly Inlet, just east of Holden Beach, is well known to Waterway cruisers, not for the Inlet proper, but because of the perennial shoaling at the intersection of the Inlet and the Waterway.
The number provided by Skipper Walters has been confirmed as the number for all the firing ranges at Camp Lejeune. See /?p=16763. Thank you Skipper Walters!
Kayaking from Maine to Guatemala. Tomorrow I will pass by Camp Lejeune on the ICW. Called the number listed in the above post. It was wrong, but they gave me the current correct number to call: 910 451 3064. Safe Passage for me for tomorrow! Deb Walters
Skipper Halls relates his jarring experience with a shoal and the rudeness of a passing vessel. The intersection of the Waterway and Browns Inlet, a Problem Stretch south of Swansboro, has been the site of shoaling for some time, as well as a mysterious underwater hazard as reported in /?p=141557.
8/12/2014, ran aground at this spot. Letting crew steer for just a few minutes, I was down below when the gut wrenching bloop of grounding was felt. Very difficult to see the plan (markers) until almost on top when headed southbound. We had a following current and crew didn’t reduce power till I came rushing up. Had to call TowboatUS. I MIGHT have avoided if I was steering, but maybe not, quite confusing, VERY narrow channel remains. And a special thanks to the Aussie couple in a 50ish DeFever who went by as we were trying to be towed off, for waking us so hard the keel ( 4.8 draft ) slammed the shoal 3 times VERY hard !! Randy Hall
Holden Beach is just west of Lockwoods Folly Inlet. The dredging that Skipper Richard reports appears to be in the inlet itself and NOT the perennially shoaling intersection with the Waterway. Let’s hope the dredging will continue into the intersection.
Was at Holden Beach 7/12/14-7/19/14 and saw the inlet dredged. Richard
Dudley’s Marina lies northeast of the Waterway near AICW marker #46A, and just a walk across two bridges and a causeway from downtown Swansboro, NC. Good reviews of Dudley’s Marina are frequent here at SSECN. This is Skipper Spence’s third visit in two years to Dudley’s and she presents an accurate depiction of the issue of No-Wake-Zone violators, so common now at more and more marinas and anchorages. Undue speed in recreational waters, as on our highways, is becoming a deadly problem. See /?p=143534
We stopped in Swansboro last weekend [7/10-11] to visit with a friend who lives there. We’ve stayed at Dudley’s twice before and will do so again in the future, but NEVER, EVER on a weekend! The boat traffic was on the river was very heavy, which I would expect on a weekend in July, but virtually no one pays any attention to the No Wake zone. Boats of varying sizes flew by us not 20 feet from our hull. The heavy wakes were almost constant, starting very early in the morning and going on well into the evening. I don’t understand why there is no enforcement in areas like this.
Casper’s Marine Service lies at the western foot of the Swansboro channel -northeast of flashing daybeacon #46C in Swansboro, NC.
We stayed at nearby Caspers Marina and had the same thing. Center consoles flying about and even the park service boat was speeding with wakes. Not good! That said, Swansboro is worth a visit and they are finishing the new town docks this summer? Any updates as of mid July? Are they open? Ben Matthews
New River Marina overlooks the Waterway’s western banks from Swan Point, just north of marker #4. Sneads Ferry has always had a reputation as having good fuel prices and, as Skipper Floyd highlights, they also have great local seafood.
We brought a new boat from Charleston to New Bern just ahead of Hurricane Arthur and happened upon a marina worth touting. New River Marina boasts one of the best staff ever! They even offered to come out during the night if we needed anything (they live right behind the office.) BUT the best part of our overnight stay was the RiverView Cafe. As directed, we called the telephone number provided by marina staff and Julianna came by car to ferry us to the father’s restaurant nearby. The best seafood of our trip! the place where the locals eat – as always, the best reference! We would recommend both the marina and the restaurant to any cruiser going north or south on the ICW! Joni Floyd
The Waterway typically shoals either immediately north or south of the four-way intersection with New River and New River Inlet. Dredging at this intersection was begun in November of 2012 and was to have been completed by February of 2013.
June 12. On advise from TowboatUS heading north, kept two Green markers just off to starboard, then hard right past red to my port. Went through with no problem at dead low tide. His advice, don’t inadvertently cut a green, which is mistake many make. Lowest depth I read was approx. 7 feet. I was on a Catalina 42, 5 Ft. wing keel. Dan O’Brien
This reported shoaling is west of Morehead City in a long narrow channel in the open waters of Bogue Sound, where the Waterway runs east/west. Marker #7 sits on the south side of the channel opposite the mouth to Peletier Creek. If you have also experienced shallow water at this spot, let us hear from you.
Shoaling in the channel Bogue Sound, NC near mile 210 south of Beaufort, NC. Ran aground near G’7’³ today. Seems the spoil area has spilled into the channel. We were slightly right of center in the channel, mid tide rising (2.5′ above MLW) when our 6′ draft sailboat was brought to an abrupt haul. It was sand or silt and were able to get free without a problem, but the new shoal extended to near the center of the channel. A large catamaran with 4′ draft was two miles behind us, that we were unable to contact on VHF, also ran aground on the same shoal. Recommend cruisers be alerted to favor the red side for 12′ plus depths north of mile marker 210 until past G’7’³. Pete Peterson
We ditto the comment. We got to the green side at this same marker and were in 4.5 feet of water at near low tide. John Winter
Skipper Matthews sends a fresh report on a Problem Stretch south of Swansboro. The intersection of the Waterway and Browns Inlet has been the site of shoaling for some time, as well as a mysterious underwater hazard.
Prop-Eater. Came through here on May 25, 2014 at 745am. This one spot is mentioned here as a problem. Most advice says `stay to the red side’ which I have during 4 passages without incident. However this last Sunday, going southbound, I passed a trawler going northbound a few miles south of this spot. Later on channel 16, I heard his call to USCG and his tow service with the words `engine runs but prop not turning’. As USCG was contacting him and asking him to verify his position, he did. N34,36.41, W077,13.84. The same spot. There are multiple references which mention bent shafts and struts, and damaged props. Most shoaling reports merely mention that someone got stuck or kicked up some mud. This is one of the few that consistently mentions damaged hardware. On a prior visit, I photoed a tug stuck here: Notice the prop wash to the side. I hailed him but no answer. Saw him later heading south, obviously freed. Ben Matthews
Came through that spot (Browns Inlet) at low tide with no problem. Draft 5 feet. May 30, 2014. Raymond W. Smith – The `Firer Dog’
We went through the Brown Inlet area (marker 63) May 23 at near low tide with 10 ft at low tide. Just follow the marks. The problem is the temporary red and green are way off the normal channel and look like the are for a side channel. They are also in a straight line but they are for the intracoastal waterway marks. Henry Booke
New River Marina overlooks the Waterway’s western banks just north of marker #4 at Sneads Ferry, which has long had a reputation as a source for good fuel prices.
Stopped here Memorial Day weekend. Very popular, about 3 boats lined up behind us for fuel 5 minutes after we tied up. Very rustic. Fixed fuel dock. Fast diesel pumps. cheap fuel but they will charge 7% tax with an old calculator. Be alert for this calculation and CHECK it. Young girl behind the counter doing the calculation charged me 40% tax with the old calculator (twice). I showed her the calculator on my phone for the true 7% (which, to be honest, not sure if that rate was right or not for diesel?) So it’s not really $3.58 (of this writing), they add on tax. Be advised pulling straight out from the dock can put you in 4 foot of water for a brief moment. Better to turn hard after untying and leave with the dock at your stern. Ben Matthews
We are once again greatly indebted to Captains Susan Landry and Chuck Baier, owners of Beach House Publications, publishers of “The Great Book of Anchorages,” (http://www.tgboa.com) for providing the superb, in-depth article and photographs, contained in the article below. THANKS CHUCK AND SUSAN! Please read on!
Swansboro, NC Located directly on the Intracoastal Waterway is Swansboro, NC. Rich in history, Swanboro was established in the 1730s but not incorporated until about 50 years later. It initially thrived via its shipbuilding industry which lasted until after the Civil War. After the decline in shipbuilding, the town then changed its focus to the fishing industry which, along with tourism, now supports the local economy.
Swansboro Waterfront
Swansboro doesn’t get nearly as many visitors as its nearby cousin of Beaufort, NC, but it is a little town with a big personality, and a great little place to stop by and visit. You can cover the downtown area by foot in just a few minutes. Although small in size, Swansboro has a lot to offer. If a marina is what you are looking for, both Dudleys and Caspers are available. Dudleys is across the bridge and a bit of a walk from downtown, but the price is right (75 cents a foot, includes power). It is not fancy, but the staff is friendly and the marina even provides a courtesy car. Just beyond the shops and restaurants downtown, close to the ICW, is Caspers. They, too, are reasonably priced. Or, you can anchor just south of the bridge near R `4’ in 14 feet of water and dinghy in to the town dock at the park toward the north end of town and the bridge.
If shopping is on your list, Lighthouse Boutique and Tidewater Gallery sit on the waterfront and tempt visitors with their wares. The Olde Brick Store, an historical landmark dating back to the early 1800s, houses a number of shops. Poor Man’s Hole, back on the waterfront, carries handmade furniture. The Cigar Shop, behind the Harry Pugliese Pavilion, is a popular spot for the gents to hang out and swap a few yarns. The Mercantile carries nautical gifts. And don’t forget Russell’s Olde Type Shoppe for those handmade gifts. Many more shops with a variety of wares line Water and Front Streets as well as the neighboring side streets. After all of that eating and shopping, take a stroll down to the end of Water Street to Ward Shore Park, for a front row view of the ICW. The sunsets from here are spectacular. We like this sleepy little town and would encourage boaters traveling along the Intracoastal Waterway to stop, spend some time, and have a closer look.
The Olde Brick Store
Chuck and Susan, Trawler Beach The Great Book Of Anchorages Navigation Notices Our Blogs Trawler Beach House Voyages of Sea Trek
Statute Mile 225 in Bogue Sound - Cclick for Chartview
Most of the recent shoaling in this area has occurred at Markers #45 and #45A at the intersection of the Waterway and the Bogue Inlet , an area which SSECN has designated as a Problem Stretch. Captain Baier relates a possible depth issue just north of the intersection at Markers #40 and #40A. If others of you find any indication of depths beginning to shoal at mile 225, please let us know!
We found the depths in Bogue Sound, heading south from Beaufort to be in the 13 to 15 foot range until we reached markers R”40″ to R”40A” off Guthrie Point. The depths dropped from 14 feet to 8.9 feet between the two markers, both in the center of the channel and on the red side. This was near high tide for the day and would put the depths at 6.5 feet at mean low water. Not a problem for many boats, but deeper drafts should use caution. Chuck and Susan, Trawler Beach House
The AICW stretch south of Swansboro, NC, where the Waterway runs behind ultra shallow Browns Inlet is shaping up to be the single worst North Carolina section of the AICW during the fall, 2013 transient season. Of course, the Waterway’s intersections with both Lockwoods Folly Inlet and Shallotte Inlet, south of Southport, NC, are pretty bad as well, but at least dredging is planned for these latter areas later this year. We asked SSECN strategic partners, Captain Susan Landry and Chuck Baier, owners of Beach House Publications, publishers of “The Great Book of Anchorages,” (http://www.tgboa.com), to take an in-depth look at this AICW Problem Stretch, during their fall, 2013 journey south. As you will see in their report below, this cruising duo has done a wonderful job of putting together a plan to keep to the best depths, at least for the moment. Depart from this plan of action, and you can find your vessel is less then 3 feet of water at MLW!!!
Passed Browns Inlet at 10 AM [10/29/13 – Editor], that was at exactly low tide, and found the problem spot without any effort. We passed mid way between the mainland side and floating green “61A” and found depths of 2.9 to 3 feet. Of course we draw 4 feet. Passing red “60” stay well to the mainland side and the channel will carry 9 feet as you approach green “61A”. Passing “61A” consider the mid channel point the ocean side of the deep water and the shore the mainland side of the channel. That will get you through just fine. The shoal is abrupt as it goes from 8 feet to 2.9 in a short boat length. Chuck and Susan Trawler Beach House
We just passed Brown’s Inlet statue mile 237 as the US Coast Guard was repositioning G61A around 11:15 Oct 31/13. Phyllis Davenport
We passed through this spot on 11/8/13 about mid-tide and observed red floatie `60’³ and green floatie `61A’in nearly a straight line heading southbound. The owner of Caspers Marina in Swansboro said these markers had just been reset. We passed close aboard the red, turned to starboard, rounded the green about 100 ft off our port side, and then returned to the main channel. Our lowest sounding was 6.3′. Three other vessels with 5’+ draft passed through following the same route with no problem. I don’t think I would want go through at low tide. Jake Smith S/V `Ginger’s Mercedes’
Numerous reports on shoaling in this Problem Stretch have been filed recently and the report below was copied with permission from the blog of Mike Dickens of Paradise Yachts, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’NET SPONSOR! See also: /?p=125227
Some notes of interest for those cruising south on the ICW near Swansboro, half mile north of marker 58 south of Swansboro there was some shoaling…6′. At marker 61 they only had 3.9 feet under the keel. At Mason Inlet, north of Wrightsville Beach they hit bottom; 8.9 feet of water in the middle of the channel (marker 121). Mike Dickens Broker of Record Paradise Yachts 1417 Sadler Road Box 183 Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 904/556-9431
October 24, 2013 Charging up the channel near Brown’s Creek I noticed a few boats doing circles. A powerboat trying to pass 63 close to the marker went aground. A southbound Island Packet found the water too thin well to the right of the channel. I found the only way to get past the marker was to pass it on the wrong side feeling my way toward a keg that was moored outside the channel in the inlet. A long arc leaving green 63 well to my right gave me enough water to re-enter the channel just beyond 63. I had about 6 feet of water at 4:30 p.m. today. Unfortunately, I had to leave 2 boats aground behind me. There is absolutely no way you can carry even 4 feet through the channel. What a great location for a towboat to hang out! Chuck Gleason Symphony (Caliber 40 5 ft draft)
Our good friends, and SSECN strategic partners, Captains Mark and Diana Doyle, founders and owners of “On The Water ChartGuides” (http://www.onthewaterchartguides.com/), give us an updated, graphic report below, relaying what they discovered as they navigated through the AICW/New River Inlet/New River intersection on 9/03/13. Note that the Doyle’s soundings were taken near low tide, so you must only subtract .3 feet from the depths portrayed on the Doyle’s graphic, to discover MLW soundings. Despite some earlier reports of shoaling, Captains Mark and Diana, as you will see below, discovered nothing less than 8 foot MLW soundings at along this perennial AICW Problem Stretch. Incidentally, Diana and Mark have just published a new edition of their immensely popular “ICW CruiseGuide.” Click on the book graphic to the above right for more details, and to place an order!
Hi Claiborne, Diana and I are continuing our survey reports with depth-annotated tracks for ICW Trouble Spots. This one is for the ICW and New River Inlet intersection. Good water this season along this ICW Trouble Spot with depths ABOVE 8 FEET MLLW. Hopefully, SSECN readers transiting the area will find these reports useful. Best, Captains Mark & Diana Doyle m/v Semi-Local www.OnTheWaterChartGuides.com
Browns Inlet/AICW Intersection - Click for Chartview
The intersection of the Waterway and Browns Inlet, south of Swansboro, NC was last dredged in December of 2012, but, as with most SSECN designated “AICW Problem Stretches,” shoaling usually reappears sooner or later. Captain Bell reports that shallow depths are occurring as expected. Past experience dictates that the channel can shift quickly and that close attention to the relocated and temporary USCG buoys is your best bet to avoid grounding.
Do not get within 60 feet of green 61a or you will be aground as was a sailboat today. David Bell
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