This is the second warning we have had here on the Cruisers’ Net within the last few weeks about deadheads on the Alligator – Pungo Canal. For those who don’t already know, this man-made canal connects the AICW between the southern reaches of the Alligator River, and the Pungo River. Take care whenever traversing this section of the AICW!

Subject: Reminder on Pungo Alligator Canal Deadheads, and keep a radio watch!
Cruising News: I thought it would be good to remind those traversing the Pungo River/Alligator River Canal about deadheads – large logs in a vertical orientation that are very hard to spot since only their top SOMETIMES shows up on top of the water. Even with the knowledge that there can be numerous deadheads on the canal, we got a little lazy on our way through and ended up having one very large deadhead (at least 2 feet in diameter) glance off of our bow and shake our whole hull. We watched it pop up behind us after we passed it by. Forging ahead with a more vigilant, we spotted two additional deadheads on the canal centerline and made sure to avoid these. Fortunately we had no damage that we’re aware of to our boat. One other note to cruisers – keep watch on channel 16!! We tried calling two other boats that passed us going the opposite direction to warn them about the deadheads, but we couldn’t raise either one. I was definitely disappointed in this behavior as there is often a lot of helpful, and sometimes safety related, information if you take the time to listen in.
Chris
S/V Pelican

I agree. Keep a sharp eye out.
Capt Dave
on GB 46 At Last

I, for one, am very grateful for Captain George and Ann’s advice below. Anything that can lead to better protection in Pantego Creek is a good idea, as we have spent some “rock and roll” evenings swining on the hook in these waters.

We prefer to anchor further in, just south of the charted end of the channel short of the bridge (right about the 9 foot sounding). Much better protection, good holding and ample swinging room. The town dinghy dock is also more convenient from this location. You must mind the channel coming in as those shoals are very much there, and of course it is a longer trip out to the ICW.
George and Ann
`Incentive’ Hatteras 56MY

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Pantego Creek

Alligator River Marina is the ONLY fuel, dockage and supply stop between Coinjock (NC – VA Cut Route) or Elizabeth City (Dismal Swamp Route), and the Pungo River. To say the least, it is strategically placed.

First off, we never saw anything less than 8.4ft of depth, and most of the time it was over 10ft, on the way into the marina. From what I understand, the only thing driving the depth is changes in wind speed and direction, and even then it doesn’t vary much. I can’t speak to that though. The entry was easy – turn to the west immediately north of the bridge, follow along the bridge to the green mark and then head straight for the green/red entry markers to the marina. We came in with a 20kt south wind with some uncomfortable choppy seas, and the second we entered the marina the wind stopped and the waves were gone. Interestingly enough, a small bobcat was swimming across the entry channel just as we were entering. That’s the first time I had to yield right of way to a feline!!!! The marina is comprised of slips with short piers (i.e. you have to back in and put lines on pilings) or face docks. The face docks are slightly more expensive. The facility is basically an automobile gas station with a marina added behind it, but it seems just fine. They have a separate building with clean, private bathrooms with showers, laundry and a `TV Room’ with a 13’³ TV with satellite. The free WiFi signal is strong. I can’t say that my phone call to make the reservation or our reception upon arrival was overly friendly. They did seem annoyed to have to talk with us, but they are the only game in town and the facilities are decent. The station part of the facility has a short order restaurant (burgers but also steaks, alligator, and HARD ICE CREAM) and the regular assortment of drinks and snacks. Outside of that, it’s in the middle of nowhere, so there’s nothing else to see.
Chris
S?V Pelican

We stopped at Alligator River Marina twice this past summer – mid-June and end of July – on a trip up to the Chesapeake from Oriental. The facility is very good for fuel (good price) and overnighting, with very nice bathrooms / showers and laundry. The TV room with tiny TV was OK, but the room could use additional lighting to facilitate reading & card playing. The dockage rates are reasonable and we were able to dock bow-in just fine. The folks are friendly, especially if you are, but are not overly outgoing as you often find at larger, commercial full service marinas. I think this is because the ‘˜gas station / restaurant’ staff is pressed into doing the fueling and dockage assistance. There is no marina staff as such, once you have fueled and docked. The food is great – cooked to order. Our grandsons really enjoyed the ‘˜alligator bites’. The cook handled our docking and fueling (give that nice lady a raise!). Overall it’s a well placed stop after the boring Alligator / Pungo Canal and long run up the Alligator River, or a good rest after a rough crossing of the Albemarle. We plan to stop every time we pass thru.
Lee & Penny – S/V Gypsea

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Alligator River Marina

I’m glad Captain Chris had such a good experience at River Forest Marina. Perhaps things are looking up for this facility

We stayed here for one night and I’m very impressed with their customer service. On the phone, they were great. Then they had an incredibly well marked channel into their marina. The dockmaster was one of the nicest people I’ve met along the way, and at dinner the owner stopped by our table to thank us for staying here. The docks themselves are nothing to write home about, but if they aren’t floating there’s not much of a difference in pilings to me. The bathrooms aren’t bad. There are two, each one private, each one with a shower and head, and lots of room. The restaurant was good enough, with a decent selection, and it’s nice to have one onsite. They also have free golf carts you can borrow to head to town, including a six person cart. The pool is small but clean. We didn’t use the laundry facilities. We never saw anything less than 8.5ft of water.
Chris
S/V Pelican

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For River Forest Manor Marina

Yes indeed, Belhaven is, in my humble opinion, a fine stop on the AICW, and with Brenda and Les, waiting to greet cruisers at Belhaven Waterway Marina, (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR), you be be assured of a warm and knowledgable welcome. If you’re not as luck as to run into a special community dinner, check out the adjacent firms, “Wine and Words” and “Back Bay Cafe.”

The USCG annouced warnings for tropical storm Cristobal, so we decided to stop over at Bellhaven. This turn out to be a great decision because they were having there annual “Pirates on the Pungo” Festivities. We went into town and enjoyed a wonderful seafood buffet in support of the local hospital. We were then entertained by the Craig Woolard band. Beach music at its best. We ended up walking back to the marina late that night. It was great walking through that old town. We reminised about our almost 30 day trip, 650 miles logged.
Clif & Peta Lewis
s/v Immanuel

We agree. Very warm and hospitable folks. We arrived on Wednesday so Gerogies was closed. Darn!
Dave on GB 46 At Last

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Belhaven Waterway Marina

The entrance to Little Alligator River, lies along its larger sister’s western banks, north of Alligator River Marina and Bridge. I really like this little anchor down spot, but the entrance channel is entirely unmarked. The use of a GPS chartplotter while entering this haven would be a very good idea indeed.

Spent the night on the hook in Little Alligator River, behind Sandy Point (St M 81). Anchorage; easy to get in, plenty of water and all to ourselves, but wind switched hard out of NE in early AM and got messy in there. Our fault for not heeding forecasted front.
John Thayer
M/V Anna Suzanne

Click Here For More Information Concerning the Little Alligator River Anchorage

On 7/23/07, as part of a “North Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:

23. Moving farther to the south, on the AICW, the Waterway enters the northern portion of the Pungo River, west of the high-rise Wilkerson Bridge. We have always found superb anchorage on the northernmost section of the Pungo, bypassed by the AICW. Anyone else dropped the hook here lately? Did you have a good experience?

Responses follow:

Pungo River we have stopped every year since 2006 including 7/23/2009. We just clear the channel if calm or go up farther is windy.
Wright and Gladys Anderson
First & Ten

Click Here For More Information Concerning Upper Pungo River Anchorages