CRUISERS NET
Cruisers Helping Cruisers
Comprehensive cruising resource for the Intracoastal Waterways
from Norfolk to the Northern Gulf and Bahamas.
from Norfolk to the Northern Gulf and Bahamas.
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LNM: eBNMs now available to all US waterways
We at NAVCEN are thrilled to announce significant advancements in our ability to deliver Broadcast Notice to Mariners (BNMs) across all US waterways. This achievement is the culmination of years of effort, and we’re proud to relay that every single one of the USCG’s 37 Sectors and 9 Districts are now actively transmitting BNMs. As part of our commitment to harnessing technology for safer navigation, we have augmented the required VHF radio delivery method to providing real-time information directly to registered devices. This ensures that mariners and the public can access real-time safety data wherever they are, at the touch of a button. For those involved in route planning, we’ve also introduced an archive on the NAVCEN website containing all BNM data, making it even easier to check the status of navigable waterways before setting sail. NAVCEN is dedicated to leveraging technology to bolster the safety and efficiency of our maritime community, and we invite you to explore these enhancements by visiting the Broadcast Notice to Mariners section on the Navigation Center website: Broadcast Notice to Mariners | Navigation Center (https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/)
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The USS North Carolina’s Next Battle, Wilmington, NC
America’s most-decorated battleship from World War II helped win the war in the Pacific. Now, the USS North Carolina is fighting for resiliency amid rising water levels.
The USS North Carolina sits along the Cape Fear River. (Julia Wall for The Assembly)
Click here for The USS North Carolina’s Next Battle
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‘Millions Have Been Made’: Frank Stick changes careers by Gilbert M. Gaul
Second in our series: Frank Stick was looking to land more than a few bluefish when he visited the Outer Banks in the 1920s, the illustrator and sportsman saw opportunity here.
Frank Stick is shown fishing along the New Jersey coast in the 1920s. Photo courtesy of the Maud Hayes Stick Collection at the Outer Banks History Center/N.C. State Archives
Click here for ‘Millions Have Been Made’: Frank Stick changes careers
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Uncovering the improbable tale of multifaceted Frank Stick by Gilbert M Gaul
New series: Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Gil Gaul dives into newspaper clippings, archives and other sources to reveal the complex story of the New Jersey artist, outdoorsman, developer and speculator who filled miles of Outer Banks beaches with vacation houses.
Click here for Uncovering the improbable tale of multifaceted Frank Stick
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A special time to remember the 1896 E.S. Newman rescue
Joan Collins, second from right, and members of her family, from left, Patrick Jefferson, Deborah Jefferson, Marshall Collins, and far right, Sharon Warner, are shown onboard the deck of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge at the Baltimore Shipyard with Lt. Zackary Kearney, the vessel’s commander. Photo: Sharon Warner
Click here A special time to remember the 1896 E.S. Newman rescue by Joan Collins
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Join Ocean Today for a Journey into the Deep Sea and into our Past
Help your students uncover the human stories behind shipwrecks, including some of the most famous ones, like the Titanic.
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Wharf pilings and sawdust: Visiting Hyde’s lost villages, Hyde County, NC
Drawing from maps created by a teacher and his students, historian David Cecelski aims to get a feel for the lumber mill villages in Hyde County that have long since disappeared.
Hyde County road map, 1936. Lake Mattamuskeet occupies the map’s center-right section. The Pungo River forms the county’s western boundary. The body of water to the south and southeast is the Pamlico Sound. We can see the southern part of the Alligator River in the map’s upper righthand corner. Courtesy, State Archives of North Carolina
Click here for Wharf pilings and sawdust: Visiting Hyde’s lost villages by David Cecelski
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Edenton’s history ‘an everyday part of life’ for its residents, Edenton, NC
A longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, historic Edenton always has an exciting calendar of events and places to visit! Edenton is at the mouth of the Chowan River on the northwest shore of Albemarle Sound.
The 1758 Cupola House is at 408 S. Broad St. in Edenton. Photo: Eric Medlin
Click here for Edenton’s history ‘an everyday part of life’ for its residents by Eric Medlin
CoastalReiew.orgClick Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Edenton Harbor City Docks
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BoatUS: What’s Different About Fall Boating? 3 On-Water Safety Tips
BoatUS is the leading advocate for boating safety in the US and A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!
Wearing a life jacket is important for fall fishing and boating. After an accidental overboard in cold waters, it could buy you just enough time to help you safely get back aboard.
Click here for BoatUS: What’s Different About Fall Boating? 3 On-Water Safety Tips
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How to Radio for Help in a Life-Threatening Emergency – Cruising World
Making a proper mayday call will help facilitate a quick rescue. U.S. Coast Guard
Click here for Mayday: How to Call for Help During a Boating Emergency
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The Watch. News You Can Use From NOAA Planet Stewards, 13 September, 2023
Click here for The Watch. News You Can Use From NOAA Planet Stewards – 13 September, 2023
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Maxeon Announces 3GigaWatt Factory in Albuquerque, NM
Our thanks to Lyall and Katie Burgess, owners of Sun Powered Yachts, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, for bringing this good news to our attention.
Maxeon has announced a solar panel factory to be built in New Mexico, so that’s panels made here in the USA, a bonus, and with a potential production output of 3 gigawatts – which to put into context is 6.3 million of the 470W panels being made each year!
Lyall Burgess
Click here for more details Maxeon Announces 3GigaWatt Factory in Albuquerque, NM
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NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey releases new Nautical Charting Plan
The Office of Coast Survey’s new Nautical Charting Plan officially released
Outlines Coast Survey’s efforts to meet the needs of users of nautical chart data into the futureDear Colleagues,
I’m pleased to announce that the Marine Chart Division (MCD) within NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey has released a new NOAA Nautical Charting Plan. The plan describes Coast Survey’s continuing efforts to meet the needs of mariners and other users of nautical charts now and in the future. This includes rescheming NOAA’s entire Electronic Navigational Chart (NOAA® ENC) product suite into a regular gridded layout, recompilation of ENC depth curves from feet and fathoms into meters, and other improvements to delivery authoritative, fit-for-purpose navigation products to users in a timely fashion. The Nautical Charting Plan also describes the ongoing program to end the production and maintenance of NOAA’s paper nautical charts and other raster chart products and services, which will be completed by January 2026.
This new charting plan is a major component of our implementation of the new Coast Survey Strategic Plan we announced last week. The new charting plan consolidates, and updates information previously found in the 2017 National Charting Plan, the 2019 Sunsetting Traditional NOAA Paper Charts, and the 2019 Transforming the NOAA ENC documents. Some of the more technical aspects of reschemed ENC design are now available in a new NOAA ENC Design Handbook. The focus of this plan, as it was for the documents that it supersedes, is the transition from the production and use of paper nautical charts to the production and use of NOAA ENCs.
Lastly, I would like to welcome Ms. Julia Powell as the new chief of Coast Survey’s Marine Chart Division, relieving Capt. E.J. Van Den Ameele who is retiring after over 30 years of service to NOAA and the nation. Julia comes to MCD after three years as the Chief of the Coast Survey’s Navigation Services Division and brings a wealth of experience with charting issues and stakeholder engagement. I am glad to have a capable and experienced leader to continue MCD’s work and implement this new plan.
V/r
Rear Admiral Benjamin K. Evans, NOAA
Director, NOAA Office of Coast Survey
NOAA Office of Coast Survey is the nation’s nautical chartmaker. Originally formed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807, Coast Survey updates charts, surveys the coastal seafloor, responds to maritime emergencies, and searches for underwater obstructions that pose a danger to navigation.
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New South Carolina Boating Law Strengthens Safety Requirements
South Carolina is currently one of only four US states with no boater education requirements. The new bill will add South Carolina to the majority of states that require boating safety courses for some or all boaters.
Click here for New South Carolina Boating Law Strengthens Safety Requirements
Steinberg Law FirmComments from Cruisers (3)
- Reply to Rick
As the article points out, South Carolina is one of only 4 states that did not have a similar training requirement. Whether the boater training is actually adequate or not is open for discussion. IMHO, in person classes done by the Power Squadron or USCG Auxiliary are probably pretty good – the states that only require on-line computer classes that comply with the content standard not so much.
I lived in the Midwest until the mid-90's. My state already had a law back then. And like the South Carolina law, the requirement is for everyone whose birthday is prior to a certain date. Anyone younger than about 45 from my former home has to have had the training by now, or to get it if they acquire a boat.
Since most fatal boat accidents involve excess alcohol, I suspect that you are right that younger boaters in their 20's and 30's are probably involved in a disproportionate share of accidents. Rigorous enforcement of BWI laws would probably have a larger impact on safety than training of young people, but that doesn't make the training requirement a bad idea.
BTW, the USCG publishes statistical data on boating accidents and events like boat fires every year. Look on the Coast Guard website if you want to find it.
- Reply to Phil
As a follow up on my comment last month how about a breakdown on boating accidents by age responsible?
Without that data, we're just blowing smoke and can't be sure we're actually addressing the problem.
Anyone? - Reply to Phil
I would like to see some STATISTICS on boating accidents/fatalities from states that have these laws and those that don't. And do these laws make a difference? 16 years old or younger? Like driving a car, I suspect many if not most boating accidents are caused by older teenagers and those in their 20s.
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Scientist urges more Vibrio awareness as risk moves north
Vibrio is a vicious, flesh-eating bacteria that can kill within 48 hours of exposure to warm, brackish water.
Original locations of the 709 confirmed nonfoodborne V. vulnificus infections reported to the Cholera and Other Vibrio Illness Surveillance, or COVIS, database between 2007 and 2018 within 125 miles of the coast, in blue. Graphic: “Climate warming and increasing Vibrio vulnificus infections in North America” report
Click here for Scientist urges more Vibrio awareness as risk moves north
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Buddy Boating – Bob Arrington, Passagemaker
There are a litany of good reasons to travel with other vessels, but due diligence is required to have realistic expectations.
Click here for Buddy Boating by Bob Arrington from Passagemaker, September, 2023
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NOAA’s Ocean Today – Learn how El Niño Contributed to Record Ocean Warmth
Click here for NOAA’s Ocean Today – Learn how El Niño Contributed to Record Ocean Warmth
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Advice on Hiring a Captain – Captain John Easley
Our thanks to Capt. John Easley for granting permission to reprint this article originally posted on Forum at America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association.
On a fairly regular basis, people call or write to me asking about the process of hiring a captain to help move their vessel. Often, the move will involve training the new owners on the boat’s systems and effective handling. Sometimes they relate some absolute horror stories of previous captains they have hired. Stories about captains who refused to let them drive and offered little to no instruction, stories about captains that showed up late, surly, and drunk, and even one story about a captain that tied up their boat at an overnight stop and walked away without even saying goodbye.
Many of you already know me… I am a USCG-licensed 100 ton Master (captain) and a proud sponsor of the America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association (AGLCA). Here are my thoughts on finding a good crew:
You can get a feel for the potential for a good working relationship by asking a few questions and looking for a couple of traits. Sound like an interview? Well, it is. But, if you approach it like a conversation, it need not be stressful.
First, ask about the kinds of vessels on which the prospective captain acquired his or her sea time; the kinds of vessels they normally run. There are 500 ton captains out there, trying to break into the recreational vessel delivery business, and all of their sea time was acquired while working the deck of a large tugboat working the Mississippi River. What makes them think that experience translates to a 50’ motor yacht? There is at least one captain trying to break into the motor yacht delivery business and his or her sole experience is on 25’ center console fishing boats. Maybe he or she is very good. Or maybe they need some progressive experience working up to a 60’ Hatteras before trying to train someone else on how to dock one in a modest wind. Those are decisions you will need to make in order to feel comfortable with your crew selection.
There are stories of captains that quickly tell you what they’re going to do for you and that’s that. Want more? Look for the person that listens to what you want, asks questions about your previous experience, discusses your needs, and tailors their service to fit.
Perhaps you have a business or personal obligation that will keep you from making the journey to relocate your vessel to its new home port. Now you’re looking at trusting your multi-hundreds of thousands of dollars baby to a crew you likely haven’t even met. You have every right to ask for references. Also, an experienced captain will have a way to keep you informed of your boat’s location and status through the travels. He or she may also discuss parameters for handling any necessary repairs while underway.
A common question is about the costs involved in hiring a captain. We all have pretty much the same terms: A daily rate, transportation to and from the vessel, and meals. Fairly standard. The daily rate might vary a little from one captain to another but if you’re talking to one who has a rate far exceeding the others, you have every right to ask why. What does this person do that is so special it is worth the extra high fee? The other side of the coin is the one whose rate is well below the average of the others you speak with.
A service-friendly captain will also be able to handle special requests. Driving for a special event so the owner and guests can relax, helping the bride and groom escape/depart from a reception, boat naming ceremonies, spreading a loved one’s ashes at sea, or incorporating teens into the deck hand duties. We often get calls to join the boat to help with a Gulf of Mexico crossing or crossing to the Bahamas from Florida. We handle such requests like water rolling off a dolphin’s back.
Captains aren’t hard to find. Ask your broker or the dockmaster at your local marina or a fellow boater on a vessel similar to yours. Chances are you’ll have a fistful of names in short order. There are a number of licensed captains who are also AGLCA sponsors. You can find a list of us on the AGLCA website or by asking other members. We’re here for you and ready to discuss your needs. Drop us a note or give us a call. Happy boating!
John Easley
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