With a closed vertical clearance of 7ft, Little River Swing Bridge crosses the Waterway at Statute Mile 347 and will soon be named “Captain Archie Neil ‘Poo’ McLauchlin Swing Bridge.”
Why the Poo Crew is renaming a bridge after North Myrtle’s Captain Poo from Myrtle Beach Sun News
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Little River Swing Bridge
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club on Coquina Harbor has been a great stopping place and a friend to cruisers for years. Naturally, they are A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! The entrance to Coquina Harbor lies on the north side of the Waterway opposite Marker #13. Our thanks to Charles Ridley for this report.
7-5-17. Left Harbor Village at 6:15am. Beautiful day all day. Changed plans when realize get into Southport way too early and changed to MBYC at mm346. Fueled up– 80 gal/stb. And 62.2 in port -total 141.6. With Boat US dockage was $34!!! (my boat is 34″) $5 for electricity- 30 amp. Gene was as competent as cute helping us dock and take on fuel. Have a pass to get in the club’s grill- taco and tequila sunrises on very special! Shower secure, clean and even the soap dispensers had soap. Wifi strong on A-10. Easy to take dog out. No current and maybe a foot tide fall. Docks in great shape. We are here for only 1 night but may be a very good place for several days since so much going on around here. We will be back – most definitely.
Charles Ridley
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Waterway construction can provide welcomed distraction as well as navigational concerns. Bill Murdoch sends beautiful photos of four bridge constructions/removals currently ongoing from Myrtle Beach to Miami. And “one picture is worth a thousand words!”
Thank you Bill!
The bridge construction in Myrtle Beach is moving along apiece with staging extending in to both sides of the waterway. One photo [below] is as we were passing through the construction area and the other photo is taken over our stern looking north at the bridge. (2/1/17)
Carolina Bays Parkway Bridge
See /162534
The old bascule bridge at Sisters Creek is almost no more. Traffic is on the new span, and crews are working both above the water and below to remove the old bridge. We squeezed through the gap between the construction barge and the red side fendering. (2/11/17)
Memorial bridge in Daytona is almost gone as well. It was a little confusing to figure out where we should pass through the construction work, but in the end we went through the old partially destroyed fendering system with no problem. (2/13/17)
Our confusion at the Daytona Memorial Bridge came from both a tool box and from the general state of disarray in the construction area. A Greenlee tool box seen end on looks quite like a green daymark.
This time it is Flagler Memorial in Palm Beach. They have been replacing this bridge for a couple of years. It is sort of like building a new school house on the site of the old school house with school still in session… it is a mess. Anyway, on February 21 we arrived at Flagler Memorial Bridge in Palm Beach right as the span was closing. After an hour wait, the bridge (one leaf) opened for us, and we passed through. It was a tight fit. The old bridge support and its fender system were to starboard, and the closed leaf was close by to port. Here is a picture of the bridge after we have come through. Sorry for the drab photo; it was not a Kodak day.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of SC31 Bridge Site
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sisters Creek Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Memorial Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Flagler Memorial Bridge
In response to our posting announcing the neared completion of the Carolina Bays Parkway Bridge, one of our readers hopefully asked if this means the closure of the famous (infamous?) Socastee Bridge just north of the new bridge. The answer from today’s Bridge Tender is “No!” Not only is the Socastee Bridge an historical landmark, it is a major conduit for local vehicular traffic, especially school buses. The after school hours of 2:30-4:00 are not a good time to be asking for an opening. The unduty Tender also admitted that local drivers often ignore the bridge’s red lights and drive on, further slowing a requested opening.
Will the new bridge finally close Socastee Bridge?
Charles R Jones
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Socastee Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Socastee Bridge
Then leave it in the up position
We have friends who live on the ICW just north of the bridge. I asked them why the swing bridge remained after the high rise bridge was completed. They told me that the locals wanted the bridge kept in place and had it declared “historic” so it wouldn’t be removed.
A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, popular Osprey Marina is at mile marker 373 on the Intracoastal Waterway south of Myrtle Beach, SC. Osprey Marina offers a protected harbor 150 yards off the Waterway, accessible by a private “D” daybeacon. Thank you, Charlie and Jackie Ridley, for this interesting report.
12-31-16. At Osprey Marina, mm373.5 for New Year’s Eve– only ones there and was great. One of our favorites, not just the setting but also to see all the goats (see https://www.facebook.com/Osprey-Marina-92853570418/ – search “goats”). Brian, dock hand, very helpful and knowledgeable. Diesel 2.20/g. Since here in past, cable tv worked and have greatly improved wifi- even at far end of fuel dock. The grill is a distant memory but the area is now a very nice den/tv/sitting area. Bath/shower very clean and nice- even soap dispensers full. Always look forward to the “goody bag.”
Charlie and Jackie on TRAVELER.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Osprey Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Osprey Marina
Hague Marina is located in a sheltered loop on the Waterway’s southern shore some 2.4 nautical miles southwest of the Myrtle Beach high-rise and railroad bridge.
They had a fantastic ships store but it burned. Owner is making do right now with small office building.
Fabrication shop and tools were not damaged in fire, so they can still do anything you need. Not fancy, but gets job done. My brother worked there from 1972-2013. He quit to be a Restaurant Chef.
Frederick
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Hague Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Hague Marina
The Hague is a dump. Don’t get on the docks or you risk injury. Avoid at all cost. Unreliable power and water you shouldn’t drink. The owner is not concerned about “customer service” and is only interested in an offer for the property. The previous poster obviously had a misplaced loyalty to the owner…
Could you please respond in more detail about your experience with Hague Marina, and especially why you say, “don’t drink the water.”
Bad news for motorists, good news for boaters – at least until inevitable repairs begin. With a closed vertical clearance of 7ft, Little River Swing Bridge crosses the ICW just south of SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR Harbougate Marina. This Associate Press report comes from The Daily Reporter, Greenfield, Indiana (!!).
A swinging bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway near North Myrtle Beach has been closed after the gearbox that moves the bridge broke.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First Posted: June 02, 2016 – 5:48 pm
Last Updated: June 02, 2016 – 5:48 pm
CLICK HERE for the full report.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Little River Swing Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harbourgate Marina
We most often receive complaints about bridge tenders, so it’s nice to hear good words for an oft maligned bridge. With a closed vertical clearance of 7ft, Little River Swing Bridge crosses the Waterway at Statute Mile 347 just south of SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Harbourgate Marina.
Very attentive and efficient bridge tender.
Traveling under 5/23/16 mid day.
Carolyn Hackett
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Little River Swing Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harbourgate Marina
I agree this is one of the easiest bridges on the ICW to get through. The Alligator River Bridge is another one who has their act together.
I’ll second that. Just a couple of years ago the comments were negative. Now, however, the bridge tenders are very courteous and attentive. It’s been a welcomed change…kudos to them!
Yep, he is a good one. This is our home port, so we travel under this bridge a lot. He will accommodate boaters nicely
As in an earlier posting from Beaufort, SC, where onshore properties are being damaged by passing wakes (/?p=153100), residents in the area of the Socastee Bridge are asking for No Wake! SLOW DOWN and help these folks recover!!
Winston,
FYI. The Coast Guard, SCDNR and local agencies are safe guarding the lower ICW near Socastee Bridge. Homes have flooded and wakes are getting into them from boaters. I couldn’t find anything online, but thought you might have heard something. I did find this in the Sun News of Myrtle Beach.
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article38854806.html
Chris Carroll, Operations Manager
Harborwalk Marina
Evening Post Industries
P.O. Box 274
525 Front Street
Georgetown SC 29440
843-546-4250
www.harborwalkmarina.com
ccarroll@harborwalkmarina.com
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Socastee Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Socastee Bridge
We have friends who own a home directly on the ICW a quarter of a mile north of the Socastee Swing Bridge. Not only are people in boats creating large wakes that damage the homes and properties, some people are using boats to loot the properties.
I’ll leave out what I personally think of anyone who would take advantage of someone’s misfortune by stealing from them, but those who must be on the water for a legitimate reason really should travel at no-wake speed whenever they come near homes and businesses.
The intersection of the ICW and Lockwoods Folly has been a Problem Stretch for years and requires almost annual dredging. Mid to high tide is recommended for passage. For a recent report on Lockwoods Folly, see /?p=150841. A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! Myrtle Beach Yacht Club on Coquina Harbor has been a great stopping place and a friend to cruisers for years. The entrance to Coquina Harbor lies on the north side of the Waterway opposite Marker #13.
North Myrtle Beach
Another good run and luck is still with us. As we approached Lockwoods Folly area, notorious for shoaling, there was a Coast Guard boat at the spot getting ready to move the buoys. When we came through they contacted us and several others to talk everyone through and we had not a problem.
As usual at North Myrtle Beach Yacht Club we were treated well. Again we could not do anything because of my foot. Just one night. We were here in June and had a great time.
Phil and Sandy Herl
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
9/11/15
My husband and I cruised icw from south harbor marina to barefoot marina for our first adventure on the icw. Upon our arrival at barefoot; we informed the dock master that my husband could use some assistance in docking due to being partially disabled from a stroke 6 years ago. They were more than welcome to accommodate us and assist us in anyway possible upon arrival and departure and our entire stay. They are definitely a must stop on your travels. MOST definitely we will be returning to barefoot on our next adventure. Thanks so much to Barefoot Marina for a Great first experience!!!
Joe Miller
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Barefoot Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Barefoot Marina
Skipper Lattimer poses questions that have asked many, many times over the years. See /?p=89755 and /?p=143206 for comments from other boaters. As to precedents for openings, emergency vehicles and vessels get priority. On weekends, it is normally water traffic that is heavy and the On Demand must restricted to openings every 15 minutes. During weekday rush hours, the opposite is true. And, as I understand from conversations with the bridge tenders, the old swing bridge roadway still serves a nearby school zone, requiring that waterway traffic be restricted for school buses. It is a tough job for the tenders who must rely on their on-the-spot judgement to apply restrictions.
Re: Socastee swing bridg . What do you mean `Opens on Demand’ Demand from who? Also, how many boats are considered heavy vessel traffic? It’s not unusual to have a hundred, probably a lot more, cars and trucks tied up when the bridge is open to `some’ boats. Which should take precedence?
Ed Lattimer
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Socastee Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Socastee Bridge
What should take precedence, Ed, is the USCG-approved status of the bridge. The Socastee Bridge is NOT restricted, so by definition, it is “on request”/”on demand.” The “requestor”/”demander” is the pilot of the boat. Having transited the ICW on many fall/spring migrations, I have experienced all of the ICW bridges. At Socastee, I have had excellent service and terrible, disrespectful service. The bridge is unreliable, at best. The bridge operations staff is made up of people who believe in serving the needs of boaters and people who do not. The argument of emergency vehicle traffic or school bus traffic applies to every bridge everywhere. There is absolutely nothing unique to Socastee. The bridge – and the city that owns the bridge – should honor it’s commitments to waterway users. Honor them or change them, but none of this, “it’ll be about 15 minutes or so before I can open” nonsensical stuff.
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club on Coquina Harbor has been a great stopping place and a friend to cruisers for years, as Skipper Herl reports. Naturally, they are A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! The entrance to Coquina Harbor lies on the north side of the Waterway opposite Marker #13.
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Arrived around 3:45 and melted into the dock. Been a long day, lots of slow going with a lot of no wakes. And it has been hot. Stopped at Osprey for fuel, best prices in the area, then continued to Myrtle Beach for the night. To hot to cook so we eat at Clarks, its right next to the marina. Every thing was excellent.
Had a problem with the electric `Y’, had to get one ordered from West Marine. Had two days to enjoy the area, we rented a car and did just that. Found some fresh shrimp and did them on the Barbee. Then were able to find Fishy Fishy, had a fantastic meal. Great stay.
Phil Herl
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
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Charleston
@ Charleston City Marina
17 Lockwood Dr.
Charleston, SC 29401
OFFICE: 843-412-6587
FAX: 877-720-8698
Wrightsville Beach
@ WB Marina
10 Marina Street Suite A3
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
OFFICE: 910-256-8803
FAX: 888-893-9755
Little River
@ Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
720 Hwy 17 – Suite 201
Little River, SC 29566
OFFICE: 843-340-0080
FAX: 888-566-5886
Just what Myrtle Beach needs, more condominiums! If you have cruised through those very attractive, still undeveloped properties along the ICW in Myrtle Beach, maybe you have probably already thought that development is inevitable. That’s 2000 acres of development!
And this from WBTW News 13, May 6
Horry County Council loosens restrictions on Intracoastal Waterway development
HORRY COUNTY, SC- Council voted Tuesday to relax it’s restrictions on Intracoastal Waterway development.
A resolution passed that would allow for construction on spoil easements that line the body of water. Spoil easements are piles of dirt and sediment dug up during dredging.
The county originally prohibited development on easements because they played a critical role in keep the canal clear for boats. However, several property owners got permission from the Army Corps of Engineers to build projects like a pool or a patio, according to Horry County attorney Arrigo Carotti. As a result, Council decided to allow for the issuance of building permits with written consent from the corps.
“If it’s okay with the corps, it will be okay with county,” said Carotti.
Army Corps of Engineers Spokesperson Sarah Corbett said they agreed to allow construction conditionally, meaning the corps could revoke the privilege at any time for dredging purposes.
Waccamaw River Keeper Paula Reidhaar said development on easements could negatively impact the environment.
“These are areas of land right along the edges of the waterway, which is why they were designated as potential spots to put this spoil material,” said Reidhaar. ” Anytime you’re opening up potential development for right along the water, there’s issues.”
One major issue concerns rain water. Reidhaar said the easements act as filters to keep run-off out of the waterway.
“Any time it’s going over a solid surface, the water just keeps carrying all of these materials to first available body of water,” she said.
Run-off often consists of chemicals. Reidhaar said it can dangerously affect drinking water, fish or recreational activities.
“Some of this may be upstream but it all becomes one body of water downstream so it certainly can have impacts,” stated Reidhaar.
Click Here for the article.
May 4, 2015
Horry County officials say a years-old proposal to relax restrictions on development along the Intracoastal Waterway is getting some traction, although the process will be long and expensive.
The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported (http://bit.ly/1bq8wle) that county officials are discussing a proposal with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that would allow for construction on about 2,000 acres of waterfront land.
The project involves tracts that are privately owned but fall under easements held by the corps. County attorney Arrigo Carotti says the corps has researched an issue involving sites that hold dredged material.
Corps spokeswoman Sara Corbett says the agency has asked the county to provide environmental assessments that the corps will use to decide whether to release the easements. She says t no decision has been made.
Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/news/state/south-carolina/article20138928.html#storylink=cpy
Coquina Harbor Yacht Club guards the eastern banks of Coquina Harbor. Coquina Harbor itself cuts into the northern banks of the Waterway, opposite unlighted daybeacon #13.
We have stopped here both coming and going to the Bahamas over the last ten years. We’ve never been disappointed. Sandy Otten, the dock master, could not be more friendly. We rate it one of the best small marinas on the ICW and a great value.
Bill Murdock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Coquina Harbor Yacht Club
We stopped at Coquina Yacht Club April 30,2015 and we totally agree with the comments made by Bill Murdock. This was our first visit ; Sandy Otten, Dockmaster is fantastic; very, very kind and caring; she along with her buddy
Bob helped us dock, brought my wife to the grocery store, etc. great stop and great value; will stop again.
The anchorage at the mouth of Calabash Creek, just below the NC-SC state line, has been a popular stop for years, owing in no small part to the delicious seafood awaiting a dinghy ride up the creek. Sad to have it shoaled in.
21 April 2015, attempted to anchor in the creek but saw that the anchorage had shoaled badly. Rather than anchor within the channel, we went back to Coquina Yacht Club marina for a fantastic rate of a dollar a foot plus three bucks for power with BoatUS. Third night is free. Very nice marina people’¦have scratched the Calabash creek anchorage off the list of possibilities. Too bad, considering we anchored there a little over two years ago and had fine depths and a very pleasant night’¦
Barry Umberger
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Calabash Creek Anchorage
Coquina Harbor Yacht Club guards the eastern banks of Coquina Harbor. Coquina Harbor itself cuts into the northern banks of the Waterway, opposite unlighted daybeacon #13.
21 April 2015, attempted to anchor in the creek [Calabash] but saw that the anchorage had shoaled badly. Rather than anchor within the channel, we went back to Coquina Yacht Club marina for a fantastic rate of a dollar a foot plus three bucks for power with BoatUS. Third night is free.
Barry Umberger
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Coquina Harbor Yacht Club
We have stopped here both coming and going to the Bahamas over the last ten years. We’ve never been disappointed. Sandy Otten, the dock master, could not be more friendly. We rate it one of the best small marinas on the ICW and a great value.
Many thanks to Skippers Lunsford for providing very recent reports from six shoaling areas between Myrtle Beach and Beaufort. Three of these areas have been designated SSECN Problem Stretches and their descriptions are listed below.
For a recent report on McClellanville, see /?p=144354
For a 2013 ACOE survey of area north of Ben Sawyer Bridge, see /?p=125717
For a 12/2013 report on Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff, see /?p=129101
For an alternative to Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff, see /?p=134342
Hi there. We just came through this area in the last week, a bit ahead of the pack, so thought we’d pass on what we found at the traditional trouble spots to help those who come behind us (a copy of what we posted on a couple of Facebook groups). Thanx for all you do.
Dan and Jaye Lunsford
SM 349-352 The Rockpile: This stretch has numerous rock ledges on the sides of the channel so its important to stay in the middle. Not quite as scary as it sounds, but its the first time on the journey that the ICW is anything but mud if you do make a mistake. The ledges are very easy to see at low tide, and there is plenty of water depth even at the lowest tide. On weekends it can be crowded with power boats who may want to pass you if you are a slower sailboat and there really isn’t a lot of room to move over.
SM 430-435 McClellanville: Time the tides here if at all possible. If you’re really motivated you can tiptoe your way through; we saw 6′ MLLW, but so much simpler to just give it a couple of hours.
SM 460 shoals before Ben Sawyer bridge: 4′ MLLW, so its really important to time the tides here. Favor the north side of the channel from before G117A to G119.
SM 471 Wappoo Creek Bridge: This operator is REALLY a stickler for time; bridge is closed during rush hour opens every 1/2 hour during the middle of the day (check the complex operating schedule) but if you aren’t waiting at the bridge before the opening, the operator will not hold even a moment but will make you wait for the next one.
SM 501-504 Watts Cut: Although not listed as a traditional trouble spot, there are numerous shoals to 6′ MLLW along this reach. In a slow sailboat it’s hard to time the tides to have water here, and also water at the next trouble spot.
SM 517 Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff: Stay at least a couple of boat lengths off G177 at the entry (“square the corner”) for 10′ MLLW. At the exit, R184 was reported destroyed; a new temporary drop aid (floating can) was placed there on Friday — we met the Coast Guard small boat that was doing the work on their way back. Slightly favor that NW side between R184 and G185, but time the tides if necessary, we saw 5′ MLLW here briefly.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Anchor Marine overlooks the AICW’s southerly banks just east of the Little River high-rise bridge.
Actually stayed at the HarbourGate marina next door, but next time will stay at Anchor Marina because of the great service and congeniality. Had some water pump problems that I couldn’t seem to fix by myself, so on a Saturday morning two mechanics from Anchor Marine came over to help. It was a vexing but simple problem and it took them more than a couple hours to solve. They were VERY reasonable on the fee and were really helpful. Highly recommend.
Gregory Absten
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Anchor Marine
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Anchor Marine
Comments from Cruisers (7)
As long as they open on demand I’m OK with it. I have a soft spot for Socastee because heading South it means you’re officially finished with the Myrtle Beach ditch and entering the Waccamaw River.
I live in Little River easy for someone traveling the ICW to say the bridge isn’t needed because you don’t live here. As far as the name is concerned it will always be the Little River swing bridge to me. Just as Ian’s waterway or whatever new name has been assigned will always be Poo’s to me.
“Captain Archie Neil ‘Poo’ McLauchlin Swing Bridge.†That’s going to be difficult to say on the radio!
It doesn’t matter what they name it, it should be named “gone”. It (and the Socastee bridge further south) are impediments to navigation. They were “replaced” by high rise bridges but then left in place
If you lived here you’d understand why they were left in place. Impediments to navigation?? Have you been to the ICW in Florida?
That’s for sure !
The big bridges were built to replace the swing bridge in LR and Socastee, but after they were completed the locals complained and convinced them to keep operating. I understand their plight, but it would make a whole lot of sense to keep the bridge open (meaning open for boat traffic that is) during non peak traffic periods. 9:00am -11:30, 1:30pm – 4:00pm and after 7:00pm would be my recommendation.