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    • Ross Marine (Statute Mile 475)

      Telephone: (843)559-0379 | FAX: (843)559-3172 | Address: 2676 Swygert Blvd., John's Island, SC 29455 | E-mail: info@rossmarine.com | We are the Southeast�s premiere yacht repair facility located on th The discussion below was copied from the Net’s “Ask Your Neighbor” page, and the AGLCA mailing list. Please note that Ross Marine is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

      We are looking for secure, safe, and reasonably priced storage either in the water or on the hard for our 45 foot trawler somewhere between Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC from June 15 to November 15.
      Any input would be greatly appreciated.
      Susan and John Hauge and Lily
      currently cruising the St. John’s River, FL

      Susan and John,
      Try Ross Marine, ICW mm 475, six miles south of Charleston. Nice folks, large Travel-lift, hard pack surface, electric available, very good rates ($8/ft & they told me free haul-out) compared to other storage yards (and we checked them all). Contact Arthur at 843/559-0379.
      Phil


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Ross Marine

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    • Praise for Isle of Palms Marina (Statute Mile 457)

      Below you will find the latest in a series of postings which show that the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net has only the best in the way of sponsors, of which, Isle of Palms Marina, is a shining example. This facility is located a short hop north of the AICW’s entrance into Charleston Harbor! And, not only is the marina seriously first class, but the on-site restaurant is memorable as well!

      Subject: Isle of Palms Marina
      Cruising News: We just finisned laying-over our boat for 5 weeks at Isle of Palms Marina,SC(ICW Mile Marker 457). Outstanding service, support and facilites. Best staff I have ever experienced in my 35 years of boating. The Marina just finished a major face lift. The on-site restaurant “Morgan Creek” is worth the stay as well. Need anything, Dockmasters Chase & Ryan are a first class act in customer service! Nothing too fancy, just good ole Southern hospitality!!!
      Don & Stacy
      “Heavenly Daze”
      Defever 53 POC
      Baltimore, MD.


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Palms Marina

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    • Praise for Marina at Grand Dunes (Statute Mile 357)

       Nestled along Myrtle Beach's celebrated Grand Strand, Grande Dunes is the most dynamic master-planned residential resort ever to grace the Carolina coast. Spanning 2,200 lushly forested acres of primOf course, the Marina at Grand Dunes is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

      Hello all:
      Palmetto Moon with Jim, Su, and Alex (the lazy cat) are at Marina Grande Dunes (mm 357).
      This is a great stop because:
      Clean
      Great docks
      Free pump out
      Dock hands know their stuff
      Free cable
      Coffee in AM
      Free WiFi
      3 restaurants on site
      Pool
      New supermarket across the street
      Shuttle van for longer trips.
      Hope this helps. As always YMMV
      Jim, Su & Alex (the lazy cat)
      Jim Cobb
      Palmetto Moon

      How about even more praise!

      Subject: Grande Dunes
      Cruising News: We’re docked across from Palmetto Moon at the Marina at Grande Dunes waiting out the latest storms. Two important things were left out of their report: a free bottle of wine is presented on check-in along with a $25 gift card for the on-site Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. If you drink the wine before you go to dinner and order off the “Prime Time” reduced price menu and then hand in your gift card, you can get a great meal at a much more reasonable price. Also, we just got back from the new grocery – Lowes Foods – and it’s spotless. This is becoming a favorite stop on the ICW.
      Bill
      “Tapestry”
      Krogen 58

      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Marina at Grand Dunes

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    • Depths at AICW/Little River Inlet Intersection (Statute Mile 342)

      Hmmm! If Captain Pat took her soundings, described below at "half tide," low tide depths could be as shallow as 7 feet.

      Subject: Inlet crossing updates
      Cruising News: April 8 2009 Little River Inlet ICW crossing followed magenta line nothing less than 10 feet half tide.
      Pat Banyas
      s/v Marguerite

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    • Leland Oil Company Marina (McClellanville, Statute Mile 430)

      I agree with Captain Pat that the current Leland Oil Company mariner owner is making slow improvements. That’s a good thing, as, under the preceeding ownership, this facility had gotten quite sad. Judging from my last visit, you still can’t consider this place first class, but it’s acceptable, and the village of McClellanville is absolutely charming and should NOT be missed!

      Leland Oil Co. McClellanville ($1 a foot)
      This is another place that is somewhere in the middle, from Wacca Wachi or Georgetown to Charleston, for those who want a dock not an anchor. Dwayne is the owner and although the docks are not upscale they are secure and have power and showers. Ladders up from floating dock unless it is high tide then you step across. These are working fuel docks where the owner is working to improve the amenities and the visual look of the area to get more cruisers in. I have stayed here three times and since it is halfway it is perfect. Each time Dwayne has driven me up to either the ‘Red Dot’ store (think booze) or to the fresh seafood store. This is a working port so you get fresh local seafood in season or frozen off season. This seafood store has some of the best shrimp dip along the ICW. If you travel with animals be advised Dwayne has a dog, ‘Beau’ who wants to play with dogs and it seems every house off the property has some type of dog. Dwayne puts Beau inside when cruisers stay over who have dogs. I would recommend this for some one looking to tie up for the night or to hold for weather not a destination marina.
      Pat Banyas
      Marguerite


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Leland Oil Company

      Comments from Cruisers (1)

      1. Tom -  May 9, 2011 - 1:19 pm

        Leland Oil Co. McClellanville, Sc.
        Had to duck in for a week because I ran out of time in getting the boat to Charleston and had to be back at work. I was too late to make the bridge and the folks at Isle of Palms were less than accomodating. I had fueled at Leland’s a few miles earlier and decided to turn and go back. The folk are very friendly, accomodating and $1.00 / ft. I would stay again if needed..
        Tom Hughes
        Catalina 390 “Island Time”

        Reply to Tom
    • Isle of Palms Marina (Statute Mile 457)

      As Captain Pat says, Isle of Palms Marina is located directly on the AICW, only a short hop north of Charleston Harbor.
      Pat’s account of Isle of Palms below is, as you will see, downright glowing. I agree that this is an excellent facility, and they are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!!!

      Isle of Palms just north of charleston on ICW. ($2.00 a foot) Earlierir in the year they were working on rebuilding bulkheads and docks but it seems to be almost all completed. Great dockhands. Cable and wifi at docks. Very clean and well appointed showers to include a Sauna, yes a sauna. They have the nicest ships store for many a mile. It includes a deli, TV viewing area, boat stuff, wine and cheese stuff, general groceries, souveneirs, and nick nacks. Restaurant on premises with great food and one of the nicer views on ICW. $4.00 Happy hour appetizers, make sure to try the fried portabellas with blue cheese dip my gosh they are great. It is also a fairly well protected place to sit out bad weather. Seriouosly a very nice little marina to stay at with an exceptional restaurnat and view (also not too bad prices). Call ahead to reserve a spot in season though!
      Pat Banyas
      Marguerite

      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Palms Marina

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    • St. Johns Yacht Harbor (Stono River, near Statute Mile 472.5))

      St. Johns Yacht Harbor ( a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) is found at the sites fo the former Buzzards Roose and Stono marinas, hard by the Highway 701 Bridge as it crosses the Stono River. This is only a hop, skip and a jump south of the AICW’s westerly exodus from Elliot Cut, which connects the Waterway to the Ashley River and Charleston.
      I have always been VERY impressed with the plans for the facility at St. Johns. All this is coming to fruition now, and from Captain Pat’s account below, looks as if the restaurant and new shower building will be open soon!
      The “strong currents’ reported below by Captain Pat are part and parcel of EVERY marina on this portion of the South Carolina coastline. You will need to watch out for swiftly moving waters when apporach docks from Georgetown to the Savannah River (are really beyond).

      St John’s (old Buzzards Roost) ($1.75 a foot) Stono river just before Elliot Cut.
      Undergoing reconstruction of the Restaurant and soon the Shower building. Not sure when the shower building will be done but the Restaurant looks as if it still needs a month or more until completion. Current showers are clean and nice. Small store with minimal snacks in the office. Face docks are good condition with cable and wifi. The strong current that runs through the marina slips helps put you on face dock when docking. If no wind is expected this is a great place to wait until morning to go through Elliot cut. Leave dock at 0810 and hit the Wappoo Creek bridge
      for it’s 0900 opening. If the weather is windy just be advised that the strong current also amplifies swells in a southerly blow over 15 knots. Long fetch up Stono river combined with an outgoing tide will result in very uncomfortable bouncing and hobby horsing at the dock. Phil (Dock Master) lives in Marina and is a great guy. He usually offers to drive you to closest store if you want. Just remember that gas costs money if you ask him to drive you somewhere. They also advertise a shuttle to downtown but I forgot to ask about that.
      Pat Banyas
      Marguerite


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For St. Johns Yacht Harbor

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    • Georgetown Landing Marina (Statute Mile 403)

      Georgetown Landing Marina is located on the Pee Dee River side of Georgetown.

      Subject: Georgetown Landing update (Marina)
      Cruising News: Any weather from the South or south east causes rocky conditions in the marina but especially on the face dock. Land’s End Restaurant is good food but marina wifi is finicky and no cable on face dock. Exposed to wakes from passing small boats.
      Pat B


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Georgetown Landing Marina

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    • B&B Seafood Dock (on Mosquito Creek, off Ashepoo River, near Statute Mile 513.5)

      Personally, I have never tied up at the B&B Seafood dock overnight, but I certainly have purchased some EXCELLENT seafood there, and then anchored farther upstream on Mosquito Creek for the night.
      There is a sunken shrimp trawler in Mosquito Creek between B&B, and the upstream anchorage, but I have always been able to carry at least 5 feet over the derelict.  Once, one of the locals told me not to worry about the sunken trawler, as it was marked by a float. When I checked out the creek's waters for myself, there were at least a hundred floats marking crab pots and fish traps. There was NO way to tell which marked the sunken vessel.

      B & B Seafood House MM 513.5 ($1.25 a foot)
      I stayed here a couple years ago and I talked to the Owner last week in case I had to stop there.  Some people, like me, tend to stay in a marina or at a dock in SC due to the tidal differences and the fact that single handing makes anchoring a little more  difficult if the weather is bad or the tides are running strong.  B&B is handy for those like me because it is halfway between Charleston and Beaufort.  Unfortunately they don't always answer their phone so many people pass this spot by.  This is a small floating dock, made up of several different size dock sections.  B&B has their own shrimp boat up forward on a fixed dock and they have a boat ramp forward of their shrimp boat.  At most they have room for 2 30 footers, if they share nicely.  If you are on your own in a 40 or so you will fit fine if no one else is there.  They have a little general store for the local area on site (Bennetts Point SC) which also sells locally caught seafood, usually shrimp, off season it is frozen.  This isn't your upscale marina it is a small working seafood dock in rural SC but please don't pass it bye just because it isn't fancy.  Keep to center when entering Mosquito Creek.  I would advise calling ahead several days ahead and the day of arrival just to make sure.  I had dockside power for my battery charge, 2 100 foot extensions cords!  Don't expect an attentive dockhand.  Current tends to push you onto the dock and definitely dock bow to the current it is swift.  When I docked there I docked like a tug to a moving ship: Power to the dock and cut power as I jumped on to secure a spring line!  Overnight or weather stays only not a destination you know.
      Pat Banyas
      Marguerite

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    • AICW Depths – Ramshorn Creek to Fields Cut (Statute Mile 570 to 575), 3/31/09 Report

      Fields Cut is located in extreme southern South Carolina. The Wateway uses this man-made stream to connect between the Wright and Savannah Rivers.
      Fields Cut is currently the worst stretch on the South Carolina portion of the AICW. That's why Captain Chris's report below is so very important.
      Notice also Chris' reports on Ramshorn Creek and Walls Cut.

      Claiborne,
      Transited Field's Cut today.  We entered the cut at 1 hour before high tide.  At the south entrance, 50 feet west of the magenta line we had 12 feet — 3-4 feet at MLLW.  When we reached the floater #48 we had 12 feet on the magenta line. 
      At Walls Cut we had 13.8 feet at high tide on the magenta line where it crosses the "9 foot" MLLW contour line. 
      At the entrance to Ramshorn Creek our C-MAP NT chip shows the marks in incorrect positions.  Obeying the marks provided us 13.8 feet at High.  We would have hit the silt if we had obeyed the chartplotter.  Right before the powerlines in Ramshorn (going north) there is a small creek to the east.  It has dumped enough mud into Ramshorn that the depth rises to 12.5 feet before falling away to the Ahhhh of Cooper River. 
      Also something very large has clobbered the bulkheads of the Hilton Head Bridge.   There is a work barge in the area so going through here slowly is a good idea.
      CHRIS WALN
      S/V Brilliant Star

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    • Praise for Myrtle Beach Yacht Club (Statute Mile 346)

      South Carolina Yacht Club, which is actually a transient friendly marina with GREAT fuel prices, and a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is one of three facilities located in Coquina Harbor (in Little River, SC). Not only is SC Yacht Club a good marina, but Umbertos Restaurant is just next door. To say the food here is good, is to say something like the sun is kinda bright!

      Cruising News: Stayed at Myrtle Beach Yacht Club. $1.35 dockage with US Boat and nice place. Great restaurant on site.
      Patty Mitchell


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Myrtle Beach Yacht Club

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    • Tom Point Creek Anchorage (Statute Mile 495.5)

      Sample Image I’m almost sad to hear about the shoal on Tom Point Creek described below by Captains Joe and Sandra. This stream has always been one of our favorite anchorages, just off the AICW, south of Charleston. Looks like the shallows can be avoided though, wtih just a little caution.

      Subject: Tom Point Creek Anchorage Report
      Cruising News: We used the Tom Point Creek Anchorage at ICW MM 495.5 on our northbound trip last night, March 26, 2009. We entered at low tide and I noticed a large shoal at the knuckle-like turn before the long straight portion. This area extends about 1/3 into the turn and the next morning at high tide I cut it a little close and only saw 5.5 feet of water. The problem area is noted in the Google Map photo located at [the left].
      Joe & Sandra Urban aboard Punches – Monk 36

      The most delightful creek is Tom Point Creek. Keep going up it for at least 2 miles and you\’ll have great protection from trees, deep water and perfect natural silence. I was visited there by a large loggerhead turtle and several friendly dolphins.
      Captain Arnold

      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Tom Point Creek

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    • Charleston Maritime Center (Cooper River)

      I have always found the staff at Charleston Maritime Center to be very courteous and responsive. However, the inner part of the harbor is VERY shallow. The outer section has sufficient depths for most any cruising size craft.
      While Captain Wright is quite correct is saying many Charleston attractions are within walking distance, one disadvantage of this facility versus the Charleston City Marina (a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) is that it is not near the “Variety Store Restaurant (located at the Charleston City Marina). This is one of the best dining buys in town!

      We are leaving Charleston this morning after four nights at Charleston Maritime Center. It is very nice and $1.20 a foot with BoatUS vs $2 at the municipal. It is also much closer to sights and provisions. It is a block from the aquarium where the trolley picks you up and takes you thru the historic area and the visitor’s center where you can get other trolleys to anywhere in town. It is 2 blocks from a big grocery (Harris Teeter), produce store,and hardware store. It is 3 blocks from a pharmacy (RiteAid). The washer and dryer are free for boaters and the staff is very nice. It is also the water taxi stop to take you over to the USS Yorktown or on a harbor tour and the dock for the tallship, Spirit of South Carolina.
      Wright

      Subject: Charleston Maritime Center
      Cruising News: I believe you are overstating the depth issue. We are currently at CMC at the innermost slip and we have around 5\’ of water at low tide (further out it is deeper). The inner half of the harbor is shallower, but there are no slips in the inner half. I\’d second the awsome service and great location. The only downside is if there is a good wind out of the northeast, the breakwall is not effective and it gets a rolly. FYI: $6/ft/week BUS (but check as they said new rates may be coming out soon).
      Mike Scheuer


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Charleston Maritime Center

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    • Georgetown, SC (Statute Mile 403)

      Here’s a good report on Georgetown, one of my personal favorite ports of call, from Captain Jane Tigar, one of the Net’s finest reporters! Note Jane’s kind words about Harborwalk Marina. Of course, these good people are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

      Georgetown: Our favorite restaurant, Orange Blossom is closed. We were sorry to hear that the owner had a bad car accident and has returned to Greece. We highly recommend planning to be in Georgetown on anything but a Sunday. Most everything seems to be closed on Sundays. There is a nice looking store for provisioning – it looks like a wine shop, but there is fresh produce in the back. It’s on the main road, maybe a block towards town from Harborwalk Marina.
      Harborwalk Marina has brand new docks; there is a big floating face dock and it is only a few steps from downtown. Free wifi. Courteous service. There are no toilets or showers as they are in the process of building them. We tried to hail Hazzard Marine, a place we have stayed at before but there was no answer on the phone and no answers to our VHF hails.
      Captain Jane Tigar

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    • Little River Inlet (Statute MIle 341.5) Discussion

      Little River Inlet intersects the AICW, immediately south of the North Carolina – South Carolina state line. In fair weather, I've always found this inlet to be reasonably easy to navigate, but the easily run inlet (at least for 100% of the time) has yet to be invented.
      The discussion below was copied from the AGLCA list.

      Little River Inlet at the State Line between SC and NC is fine, but not in Skipper Bob.  It's well marked and carries 12' – 15' feet the entire way.  The one area where it shallows is where it meets the ICW; stay in the middle until you get into the ICW channel.  The casino boats use the inlet every day out of Myrtle Beach.
      We use Little River often, weather permitting.  It's just 25 NM to Cape Fear, and it's an easy, straight run.  No need to go miles offshore to clear shoals.  The advantage has been to avoid Shallotte's
      Inlet, Lockwoods Folley and the Poontoon Bridge.  So it's a 3fer…
      We're a 7.3 kt boat, and we frequently hear boats on the ICW – ahead of us at Little River – behind us at Southport, and vice versa.  So if the wind is 15 – 20 kts, we go outside between Cape Fear and Little River.
      Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary

      You can comfortably add the Llttle River inlet  on the North/South Carolina border as a safe daytime entrance.   This excellent inlet, about 30 miles west of Cape Fear, is used daily by two large gambling boats and by several big fishing "head boats" and some shrimpers. Better yet, less than a mile inside  and just across the ICW is a frequently used anchorage on the NC side of the channel.  It is pretty exposed to wakes, but most of the head boats will slow for you if you are well lit,
      This is not a well lit entrance or inside channel, so , while it can be done in the dark, I don't recommend it for a first time entry.
      Conversely, if you come north on the inside , you can avoid a slow 30 miles from Little River to Southport, including the often shoaly Lockwood's Folly and Shallotte sections, and the once-an hour Sunset Beach pontoon bridge by going out Little River and back in at Cape Fear.  No off shore obstructions, so you can basically run the beach almost all the way…
      Olrick

      Little River SC inlet is very easy to navigate. It is well marked and right on the SC/NC border, after entering inlet go just south 2 miles, on the ICW and you have numerous choices of overnight very nice marinas,
      John M. Beaver

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    • Important – New South Carolina Law Impacts Abandoned Vessels

      The posting below is excerpted by permission from the “Southwinds” magazine (http://www.southwindsmagazine.com) article, “Watercraft Non Grata – Derelict Vessels,” by Dan Dickison. Many thanks to Captain Steve Morrell, “Southwinds” publisher.
      As you will read, Captain Dickison describes a new South Carolina law which pertains to abandoned vessels. Let me state here and now that, while not perfect (what is), I think this is excellent legislation, which may well help prevent a proliferation of local and county anchoring regulations in South Carolina, such as those we are seeing in Florida.
      Those few mariners who had thought to leave their boat unattended at anchor on South Carolina waters for months on end, think again!

      “In mid-December, a law enacted by South Carolina legislators last summer came into effect, making it a crime to abandon a vessel or outboard motor on public property. Perpetrators will face fines of up to $5,000.00 and as many as 30 days in jail if convicted of this misdemeanor. Additionally, the owner of any abandoned vessel cited will have only 14 days after conviction to remove the craft and must do so at his or her own expense and risk. Of course, the law doesn’t apply to owners who abandon a vessel in an emergency, but it stipulates that they must return to the vessel after the emergency is over and ‘make a bona fide attempt to recover the watercraft.’”
      “South Carolina law defines an ‘abandoned watercraft’ as any boat that has been moored, stranded, wrecked sinking or sunk and has been left unattended for more than 45 days.” As most Low Country boaters know, there are hundreds of such abandoned craft in the creeks and rivers that define this region, and a new law to address this issue seems fitting . . .”
      Lt. Robert McCullough, who works in the Law Enforcement Division of the state’s Department of Natural Resources, . . . says that the objective of the law is to clear out derelict boats that have been obviously abandoned  for some time . . .”
      “McCullough says that DNR will first make every attempt to identify the boat’s legal owner and contact that person. That person will be given the opportunity to remove the derelict vessel. If that doesn’t’ occur in a timely manner, say McCullough, then proceedings will be initiated . . . ‘The bottom line is that we’re trying to get these boats removed. We want to do this nicely if we can, but if not, we’ll be more aggressive.’”
      For more informaton regarding the law, or to report derelict vessels in South Carolina, call the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division at (800) 922-5431.

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    • Looking Forward to Isle of Palms Marina (Statute Mile 457)

      Isle of Palms Marina sits directly on the path of the AICW, a short hop north of Charleston Harbor. These good people are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

      Good Afternoon Claiborne!
      We have just made reservations to do a one month stay-over at Isle of Palms Marina for next month as we continue our gradual north-bound journey to Baltimore Harbor. We will continue to use your recommendations as we head north thru SC,NC, VA & MD.
      We are looking forward to our stay-over at Isle of Palm and don’t think we will be disappointed based on the great hospitality when making our reservations.
      Thank for your help to make our north-bound maiden journey safe and pleasurable!
      Don and Stacy
      `Heavenly Daze’
      Defever 53 POC


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Palms Marina

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    • Georgetown, SC Considers Mooring Field On Town Waterfront/Sampit River

      The article below is reprinted, with permission, from the "Georgetown Times." We thank the newspaper most sincerely, for allowing us to reproduce this copyrighted story.
      Clearly, the consideration of a mooring field, possibly (or not), at the expense of the long popular Sampit River anchorage, is in the early stages of discussion. I think the real problem here, as it is in many coastal ports of call, is abandoned vessels. And, let's not kid ourselves, abandoned vessels ARE a REAL problem!
      To get up on my soap box for a moment, there are other laws and means to deal with abandoned vessels, or those illegally dumping untreated waste, WITHOUT regulating anchorage. Let's hope the city government in Georgetown goes this route!

      Sampit
      Published on 1/29/2009
      By Jason Lesley
      jlesley@gtowntimes.com

       

      George Fogel anchors his boat in the Sampit River between the Harborwalk and Goat Island.
      He pays all the taxes, and he's one of the few owners who burn the proper anchorage lights at night.
      A plan to place 33 mooring buoys on the Sampit River could force Fogel out — to a commercial marina.
      That's just one of the thorny problems with regulating boats and boaters in Georgetown.
      Citizens filled City Council chambers Thursday night to discuss the future of the city's harbor and to learn about new laws that allow abandoned boats to be removed.
      Only one citizen expressed any sentiment for keeping abandoned boats in Georgetown Harbor. They provide a part of Georgetown's character, he said, and give artists and photographers inspiration.
      Most were in favor of seeing a city ordinance being more strictly enforced to clean up the harbor and force owners to pay for the removal of sinking or submerged craft.
      City Council member Paige Sawyer, who organized the citizens meeting, opened by showing pictures of boats that had broken from their moorings and crashed and of dinghies tied at the city's docks for so long they were filled with water. One even had a dead fish in it.
      S.C. Department of Natural Resources officers Robin Camlin and Ryan Williams explained a new state law that will address abandoned boats.
      "Being from Georgetown," Camlin said, "I am concerned about the harbor. We will survey at daylight and dark to determine if a boat is being legally tended to. Owners of abandoned boats will be ticketed and they will have 45 days to remove their boats."
      A larger issue for the people at Thursday's meeting was the possible ending of free anchorage — permanent or transit — in the Sampit.
      A plan approved by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control will locate 33 mooring buoys between Meeting and King streets. Each will have a radius of 160 feet, squeezing out any room for others to anchor for free.
      Restaurant owner Bucky Watkins said he was worried that boaters wouldn't come to Georgetown and shop and dine if the city began charging a fee to anchor.
      Jed Tiller, co-owner of Hazzard Marina, said he gets calls "all the time" about buoys. The fee is far lower than a dockage fee at a marina.
      "What we should do is encourage people to stop here without getting robbed," Watkins said.
      The question was raised about who will profit from the 33 buoys. Sawyer said the city would contract with a harbormaster who would patrol and collect the fees.
      Diane Fox said, "You are going to cut out a lot of people who want to run 'The Ditch'."
      Glennie Tarbox, who owns Independent Seafood, suggested both permanent and transient anchorage.
      Beaufort's mooring buoy plan would be a good model for Georgetown to follow, someone suggested. It has 53 buoys with 20 set aside as permanent anchorage.
      Watkins asked, "If we clean up the harbor, why do we have to have moorings?"
      Nobody answered.
      The depth of the Sampit could pose another potential problem for some sailboats. At low tide, one citizen pointed out, a sailboat drawing 5 or 6 feet of water couldn't get to the buoys.
      In the end, Sawyer said he wanted to see a task force appointed that would consider every angle from boat owners to property owners before the issue comes before City Council.

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    • Calabash Creek Anchorage (Statute Mile 342)

      In the last edition of “Cruising Guide to Coastal South Carolina and Georgia,” I warned that the entrance to Calabash Creek was shoaling, and that low water entrance and egress from this popular anchorage could be more than slightly tricky. Looks like Captain Jeanie’s report bears out those observations!

      Our adventure was not over. Our intention was to anchor in Calabash Creek. However, we knew we were now only 1 ½ hr before low tide and that this could be a problem. We left flashing green daybeacon 119 and crept toward red floating ICW R2, eyes on the sounder. DON’T DO THIS. Stay mid channel on the ICW. There is shoaling well out from the northeast at Calabash Creek. We had about 3 hours to watch shrimp boats and casino boats traverse this section, as we sat aground in the ICW channel just over the midline to the northeast in the ICW and east of red floating 2. We didn’t feel quite so inept, when we watched a shrimp boat go aground just in front of us as he came in from sea and crossed the ICW to go into Calabash Creek. He was able to wiggle off, however. By 1930 we thought we had enough water to work our way into deeper water, and persevered when we cited two shrimp boats returning from sea. They crept through the creek entrance and we followed them in. Of course it was now dark but we only went in enough distance to anchor in 9′ of water. That anchorage had been so close and so far away.
      No problem leaving at 8 this morning, and we had a great run to Georgetown.
      Jeanie Quigley


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Calabash Creek

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    • Good Time at Hazzard Marine – Georgetown

      The new incarnation of Hazzard Marine is certainly a superb facility along the downtown Georgetown waterfront (Sampit River). Don’t overlook Harborwalk Marina as well, now a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

      Hazzard Marina in Georgetown gets a big plus. Their automatic fuel dispenser works fine with a VISA or MasterCard. We got in at sundown (after closing) after 12 hours on the ICW, and filled up just fine. The dockmaster had also authorized to take a face dock position for overnight and put the fee in the mailbox if we left before they open in the morning. We liked the catch of the day at Captain’s Quarters.
      Michael Tigar
      S/V Lady Jane
      Bound for St. Augustine


      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Hazzard Marine

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