Tom Point Creek anchorages are among the best south of Charleston, as a number of you have commented.

Submitted on 2010/05/22 at 6:13pm
We pulled into Tom Point Creek on 4/27/10. It has been a blustery day and we had to run 2+ miles upstream before we found a spot with trees to block the gusting wind. We dropped the hook and were joined shortly by two other boats, one upstream and one down stream. Holding was good, and we spent a quiet evening. Not much local traffic.
Captain Dick Litchfield

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

Tom Point Creek cuts the western shores of North Edisto River, well south, southwest of flashing daybeacon #102

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 Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For Tom Point Creek

The Wappo Creek – Elliott Cut Anchorage lies just off the AICW’s track through these twin streams, between the Ashely and Stono Rivers. It makes for a good spot to anchor if you are waiting for a fair tide on Wappo Creek – Elliott Cut. The tide BOILS thorugh these streams!!!

Anchored here again 4-13-10. The mooring ball is gone so we anchored closer to the west end in 14 feet of water near low tide. Pretty good protection from wakes.
Jean Thomason
Doveskie

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For Wappo Creek – Elliott Cut Anchorage

We also love dropping the hook on the waters of Tom Point Creek. Except for a slight restriction on swinging room, it doesn’t get much better than this!

Our favorite anchorage in SC. If you go to the third turn (way up the creek) then there is a bar that is exposed at low tide. Be careful, but just before it is our favorite place to stop. A few small bass boats may come by from time to time, but that is no big deal. Also, the dolphins are great many times.
John Winter

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For Tom Point Creek

Mariners Cay Marina is located well off the AICW, a stone’s throw from this stream’s inlet into the briny blue. To reach its docks, you must traverse a twisting channel in Folly River.
I used to be thoroughly unimpressed with Mariners Cay Marina, but there have been MANY improvements here since the last edition of my South Carolina – Georgia cruising guide went to press. And, the dredging described below is yet another excellent addition.

The Mariner Cay Marina has completed a dredging project and all slips now have a minimum depth of 7 feet. A great spot to stop for a overnight or longer.
Bob Eggleston

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Mariners Cay Marina

In this note below, the crew of “Restless” is referring to the two potential anchorage, north and south of Elliott Cut’s westerly entrance. The AICW travels though this man-made canal on its way from Ashley River (Charleston) to the Stono River. I have anchored in both these spots myself over the years, and have seen many others do so, BUT these are very unsheltered waters, and “Restless” is quite correct in relating that there is PLENTY of current.
You might consider the recommended waters (see below), off the Stono’s western banks, north of St. Johns Yacht Harbor (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) and the Highway 701 bridge. I’ve never tried dropping the hook here, but it sounds as if “Restless” found a good overnight haven.

I would not anchor in either of these two locations shown by the western entrance to Elliott Cut. The current really rips through here because the river narrows down as it swings past the shoal. A better location to anchor is to the south-west, along the western shoreline just north of the St. John’s Yacht Harbor marina. Be aware that there can be a 5-6 ft. tide here when picking your spot to drop the hook. The current in that location is somewhat less, but be prepared to swing through 180 as the tides change. You can dinghy to the marina for ice, etc. Call them on VHF 16, they will shift you to VHF 71. Inquire about facilities use if you are anchored out. See the listing for this marina it is accurate.
S/V Restless

I [anchored] several miles from the spot in question (up the Ashley River) and have been anchoring near the more Southern of the two spots shown for several years, but as close to the point as possible considering the water depth. This is one place we go just to get away but not go far.
I will agree on the lack of shelter but we only go in fair weather. We anchor overnight and although there can be a strong current, we have never slipped anchor.
Moving down towards St. Johns Harbor, there is a large shoal where local go to beach and play. Also, there have been some sunken boats in that area.
Rod Widman

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Stono River – AICW Anchorges

This little anchorage is located behind (south of) a small marsh island, just west of the Highway 171 swing bridge. As Captain Thomason notes below, swing room is a bit limited, so take care when dropping the hook here.

Anchored here September 23 (and have before) just about at the large pole that says Freddy, Freddy, Good anchorage but always have the concern of being blown either towards the grass island or over toward the docks. There is a mooring buoy right in the middle of the curve that restricts where one can anchor.
Jean Thomason

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Wappoo Creek – Elliott Cut Anchorage

The confluence of Toogoodoo Creek and Wadmalaw River forms the North Edisto River. The AICW leaves the Wadmalaw and cuts down the North Edisto, before leaving this latter body of water via the Dawho River.
I have always loved anchoring on Toogoodoo Creek, but you do have to be careful of the shoals flanking this stream’s entrance. At high tide the mud flats cover completely, and the channel appears to the uninformed eye to be much wider than it actually is. Take great care when entering, but once the stream’s mouth is in your wake, you can choose from a wide variety of good spots to drop the hook!

We anchored in Toogoodoo Creek on the afternoon of June 11, 2009 at 1450 hours, after departing Beaufort, SC, at 0935 that morning. The shoal at the entrance wasn’t a problem – we just followed the electronic chart and stayed away from the shoal area on the north side of the entrance. We dropped the anchor in about 12 feet of water just past the stretch where the creek runs basically east-west and turns NW, more or less over the charted 11 foot depth. Good water all the way in, and the creek is wide enough for the small boat traffic to pass by without feeling too much of a wake. Holding is excellent (SuperMax with chain) and Sanderling stayed put during a severe thunderstorm that passed through about 2100 with winds we clocked at 56 knots at the height of the storm!
Bob McLeran and Judy Young

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

On 9/1/09, as part of a “South Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:

29. Has anyone anchored on the Waters of Tom Point Creek lately (off the western banks of the North Edisto River/AICW, south of Toogoodoo Creek). What depths did you discover? Did you find sufficient swing room for your vessel?

Responses follow:

We anchored in Tom Point Creek,in April, 2007. We anchored about 0.5 miles up (the 9′ spot on the chart) and found the depths as charted with plenty of swinging room for us (41′ sail). Very pretty
James Lea
S/V Estelle

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

On 9/1/09, as part of a “South Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:

26. Has anybody made use of the repair facilities at Ross Marine on the Stono River? Please describe your experience!

Responses follow:

Ross Marine has a good honest reputation locally – though bearing in mind that most marina repairs can be horrendously expensive these days……
Best wishes
Arnold

Back in May we stayed for repairs at Ross Marine. They were attentive and polite.
The repair work was well done and they tried to accomodate us as best they could. They are not set up (no pump out) for liveaboard…… for repairs only but they certainly did that well. If your repair needs a few days, you can rent a car from Enterprise and explore Charleston or stay in one of the motels nearby.
Sami and Barry Shreve
s/v Ever After

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

The shallows reported below by Captains Denny and Diane, are NOT found along the AICW’s passage down North Edisto River. Rather, this shoal lies south (downstream) of the Waterway’s exit of the North Edisto via the Dawho River.
I have looked at chart 11517, and I think the shoal in question lies along the river’s southwestern banks. As noted below, it is unmarked, but charted, though it sounds like depths here are even less than shown on 11517.

And a quick note of a shoal that is not marked on the North Edisto River. It is directly across from Ledenwah Creek on the south side of river. At low tide we FOUND less than 2 feet, and yes we found it the hard way!!
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Denny & Diane

On 9/1/09, as part of a “South Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:

32. Has anyone docked at Bohicket Marina Village (off the southerly reaches of the North Edisto River by way of Bohicket Creek)? Please describe your experiences. Oh yes, a review of one or more of the many on-site restaurants would not be amiss either.

Responses follow:

Bohicket is a very nice marina, with large slips and very kind folks running the marina. Fischer’s Sports Bar still has one of the best cheese burgers to be had. It is always a good time and has good food and friendly folks, Tracy and AJ, (owners), are always trying to help folks out and serve fresh good food.
And a quick note of a shoal that is not marked on the North Edisto River. It is directly across from Ledenwah Creek on the south side of river. At low tide we FOUND less than 2 feet, and yes we found it the hard way!!
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Denny & Diane

Bohicket Creek Marina. The cruise up the N. Edisto River and Bohicket creek was uneventful, but when we got to the Marina the current had picked up quite a bit. After we got our slip assignment from the “dockmaster”, we had no further help tying up. It wasn’t busy when we approached, but the dockhouse was quite a way from our slip. I guess he didn’t feel like walking all that way. The marina is more of a private condo development that rents out transient slips. It may have been better in previous years.
Joy and Shel Rabin, aboard m/v Evening Star.

This is one of my favorite SC marinas. The marina offers fuel, showers, and dockage while the area is a great place to spend a couple of days. There are restaurants at the marina plus just a short walk up the road there is a shopping area with more restaurants. Fischer’s Sports Bar is great. There is a great grocery store that is similar to a Fresh Market with wines, cooked foods, and much more. The shops make for a pleasant shopping experience. My husband and I enjoy our mini-vacations boating there.
Judith Richardson

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

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

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