Jericho Creek does not offer the roomiest anchorage of the many great overnight havens off the AICW/Waccamaw River. However, the really adventurous among us can cruise the creek all the way to the Pee Dee River. That is a really interesting journey, but it’s not for everyone, and certainly not for larger cruising craft.

We anchored here on the south side of the oxbow. The south side gave us better protection from northerly winds. As noted, not much swing room and two anchors might be advisable, but we passed the night on one. You need to watch the tide, shoaling and bar at the mouth. We had to bugout early AM to get across the bar safely. We noted 6.2′ as we crossed the bar.
Dick Litchfield

I passed through Jericho Creek between Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers about six months ago at low tide (three foot draft trawler). It was beautiful and adventurous, but I saw two large stumps just above the surface, center of the creek, in the winding part of the creek near Wacammaw River. I would not have seen these with one foot more water. I don’t know if they were transient or there all the time. Be careful in this area.
Russ McAden

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

Out of all the MANY wonderful anchorages off the AICW section of the Waccamaw River, I think Thoroughfare Creek may be my very favorite. Looks like Captain Koerner found this spot equally delightful.

Spent the day under power in a drizzling rain. This was my last chance to find an anchorage before nightfall. It was beautiful to me then, in the rain, and remains so in my memory. One sailing catamaran was there when I arrived, and a trawler arrived just after I set the hook. My Bruce anchor dragged, so I changed to a CQR. No problem. It was probably due to fluky conditions, though, as wind and current were at odds when I arrived. Didn’t get a good set to start with.
HB Koerner

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

The Waccamaw River section of the South Carolina AICW has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to good anchorage along its side streams. However, Bull Creek is one of the very best of the lot. Whenever I talk to cruising groups in South Carolina, and mention Bull Creek, I can look out on my audience and see everyone’s eyes getting dreamy. Anchoring on a stream like Bull Creek is what cruising is all about!

Bull Creek has excellent protection from northerly winds if you can get around the first large bend and behind a large stand of trees. Depths are varied from 30’+ to beginning to verge on shoal. Additionally, there is some small boat traffic on occasion plus a small RO-RO (Rip Rap II) passed, carrying a big SUV and horse van. Holding is good in the current we experienced (somewhat under a knot?) and in gusty winds to 20-25 kts.
Rick Emerson

We anchored in Bull Creek on November 17th just as another front was beginning to come through. We had rain and 15 sustained winds with gusts to 25kts. We held well and had great water around the first bend of almost 25+ feet. We anchored in the middle with 14-15 feet all around us. We swung in the wind and tidal changes without any issues.
John Coyle

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

On 11/14, stopped for fuel at WW. When I callled the day before, I was told they now had a $.10 cent discount for Boat US. They do not, nor do they have any other discount. The price per gallon was not shown on the pump. The running total fuel cost shown by the pump was different than the amount shown on the charge slip. While we were indeed told the price of fuel was $2.69 per gallon today, and it worked out correctly at that price, it was most annoying to see that the price on the charge slip was different (by almost $100) than that shown on the pump. While sure that no hankie-pankie was invloved, we were very disconcerted by the experience. I would suggest that all of our boating friends be aware of this issue so as not to be surprised when comparing the at-pump cost to the bill.
Dennis Krakow

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Wacca Wache Marina

Wacca Wache Marina is well situation on the AICW’s passage through Waccamaw River, between our good friends at Osprey Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR), and all the many fine marina facilities as Georgetown (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUSERS’ NET SPONSOR)

Claiborne, stayed at Wacca Wache on 10/28. Service was excellent, both at the fuel dock and at our slip. Fuel price was the best of the 10 fuel ups we did from Long Island to Florida. Music from outdoor restaurant/bar was good…did not try the restaurant. The Waccamaw River is our favorite section of our trip, can imagine Indians 300 years ago coasting down it in canoes…beautiful run. …
Bob Scalia
MV Endless Summer

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Wacca Wache Marina

The “Old River Anchorage” lies off the western banks of the AICW/Waccamaw River, a short hop north of Bucksport Plantation Marina. Based on the info below from Captain Rick, we are downgrading this anchorage due to reduced swinging room.

Swing room is much reduced in this anchorage due to the presence of new docks.
Rick Emerson

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

Bucksport Planation Marina overlooks the western banks of the AICW/Waccamaw River, not far for the river’s northern intersection with the Waterway. This is one of the most improved facilities in the Palmetto State, since new management took over some time back.

We stopped September 20, 2009. We had been to Conway, met with old friends and they rode with us to Bucksport where their son picked them up and returned them home. We had lunch. Limited menu as noted, but it was very good.
Friendly staff who seemed glad to see us, we all sat around and talked a while.
We bought several pounds of the `famous’ sausage to take home with us. It’s very good.
Ron Widman

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

I love leaving the AICW soon after it enters the northern reaches of the Waccamaw River, and cruising upstream to the delightful town of Conway, SC. As Captain Jim notes below, the city marina there does have some transient spaces and there are several restaurants within walking distance. Just be sure to observe all markers on the upper Waccamaw carefully. Depths outside of the channel are nil.

Whenever one writes of the Waccamaw, I always take a moment to suggest leaving the ICW and following the Waccamaw 10 miles up river to the little town of Conway. Conway offers two floating docks just beynd the entrance to its marina, each for a 40 footer, plus restaurants, museums and groceries within walking distance.
Plenty of water one Dixie Boat captain told me, “just follow the markers and avoid the lily pads.”
Jim

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

This anchorage will be discovered near where the AICW makes its northerly entrance into beautiful Waccamaw River, northeast of marker #29. Very well sheltered overnight haven, but, WOW, I hope I don’t run into the vessel (described below) with the automatic weapon!

Stayed here two nights September 2009. Anchored closer to the river on the northern leg of the loop. Nice anchorage except for the local boat which anchored in the afternoon on the far side of the island and shot off what sounded like a semi-automatic weapon repeatedly. They went away and then came back after dark and anchored for the night. We tried to do things right and use a buoyed trip line but ended up with the line wound around the anchor chain as we switched back and forth with the current.
Jean Thomason

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Island Anchroage

If every anchorage were as nice as those on the AICW/Waccamaw River’s Bull Creek, we might never visit a marina again. Seriously fellow cruisers, it doesn’t get much better than this overnight haven, and, as you will see below, Captain Parish endorses this sentiment!

September 2009 – We anchored in Bull Creek just off the sand hill near the charted 14′ depth. This anchorage is similar in appearance and ambience to Throughfare Creek at it’s sand hill. One signficant difference: Bull Creek is widen and allows for more swing room/larger boats/more boats. Word of caution. We dropped the hook abeam of the sand hill and about 1/3 of the width of the creek from the sand hill. I noticed in setting and raising the anchor that I could feel some little tugs on the anchor and chain that were most likely caused by small soft rotten logs or tree trunks on the bottom. It took almost no effort to free the anchor and chain as I raised it, but the bottom is not debris free in that spot.
Rick Parish

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

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

11. Has anyone anchored on the pristine waters of Thoroughfare Creek recently (near Statute Mile 389)? Did you anchor near the high, sandy cliff? Did you dinghy ashore and hike up this cliff to the Sandy Island Historical site? Can you describe this historic site to the cruising community?

Responses follow:

Sandy Island has a primarily black history – one time slaves. With a friend we found the skeleton timbers of an old old sunken boat there and a badly rusted ball and chain which we were pretty sure once must have held a plantation slaves ankle to the boat. There is a dock there for dinghies. It’s worth an afternoon trip
Best wishes
Arnold

Last November we anchored there, arriving about 4pm to find about six other cruisers anchored there. We didn’t land the cliff, but did take the dinghy into the maze of canals on the east side of the creek. We saw no place to land and a few homes or summer cottages. Not certain.
James Lea
S/V Estelle
Bristol 41.1

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

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

10. Has anyone docked at Wacca Wache Marina lately? What was your experience? Did you try the on-site restaurant? How was the food?

Responses follow:

Wacca Wache is a great marina – very friendly and easy going. If one moors on the opposite (ie west) side of the river in a delightful quiet cove behind Richmond Island, they will even let you use the showers and restrooms FOC and pull to the dock to top up your water – their fuel cost is average. The restaurant is great – both for atmosphere and good reasonably priced food. They usually at weekends have live entertainment. Nearby Brookgreen Gardens in the town of Murrels Inlet is well worth a visit – once the home of the cosmopolitan Huntingdon family – beautiful grounds on a par with European palaces, works of art, bronze statues and a restaurant – get a taxi if you have to. If you want to get down and dirty with the locals of a weekend go to the PIT (Pawleys Island Tavern) and listen or dance to first class local bands. Murrels Inlet Hwy 17 about 2 miles from the ICW have all the big stores including two West Marines.
On the Waccamaw – a fresh water river – you’ll see lots of alligators. But fear not – a local who has lived there over 35 years told me there has never been a case of an alligator attacking a human on the river. They have plenty to eat naturally…… I’ve seen many children swimming in mid river…… Easy to catch a big catfish. Just bait some smelly old chicken on a hook just offshore and leave it in the water overnight.
Best wishes
Arnold

Yes, we stayed there last month and it was great! Enjoyed the food and the folks were nice. Boated up from Charleston in a 260 Sea Ray Sundancer and had no problems.
Melissa Priola

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

The various Bull Creek anchorage are, in my opinion, some of the best anchor down spots anywhere within the Southeastern USA! If you relish the feeling that every turn or the screw or puff of wind carries you a bit farther from the maddening crowd, these waters are for you!!!

Just to add to my pasted-in comment above, our boat is 61 ft LOA and we have used those lower two anchorages [shown in the Crusiers’ Net South Carolina Anchorge Directory, linked below – Editor] in the chart picture (or further upstream, if you will) quite happily. You have to patient in getting a good set, as there are a couple of rocky patches in there.
George and Ann
`Incentive’ Hatteras 56MY.

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

I agree wholeheartedly with Capain George. Bull Creek has been one of my favorite anchorages for 25 years, even since I’ve been authoring my “Cruising Guide to Coasal South Carolina and Georgia.” If you track your way upstream to the point where the charted high ground marches down to the shores, you will find a spot about as idyllic as it gets (check out the “South Caroina Anchorage Directory here on the Cruisers’ Net for more details!)

A little further south from Bucksport, Bull Creek has some of the most beautiful anchorages on the entire east coast. We anchor there and take the dink to Bucksport and the many surrounding picturesque side waters. We spend an extra day just to enjoy this great cruising destination.
George

We anchored in Bull Creek on June 13, 2009. The broad anchoring area at the entrance was taken by other boats, so we proceeded about a mile up the creek after the upside-down “U” and anchored where the chart shows 14 feet just past the charted 44 foot depth. Wind was blowing from the west and we wanted to stay in the north-south stretch of the creek for some protection from the wind. The current flowed rapidly over the
shallow area before reaching the deep water, and our anchor trip line buoy was held just below the surface all the time! Anchor (SuperMax with
chain) held just fine, but we were constantly checking for drag due to the current. The current appeared to be more subdued at the bend in
charted 14-16 feet. We were also concerned about tree limbs and some logs that came drifting by in the strong current which seemed to sweep
most debris to the outside of the curve away from us; nothing went bump in the night or fouled the anchor chain, but that was just a matter of
luck.
Bob McLeran and Judy Young
MV Sanderling

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