Historic public lands legislation signed into law!
Boating United has long been a strong advocate for waterway conservation and boaters’ rights. Kudos!
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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.
FREE to use due to the generosity of our sponsors - please patronize them
Spring Commissioning, Charleston City Boatyard, Wando River, Charleston, SC
The Charleston City Boatyard, a subsidiary of Charleston City Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is found on the northern reaches of the Wando River north of red marker #40. Also see Free Bottom Paint Offer.
Spring is just around the corner!
Good morning Charleston City Boatyard customers,
Don’t wait till Spring is upon us to update your Canvas!
Is your canvas damaged or faded?
Have your enclosure windows become hazy or stiff?Now is the time for an update before boating season arrives!
Charleston City Boatyards Canvas Shop can help you with your canvas needs!Canvas Shop @ City Boatyard
Is your canvas damaged or faded?
Have your enclosure windows become hazy or stiff?
Now is the time for an update before boating season arrives!
Canvas Shop @ City Boatyard can help you with your canvas needs.The City Boatyard’s onsite Canvas Shop can design and install your next canvas package. We use the most durable products for long-lasting top-quality results. Let us repair or replace your:
• Cockpit & Bridge Enclosures
• T-tops
• Bimini Tops
• Clear Curtains / Isinglass
• Sail Covers
• Mooring & Storage Covers
• Dodgers
• Upholstery & Cushions
• Frameworks & Hardware
• and more…Contact (843) 884-3000 or dschellie@shmarinas.com
for a quote today. 
Upcoming Events 
Charleston In-Water BoatshowDon’t miss out on Charleston’s only In-Water boatshow!Date: March 29-31
Location: Brittlebank Park & Bristol Marina
Learn More Warmest Regards,
Ron Gift | General Manager
CHARLESTON CITY BOATYARDBoatyard Office Hours :
Monday – Friday | 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Copyright © 2019 Charleston City Boatyard, All rights reserved.
Thank you for being a valued customer of Safe Harbor Marinas!Our mailing address is:Charleston City Boatyard
130 Wando Creek LnCharleston, SC 29492
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Gateway to the Gulf Newsletter from the City of Gulfport, Fl, March 11 2019, Boca Ciega Bay
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
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FOCUS ON Palm Coast Marina, FL AICW Statute Mile 803
Palm Coast Marina, one of our newest CRUISERS NET SPONSORS, is located just west of the Intracoastal Waterway at Statute Mile 803 between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach.
We are located just off the Intracoastal Waterway Mile Marker 803. Latitude 29* 34.6 N Longitude 81* 11.58 W We monitor channel 16 and our working channel is 69.
www.PalmCoastMarina.net
386-446-6370One of Florida’s newest cities (officially incorporated 1999), Palm Coast is a Florida paradise – situated on 70 miles of saltwater and freshwater canals and the Intracoastal Waterway and just minutes from pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches. Vibrant lifestyle and the natural environment go hand-in-hand here. The City offers a dozen beautiful parks, 125+ miles of connecting trails and paths for walking/bicycling, abundant fishing and boating, a year-round Running Series, and world-class tennis and golf. Lined with historic oaks, towering pines and indigenous vegetation, Palm Coast’s parks and trails showcase the splendid elegance of the native Florida landscape. Bird-watching is popular at St. Joe Walkway and Linear Park, which are designated as Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trails, and visitors can spot dolphins and seabirds as they stroll along the Intracoastal.For your convenience, our marina is open for business 7 days a week, from 7:00am until 5:00pm.
So, next time you’re on the East Coast, cruise in and experience our peaceful surroundings, frequent wildlife sightings, convenient location, & professional staff and see for yourself why Palm Coast Marina has been the destination of genuine cruisers for over
32 YEARS!
The Palm Coast Marina, located at the mouth of the Palm Coast saltwater canal system, has 80 slips, a ship’s store, and a brand-new fueling station. Mobile repair services and detailing are available, and there is even on-site kayak rentals and yacht brokerage! 
Volume fuel discounts are available! We are the only fuel stop between
St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. We offer private showers, on-site laundry, and even a boater’s lounge!Palm Coast, located in Flagler County, is an oceanfront community with a hometown feeling that respects and protects the natural environment – where the sun shines abundantly and people love to get outdoors year-round for fresh air, exercise and family fun! Living in a healthy environment is important to us. Since our early days, Palm Coast has been carefully designed for a healthy balance between nature and development. We value trees, waterways and beautiful, natural landscaping that give our community a “wow” factor. You’ll find native Florida foliage and colorful birds and wildlife along magnificent trails, along with pristine beaches, world-class golf and tennis and plentiful boating and fishing.
We are conveniently located less than 40 minutes from Daytona Beach International Airport and approximately 1.5 hours from the Orlando International Airport. Ocean access can be had from St. Augustine (approx. 25 miles north) and Ponce Inlet (approx. 40 miles south). Access can also be made from Matanzas’s Inlet (approx. 10-15 miles north of Palm Coast) depending on boat size and tidal conditions.
St. Augustine Inlet 
Ponce Inlet 
Matanzas Inlet 
Our marina is conveniently located within walking distance to multiple restaurants, bars, shopping, parks and even the Palm Coast Community Center, which offers (often free!) classes and events for children, teens, and adults.
The European Village is a ten minute walk from the marina and is a one stop-destination for all things dining, lounging, shopping, and entertainment – featuring 6 restaurants, 6 shops, 5 bars, and 2 cafes! Also, you don’t want to miss your chance to stock up on fresh produce, breads, tea, honey and more at their weekly Farmer’s Market.
Linear Park, located less than two miles from the marina, is a 57-acre property featuring many amenities for all to enjoy, including a playground, picnic pavilions, hiking and biking trails, shuffleboard, bocce ball and bird watching. The park has been designated as a Great Florida Birding Trail by the Audubon Society for its vast diversity of bird species numbering at times over 40.
Care to play a round of golf? Palm Harbor Golf Club is located a short 1.2 miles away and offers a full service practice facility with a driving range, putting green, & chipping green complete with newly renovated bunker. The pro shop carries both men’s and women’s name brand apparel and equipment.
Other nearby amenities include:
ATM/Bank: offsite; 2.50 miles Post Office: offsite; 2.50 miles FedEx / UPS: offsite; 2.50 miles Dry Cleaner: offsite; 2.50 miles Grocery: offsite; 2.50 miles Restaurant: offsite; 0.25 miles Shopping: offsite; 2.50 miles Liquor store: offsite; 2.50 miles Pharmacy: offsite; 2.50 miles Marine Store: onsite Hardware: offsite; 3.00 miles Motel: offsite; 0.10 miles Airport: offsite; 30.00 miles Car Rental: offsite; 3.00 miles Hospital: offsite; 1.00 miles Doctor: offsite; 2.50 miles Dentist: offsite; 2.50 miles Veterinarian: offsite; 2.50 miles Beach: offsite; 3.50 miles Fitness Center: offsite; 2.50 miles Golf: offsite; 1.00 miles 
Our dock services include: - A brand new FULL SERVICE FUEL STATION WITH Valv-Tect DIESEL & Valv-Tect NON-ETHANOL GAS, fuel available at transient slips for added convenience
- Pump Out
- After Hours Docking Assistance
- Trash pick-up and disposal
- Dock Carts
- Professional, on-site Marine Mechanics and Boat Detailing
For your communication needs, we provide: - Free High-Speed Wi-Fi
- On-site General Mailbox
- Mail Pick-up
- Mail & Package Hold
- Phone Messages
- Fax
- Fedex & UPS
Palm Coast Marina is proud to be recognized as a Clean Marina by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection! Copyright © 2019 Palm Coast Marina, All rights reserved. Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Palm Coast Marina
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CCCC 2019 Cruise to Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina, Matanzas Pass, Gulf Coast
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is a group of dedicated cruisers who always provide unique reports from the marinas they visit. Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and voted Best Small Marina in 2017, overlooks the westerly banks of the Matanzas Pass channel, west of marker #13. Pink Shell Beach Marina is a favorite of the CCCC, see https://cruisersnet.net/174459
CAPE CORAL CRUISE CLUB
CRUISES TO PINK SHELL MARINA
By Captain John Queen, Past Commodore, Cape Coral Cruise Club
Each month, the Cape Coral Cruise Club takes a scheduled cruise to a different marina in SW Florida and stays there for several days enjoying the amenities and hospitality of that area. We do that nine times a year along with an extended cruise each Spring and take a break during the summer months of July and August. For February 2019, our destination of choice was Pink Shell Marina at Fort Myers Beach.
Pink Shell has always been a popular destination for the club and this cruise was no exception. We had 17 boats arrive on Tuesday, February 19th and it was nice to see the long path of yellow club burgees flying on the bow of each boat. Our club burgee sports our club mascot – a dolphin holding a drink of some sort (an adult beverage, I would surmise). After safely docking Tuesday, club members convened in the late afternoon for cocktails, snacks and conversation.
We fired up the marina’s grill around 5:00 and cooked up hamburgers and hot dogs, and along with a slew of side dishes prepared by club members, had a wonderful feast on the marina lawn.
After dinner, club members met in the Mariner’s room at the resort for a competitive little game I called the “Bagel Finagle”. Each year, when my wife Pati and I host the club’s cruise to Pink Shell, I’ve created some kind of crazy game for members to play we and provide prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. The object of this game was to transfer 3 bagels from one end of the room to their waiting spouse at the other end of the room, and then walk back and deposit into a bucket. Easy enough, eh…? Not by my rules!
The first bagel had to be placed on the forehead, and without touching it, walked across the room and back. The second bagel was a little trickier where a straw was used to transport the bagel. The third round was the most difficult. In that trip, a spouse had to carry the bagel on their forehead across the room to their waiting spouse and then sandwich the bagel between their foreheads and shuttle back to the waiting bucket. It was a hoot watching everyone do the ‘bangle dance’ with a bagel stuck between their heads!
Wednesday morning, we provided breakfast for all club members consisting of scrambled eggs, sausage links, fresh fruits and pastries.
After breakfast, club members met at the marina lawn at 10:00 for second game – a scavenger hunt! The scavenger hunt consisted of 10 questions where all the answers can be found on the property of the Pink Shell Resort and Marina. Many of the questions consisted of simple math. For example, one question was “Dusseldorf plus Chicago minus the number of planks on the marina gangway”. The marina sports a pole sign with distances in miles to various destinations. So this question was fairly easy, until club members were forced to manually count all 120 planks on the marina ramp! The Marina sports a sign post with distances from it, in miles, to various destinations. This question was quite easy, until Club members realized they had to manually count the 120 planks on the pier access gangway.
The rest of Wednesday found many club members relaxing in the pool, walking the beach, or shopping downtown Fort Myers Beach at Times Square. Wednesday evening, we all took the open-air tram to Nervous Nellie’s for dinner. We had about 35 members in attendance and the restaurant provided us with a private area to dine. The winners of the scavenger hunt were announced and everyone had a good time.
Thursday morning was another round of prepared breakfast with eggs, sausage, fruits and fresh bagels (not recycled!) Club members spent the rest of the day enjoying Pink Shell amenities, visiting with friends, and just plain ol’ relaxing. Thursday night, everyone headed off to dinner on their own. My wife and I joined another couple for dinner at the new Coste restaurant at the Diamondhead Resort on Fort Myers Beach. My salmon served on a cedar plank was absolutely scrumptious!
Fortunately, Mother Nature was quite cooperative during the time we stayed at Pink Shell, and we were truly blessed with lots of sunshine.
On Friday morning, we slipped lines and headed home. Much appreciation goes to Dave and Craig, the dock masters at Pink Shell Resort and Marina, for their hospitality and special accommodation to the Cape Coral Cruise Club for making our trip a wonderful event to remember.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is open to new members who own a boat with overnight accommodations and reside in the Cape Coral / Ft. Myers area. For membership information please contact Phil Kryger at 239-541-0236. Read additional Club information on its website, www.ourgrouponline.com/CapeCoralCruiseClub
Member boats at Pink Shell floating docks
Docktails on the closed in lawn area
Full moon over the Pink Shell Marquee
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Albemarle Sound Marina Festivals, April 26-June 9, Albemarle Sound, NC
Albemarle Loop
Whether you are traveling north or south, the rivers and communities that frame the Albemarle Sound are inviting you to explore their shores and experience their warm southern hospitality. A community of marine businesses and historical locations, located on and around the Albemarle Sound of North Carolina, have organized to serve boaters through the Albemarle Loop. For more see FOCUS ON Albemarle Loop. Our thanks to Sam Giovinazzi for this invitation to Albemarle Sound Marina Festivals!
The 2019 Albemarle Loop cruisers program will include the Albemarle Sound Marina Festivals, April 26-June 9, 2019. For information, see Life on the Loop www.albemarleloop.com and www.facebook.com/AlbemarleLoop. These web sites are the GOTO locations for the Events Calendar. Thirteen marinas are grouped together promoting Food, Arts, Fairs, Festivals, Waterfront Communities around Albemarle Sound. If you are interested in adding a www.albemarleloop.com link to your web site contact me at Felix “Sam” Giovinazzi, sam.giovinazzi@gmail.com, 858 414 8727.
Participating marinas:
Albemarle Plantation**
Edenton Harbor**
The 51 House at Wharf Landing
Columbia Municipal Marina
Hertford Bay Marina
The Pelican Marina
Yacht Doc@ Cypress Cove
Elizabeth City Mariners Wharf**
Plymouth Landing Marina
Alligator River Marina
Dismal Swamp Visitors Center**
Shallowbag Bay Marina
Waterside Marina Downtown Norfolk
** CRUISERS NET SPONSORS
Best regards,
Looking forward to working with you
Sam Giovinazzi
Marketing and Sales Director
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USACE Additional Public Meeting, March 20, Marathon, FL
This additional meeting in Marathon follows earlier ones scheduled in February, see Public Meetings on Lake Okeechobee Operations.
News Release: Corps announces public meeting in Florida Keys for Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual; public scoping comment period extended to April 22
https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/ 1775631/corps-announces- public-meeting-in-florida- keys-for-lake-okeechobee- system-opera/ Contact
Erica Skolte
561-340-1527
561-801-5734 (cell)
Erica.A.Skolte@usace.army.milThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District announces an additional public scoping meeting in the Florida Keys regarding the development of the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM). This will be the final meeting in a series of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public scoping meetings held throughout south Florida. After the scoping comments are analyzed, series of workshops will be announced in the future. The public scoping comment period will be extended through Monday, April 22, 2019.
The public is invited to provide input during a public scoping meeting on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, BOCC Room (second floor), Marathon, FL 33050.
“We had excellent turnout at the public scoping meetings in Lehigh, Okeechobee, Clewiston, Stuart, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami Gardens. More than 1,700 people came out to listen and provide comments on the things that are most important to them. We heard a lot of feedback regarding the priorities and concerns of people from all around the lake and south of the lake,” said Lt. Col. Jennifer Reynolds, Deputy Commander for South Florida. “We added a meeting in the Keys to ensure we have covered all the areas that might be affected by our lake and system operational decisions. It’s important to listen to the people who live, work and recreate near Florida Bay, at the south end of the system. It’s all connected.”
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Further Discussion on AICW/St Johns River Intersection, FL Statute Mile 740
Our thanks to Looper Dave Fuller for allowing us to share his excellent report on the AICW/St. Johns River Intersection as posted on AGLCA’s Forum.
As others have reported, this area has been dredged and a new channel was cut for safe passage. The problem is that the old legacy markers G5, G7, and R6 are still on station and the Coast Guard has not updated their charts to show placement of the new ICW markers G7 and G5. The charts do show the new channel however.
A survey was taken back in November 2018 that shows the shoaling area very well. See pic below labeled “1 Survey”. Note that the individual who posted the survey to the Waterway Guide Nav Alert also took a path similar to Alex, south and west of the shoaling area. Obviously you can be successful this way, but this is not the new channel. Also note in the pic that old G7 and R6 do a great job of marking the south side of shoal while G5 marks the north side of shoal. Using these old markers will guarantee a grounding.
The new channel is EAST and North of the shoaling area. I personally have taken this route, EAST and North of the shoaling two times with no issues.
I found a pic in the Coast Guard Notice to Mariners that shows the new route as well as the placement of the new G7 and G5 markers. See pic labeled “2 Dredged Route” I added a red circle to mark the shoaling, circled the new G7 and G5 in green, and added a magenta line on top of the dredged route.
I also included a pic of my Navionics chart that I run on the I-Pad. Note pic “3 Navionics” it shows the new G7 and G5, well East and North of the shoaling.
We will go thru here again in two weeks and will update if we find any new info.
Suggestion: This is a good place to lay down a route line on your chart the night before and follow your route crumb line as you transverse the area.
Claudia & Dave Fuller aboard Still Waters II
1981 Viking 43′
1. Survey
2. Dredged Route
3. Navionics
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FWC: Notice of Public Meetings
Let’s hope you never find yourself in the position of having to prove your vessel seaworthy. Obviously, these “input” meetings have more to do with restricting anchoring than with derelicts. See Anchoring Legislation.
Notice of Public MeetingThe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Division of Law Enforcement, will be holding meetings to seek the input of the public in the process of rulemaking. Per direction of the Florida Legislature, FWC will be seeking public input on developing the process that law enforcement officers use to determine that a vessel has an effective means of propulsion for safe navigation. This rule will allow a law enforcement officer to conduct an evaluation of a vessels propulsion capabilities to determine whether or not the vessel is at risk of becoming derelict. This evaluation process will be part of s 327.4107, F.S., through incorporation by rule.
Please see the dates and times scheduled for these public meetings below:
March 11, 2019 Pinellas County Commission Chambers 6:00pm 8:00pm 315 Court Street, Clearwater, Florida 33756
March 12, 2019 St. Augustine City Commission Chambers 6:00pm 8:00pm 75 King Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32085
March 14, 2019 Pensacola City Council Chambers 11:00am 1:00pm 222 W. Main Street, Pensacola, Florida 32502
April 2, 2019 Bernstein Park Meeting Facility 6:00pm 8:00pm 6751 5th Street, Stock Island, Key West, Florida 33040
April 3, 2019 Murray Nelson Government Center 6:00pm 8:00pm 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida 33037
April 4, 2019 Palm Beach County Vista Center, Rooms E-58/E-59 6:00pm 8:00pm 2300 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33411
Comments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to Dave
If it is a sailboat, it does not need an engine. So will they inspect the sails?
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Request for Information re Cruising Northern Florida in 151 foot Vessel
Among our readers there must be several who are experienced in cruising the AICW in a vessel this size. If so, please let us hear from you. Maybe Chief Officer Perks will take you along as Pilot!
Good morning,
I am currently trying to find any information I can about cruising in Northern Florida. We are a 151ft vessel with a 8ft draft. We would like to cruise the Jacksonville, St Augustine and Cape Canaveral areas. Is there anyone you recommend for me to talk with about the ICW routes and Marinas that could accommodate us?
Thanks in advance,
Andrew Perks
Chief Officer – Motor Yacht Time for Us0 Facebook Likes, 1 Facebook Reactions
Comments from Cruisers (2)
- Reply to james
Hope you have good anchors. Just plan on staying near the inlets, any venture up or down the ICW from Jax or St Aug would be most difficult with your draft. Plenty of dockage for you in downtown Jax on the St Johns, but watch the currents since it rips thru downtown on the outgoing tide. Call ahead in St Aug for assistance with the inlet as it shoals as fast as they move the buoys. Port Canaveral is your best shot, no current, extremely safe inlet and once into the Indian River you will have deep ICW north and south for at least 20 miles, but no marinas outside Port Canaveral that will accommodate your size (both length and mass) pushing on their docks.
- Reply to Robert
With an 8 foot draft , parts of the ICW can only be safely run at high tide. After leaving Haulover as you arrive at Daytona, do not take any of the side channels. Just before Matanzas, make sure you hug the GREEN side of the channel. Recommend taking bridge of lions at the start of an incoming tide. You will be pushed to the west side of the bridge during transit.
I’ve pushed 200’ barges on the route with a 7 foot draft so it’s doable with care
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Dramatic Redondo Inlet Rescue
This is a truly frightening video; watch at your own peril!
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Comments from Cruisers (2)
- Reply to Winston
OMG…. talk about "first responders" this goes above and beyond anything I would thing possible.
Following seas, that large in an inlet are dangerous, may I add "VERY" ! - Reply to Jim
Saw it last year, I pity the swimmer.
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A Big Welcome and High Praise for Ortega Landing Marina, off the St. Johns River, Jacksonville, FL
Stop in and say Welcome to one of our newest Sponsors! Only a mile or so upstream from downtown Jacksonville, Ortega Landing Marina, now A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is the first facility on your starboard as you enter the Ortega River from the St. Johns.
We’ve been to plenty of marinas in our cruising days but The Marina at Ortega Landing is something special. This place is tucked along the Ortega River in the historic district surrounded by old southern waterfront mansions and it’s about a mile from downtown Jacksonville with the skyline visible from your slip. The amenities, ski lodge style clubhouse with stone fireplace, spotless restroom facilities, and the boaters and staff in the office are wonderful and friendly. No one is a stranger at this place and you feel like family as soon as you tie off. Nice floating docks, gated access, great WiFi, free ice, incredible pool and spa, free bikes with saddle bags to ride to the grocery that is a couple blocks away, very pet friendly, fun boater events monthly, and the calm river setting is so quiet and upscale that it just feels good. No fuel, but there is fuel very close by. Pump out at the slip. We are always sad to leave, but look forward to our return! Oh…call ahead because their reputation of being a first class marina keeps their slips pretty full year round.
Captain Dog and the AdmiralClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ortega Landing Marina
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AICW/St. Johns River Intersection, FL Statute Mile 740
There has been much recent discussion and questions on AGLCA Forum and Facebook about shoaling and markers on the Waterway channel immediately south of the St. Johns River. If you have navigated this passage in the past few weeks, let us hear from you regarding depths and buoy placements. Many thanks!
See Healy Report: Waterway/St Johns Intersection, AICW Statute Mile 740 for a 2017 report.
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