At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
Cruisers Net is so very grateful to you, our readers and our sponsors, for your support throughout 2020.
Even with the pandemic and the uncertainty of this year, we have so much for which to be thankful. Despite initial fears for the survival of marinas and the marine industry, it seems that many new boaters have turned to boating as a way of dealing with societal restrictions. Dealers report shortages of new and used boats to sell. Marinas are reporting nearly full slip capacities and slip sales. Boats have become safe havens – a way to be outside and distance oneself from the spread on COVID-19. September 2020 ranks as the second highest single-month total of new powerboats sold in more than a decade – Marina DockAge.
RESTORING BALLAST!
This shoaling appears to begin just north of Bakers Haulover Inlet. Slow speed and sharp watch are required.
FLORIDA – AICW – WEST PALM BEACH TO MIAMI – NORTHERN BISCAYNE BAY: Bakers Haulover Shoaling
Mariners are advised that significant shoaling has been identified in portions of the Intracoastal waterway within Bakers Haulover, in the vicinity of:
25-54-15.77N / 80-07-49.37W (25°54.2629N / 080°7.8229W, 25.904381 / -80.130381),
25-53-51.14N / 80-08-01.75W (25°53.8523N / 080°8.0291W, 25.897539 / -80.133819),
25-53-59.71N / 80-07-33.10W (25°53.9951N / 080°7.5517W, 25.899919 / -80.125861),
25-54-15.62N / 80-07-44.83W (25°54.2603N / 080°7.7471W, 25.904339 / -80.129119) .
The shoaling has resulted in depths being reduced below 10 feet in some areas with the most severe portions showing a depth as low as 2.9 feet.
Extreme caution should be exercised when transiting the area to avoid vessel damage and potential groundings.
After Tropical Storm Eta swept across northern Florida earlier this month, a beachgoer made a discovery while walking on the shore in St. Augustine.
Beach erosion from Tropical Storm Eta unearths remnants of 1800s shipwreck
WXII The Triad
Author Kevin Duffus writes that pirate historians have failed to consider Blackbeard and his crew were unwitting pawns caught up in what turned out to be a failed political coup.
Blackbeard, Crew Were Pawns In Failed Coup
Coastal Review Online
By combing the ocean for antimicrobials, scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have discovered a new antifungal compound that efficiently targets multi-drug-resistant strains of deadly fungi without toxic side effects in mice.
New effective and safe antifungal isolated from sea squirt microbiome
ScienceBlog.com
Our thanks to Bill King for this update on the now permanent conditions at the old and new Roosevelt bridges. The Old Roosevelt bridge, its opening schedule always dependent on the adjacent RR bridge openings, is apparently now on the Federal Holiday schedule, see our Bridge Directory listing below. Also see Not Restricted. Don’t get confused, just be patient!
Nov 22, 2020: FDOT has made “permanent” the restricted opening schedule for the “old” Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart, FL, as follows: will open to vessel traffic as needed daily on the hour and half-hour only except at 0800. The bridge may open, if requested, at 0730 but not again until 0815. Openings will not occur when the FEC railroad trestle is in the down / closed position.
FDOT has made “permanent” the restricted opening schedule for the “old” Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart, FL, as follows: revised restrictions:
Weekdays – from 0700 – 1800 hours: opens on hour and half-hour, except no opening at 0800; opens at 0815 instead
Weekends / holidays – from 0800 – 1800 – opens on hour, 20-minutes after and 20-minutes before
Nights – 1800-0700 (0800 weekends) – on request
Bill King
July 5, 2020: The Bridge Tender at the bascule bridge across the St. Lucie in Stuart, FL, today reported that openings no longer are “on request.” Instead, the Old Roosevelt Bridge will adhere to a strict schedule, opening only on the hour and half-hour. This change probably is tied to the decision to close the “new” high rise bridge that carried southbound traffic across the St. Lucie. It was found to have structural damage. Southbound traffic now shares the adjacent twin bridge that had been for traffic northbound. Heavy trucks now are prohibited from the high-rise and must cross the river on the old Roosevelt Bridge.
Bill King
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Old Roosevelt Bridge
I find these restrictions to mariners by the Old Roosevelt Bridge to be absurd. They should open on demand, because the new bridge parallels the old bridge and is available EVERY minute 24 hrs a day. How many of these restricted openings are going to be eliminated by the FEC closures happening during a scheduled opening.
Our very active hurricane season comes to a close, hopefully, and this year, no news is definitely good news!
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The 2020 hurricane season just became the most active in history with Theta
SunSentinel
In pursuit of some clarification regarding Georgia’s new anchoring restrictions in commercial shellfish areas, Ted Arisaka of Save Georgia’s Anchorages wrote this letter to the USACE. Thank you for sharing Ted,
Dear Sir / Madam: I am a recreational boater who enjoys the coastal waters of our East Coast and in particular, the coastal waters of Georgia. I have followed with interest, the evolution of Georgia’s regulations around navigation / anchoring in their estuarine waters, starting with House Bill 201 in 2019 and replacement House Bill 833 in 2020. As a result of HB833, GA DNR has updated their definitions of no-anchoring zones as published on their website: https://gcmp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html…
Among the various zones, one in particular, “shellfish harvest” areas (shaded in green) have expanded dramatically between 2019 and 2020. These shellfish harvest areas are portrayed as “approved” on the GA DNR website and among the multiple requirements for approval is to receive a permit from US ACE for those areas in navigable waters. If one examines the published maps, there are many areas in navigable waters as well as established channels demarcated by Aids To Navigation by USCG and charted by NOAA. This also includes portions of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, which as you know is important not just for recreational boaters but also for commercial navigation. The reason for my email is to inquire as to the status of USACE approval of these shellfish harvest zones in navigable waterways.
There is an updated page from Georgia DNR which references the need to obtain USACE approval prior to proceeding with mariculture.
https://coastalgadnr.org/commercialshellfishharvest
My FOIA request is to ascertain which Georgia waters have received USACE approval to date.
Thanks and Regards,
Ted Arisaka
Between the Winyah Bay Entrance south of the AICW from Georgetown, SC and the Charleston, SC harbor entrance, there is really no safe inlet and Dewees Inlet carries this emphatic warning from Claiborne: WARN ANYONE OFF FROM USING THIS INLET. THERE IS NO CHANNEL TO SPEAK OF AND TO SAY IT’S TREACHEROUS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. IT COULD BE DEADLY!!!
We are headed back off-shore to the south – Charleston, but would prefer Isle of Palms as it takes about two hours off the trip… if we can get in through Dewees Inlet. Charts show no marked channel to the outside but inside the water is charted deep (no channel markers), tides run 5+ feet and there are some tempting areas that may not be shoaled up. Does anyone know if this passage can be made safely with a ~6 ft. draw at HT? Thanks
Captain Ric
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Showing the Location of Dewees Inlet
I know this is 10 years after the original post, but stay away from Dewees Inlet! Navionics had me take the outside route from McClellanville to Isle of Palms this morning because of low tide along the ICW. Well, I can tell you first hand that Dewees Inlet made me soil my shorts and need a few beers once inside. The approach consisted of many turns and following that magenta line to the "T". However, there was a northeast wind with swell coming from the northeast and the south. Everything was going fine, I was on the line and then my depth sounder started screaming low water. I draw 4'9" on my 37' Gulf Star and at 6' on the sounder with the swell, I kissed the bottom with the keel twice before finding deep water 100' to starboard (off the magenta line) on the edge of breaking waves. Halfway in I saw two large 40+' sport fishing boats turn around and say "Nope, not today". Water depth went from 30' to 6' in a matter of 100 yards and then back to 30+'. Once in calmer water, there was 40' depths the rest of the way. What a way to test the nerves of a new Captain. Next time, I'll take my chances running aground in the ICW. On a calm day, you might be able to get in or out of here, but I seriously don't suggest trying it.
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