Port St. Joe Marina is on the eastern shore of St. Joseph Bay on Florida’s northern Gulf Coast, between Panama City and Apalachicola, Fl. Port St. Joe was just east of Michael’s landfall in Mexico Beach. See Before and After Photos.
Click Here To View the N Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Port St Joe
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Port St Joe
It is always nice to get compliments, especially from an experienced Waterway traveler. Thank you, Mike, for your kind words and we wish you high bridges and deep channels this Fall.
Love your website.
Delivering our 2006 38ft Hunter sailboat from Galesville, MD to Fort Pierce, FL beginning October 20 or21 and will be using your website for our trip. Have been up and down the ICW from Miami to NJ but there are a lot of alerts this month and the water keeps getting lower in ICW. Hate going thru part of SC and GA!
Did the trip last year in our 26ft Cutwater and it was great with the 2ft draft! Needed more space so went back to sail.
Mike Harbin
S/V Elan
Panama City, on the eastern shore of St. Andres Bay northeast of Mexico Beach where Hurricane Michael made landfall, suffered devastating damage from Michael. Panama City Marina and St. Andrews Marina are both CRUISERS NET SPONSORS and our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to all in the area who sustained losses. Diana Pieper, who sent this report, lost her house.
Panama City Marina GONE….destroyed.
St. Andrews Marina had a lot of damage.
We can’t even get in to our home with a u-haul to remove what furniture is salvageable because of the trees down. Our neighborhood was hit harder because of the old oak trees and pine trees that we are famous for.
My family and I are staying in hotels until we can find temporary housing of some kind. I wish we had the RV I sold after my husband died.
Again, thanks for your concern. The entire city is destroyed or damaged (actually the whole county). Both large hospitals have been closed indefinitely due to extreme damage. Our entire infrastructure is broken.
Recovery is in years and not months.
Diana Pieper
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Panama City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Panama City Marina
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For St. Andrews Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Andrews Marina
Sending strength and prayers from Franklin County. We love those two marinas and their loss is heartbreaking.
Startling images of the hurricane devastation to Mexico Beach, FL a small beach community southeast of Panama City.
Mexico Beach FL before Michael
Mexico Beach FL after Michael
NOAA published images of Mexico Beach, Florida, southeast of Panama City.
Despite the passage of Hurricane Michael through the area, the canal and locks are open, according to our good friend, Matt the Bridge Tender in Chesapeake City. The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center Docks and information are provided at the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR and a NC DOT Rest Area facility, located adjacent to the Dismal Swamp State Park, offering trails, exhibits and ongoing programs in Camden County, NC.
I just checked with Deep Creek Locks (Friday 10/12 at 8:55 AM) and they said the Dismal Swamp Canal route is open. They recommend a draft of no more than 6 feet.
Matt the Bridge Tender
This Federal funding for the improvement of the Waterway is certainly news for cruisers of the Ditch.
America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 Passes Senate
Boaters stand to gain with president’s signing
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 11, 2018 — With passage yesterday of infrastructure legislation by the U.S. Senate, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill is on its way to the president’s desk. The nation’s advocacy group for recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), commends Congress for taking action to support this crucial infrastructure legislation that will improve the waterways for boaters.
BoatUS particularly notes the leadership of Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Peter DeFazio, ranking member, along with John Barrasso, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Tom Carper, ranking member, for their work on developing and passing the WRDA legislation.
“While not the most high profile of issues coming from Washington these days, the WRDA legislation is ‘must-pass’ legislation for America’s boaters” said David Kennedy, BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs. “Getting this bill done will make a difference for everyone who enjoys spending time on the water.”
The 2018 WRDA bill contains funding authorizations and policy changes for a wide range of water projects including funding of environmental-restoration programs and dredging of smaller harbors.
Despite hundreds of complaints and requests from the boating public to reduce ethanol in gasoline, the government opts to do exactly the opposite and increases the use of ethanol. This plan especially affects the small boat owner and boaters whose area fuel suppliers do not provide no-ethanol gasoline.
President’s Plan to Seek Clean Air Act Waiver to Allow Sale of E15 Fuel Year-Round Doesn’t Sit Well with Boater’s Advocate
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 10, 2018 — The nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), reacted negatively to the recent news of the Administration’s plan to permit the sale of E15 (15 percent ethanol) fuel year-round.
E15 is prohibited by federal law for use in recreational boat engines, voids many marine engine warranties, and is currently banned for sale in many states by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during summer months over concerns that it contributes to smog on hot days. Under the Administration’s new proposal, however, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would grant a waiver to the Clean Air Act to permit the sale of E15 in all 50 states year-round at the same roadside gas stations where most recreational boaters refuel their trailered vessels.
The BoatUS statement said today:
“The proposal to permit the sale of a fuel (E15) during the peak summer boating season that is both harmful and illegal to use in marine engines is a major concern for boat owners. The nation’s 11 million recreational boaters want fuel that is safe for their boats, however, this proposed EPA policy change will increase the chances that boaters could inadvertently put engine-killing E15 into their tanks. Unlike the physical barriers that prevent misfueling between gasoline and diesel fuel-powered vessels, just one small orange warning label on the fuel pump is all that stands between a boat owner making a misfueling mistake that could lead to expensive, warranty-voiding repairs and catastrophic engine failure.”
At the core of the issue is the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). When it was passed in 2005, RFS assumed that America’s use of gasoline would continue to grow. Since then, however, gasoline usage has not increased as forecast, which today forces more ethanol into each gallon of gas. To keep up with the RFS mandate, in 2010 the EPA granted a partial waiver to allow E15 into the marketplace – which they are now expanding regardless of market demand and infrastructure constraints. Only fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol (E10) are permitted for use in recreational boats.
The more than half-million-member boat owners group is a member of Smarter Fuel Future and supports fuel choice, including smart biofuels development such as biobutanol, and the availability of ethanol-free fuels that most boat owners prefer.
Leon County is the site of Florida’s State Capitol and is in the direct path of Category 4 Hurricane Michael. See Leon County Daily Brief.
Remain Alert To Carbon Monoxide Dangers During Michael
Residents advised not to use generators, grills indoors
Tallahassee — As communities across the Big Bend region prepare for Hurricane Michael, the Florida Department of Health in Leon County urges residents to take precautions against carbon monoxide (CO) exposure.
CO is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas and is highly poisonous. Depending on the level of exposure, CO may cause fatigue, weakness, chest pains for those with heart disease, shortness of breath upon exertion, nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, lack of coordination, impaired vision, loss of consciousness and, in severe cases, death.
DOH-Leon recommends the following precautions to help prevent CO poisoning:
Do not burn charcoal or gas grills inside a house, garage, vehicle, tent or fireplace.
NEVER use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces and other enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home.
ALWAYS locate the unit outdoors on a dry surface, away from doors, windows, vents and air conditioning equipment that could allow CO to come indoors. Follow the instructions that come with your generator.
Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery backup in your home, according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The CO alarms should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards for CO alarms.
Test your CO alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.
Remember that you cannot see or smell CO and portable generators can produce high levels of CO very quickly.
If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY…DO NOT DELAY.
If you have a poisoning emergency, call your nearest Florida Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call 9-1-1 immediately.
For more information, please contact DOH-Leon at (305) 924-6839 or check out the Hurricane Information Fact Sheets posted at www.floridahealth.gov .
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850.606.5300 | cmr@LeonCountyFL.gov | www.LeonCountyFL.gov
301 S. Monroe St., Suite 502, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Our thanks to Robert Sherer, ICW Cruising Guide by Bob423, for this report and survey of Shallotte Inlet/AICW Intersection.
The ICW at Shallotte Inlet has a new survey as of 10/1/2018. Just follow the old channel but note the placement of G81, it’s on the red side of the channel. That could be confusing. You can still honor the buoys but you have to hug G81. I’ll have a GPX route Wednesday.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
In anticipation of hurricane force winds and storm surge from Category 3 Michael, the states of Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency effective 8AM today, 10/9.
Barefoot Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!, is located on the western side of the AICW in North Myrtle Beach. Our thanks to AGLCA member, Mike Brown, for this report and photo. See Report and Photos, which, along which today’s photo, confirm the warnings issued here on Cruisers Net about debris in the Waterway. One submerged log like the one below can ruin your day!
Larry, here is today’s debris. I wouldn’t want my props to meet this hunk of wood. You can see how big it is by the size of the boat hook. I bet it was 12” in diameter. There are still some tree trunks, say 4 ft long by 4” diameter coming thru but not nearly as many as before. Of course, who knows what is under water. I hear that we are just about down to normal water height here but that the homes near the Socastee are still flooded and that water will be heading our way. I have very limited internet here at Barefoot so I don’t know if I can post to the AGLCA forum or not. Do what you want with this info and photo. Thanks, Mike
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Barefoot Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Barefoot Marina
Congratulations to Harbour Town Yacht Basin, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, for this well-deserved recognition. Hilton Head Island is absolutely marvelous any time of year, but especially so in the Fall. See October Events for their calendar of events.
We’re excited to announce that Harbour Town Yacht Basin was voted second Best Small Marina in Marinalife’s 2018 contest! It is very rewarding to know that our guests and boaters showed their support by voting for us. Thank you all for voting, and we look forward to another great year.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harbour Town Yacht Basin
Our thanks to Hank Pomeranz of Carolina Yacht Care for this report of shoaling at Marker #162A in Snow’s Cut. See Shoaling Surveyed from March 2017. Snows Cut is a 1.5 mile cut connecting Cape Fear River with the east coast Waterway at Carolina Beach.
The second image shows the south side of the cut. Note that waypoints 3 and 4 take you a bit south around some 6′ humps between R162 and G161A. I can personally attest to their existence. Those waypoints are not meant to take you outside the channel between the 2 marks but rather to keep you a bit to port [southbound]. Finally, it is definitely shoal at 162A. No reason to take this one close aboard.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Marker 162A
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Southport Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Southport Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bald Head Island Marina
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Deep Point Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Deep Point Marina
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