Our thanks to Cruisers Net friend, Tom Hale, for his thoughts on surviving a hurricane on the southeast Waterway.
If you are in the Chesapeake Bay during hurricane season here are some places to hide from a storm. The later you can stay on the Chesapeake, the lower the chance you will be caught in a named storm in the low lying coastal areas of NC, SC and GA.
Osprey Marina in Myrtle beach is a good place, but it fills up very quickly. If you are planning to stay aboard there are many oxbow anchorages in the Waccamaw which may protect you. Brunswick GA has a good reputation, but fills up fast. If you are in GA and can get into the St. Johns River of FL you may find some protection, particularly in the oxbows above Palatka.
Tom Hale Tadhana Helmsman 38
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Comments from Cruisers (1)
james- July 16, 2019 - 7:44 pm
There is a fixed bridge at Green Cove Springs 45 vertical, well before you get to Palatka and the oxbows on the St Johns. Good hurricane hole for those in Jax, but if you are in GA, your best bet is the marshes around St Marys, Savannah & Brunswick.
Questions and comments regarding anchoring legislation and evaluation of means of propulsion are certain to come up during the public comment periods. See Anchoring Restrictions and Draft Rule 5-B on the Agenda.
FWC to meet July 17-18 in Stuart
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will meet July 17-18 at the Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort & Marina, 555 NE Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34996. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. each day and is open to the public.
The FWC is committed to providing opportunity for public input. Time is allotted for public speakers at Commission meetings after each agenda item. Also, there is opportunity outside of Commission meetings to provide comment for many topics.
At the end of the meeting on the first day, July 17, the Commission will also provide time for public comment on subjects not on the agenda. Those who wish to offer comments during this period will be asked to make sure their comments are not related to any agenda item. The deadline for registration to speak on items not on the agenda is 2 p.m. on July 17.
As standard practice, public speaking is organized using the established speaker registration process and time limits. To accommodate as much input as possible from those attending, the Chairman reserves the right to designate the amount of time given to each topic and speaker, including time donation to other speakers.
For the full July 17-18 agenda and links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings.” Those who cannot attend can follow coverage at Twitter.com/MyFWC (@MyFWC) and sign up for news updates at MyFWC.com. Check the Florida Channel for possible live video coverage at TheFloridaChannel.org.
With the 2019 hurricane season underway, this is additional information for boaters navigating the waters of South Florida. This notice comes to us from our good friend, Specialist Erica Skolte, US Army Corp of Engineers.
For Immediate Release, August 26, 2018 Corps prepares for tropical activity; issues guidance to boaters & campers With the possibility of tropical activity in south Florida in the coming days, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District is preparing to respond as needed and providing information to boaters and campers on operational adjustments that will take place at navigation locks and recreation facilities. The Jacksonville District activated its emergency operations center (EOC) at noon today (Aug. 26). This action allows district staff to devote added attention to the response actions that might be necessary should a tropical cyclone or heavy rain develop. “Our staff is coordinating with state and local officials,” said Candida Bronson, Acting Operations Division Chief for Jacksonville District. “We will staff our EOC over the weekend, and dispatch liaison officers to the state EOC and other locations as appropriate.”
Jacksonville District is issuing the following guidance on its operations in south Florida: • For boaters, the Corps plans to extend operating hours for its navigation locks when a storm is 72 hours out. The extended hours will remain in place until a storm is eight hours from landfall. To ensure safety of lock operators, the Corps will suspend operations when lightning is in the area, or when winds exceed 35 mph. • For campers and visitors to recreation sites, Jacksonville District park rangers will monitor conditions at Corps’ campgrounds and recreation areas. If a county government issues an evacuation order for mobile homes or RV parks in an area where there is a Corps’ campground or recreational facility, rangers will order an evacuation of the facility and advise on shelter locations. Visitors should move all campers, motor homes, tents, vessels, and trailers from facilities under evacuation orders. • Field staff will conduct pre-storm evaluation of the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee. Significant rain on the lake or in the Kissimmee basin to the north could cause a rapid rise in the lake over the coming weeks. The current lake stage is 14.67 feet. While no imminent threat of failure exists, the lake stage is in the upper end of the Corps’ preferred range of 12.5-15.5 feet. More information on Jacksonville District response actions can be found at www.saj.usace.army.mil.
These words of praise by Tom Waid for Westland Marina are not the first we have received, see High Praise. Westland Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located on the southeastern shore of Titusville’s semi-enclosed harbor.
We recently hauled out at Westland for major work on our Beneteau Oceanis 321. New engine and new rudder. The staff at Westland are friendly, professional, and very accommodating. The boatyard is very tidy compared with other yards I’ve done business with. Jeff and Kyle at Boaters Edge always took time to answer my questions and kept me informed of any delays. (There were “parts in the mail issues.” Not any foot dragging on their part). Kyle did the work of installing the new engine and he did an excellent job. While my wife and I did the work of procuring a new rudder, Kyle did the work of installing it. Again, excellent work.
I highly recommend Westland Marina and Boaters Edge. Tom Waid
Sands Harbor Resort and Marina is on the east side of the Waterway, just north of the Atlantic Blvd Bridge. Our thanks to Frances Croswell for this money saving notice!
7/12/19 We bought diesel again Tuesday July 8, 2019 at $2.49 at Sands Harbour as previously discussed. I think your recent notice showed this price a/o 7/09 as well. A nice and easy place to fill up! Frances
5/29/19 Fyi, Sands Harbor Marina, Pompano Beach, FL. 954-942-9100 x6000 (North/east side of Atlantic Blvd bridge—Marathon fuel dock–right beside ICW for easy in out)
DIESEL at $2.49 today (local price war) BEFORE you get 10 cent discount for Boat US etc. We just bought last night…copy of receipt attached! A decent overnight stop too. They also have a frequent fueler program (attached). Frances Croswell
As Blades Robinson relates below, this straight narrow channel exits Cape River northbound at lighted ICW marker 177 and ends at the southern entrance to Snows Cut. In April, ICW marker 163 was reported off-station. Our thanks to Blades for this update.
Channel from Marker 177 to 164 Near MM-297 / Good depth We ran this cut today at dead low tide and had a MINIMUM of 7 feet of depth and saw mostly ten and twelves on the depth recorder. FYI. Blades Robinson
The marked entry channel to Deep Point Marina – A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR! – lies northwest of Cape Fear River/AICW marker #20.Our thanks to Blades Robinson for this review.
I had a great visit to Deep Point Marina and look forward to a return visit. Dock master Shan provided good information and shared his local knowledge. A taxi driver (Ellen, who lives aboard at the marina) gave us a ride to “town” for $8 where we enjoyed ice cold adult beverages and an excellent seafood dinner. The marina pool was refreshing and the complimentary washing machines/driers were an added bonus. Before leaving this morning we had an excellent breakfast in the coffee shop located in the Bald Head Island ferry terminal located next door to the marina. The fact that they support the CruisersNet makes this a worthwhile stop. Blades Robinson
Time to give the Bahamas government a spanking. Staying in the U.S. next year. It's really better anyway. Bahamas trip expense has gotten way out of control. The Government wasteful spending has necessitated the increases.
Making it unaffordable for many. $240/ month VAT tax based on light average spend cooking on the boat and an occasional happy hour drink. My $2,000 a month for businesses will go away. Going from $300 a year to $4,000 a year for a cruising permit? Did I read that right or is it still not finalized? The economy is great there because of the boaters. Now you are going to impose even higher fees. Talk about “killing the goose that laid the golden egg….â€
This is a great way to show your concern for Florida manatees and sea turtles, as well as to support Florida’s Wildlife Foundation.
New manatee and sea turtle decals: coming soon to a bumper near you
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is unveiling its new 2019 manatee and sea turtle decals. These high-quality stickers, featuring beautiful original artwork, are a fun way for people to support the research, rescue and management efforts that conserve these species and spread the word about the challenges they face.
Every July, the FWC introduces new manatee and sea turtle decals that are available with a $5 donation. The waterproof decals are designed to look good on a vehicle’s bumper or the side of a boat, and they can also be found on laptops, water bottles and coolers throughout the state. Get yours when registering or re-registering a vehicle or boat at local tax collector’s offices across the state.
“When someone purchases a manatee or sea turtle decal and displays it, they’re not only contributing financially to conservation,” said Carol Knox, who leads the FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Section. “They’re raising awareness about these species and specific issues they face. It’s a simple way to make a difference for Florida wildlife.”
Over 6,000 manatees swim in the state’s coastal waters, rivers and freshwater springs, and about 20,000 sea turtles nest each year on Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches. The decals help fund manatee and sea turtle conservation efforts. For example, when someone calls the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) to report an injured, entangled or sick manatee or sea turtle, FWC staff works with partners to respond and rescue the animal.
The decals also spotlight important conservation issues:
The “Warm Water Saves Manatees” decal shows several manatees gathering in a spring. Florida manatees require warm-water refuges to survive the winter months. Manatees cannot endure water temperatures below 68 degrees, so warm waters are critical for their survival.
The “Keep on Swimming” sea turtle decal shows a Kemp’s ridley hatchling. Kemp’s ridleys are the world’s rarest sea turtle. They rarely nest in Florida, but many of them spend most of their lives in Florida waters. Marine debris can have a big impact on Florida’s sea turtles, so make a difference by keeping our beaches clean.
Learn more about how to help conserve manatees and sea turtles at MyFWC.com/Manatee and MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle, where you also can click on “Decals” to order new or past editions of decals. You can also support these species by purchasing a “Save the Manatee” or “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” license plate at your local Tax Collector’s office. For additional information about how to get involved, you can also visit the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida’s website at widlifeflorida.org.
Comments from Cruisers (1)
There is a fixed bridge at Green Cove Springs 45 vertical, well before you get to Palatka and the oxbows on the St Johns. Good hurricane hole for those in Jax, but if you are in GA, your best bet is the marshes around St Marys, Savannah & Brunswick.