The two happiest days in a boater’s life: the day you buy the boat and the day you sell the boat. Having owned sixteen boats I can attest to the joys and sorrows of boat ownership. This article by Jan and David Irons from Commuter Cruiser offers insight into the features you might want to consider when purchasing your first boat. Although addressed to folks considering doing The Loop, the advice works for all waters and conditions.
No-Wake zones, especially in mooring areas and anchorages, can make a huge difference in a crew’s safety and enjoyment of an area. Please heed the zones!
Elijah Sands posted in Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park.
Some information on the new “No wake Zones” in the park,…See More
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park Notice:
The increase of vessel traffic and vessels moored at Cambridge Cay – ECLSP has prompted the BNT to invoke special regulations for vessels transiting Cambridge Cay channel to the West of the Mooring Field.
Increased usage and transiting boat traffic through this channel has created the need for a “Slow No Wake” zone.
All vessels are required to reduce their speed between the three (3) “Slow No Wake” buoys in position at the BNT Cambridge Cay Channel. 5 mph (max) speed limits and other safe boating regulations are in place and will be enforced.
The Wardens of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) have established this permanent “Slow No Wake” zone at the Cambridge Cay Channel and have marked this channel with (3) buoys.
This new “Slow No Wake” area at Cambridge Cay Channel is effective from January 1st, 2019, and is permanent.
The BNT wishes to remind boaters that there is a “Slow No Wake” regulation throughout ALL mooring fields located within the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Please do abide by these regulations at all times.
To seek further information about this and all other idle and no wake zones, contact the BNT Administrator via VHF channel 09, or through Bahamas National Trust – Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park Head Quarters at 242-601-7438. #WeareBNT
Elijah Sands on Facebook
Beth Barrie
Jayne Gorham thanks. I just “liked†Cruiser’s Netâ€, looks like a good resource.
Marineland is home to Marineland Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, with many recent facility upgrades and consistently good words from cruisers.
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Until you have seen one of these beautiful creatures in person, you really cannot envision their size.
Uptick in rare whale sightings off Florida coast
WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale
Anchorages in federal areas, such as Biscayne National Park, are still available to boaters, but any office or facilities may be shuttered. Access to state and county anchorages and docks, such as John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Florida and Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center in North Carolina, are not affected by the Federal shutdown. Our thanks to Kevin Wadlow and EcoWatch for these reports.
Parks, waters open despite federal shutdown
KeysNews.com
We have added a new feature to help you find the lowest Marine fuel prices to minimize your cruising expenses.
Each week a summary of the best Marina fuel prices are automatically compiled and summarized in a single post.
The post has many features and capabilities, including:
Click HERE to see an example of this feature or look for posts titles starting with Best Fuel Price Summary as of [Date]
Please let us know what you think of this new feature and if you have any suggestions for additional features or improvements.
Tracy Hellman that’s me I don’t take Life serious at all.
There’s always a clown in crowd.
$1.96 in Washington NC
$1.83 in Myrtle Beach!
St. Augustine $1.99.
$1.99 in Washington, NC
Thanks for the info? What marina and as of what date in Washington NC so we can update our database.
New River is always the lowest.
As many owners of older boats find themselves, Rick is searching for reasonably priced insurance for his 1976 Irwin. If you have suggestions, please reply to this posting.
I own a pretty nice Irwin 10/4 (25 feet but very big and beamy). Unfortunately, because of its age (1976) and the fact that Irwin is no-longer in business, I found it infuriatingly difficult to find an insurance company willing to cover it for a price commensurate with the value of the boat. For instance, the boat is realistically worth $5.5k (more or less) and while it is possible to find an insurance for $1600 a year, that is an unreasonable price because it would be like buying another boat every 3 years. Once, I found an insurance company who would insure it for a few hundred dollars a year on the condition that I moved my house and car insurance to them. Although the rates were a bit higher for the house and car, I did it anyway. About a month later I got a letter telling me that the agent had made an error and they would NOT be able to continue the insurance. 30 days later I was,once again, without boat insurance. In addition to the rarity of reasonably priced old-boat insurance, the cost of doing the periodic, mandatory haul out and survey for the insurance company adds another $400 to $700 every few years. (survey cost + haul-out cost). Now my boat is at my own dock, but I know that many sailors, responsible sailors, have nice old boats, but can’t afford the ridiculous cost of insurance and its requirements for surveys and haul-outs. Should they just scrap their boats? Never anchor them? This is a legitimate question on behalf of us old-boat lovers. Perhaps you might suggest an insurance company that is reasonably priced for old-boat insurance. Please post it so that I can follow up, do the research on it and post the results, costs, requirements, age limits, etc., and possibly even buy it. Much thanks for your interest in this concern over anchoring. Thank you for the input AND the info.
Rick
Check with the Irwin group on Facebook. I'm sure they've had this discussion. And they are a great group for information on all things Irwin.
To be open and fully disclosed, my comment was meant as a rebuttal of the suggestion that a Florida law requiring boat insurance might alleviate the derelict boat problem. My argument is that it would not. It is unfeasible because of the high-cost and rarity of cheap boat insurance for older boats. I am not, actually, in the market, but am looking into the real costs and availability so that I can dispel, and argue against that notion, which I believe to be flawed. I am open to polite argument and hope that I am wrong. It would be nice if owners of older boats could buy inexpensive insurance. It would be nice, too, if a solution to the derelict boat problem could be fixed that easily. But let us not pass any new mandatory requirements for boat ownership, just yet. From my experience, many responsible cruisers of older boats may have a very hard time finding and affording that insurance, or if it were required, keeping their boats in the water. Not wanting to throw away money for too expensive insurance or a shiny new boat does not make a boat owner irresponsible, or a boat a derelict. So if you must, give me some inexpensive insurance quotes, but be warned… I will probably check into all of the requirements, the costs, and the "strings-attached" (like getting an annual haul-out and survey, or only being available as part of a larger insurance package) and then report back on this thread, but just for arguments sake, not for the purposes of buying insurance on my boat. I spend money for expensive seacocks, bilge pumps, bronze through-hulls, new chain and anchors. My belief is that the best insurance is a well maintained boat, equipped with reliable parts. I might feel differently if I sailed a $150K boat, but I choose not to, for various reasons. Mostly I don't think a younger boat is better, in any way. Oftentimes they are not built nearly as well. I dislike overspending, but I hate throwing money away. The only thing I might hate, more, is being forced to throw money away because of a new state law. Thank you for your interest in this exciting topic. It is important, to be sure, but I'd rather be sailing.
A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, Dowry Creek Marina, now under new management and ownership by The Zeltner family who want to “roll out the red carpet” to transients, doing whatever you might need during your visit to this highly praised and transient friendly marina lying off the AICW/Pungo River north of Belhaven, NC. Upon their retirement from shore life, the Zeltners went shopping for a trawler and ended up buying Dowry Creek Marina! Steve, Connie and their grown children, Teresa, Zac and Nicole will treat you like family!
We stopped at Dowry Creek Marina for an overnight in November 2018. Quiet, friendly a very comfortable overnight. Offered a loaner car for local transport. Good fuel. Pool. Clean bathrooms. Very nice. Great sunsets and sunrises. Thank you.
Charles Rogers
MV Great Adventure
Ranger Tug 29
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dowry Creek Marina
What a lovely article by Amanda Nalley from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission!
Winter is a perfect time for the beach and for collecting seashells
A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, Dowry Creek Marina, now under new management and ownership by The Zeltner family who want to “roll out the red carpet” to transients, doing whatever you might need during your visit to this highly praised and transient friendly marina lying off the AICW/Pungo River north of Belhaven, NC. Upon their retirement from shore life, the Zeltners went shopping for a trawler and ended up buying Dowry Creek Marina! Steve, Connie and their grown children, Teresa, Zac and Nicole will treat you like family!
I’ve been quite happy with the marina and staff.
Josh Johnson S/V Temora
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dowry Creek Marina
We stopped at Dowry Creek Maina for an overnight in November 2018. Quiet, friendly a very comfortable overnight. Offered a loaner car for local transport. Good fuel. Pool. Clean bathrooms. Very nice. Great sunsets and sunrises. Thank you.
MV Great Adenture
Ranger Tug 29
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