Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

Jun 17, 2017by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment
More on Missing Sailors, Vicinity of Marathon, Florida Keys
If anyone has knowledge of Paul Murray’s location, please contact his Dad at the number below or through our Contact number 336-446-9381.

Paul Murray
We are looking for Paul Murray -aboard Sailboat Double Feature (Boot Key Harbor west of Boot Key bridge)

He went to Stock Island (Key West) to help a friend (Donnie) move his boat to Marathon. They ran aground, got in the dinghy and safely made it to shore on June 16. Folks at Robbie’s Full Service Marina at Stock Island tell me that Donnie has gone to New York but no one knows where Paul is. He isn’t answering phone (likely destroyed in boat mishap), isn’t responding to texts or FB messages and hasn’t accessed his bank accounts in last 2 weeks! We have contacted his friends and family but no one has had any contact.
If anyone has any ideas I can check out or knows anything, please let me know ASAP. I am Paul’s dad.
Bill Murray and can be reached at 248.974.8218
4/3/2016 Larry,
Attached is a corrected version of the Monroe County’s press release about my son’s disappearance:
Family, detectives looking for information about missing man
Sheriff’s detectives are hoping to help locate a Marathon man whose family and friends say they have not seen nor heard from him since June 16th.
48 year old Paul Thomas Murray, who lives on a boat in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon, told family members he was going to help a friend move a sailboat from Robbie’s Marina on Stock Island to Boot Key Harbor on June 16th. A short time after that, the sailboat he was supposed to help move, called the “Hornet” was located, grounded on some rocks a short distance away from Robbie’s Marina. No one was on board.
A friend of Murray spoke with Murray’s father. He said the owner of the boat, Donny Vanaria, and Murray were going to move the boat together on the 16th. A man whose nickname is “Red” reportedly told Murray’s father that he woke up at 4 a.m. on the 17th and the boat was aground; he said neither Murray nor Vanaria were on board, but Vanaria returned by dinghy and asked Red if he would take care of his dog because he had to leave town.
Since that time, there have been no reports from anyone who has seen or heard from Murray and his family says there has been no activity on his credit/debit card or cell phone.
Anyone who knows anything about Murray that might help find him, or find out what happened to him, should contact Major Crimes Detective Dawn Agusto at 305-289-2410.
7/15/2016
There has not been any progress in the investigation. The MCSO Major Crimes Unit is trying to investigate but there is a lack of information at this point.
We think that Paul left Boot Key Harbor on 6-16 to help a man deliver a boat (S/V Hornet)from Stock island to Marathon. They left that evening and the next morning the boat was crashed on the rocks outside Robbie’s Full Service Marine. (it is still there on its side full of water – I will forward a pic). While the owner made it to shore and then left town immediately, Paul was not seen again.
The sheriff’s office is looking for persons who have specific information about Paul arriving at Stock Island and boarding the boat. Right now, no one has come forward to help us figure out what actually happened.
Thanks for your interest and help.
Bill Murray
6/17/2017
Keys Police Searching for Two Men Who Vanished 1 Year Ago
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Stormy touart - March 5, 2017 - 10:04 pm

I ran into Wayne in West Marine key West few days ago. That’s all I know. Lol j
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Jun 14, 2017by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment
Persian Cat Found, Abacos, Bahamas – 6/14 Happy Ending
Ask your anchorage and docking neighbors! Our thanks to Carmen Albury for this notice.
Hi, Has anyone cruising through the Abaco’s lost their cat? A sweet Persian cat has been found and appears to have fallen off a boat. Please contact Caribbean Veterinary Center in Abaco at (242) 367-3551 IF THIS IS YOUR KITTY.
Thank you.
Carmen Albury
6/1/17
Hi Larry
The kitty’s owners have not been located and at this point I am fostering her at home. I posted an update and if they don’t contact me by Friday I will be seeking a good home for her. I’d love to keep her but am at my limit of what I’m allowed to have.
Because our offices will be closed for a few days I added a personal email so anyone can contact me. [See Carmen’s comment below]
Thanks again,
Carmen
Happy Ending! Thanks to Carmen Albury
6/14/17
Hi Larry,
Just a quick update. No one has come forward to claim or adopt kitty, now named Salty. She is an older girl with some health issues so I found a way for her to stay with me. She will be well spoiled as she deserves to be. She had a tough start here, and had either swam to a deserted cay where she was found and brought to us, or worse, which is an alternative I’d prefer not to think about. In any case she is now happy and loved.
Thank you so much for your help.
Carmen
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Carmen Albury - May 31, 2017 - 6:08 pm

Update:
I still have the kitty and as of yet her owners have not been located. I have spoken to a someone who is interested in adopting her and will be speaking with him again soon if she isn’t claimed.
I am home fostering her for now and our clinic will be closed from Friday 2 June until Tuesday 6 June.
Please contact me via email if you have any questions at ernestalbury1@gmail.com
Thank you again.
Carmen
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Jun 13, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 27.5,-82.57229999
National Marina Days Celebration at Twin Dolphin Marina, off Tampa Bay on the Manatee River

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Twin Dolphin Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, sits perched on the southern shores of Manatee River, just short of the Highway 41 Business bridge. We get lots of praise for this fine marina and their fund raising celebration for youth sailing is typical of the level of community involvement Twin Dolphin Marina exhibits all year long.
Hello Larry. You probably well know that National Marina Days celebrations are going on now right now. What you may not realize is this: the Twin Dolphin Marina recently hosted a wonderful event that inspired new and seasoned boaters and brought in enough money to send two children to sailing school.
National Marina Days Celebration at Twin Dolphin Raises Money for Youth Sailing

Twin Dolphin Marina Day Barbecue emphasizes a summer of giving and celebrates boating and on the water fun!
As part of a nationwide observance, members of the Bradenton area yachting community joined together for a National Marina Days: Summer Of Giving event Saturday at the Twin Dolphin Marina. The event included several raffle drawings to raise funds for the Manatee River Pram Fleet, a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to supporting and promoting the sport of sailing for the youth of Manatee County. Through raffle ticket sales, sponsorships and donations, the Twin Dolphin Marina staff, their members and guests raised the money needed to pay tuition dues in full for two youth sailing scholarships.
Lisa Fath, Sailing Director for MRPF, said, “Time on the water is always a learning lesson. The Manatee River Pram Fleet teaches kids safety and sailing. We believe a kid on the water is a kid out of trouble!” Fath also thanked the Twin Dolphin Marina staff for hosting the event and for giving the gift of boating to a pair of young sailors.
The raffles incorporated fourteen different prizes with nautical themes including marine products and services provided by Freundship Marine Inc., Go Rentals, Nicholson Marine Services, Riverwalk Yacht Sales, Subsurface Inc., PIER 22 Restaurant, and the Twin Dolphin Marina. It was a spirited event, which included party games and barbecue provided courtesy of PIER 22 Special Events & Catering. Some first-time visitors to the Twin Dolphin Marina accepted tours of the 225 wet slip facility and others received vessel safety checks compliments of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Cynthia Belfatto, Harbor Master for the Twin Dolphin Marina, called the event a great success. She went on to say “National Marina Days is a wonderful way to promote boating as a family-friendly leisure activity and a terrific opportunity to remind locals and visitors that Twin Dolphin is the premier resort marina on Florida’s Gulf Coast.”
About Twin Dolphin Marina
The Twin Dolphin Marina, located on the picturesque waters of the Manatee River, offers easy access to Tampa Bay and Florida’s Gulf Islands. Lending to its charm, both on the water fun and nearby land attractions are plentiful and include such activities as family-friendly entertainment along the Riverwalk, downtown Bradenton nightlife, performances by the Manatee Players and ongoing exhibits at the South Florida Museum.
Located only 25 minutes from SRQ Airport and in a protected walled harbor, the Twin Dolphin Marina includes 225 wet slips available for long and short-term stays. Members and visitors alike enjoy resort-style amenities, luxury liveaboard facilities, and award-winning waterfront dining at the PIER 22 restaurant. Other conveniences include a heated pool and spa, barbecue facilities, complimentary WIFI and cable television, an onsite business center and fax services, fuel dock, laundry facilities, and pump-out at slip.
Docking with Twin Dolphin Marina includes more than great views and high-end accommodations. It’s the friendly and knowledgeable team members that make the difference. Always ready with a smile and continuously working to exceed expectations, Twin Dolphin Marina management and staff provide a memorable riverside experience. For more information, please visit https://www.twindolphinmarina.com
About The Manatee River Pram Fleet
The Pram Fleet has a long and rich history in Manatee County going back to the early 1950’s. The fleet is a non-profit educational organization, which relies on donations to continue its programs. The Manatee River Pram Fleet is dedicated to supporting and promoting the sport of sailing for the youth of Manatee County including teaching sportsmanship, responsibility, self-reliance, respect for authority and equipment and the marine environment; while providing an atmosphere of good fellowship.
Best regards,
Tabatha Davis
PIER 22
Director of Marketing
941.748.3433 x109
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Twin Dolphin Marina
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Jun 13, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Looking for Buddy Boats to the Bahamas
If you are headed for the Bahamas this summer and would like company, give John and Judy a call.
Looking for buddy boat(s) to cruise the Bahamas. John and Judy are sailing a 35 ft Heritage, departing the Miami area the end of June or early July, looking for the company of other boats to join us on the trip. We find that sailing with a “buddy” or 2 increases the enjoyment. The cruising area will be the Abacos and Bimini. We are a retired couple and are not licensed boat captains, but John has extensive experience in the Bahamas, but not recently. If you think you would like to take the trip, give us a call at 863-655-4153 and we’ll talk about it.
John and Judy Egizi
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Jun 12, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 32.2163,-80.78089999
Elske Visits Windmill Harbour Marina, Part II, Sunset, AICW Statute Mile 558

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Windmill Harbour Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is located on Skull Creek, on the shores of Hilton Head Island. Our thanks to David and Jacquelyn for sharing these beautiful sunset photos from their delightful blog.
CLICK HERE for The Voyage of Elske on America’s Great Loop
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Windmill Harbour Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Windmill Harbour Marina
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Jun 7, 2017by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment
Potential Loopers Seek Your advice
Since many of you are Loopers, active or retired, you are certain to have words of wisdom for James and his wife as they contemplate casting off for distant shores. Let us hear from you!
My wife and I decided a few years ago that we weren’t going to do the Great Loop. However, we live in SW Florida and have discussed just cruising up the TennTom and related waterways to spend a summer in my hometown of Boyne City, Michigan. We’re 66 and it’s probably our last big adventure.
Any advice is welcome.
James A Crumbaugh
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Capt. Patti Moore - June 10, 2017 - 10:39 am

It so greatly depends on your boat! If you plan to go up the Tenn-Tom, etc, you’ll eventually be going UP the Mississippi, against the current. If you have a fast enough boat, it’s do-able, particularly if you pick a time with no flooding. You also need to carry enough fuel to do the 250 mile run (approximately) from Grand Haven, KY to Hoppies Marina on the Mississippi. It can be a great trip. Best of luck!
Capt. Patti Moore/SEA SENSE
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Jun 6, 2017by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment 32.8575,-79.95779999
Pierside Boatworks is Now Charleston Boatyard, Cooper River, Charleston, SC off the AICW

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Pierside Boatworks is now Charleston Boatyard Marina!
Pierside Boatworks has sold and is now operating as Charleston Boatyard Marina, LLC. New owners and boat enthusiasts Andy Oberdier and Peter Ulber are ready to transform it into Charleston’s modern and easy to use Boatyard. We are excited to keep you up to date on all the latest developments and plans.
If you are interested in contacting us for service, questions, or just to say hi, please contact us!
Call us at the same number: 843-554-7775
Email us for service: service@charlestonboatyard.com
VIsit us on the web: www.charlestonboatyard.com
We will be revamping our website and Facebook page shortly. Also look for promotions and discounts arriving soon.
Paige Haines
READ MORE
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Susan Teschner, Esq - June 26, 2018 - 10:13 am

The information is incorrect. Pierside closed its operations. Charleston Boatyard operates at the location that Pierside used to operate. Charleston Boatyard is not Pierside.
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Jun 6, 2017by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment
Elske Visits Windmill Harbour Marina, AICW Statute Mile 558
Be sure to see FOCUS ON Windmill Harbour Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, which is located on Skull Creek, on the shores of Hilton Head Island. Our thanks to David and Jacquelyn for sharing their delightful blog.
After successfully navigating the challenging Fields Cut, we enjoyed immensely our first day on South Carolina rivers.
Elske is now berthed at Windmill Harbour, Hilton Head, South Carolina. She will reside here for the month of June.
Windmill Harbour is a lock-controlled harbour which means it is about as safe a boat could be. There are no tides or current. Barnacles don’t grow in this harbour. Elske is very happy here.
We are looking forward to exploring Hilton Head Island during our sojourn here.
David and Jacquelyn
CLICK HERE for The Voyage of Elske on America’s Great Loop
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Windmill Harbour Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Windmill Harbour Marina
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Legacy - June 10, 2017 - 12:00 am

Welcome to Windmill Harbor and the best marina staff around!
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Jun 6, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Fire at Vaca Key Marina, Marathon, FL
Massive marina fire forces closure of US 1 in Florida Keys
MARATHON, Fla. (AP) – A massive marina fire has closed U.S. 1, the only road to the Florida Keys.
CLICK HERE FOR REPORT from News Channel 8 and Associated Press
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Jun 5, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 27.37,-82.61839999
Good Words for onSpot WiFi Systems from Longboat Key Club Moorings, GICW Statute Mile 77.5, Sarasota, FL

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In marinas from Mile Zero to the Keys, and now into the Chesapeake, onSpot WiFi, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is installing what every internet seeking transient and resident wishes for all marinas: fast, reliable Hotspot internet connections. If your marina doesn’t have an onSpot WiFi system, pass this information along to management. You will be glad you did! Our thanks to marina directory Dennis Matthews for sharing his experience with onSpot. It is always good to hear of successes in the marine industry, especially from another of our SPONSORS!
Be sure to read FOCUS ON onSpot wifi.
I would like to comment on a recent experience from this past season. We have an onSpot Wi-Fi system Bob and his crew installed several years ago. We had done some updates to the system over the years and it was operating well for the business levels we were experiencing.
This past year we were completely full with a wait list and Bam….connectivity issues at the beginning of our season! One call to Bob’s team and the problem was quickly diagnosed….it is incredible the number of devices that were attempting to connect to the system. Gone are the days of one or two cell phones and a laptop! Now it is several iPads, a tablet, phones, security system, navigation equipment and a smart TV watching Netflix all day. The onSpot team was quick to come up with a solution of additional access points throughout the marina that we were fortunate to get approved quickly. The work was completed on time and on budget and the problem was resolved with accolades from our guests for the rest of the season. While this worked out for this season I do not foresee the number of devices diminishing in the future so marina operators should prepare now for what is coming down the road. I anticipate we will cut the cord on our CATV within the next couple of years and focus on improving our Wi-Fi systems to meet the needs of the future.
One thing I know from experience is if your Wi-Fi system is not up to par or you have an issue you will know about it very quickly! If you are not quick to address the issues it will have a negative effect on your bottom line.
Best regards,
Dennis
Dennis Matthews | Director of Marina Operations
Longboat Key Club Moorings
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Longboat Key Club Moorings
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Jun 4, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Goodbye Pink Panther Tug, Ormond Beach, FL
Our thanks to Kevin Koehl for this report and photo.
For those who cruise Florida’s East Coast on the ICW near Ormond Beach, the large rusting tug featuring The Pink Panther on the smoke stack has been an ICW icon for longer than most can remember. The tug was no longer afloat and was an environmental hazard. On June 2, the Coast Guard had the tug raised by a large crane and placed on a barge. The tug will be transported to Texas where it will be cut up for scrap. The ICW was closed during the day long removal operation.
Kevin Koehl
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Jun 4, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 31.9796,-81.05619999
Elske: From Hell [Gate] to [Isle of] Hope, Savannah, GA, AICW Statute Mile 590

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David and Jaculeyn continue sharing the log of Elske via their delightful blog, The Voyage of Elske on America’s Great Loop. A personal note regarding Elske’s title for today’s page, David is a retired Methodist minister. Today’s page recounts their passage through Problem Stretch, Hell Gate, and on to Isle of Hope Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, which lies along the northwestern shores of the Waterway in the body of a hairpin turn northwest of Waterway marker #46A. Be sure to see FOCUS ON Isle of Hope Marina.
CLICK HERE FOR ELSKE’S LOG AND PHOTOS
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Hell Gate
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Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Hope Marina
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May 31, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
BoatUS Looks at NOAA Charting Plans
This report from BoatUS appears to ally concerns expressed earlier this month by several boating groups, see /164913.
BoatUS: NOAA National Charting Plan Looks to the Future
“We don’t expect paper charts to go away anytime soon”
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 31, 2017 – Many in the boating community have recently expressed concern after learning of a proposed plan for the “sunsetting” of paper navigational charts, which was listed among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Charting Plan, released earlier this spring.
A closer reading of the strategy however, according to the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water, reveals a forward-looking approach that sets a course to enable the Office of Coast Survey’s Marine Chart Division to continue to meet the evolving needs of boaters into the future. The member-funded nonprofit Foundation serves as the safety arm for the more than half-million member Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS).
“The way we access data today is different than how we accessed it 10 years ago, and we believe there’s a good chance it will be different 10 years from now,” said BoatUS Foundation Vice President Susan Shingledecker, who serves as the boaters voice on the 15-member NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel, which advises the federal agency on the nation’s navigational charting needs. “The National Charting Plan shows that NOAA is looking to evolve its products and use its resources efficiently to meet the changing needs of its users. Having nautical charts available in a range of formats is key to boating safety, and we don’t expect paper charts to go away anytime soon.”
To ensure concerns were recognized, comments filed today with NOAA by BoatUS Government Affairs said, “BoatUS feels strongly that NOAA’s charting products need to continue to be available in a wide range of formats. …We see some form of paper charts as an essential need for the foreseeable future.”
BoatUS also notes in its comments that charts are likely moving to the metric system and will require boater education. The BoatUS Foundation expects to increase its educational outreach as that occurs.
Among the proposed boater-friendly changes in the National Charting Plan, according to Shingledecker, are more frequent chart updates – weekly, instead of long intervals, and the better integration of data with other agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard, which could mean integrating the latest channel depths and aid to navigation positions. The plan also allows NOAA to focus attention on underserved waterways, such as resolving chart discrepancies in areas of importance to recreational boaters.
“We see a more efficient chart production that allows more frequent updates of obstructions, discrepancy resolution and exploration of using crowd-sourced data,” said Shingledecker. “Boaters on the Intracoastal Waterway, for example, need to know what the channel depth is today – not what it was last year. The plan is simply a starting point to get us there.”
NOAA also responded to boaters’ concerns in a blog post today, ensuring boaters that, “The draft plan does not offer a timeline for ending the production for NOAA paper charts or (Raster Navigational Chart) data. We expect this process may take decades to complete, as user communities continue to adopt electronic navigation and our production system and products continue to improve.”
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