Our thanks to MTOA’s Mike Bodin for reminding us that comments on NOAA’s proposal to stop printing charts is JUNE 1ST!
Fellow boaters,
Please review the enclosed and forward your comment to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by June 1.
Advise NOAA the use of paper charts are essential for safe boating as a back up to the GPS system. If the GPS system encountered any problems paper charts would be invaluable.
Enclosed is the E-mail form [below] with instructions to be filled out and sent.
Thank you for your participation in this matter.
Mike Bodin MTOA Public Advocate
From Maptech Date: Wed, May 24, 2017 at 9:48 AM Subject: NOAA wants to stop making NOAA charts To:
Dear Friends,
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) plans to cease support for producing the 1,000-plus NOAA charts that millions of boaters use and rely on for safe navigation.
Please see the attached press release regarding this matter that could affect the safety of life at sea.
We would appreciate you and your readers and subscribers providing comments on NOAA’s proposed National Charting Plan before June 1, 2017.
I have read informationabout this previously and your post has two differing words, printing charts, and making charts. As Salty said I was under the impression NOAA plans to stop printing charts. I thought I read they will still be in the business of gathering data and such for charting purposes. If that is the case wouldn’t all the commercial chart printers currently in business fill that need?
Mayport is at the mouth of the St. Johns River east of the St. Johns/AICW intersection.
News Release May 25, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville Office: (904) 714-7606/7607 After Hours: (305) 318-1864
Media Advisory: Coast Guard Auxiliary to hold vessel safety check demonstration in Jacksonville
WHO: Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
WHAT: A Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel safety check demonstration
WHEN: Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Media interested in attending are asked to RSVP no later than noon Friday with Coast Guard Public Affairs at 305-318-1864.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary are scheduled to hold a vessel safety check demonstration Saturday for the media at Mayport Boat Ramp.
The event is being held as a part of National Safe Boating Week.
A VSC allows Auxiliarists to ensure a boat, kayak, canoe or even a paddleboard is seaworthy. Auxiliarists also check other equipment aboard, such as fire extinguishers and signal flares, to ensure their proper function and make recommendations to boaters on what they should have aboard.
This service is offered to the public for free. Anyone interested in scheduling a VSC can do so at the following link: http://cgaux.org/vsc/
National Safe Boating Week is an annual campaign held toward the end of May to reemphasize the importance of safe boating practices and the use of boating safety equipment. Events are held throughout the country to educate the boating public and offer boating advice.
Albemarle Plantation Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is now fully recovered from hurricane Matthew and open for business! Located off the AICW, Albemarle Plantation Marina resides on the northern shores of Albemarle Sound on Yeopim River/Creek.
Our thanks to Brad Pickle and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association for the work they do on behalf of all east coast boaters.
Dear AIWA Members,
Greetings from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA). On behalf of our AIWA Board of Directors, I want to thank each of you for being a member of the Association. I am writing you today to share information related to federal funding for the maintenance dredging of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Please note that this email is a high level review of information that was only made available Tuesday (FY18 Budget) and today (FY17 Work Plan). A more detailed review will be included in the AIWA Summer 2017 newsletter.
I am outlining two separate appropriations processes over two separate fiscal years–the FY17 Work Plan and the FY18 President’s Budget. The FY17 Work Plan identifies final funding for Corps projects while the FY18 President’s Budget outlines the Administration’s priorities. The FY17 Work Plan is funding for the fiscal year that starts on October 1, 2016 and goes through September 30, 2017 and the President’s Budget is for next year from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. In a simplified explanation, the Work Plan is the combination of the President’s budget and additional funding added by Congress; the President’s budget is only the first step in the process for FY18.
FY17 Workplan:
Wednesday Evening, the FY17 Work Plan was released and included the following amounts for the AIWW:
Virginia- $4.14Million, $110k more than President’s FY17 budget North Carolina- $1.833M, $83k more than President’s FY17 budget South Carolina- $6.6M, $6.5M more than President’s FY17 budget Georgia- $181K, no increase over President’s FY17 budget Florida- $2.85M, $2M more than President’s FY17 budget Total- $15.604M, $8.693M more than the President’s Budget
In FY 2016, the final Work Plan included $13.931M so the FY17 amount is the largest that the waterway has received in the typical appropriations process in more than five years, and almost 80% more than the President’s Budget. In addition, the Work Plan funding amounts do not include over $30 million received in FY17 for AIWW Maintenance as part of the 2017 supplemental appropriations bill for hurricane recovery. Every state along the waterway received funding for maintenance dredging for hurricane recovery. Further details on all funding will also be provided in the AIWA Summer 2017 newsletter.
FY 18: President’s budget:
On Tuesday, the FY18 President’s Budget was released and included the following amounts for the AIWW:
Virginia- $5.479 Million North Carolina- $2.812M South Carolina- $199.5K Georgia- $181K Florida- $2.224M Total- $10,895,500
In comparison, the President’s Budget included $7.231M in FY16 and $6.911 M in FY17 for the Waterway so the FY18 amount is a substantial increase (over 43% higher than 2017) and a great starting point. However, the amount of AIWW funding in the President’s Budget is less than we received in the final FY17 work plan and we will be working with Congress to increase this amount as we have done in previous years. We are making great progress and are very appreciative of the increased funding amounts. We will continue working to increase funding to address additional unmet needs, and we can always use your assistance in two primary areas. One, if you have the opportunity to speak to Congressional Members or staff, please ask them to support Additional Operations & Maintenance Funding for Inland Waterways and Small, Remote or Subsistence Navigation for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These are the funds that lead to additional funding above the President’s Budget in the final Work Plans.
And secondly, the AIWA is a membership organization funded through your financial support and proceeds from our annual meeting. We hope to see many of you at our next conference planned for November 15-16, 2017 at the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Please also encourage others to join our efforts as AIWA members at all levels and we specifically want to reach local government, marinas and marine businesses, and corporate entities who work and rely on the waterway to join our efforts. If you have contacts or recommendations we would love to hear from you and you can forward to bpickel@seahavenconsulting.com. Thank you for your assistance in identifying organizations to get them on board!
Please stay tuned for more information in our summer newsletter related to specific projects that have been completed or are underway in all of the states along the waterway. If you have any questions on the information provided above please let me know.
Respectfully,
Brad
Brad Pickel Executive Director Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association 843-379-1151
FIND is responsible, in Florida, for the ICW. On their website you will find the history of the ICW itself and how Florida maintains its portion of the ICW. AIWA is a great organization and needs our (the boating community) support. It is imperative that we all stay involved.
All boaters along the East Coast need to check out FIND (the Florida Inland Navigational District). The history of the ICW can be found here as well as the reason that the ICW in Florida is better maintained than in the other states. I was very surprised that the article on AIWA did not mention FIND.
Boating Safety should be the business of everyone that plans to spend time on the water.
You might guess that someone who’s spent as many years as I have working for the S.C Department of Natural Resources would be an expert boater, but you’d be wrong. Growing up, my family didn’t own a boat, and when we’d got the chance to go out fishing or riding on the lake, it was generally with someone else — friends or extended family. Later in life, even though boating held some interest for me, there was always something else that was more of a priority to spend the time and money on. So, boating experiences were fairly few and far between, and almost always involved someone else at the controls. That’s actually the case for many adults who take up boating later in life, and for those folks in particular, a solid grounding in the basics of safe boating is key to enjoying their new hobby. READ MORE
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.
Fish Where the Fish Are… in Martin County, Florida
Martin County, Florida, is popular with fish. Lots of fish. More than 800 different species within a ten-mile radius of the St. Lucie Inlet, to be exact, according to Dr. Grant Gilmore, a renowned marine scientist.
On the Atlantic coast, Martin County is just 85 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, in the overlap of two climate zones. This environment, along with a healthy reef system and the warm Gulf Stream current, bring lots of fish to these waters.
Which makes for excellent fishing here, regardless of what type of angler you are and what type of fish you like to catch.
Stuart, the county seat, has been called “Sailfish Capital of the World” since the 1950s, and with good reason. A 1949 Palm Beach Times article tells the tale of a fishing captain who ran out of bait and had to turn back after boating 19 ‘sails in a single outing. Sailfish are the fastest marine predators, and in winter months, it’s not uncommon to hook multiple sailfish at one time.
One recent angler tells the story of reeling in a mahi when a marlin came up and ate it. An hour and a half later, the fisherman landed the marlin on a line meant for a mahi. Other salt-water species that lead to mighty fish tales include Wahoo, pompano, grouper, snapper, cobia, sea bass and kingfish.
Martin County is renowned for its fresh-water fishing, too. The county stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the fresh waters of Lake Okeechobee on the west, with a rich system of rivers and canals in between. It’s possible to fish from Stuart all the way to Fort Myers and the Gulf of Mexico via the Okeechobee Waterway. Snook, tarpon, bass, redfish and seatrout are just a few of the fish that are plentiful and fun to catch inshore.
They call this area Florida’s Treasure Coast. Fishing enthusiasts who visit know why. It’s enough to make you say Wahoo!
David and Jaculeyn continue sharing the log of Elske via their delightful blog, The Voyage of Elske on America’s Great Loop. This page recounts their visit to St. Augustine, a popular north Florida stop for Waterway cruisers.
This information is for those of you who carry kayaks or canoes on deck.
News Release May 12, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast Contact: 1st District Public Affairs Office: (617) 223-8515 After Hours: (617) 717-9609
Coast Guard focusing on paddle craft safety as 2017 priority
The Coast Guard and partner agencies are focusing efforts to educate paddlers on how to “have fun, be safe, and paddle smart.” (U.S. Coast Guard illustration)
BOSTON — The First Coast Guard District, spanning from Maine to Northern New Jersey, is promoting greater paddlecraft safety awareness during the 2017 boating season in the Northeast, where paddlecraft fatalities have skyrocketed.
In 2016, the Northeast saw 28 paddler deaths, more than double the national average according to preliminary data.
“Multiple factors affect boating statistics from year to year,” said Walt Taylor, the recreational boating safety specialist for the First District. “This year, we are focused on paddlecraft safety, awareness, and enforcement to reduce the number of paddlecraft fatalities this boating season,” he said.
Additionally, the Coast Guard is partnering with paddling organizations, retailers, and local authorities to collaborate, and promote paddlecraft safety, as well as provide safety information, found at www.uscgboating.org.
“This paddlecraft safety initiative is a multi-partnered effort to educate and remind new, casual, and experienced paddlers to assess the risks, envision the consequences, and be properly prepared for what can and sometimes does go wrong,” said Merri Walker, Massachusetts boating law administrator with Massachusetts Environmental Police.
“We want all boaters and paddlers to enjoy their time on the water and, most importantly, return home safely,” said Cmdr. Matthew Barker, director of the First Coast Guard District’s Northern Region Auxiliary.
Barker said paddlecraft safety is a critical concern and information is included in all Auxiliary public education courses and numerous events are held to demonstrate the proper handling of canoes and kayaks. Find classes here: http://a013.uscgaux.info/pe.htm.
Moreover, paddlers in Massachusetts are required to wear life jackets from Sept. 15-May 15; in Connecticut, Oct. 1-May 31, and in New York, Nov. 1-May 1. All mariners should be aware that most states require children under 12 to be in a life jacket at all times while on the water.
MEDIA NOTE: The First Coast Guard District public affairs office is seeking partnerships with local media to share safety information to Northeast paddlers. For interviews, stories, and access to Coast Guard crews and assets, members of the media are encouraged to contact 617-223-8515.
With only your computer or with smart phone VR goggles, if you are interested in the health of the coral reefs off the Georgia coast and around our Florida Keys, you will learn a lot from these virtual reality reports from theverge.com.
Take a VR swim around these breathtaking national marine sanctuaries Dive around a school of Atlantic spadefish and marvel at the coral reef by Alessandra Potenza@ale_potenza May 12, 2017, 2:25pm EDT CLICK HERE FOR THE REPORTS
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is a group of dedicated cruisers who always provide unique reports from the marinas they visit. Fishermen’s Village Resort and Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is absolutely the most event active marina on the Gulf Coast for all seasons. As confirmed by CCCC’s recent report, you will feel right at home on your visit to Fishermen’s Village and Punta Gorda, also A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, on beautiful Charlotte Harbor.
April 2017 Cruise to Fisherman’s Village By Jeff & Joanne Ziemer
It was great! We had a final count of seven boats who found their way to Fisherman’s Village via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway for our April 18-21, 2017, cruise. Three boats came all the way from Burnt Store Isles in Punta Gorda! In total, ten boats arrived after braving Charlotte Harbor on a somewhat windy day. We all made it safely and settled in for a fun-filled, three-day adventure.
The afternoon of Day One was a time to settle in, catch up, shop, or take a dip in the pool. We had snacks and docktails and a few rounds of cornhole before dinner. Dinner was pork tenderloin on the grill accompanied as usual, by some superb sides brought by members.
On Day Two, 16 CCCC members came by car to join us for a delightful cruise up the Peace River aboard the Lady Charlotte, a nearly new passenger/cruise vessel. Cruisers were treated to sightings of playful dolphin, beautiful Roseate Spoonbills, and a couple of good-sized gators. The tour was narrated by our own Captain Doug Rhees who is well versed on Florida wildlife! A few more carloads of members drove up from Cape Coral later to join us all for dinner at The Village Fish Market in Center Court of Fisherman’s Village. We had a hungry crowd of 48 diners! What a delightful turnout.
Day Three folks were free to explore on their own. A few took advantage of Punta Gorda’s free bike rentals and, literally, went to town! Other folks walked the hiking trails and checked out the workout stations along the way. Several others peeked into the many shops FV has to offer … I saw shopping bags! (And some of us napped!) Dinner was ‘on your own’ and there were several restaurants in the downtown area waiting to satisfy everyone’s appetite! As it turned out, twelve of us headed in one direction, while eight of us headed in another. After dinner, the evening… and the cruise… culminated with yet another magnificent Florida sunset!
Dolphin break the surface long side the Charlotte Lady
Thanks to everyone who came and helped make this a fun experience! What a great group of people that comprise the Cape Coral Cruise Club!
Roseate spoon bills on a Rookery island on the Peace River
Cruise vessel Charlotte Lady
Members enjoy an outside dinner at the Village Fish Market At Fisherman’s Village
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is open to new members who own a boat with overnight accommodations and reside in the Cape Coral / Ft. Myers area. For membership information please contact Phil Kryger at 239-541-0236. Read additional Club information on its website, www.c-c-c-c.org Like us on Facebook.
It’s hardly a new phenomenon — in fact, it’s been around for thousands of years — but Siesta Key residents fear red tide blooms are getting worse. by: David Conway Deputy Managing Editor CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT from YourObserver.com
Comments from Cruisers (1)
I have read informationabout this previously and your post has two differing words, printing charts, and making charts. As Salty said I was under the impression NOAA plans to stop printing charts. I thought I read they will still be in the business of gathering data and such for charting purposes. If that is the case wouldn’t all the commercial chart printers currently in business fill that need?