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Porpoise show at Passage Key Channel
CRUISERS NET
Cruisers Helping Cruisers
Comprehensive cruising resource for the Intracoastal Waterways
from Norfolk to the Northern Gulf and Bahamas.
from Norfolk to the Northern Gulf and Bahamas.
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Praise For Sunset Bay Marina, Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 7.5
Sunset Bay Marina lies directly on the patch of the Okeechobee Waterway, only a few miles off the AICW via the St. Lucie River. Our thanks to Peyton Yon for this report.
Convenient and easy location to get in and out of. Well maintained, good Wifi, water and electric above average, very clean restrooms and showers, crew lounge and bicycles are provided for. Dockage rates are high for short term and transit accommodations please note they charge an additional nightly fee for electric. Free pump out service for your holding tanks offer once per week dockside or at the main fuel docks on demand. Water pressure is very high please use caution. Our dockage was for a 60ft MY on B Dock.
Peyton YonClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sunset Bay Marina and Moorings
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Praise for Ortega River Marina, off the St. Johns River, Jacksonville, Fl
Located on the Ortega River just above the Roosevelt Blvd. Bridge and just upstream of the intersection of the Ortega and St. Johns Rivers, Ortega River Marina is especially convenient to the Riverside section of Jacksonville. This report comes from our friends at America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association.
Ortega River Marina. Paul Howe is the dock master at 912-661-3437. We keep our PDQ there in the summer and fall and are very happy with it. ORM (it used to be Ortega Yacht Club Marina) is a smaller marina than “Landing”, with clean bathrooms and laundry, a small pool, and friendly, helpful boat owners. [expand title=”Read More”}Its rates are also very reasonable. ORM is near first-class yacht repair places, half a block away from one of the largest used book stores in the U.S. and a block away from West Marine, Publix, restaurants and other stores.
Kent and Jane Overbeck, Gold Loopers 2012-2013Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ortega River Marina
Comments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to Steve
We stopped here last March for a few days to stock up and service our boat before continuing north on our great loop journey. We had completed 2600 miles. When we got to the Fl/GA line we decided to pause our loop journey due to COVID. We called Paul Howe the dock master and asked if we could get a long term slip. We left our Albin 27FC docked for the past year. Paul took great care of us and he always provided friendly updates during my monthly calls. Highly recommend Ortega river marina. We have returned and are cleaning the boat, preparing mechanicals and will continue our loop journey north. Paul is an excellent marina manager and he lives on site. 3/20/21 Steve
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Good Words for Ortega Landing, off St. Johns River, Jacksonville, FL
Only a mile or so upstream from downtown Jacksonville, Ortega Landing is the first facility on your starboard as you enter the Ortega River from the St. Johns. This report is from our friends at America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association
The Ortega Landing Marina is a great spot. I have kept my boat there for the past three years and am very pleased. Modern floating concrete docks, spotless bathrooms, swimming pool, and an experienced staff make this an excellent choice. Contact the Dockmaster, Bruce, at 904-387-5538.
Howard EntmanClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ortega Landing Marina
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Massive Fish Kill, along Gulf Coast Beaches, FL
This fish kill is being blamed on Red Tide, see /153517. Whatever the cause, visitors to Gulf Coast beaches are not enjoying the event! Our thanks to Winson Fowler for his SSECN-On-Patrol photo.
ST. PETE BEACH — The stench couldn’t be detected from the picturesque scene poolside of the Sirata Beach Resort. But once people stepped out toward the ocean, away from the hotel, the odor of dead fish baking in the late-morning sun was undeniable.
CLICK HERE for photos and to read the article from Tampa Bay Times by reporter Les Neuhaus.
Huge floats of small dead fish all around entrance to Tampa Bay about two miles west of skyline bridge near Passage Key.
Winston Fowler
SSECN PatrolAnd this from Christian Science Monitor.
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Skipper Seeks Information on Ponce de Leon Inlet Area, near AICW Statute Mile 840-843
The “Ponce” is a popular, heavily traveled inlet which intersects the Waterway at Statute Mile 839.5, with a second southerly intersection near St. M. 843. Other than the Nav Alerts currently posted on SSECN, Rick is asking for “local knowledge” for the area around the Inlet. If you are a frequent navigator of the Inlet and the ICW/Inlet intersection, let us hear from you.
Thanks for your quick reply. A few years ago we were traveling around Ponse Inlet or New Smyrna Beach where there was reported shoaling and frequent marker relocations, is this still a problem and can the area be identified?
Thanks again
Rick Scheinert
43’ Tiara “Rock On”SSECN’s answer:
Hi Rick,
There were reports of groundings in the Ponce back in July (/157074) which resulted in our posting a Nav Alert (/158393) immediately after the initial report.
Note that these groundings are in the ICW west and south of the Inlet proper. We have not received reports of shoaling in the Ponce Inlet itself.Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ponce de Leon Inlet
Comments from Cruisers (2)
- Reply to Captain
Ponce Inlet South to New Smyrna Beach is fine. Once you turn South best water is closer to the eastern shore We are local and this wasn’t as if last weekend
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Report on Olde Fish House Marina, Matlacha Pass, Little Pine Island, off the GICW
Olde Fish House Marina sits on the northwest side of the Matlacha/Pine Island Bridge in the middle of Matlacha Pass, east of the GICW. This marina has not been listed in SSECN in the past, because they did not offer transient dockage. Now a few slips up to 40ft are open to transients on an available basis. They have non-ethanol gasoline and diesel is available via delivery truck.
Olde Fish House Marina in Matlacha welcomes cruisers.
Transient slips on a limited basis. $1 a foot per night! Safe protected dinghy dockage available for $5 a day (hot showers too!) See Pine Island Anchorage,
Ethanol free gas,bulk ice by the basket (it’s a working Fish House),Fresh seafood market (Really), quality restaurant on site and many more within walking distance. Art galleries, gift shops, Publix is about a mile and a half away,post office,public park, bars with nightly entertainment…Talk to Lisa about dockage 239-321-3281
As far as draft goes; I’ve been through the North channel on vessels with a 7′ keel on all but low tide.
The south channel from Matlacha bridge to the miserable mile can be done in my boat with a 4.6′ draft. The trouble spots are at markers 22 and 38. There’s a big hump @38 that can be avoided by staying West of the marker 100′ or so. Marker 22 should be given a wide berth as well, but only 30′ or so.
As far as the power lines are concerned ; I have a 44′ mast and I only get a mild shock during extremely high tides. (That was a joke). My chart reads 47′ over the channel. I hug the power pole on the west side and gain another 6-8′.Slow down. Make sure you’re in the channel, and come explore a town that most cruisers bypass. I changed my homeport from Key West to Matlacha 20 years ago.
SydClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Olde Fish House Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pine Island Anchorage
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NCDOT Approves Funding to Replace Surf City Swing Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 260.7, Surf City, NC
For some of us older Waterway cruisers, the continuing replacement of swing, bascule, lift and pontoon bridges with high rise fixed spans is a loss of history. On our family voyages, each bridge we encountered was an experience – an opportunity to deal with current, with timing, and to communicate with an unknown, often unseen Waterway tender serving boaters with their own personalities and special ways. I know it’s progress, but it is also a sterilization process, like old mom and pop shops being replaced by malls. And, like malls, once you have seen a high rise bridge, you have seen them all. Thanks to Tom Beaty for submitting this notice from wral.com. See also /157769
NCDOT approves funding to replace Surf City swing bridge
SURF CITY, N.C. — The days are numbered for the iconic swing bridge connecting Topsail Island and the mainland at Surf City on the North Carolina coast.
Media outlets report that the state Department of Transportation has approved a $53 million low bid from Balfour Beatty Infrastructure of Wilmington to replace the bridge with a 65-foot-high fixed-span bridge.
The new bridge will also have a path for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The old swing bridge has been in operation for more than 60 years.
Construction on the new bridge could start as early as this fall and the new span should be open in 2020.
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Surf City Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Surf City Bridge
Comments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to William
Due to the restrictions, having in some cases to wait 59 minutes to open , I am happy to see it go. Hope figure 8 island and wrightsville beach are next.
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Reports from Hell Gate Problem Stretch, AICW Statute Mile 602
We hear lot of stories of extreme shallows at Hell Gate, so this report from longtime contributor and experienced skipper, James Newsome, is good news, PROVIDED you take his and our advice to wait for mid to high tide if you draw more than 4ft. See /156050 . And see 9/24 report below.
I negotiated Hell’s Gate on Sunday 08/28/16 traveling northbound exactly two hours before low tide. High tide was approximately 7.3′ for this day. Therefore, we calculated that we had 1.25′ per hour x 2 = 2.5′ of water over low tide. The least water we saw was 8′ which means the net low was around 5.5′. We steered pretty much down the middle following the magenta line, not favoring any marker.
I draw 5’8″ to 6′ loaded which means I could have made this passage through Hell’s Gate an hour before low tide and barely had water under the keel. At low tide I could not have made it through.
Based on the draft of your vessel, Hell’s Gate is only a concern within an hour or two of low tide, and if you only draw 4.5′ you can travel through here any time of the day, unless there is a negative tide perhaps. Just take it slow and easy on the south side of Hell’s Gate. There is some squirrelly current on the southern entrance to Hell’s Gate, but it’s nothing to be too concerned about.
James Newsome9/24 Nelms Graham had a less easy passage, even 3 hours after low tide and in a shallow draft vessel!
Transited Hells Gate on 09/24/16 three hours after low tide, “bumped” in channel approx. 75ft. from marker “89”, in vessel drawing 2-‘6.
Nelms Graham
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Hell GateClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem StretchComments from Cruisers (2)
- Reply to Fragrante
You fail to mention what tide station you used. Was it Vernon View?
- Reply to Wally
Hey James – thanks for that information – knowing you, I know it is reliable.
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Opinion: Anchoring Conditions in Smokehouse Bay, Marco Island
Sadly, as in many other Florida anchorages, transient cruisers are being painted with the same negative brush as derelict boaters who do not care for the waters and shores they abuse. Smokehouse Bay lies in the heart of northern Marco Island. This fortunate body of water plays host to Esplanade Marina and a good anchorage. Collier Creek is its entrance channel which leaves the Marco Island-to-Naples waterway west of marker #14. Our thanks to Jay and Katherine Light for this report.
I’m sorry to report that Marco Island has taken yet another step toward proving that they are the most cruiser-unfriendly port in southwest Florida.
Many years ago, their Town Council passed an anti-anchoring ordinance that took years to get rid of. In a trial, in which Claiborne Young and the maritime lawyer who drafted the State’s anchoring rules testified, the law was found to be unconstitutional on a whole list of grounds and was tossed out.More recently, the management of the Esplanade, the condo-shopping mall and marina in Smokehouse Bay made it clear to “those people” who had the audacity to anchor there that they were unwelcome, even though there was an agreement made with the town when the development was built that they would provide dinghy dockage for vessels in the bay. They continued to provide it – in as chintzy a way possible. You can dock your dinghy there for $10, but you must be back and take it out by 6pm or the access to it will be locked up. This means if you want to go into town for dinner, you’d better be a real “early bird.”
Just last week, we cruised to Marco and anchored in Factory Bay, a little farther up the river. We had always been welcomed there when it was the Marco River Marina. They charged a reasonable $5 a day for dinghies and you got back when you got back. Now that it’s the Rose Marina, there’s a new sign. The dinghy dockage is still five bucks, but they, too, have added the “you have to be out by 6pm” rule. Upon questioning some of their staff about it, the reply was “Well, we’ve had problems with it.”
The one remaining place to land in Marco is at the Winn-Dixie store on the other side of the Boulevard. You can get there through Smokehouse Bay and under the bridge to the right of the Esplanade. Take the first left under the bridge. There is also a nice public park right next to that bridge, but it is clearly marked with “No Mooring” signs. All it would take to suggest that cruisers were welcome would be for the town to simply take down those signs and replace them with “Mooring for Dinghies of Anchored Vessels.” A single section of floating dock tied to that wall would really be a welcome sign. Given Marco’s history, I’m not holding my breath.
Jay Light
s/v ALBORADA
Fort Myers Beach
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Smokehouse Bay – Marco Island AnchorageBe the first to comment!
Best Wishes to Mike Ahart of Waterway Guide
Mike Ahart, known to many of you as Editor of Waterway Guide, recently announced his retirement and all of us will miss his reporting and words of wisdom. As Editor to Editor, I can attest to Mike’s strong sense of fair play and camaraderie in the publication of information of value to boaters. Especially when I was first editing SSECN, not only could I call on Mike at any time for advice, Mike would actually call me to make corrections in my postings, so that you, the boater, would receive accurate information. Mike was dedicated to the safety of all boaters and he set the standard for integrity in marine reporting.
We at SSECN wish Mike the very best in his retirement. He will be missed!
LarryComments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to Winston
Larry you could not have said it better. Mike Ahart was and remains a “team”
player ; always willing to put the boaters and cruisers first. For Mike service to the public he served came first, not personal credit.
I take this opportunity to say “thank you Mike Ahart for your contribution to all who were served by your work.” Mike I wish you fair winds, blue skies, gentle seas, and God’s blessings on every step of your new journey.
Winston Fowler
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US Army Corp of Engineers to Increase Water Flow from Lake Okeechobee
This release of water has to be attributed to rains from Hermine. Increased water releases from Lake Okeechobee earlier this year resulted in massive fish kills downstream of the release.
Corps of Engineers increasing Lake Okeechobee discharges
by Scott Sutton
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday plans to increase the amount of water flowing from Lake Okeechobee over the next week….CLICK HERE for the full report from WPTV, West Palm Beach
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