Cruisers Net Salutes All Veterans
Cruisers Net salutes and sends thanks for all the men and women who have served and who are serving in our Armed Forces to keep this country free.
Click Here for National Salute to Veterans – PBS

Cruisers Net salutes and sends thanks for all the men and women who have served and who are serving in our Armed Forces to keep this country free.
Click Here for National Salute to Veterans – PBS

Looks like a record number of boats rafted up at the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center Docks. Area information is provided at the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and a NC DOT Rest Area facility, located adjacent to the Dismal Swamp State Park, offering trails, exhibits and ongoing programs in Camden County, NC. See November Programs at Dismal Swamp State Park, AICW Alternate Route.

We are not back to normal numbers, but after being closed for so long, it has been so nice to host boaters again in the Dismal Swamp Canal. This photo was taken by Jeff Byrd for Camden TDA at the end of October. We are enjoying meeting traffic by waterway again and we have talked to a lot of great people! Sigh!
Donna Stewart, Director
Dismal Swamp Welcome Center
2356 US Hwy 17N
South Mills, NC 27976
Phone – 252-771-8333
www.DismalSwampWelcomeCenter.com
Bird, Bike, Hike…..take in the sights!
Our thanks to Bill Parlatore for permitting Cruisers Net to post articles from his excellent blog, Following Seas.

The Cost of Cruising – Part 1 – Ongoing Maintenance
We start a new series that explores the cost of cruising. No matter what boat you own, there are certain expenses you will incur on an annual basis for maintenance. These are important to keep the boat cruise worthy. But how much should one plan to spend?
Bill Parlatore
St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a great liveaboard marina located on the western shore of Tampa Bay in downtown St. Pete. Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina, also A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR and voted Best Small Marina in 2017, overlooks the westerly banks of the Mantanzas Pass channel, west of marker #13. These good words for St. Pete Municipal Marina and Pink Shell Resort Marina are from Dan Sherburn as posted on AGLCA’s Forum.
I second the St Pete Municipal. Great marina and close to downtown. Great stop. I also enjoyed Pink Shell (Ft Myers) and Tarpon Point (resort like marina in Cape Coral).
Dan Sherburn
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Petersburg Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina
Our thanks to Ron and Jan Matuska for this excellent report from their West Florida port, Dunedin FL, as posted on AGLCA’s Forum. Dunedin lies between Clearwater and Tarpon Springs.
Welcome to Delightful Dunedin, FL
From your Harbor Hosts: Ron & Jan Matuska
Your best marina choices for Dunedin include Dunedin Municipal Marina (limited docking), Marker 1 Marina (limited docking due to construction ending December 2018), Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, and Caladesi Island. There are several anchorages in St. Joseph Sound across from Dunedin. Info for these may be found on Waterway Guide or Active Captain. Contact me directly for the recommended ICW track into Caladesi, track from Hurricane Pass is not recommended.
Everything you need to know about Dunedin can be found on their web site at https://www.dunedingov.com/live-work-play
For getting around, we have the Jolly Trolley and the Pinellas Trail. Both connect Clearwater – Dunedin – Tarpon Springs. New this year is the Clearwater – Dunedin ferry.
Several other “new” to Dunedin items to mention; new restaurants, new shopping including Nature’s Food Patch market & deli, new breweries (see the Brewery Tour, if wine is your preference check out Sterling Wine on Main St.) Be sure to check the calendar of events for special events and music. See the web page listed above.
Ron & Jan Matuska
AGLCA & MTOA Harbor Hosts, Dunedin FL
AGLCA #8079
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Marker One Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Marker One Marina
If it’s not one thing, it’s another. It is difficult to know what to safely eat these days! Reef fish include barracuda, grouper and snapper.
FGCU researchers warn of ciguatera, a dangerous toxin found in reef fish
Wink News
Ciguatera has been around forever, but never has gotten the attention it deserves. Definitely something for cruisers who fish to keep in mind in tropical waters. It seems the species to avoid can be different in different areas – in the Bahamas, Nassau Groupers are generally regarded as fairly safe, while Tiger Groupers have a very bad reputation. In the Bahamas, hogfish seem to be pretty safe, but in Puerto Rico, hogfish are avoided. Barracuda are suspect everywhere. About the only general rule is the larger the individual fish within a species, the more likely it is to carry Ciguatera.
At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters. Now, rent a car and enjoy these scenic drives!
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Our thanks to Bill Parlatore for permitting Cruisers Net to post articles from his excellent blog, Following Seas.

Monday Minute – Following Seas, Movie of Awahnee
Despite the tremendous onshore damage from hurricane Michael, life on the Waterway continues with cruisers feeling their through the area; see Post Michael Report. Team member, Winston Fowler, has been on the phone attempting to reach marinas in the Northern Gulf following the storm. These are the results of his efforts. We encourage all who are in the region to send us condition reports as you are able. We will update as more information is received.
Dog River Marina, Mobile, AL – fully operational
Homeport Marina, Gulf Shores, AL – all okay, but call before arriving to make sure space available. Many boats staying put longer than expected
Turner Marine and Yacht Sales, Mobile, AL – fully operational
Yacht Harbor Marina, Warrington, FL – no report yet
Pensacola -My Notes: Seems most everything in and around Pensacola is okay
Palafox Pier Marina, Pensacola, FL – fully operational
Baylen Slips Marina, Pensacola, Fl – fully operational
Seville Harbour Marina Pensacola, FL – fully operational
Holiday Harbor Marina, Pensacola, FL – fully operational
Sandestin’s Baytowne Marina, FL – fully operational but have many vessels from Panama City area that moved before storm, so do call or make a reservation before coming in tele: 850-267-7773
Harbor Walk Marina, Destin, FL – fully operational
Two Georges Marina, (old Shalimar Yacht Basin) Shalimar, Fl – Fully operational
St Andrews Marina – closed
Panama City Marina – Closed.. Our marina was completely destroyed. St. Andrews was badly damaged and not operating now. Questions? My cell is 850-819-5592.
Onsite Report: Panama City Marina
Report from Panama City
Bay Point Marina, Panama City Beach, FL……could not reach, heard from another harbormaster that they are going to demolish and completely rebuild
Port St.Joe Marina, could not reach, heard from another harbormaster, that they may also completely rebuild
Sun Harbor Marina, Panama City, FL – could not reach
C-Quarters Marina, Carrabelle, FL – Capt. Kim says they sustained damage but are trying to fix things daily. Very limited at the moment. Call or email to determine status before stopping by. Tele: 850-519-694
See update: https://cruisersnet.net/177754
11/5 Still no fuel pumps or dinghy dock inspection, and they fear it may be another week. Will check with them next Monday. Those pumps were supposed to be delivered last week.
Moorings of Carrabelle, Carrabelle, FL …one pump running for diesel and one for gas; cash only for small purchases, can do manual credit for large fuel purchases, some docks damaged but if you call ahead they may be able to help and schedule you for services,866-821-2248 See update: https://cruisersnet.net/177754
Panama City, on the eastern shore of St. Andrews Bay northeast of Mexico Beach where Hurricane Michael made landfall, suffered devastating damage from Michael. Panama City Marina and St. Andrews Marina are both CRUISERS NET SPONSORS and our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to all in the area who sustained losses. Our thanks to Rich Gano for this report.
Panama City as a stop along the way for loopers is pretty much done for by Michael. The two city marinas are disaster zones and will be a long time recovering. Most businesses are out of action due to damage, loss of power,
and loss of employees who have fled the area. The ports to the east of Panama City like Port St Joe and Apalachicola got it even worse that PC. Plan on having enough food and fuel to bypass this area.
Rich Gano

Photo from Seven Seas Cruising Association
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Panama City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Panama City Marina
Click Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For St. Andrews Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Andrews Marina
Please check with us in Carrabelle! If you need someone on the ground to check with the marinas I am happy to help.
Thanks for the update Randy. All the very best.
He is correct except Apalachicola. They are now operational and have fuel. Don’t expect available slips however. On the hook only.
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