Robert Sherer, author of 2015 ICW Cruising Guide: A guide to navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and frequent contributor to SSECN, has granted us permission to share a link to his Intracoastal Blog: http://fleetwing.blogspot.com/

Especially for those of you heading north for the summer, you will find many informative and entertaining reports on the waterways ahead of you. Such as this discussion of bridge heights near Cape May, NJ.

Bridge Height on the Cape May Canal – 58 ft at MLLW

Is your height less than 58 ft? If so you may be able to take the Cape May canal between Cape May and Delaware Bay. There are three factors to consider:

1 – The tide. It’s simply the predicted tide out of a tide table, easy to find for any time with a charting programs that allows the time to be varied with a display of the tide height. For the bridges, I use the Cape May Harbor tide station since it’s much closer to the two bridges than the ferry terminal station.

2 – The actual vs predicted water level. NOAA maintains a family of tide stations that show the actual water level vs the predicted water level. They are not generally known but there is such a station at the ferry terminal at Cape May. It will display either a graph or a spreadsheet showing the actual vs predicted tide height. Most helpfully, the data can be accessed in real time over the internet at NOAA Cape May water level site. Here’s a shorter link: tinyurl.com/zpzojfc. The water level varies due to weather conditions such as a strong on-shore wind blowing water into the bay or a heavy rain upriver when the flow reaches Cape May. An easterly 15 kt wind will easily raise the water level a foot as will heavy rains up the river. During tropical storms and winds greater than 20 kts the water level can be dramatically higher, 2 to 3 ft or more.

3 – The real bridge height. Unfortunately, data does not support a 55 ft bridge height at high tide provided the height boards are accurate, see photos.

The water level as reported by NOAA at the ferry terminal station was running 0.7 ft above the predicted tide level. There had been heavy rains up the river the day before. So what is the real bridge height? Over the years I’ve used 58 ft at low tide as the starting point for figuring passages. Take a look at the low tide picture. The total water level above MLLW was 0.4 + 0.7 = 1.1 ft. If you add that 1.1 ft to the displayed number on the height board (57.2 ft) then you get pretty close to 58 ft at 0.0 MLLW with no water level delta (actually in this example 58.3 ft). With the three numbers I’ve developed an equation for computing bridge clearance:

Clearance under bridge = 58 ft – Tide Height – Water Level Delta of predicted vs actual

As long as your mast height is less than the clearance from the formula above, you’ll clear the bridge.

Note that the tide height and water level delta can be positive or negative numbers. The equation works either way. The crucial bit of information is the real bridge height of 58 ft at MLLW. The number started out from my experience with a dozen transits and it looks to be a little conservative by 0.3 ft. I haven’t yet confirmed this but you probably have a few more inches if you avoid the red light hanging down from the middle of the bridge. As I said earlier, I’ve used this formula a dozen times with success. In fact one year I was going through and was called over the VHF to STOP! (their emphasis), I was going to hit! This was before height boards were added. I double checked my figures and proceeded onward with no problem. The experience does highlight the difficulty in judging bridge heights as you approach a bridge. You would swear you are going to hit, your angle of view will lead you to believe that – but you won’t if you follow the formula.

Standard Disclaimer: the captain always take full responsibility for his actions, I believe the above advice to be accurate and I’ve followed it myself many times in my sailboat with a 55 ft 3 inch mast, once with the height board reading 56 ft.

Robert Sherer

BoatUS remains the premiere advocate for boaters and boating safety on all waters and SSECN is proud to present BoatUS News.

NEWS From BoatUS

Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
BoatUS: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, scroft@boatus.com
NMMA: Lauren Dunn, 202-737-9752, ldunn@nmma.org
Edleman Public Relations: Kelly Curran, 419-206-0210, kelly.curran@edelman.com

One mistake at the fuel pump this summer could be costly for boaters who misfuel and inadvertently dispense unapproved, high ethanol blends into the boat’s gas tank.

At Launch of Boating Season, BoatUS and NMMA Caution About Fuel Choice, Misfueling Risks

Federal Ethanol Fuel Mandates and Changing Fuel Supply Demand Boater Vigilance

WASHINGTON, DC, May 26, 2016 – As the Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer boating season, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) and National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) urge boaters to be mindful when selecting fuel for their boats, especially as the federal government’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is increasing the risk of consumer misfueling. Even one mistake at the pump can be the source of expensive, warranty voiding repairs and dangerous engine failure.

“Boaters can’t assume that every fuel sold at gas stations will work in marine engines,” said BoatUS President Margaret Podlich, “Boats can only run on 10% or less ethanol content (E10) fuel – and we know many boaters prefer to use ethanol-free (E0) when possible. Unfortunately, as a result of the federal ethanol fuel mandates (RFS), boaters may face a much harder time this summer finding the E0 fuel they want. And with more E15 (gasoline with 15% ethanol) forced into the fuel supply by the RFS, the threat of accidental misfueling—especially at gas stations with blender pumps—is growing.”

“Our priority is always to keep boaters safe,” said NMMA President Thom Dammrich. “By increasing the share of fuels in the marketplace that are unsafe for marine engines, the federal government’s RFS is putting boaters at risk. Research shows the costly price of accidentally misfueling a boat with E15 can include stalling, corrosion, fuel leaks, damaged valves and complete engine failure – each of which could put boaters and their safety in jeopardy. Now more than ever, with E15 on the rise, the threat of misfueling is real.”

An estimated Ninety-five percent of boats are filled at retail gas stations, but a 2016 Harris Poll commissioned by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute found a startling 60 percent of consumers believe any gas sold at retail stations is suitable for all engines and products. Further, only 36 percent know E15 is harmful to some engines – with just five percent aware that its use in those engines is also illegal.

The federal ethanol mandates, known as the RFS, require increasing amounts of biofuels—including corn ethanol—to be blended into the US fuel supply every year. This growing mandate forces higher quantities of fuels such as E15 into the marketplace, often at the expense of E0 ethanol-free fuel, and even though fuels with more than 10 percent ethanol are illegal to use in marine engines, motorcycles, outdoor power equipment and cars model year 2000 and older.

Though the government is aware that the RFS is changing the makeup of the fuel supply, it has undertaken no serious education campaign—beyond requiring small warning labels on fuel pumps—to inform boaters and other consumers about the problems they may face from improper or accidental fueling. The boating industry and others have sought to fill the gap and inform the public about the need to be vigilant when fueling and not assume that just because a gas station sells several fuel types from the same pump that each is suitable for marine engines.

For more information on proper marine fueling, fuel-related maintenance, and boating industry efforts to reform federal ethanol mandates and the supply of E0 fuel, visit BoatUS at BoatUS.com and the National Marine Manufacturers Association at NMMA.org.

About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):

Celebrating 50 years in 2016, BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with over a half million members. We are the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill and fight for their rights. We help ensure a roadside breakdown doesn’t end a boating or fishing trip before it begins, and on the water, we bring boaters safely back to the launch ramp or dock when their boat won’t, day or night. The BoatUS Insurance Program gives boat owners the specialized coverage and superior service they need, and we help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the non-profit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.

About National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA):

The National Marine Manufacturers Association is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry in North America. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the US and Canada. Find more information at NMMA.org.

Be a good citizen and give our feathered friends a wide berth!

For immediate release: May 25, 2016
Media Contact: Carli Segelson, FWC; 772-215-9459
Jonathan Webber, Audubon Florida; 954-593-4449

Audubon and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ask boaters and beachgoers statewide to help coastal birds this Memorial Day Weekend

This Memorial Day Weekend, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Audubon are reminding Floridians to share our beaches and islands with rare and declining species of waterbirds that are currently nesting statewide.
“Memorial Day is always a fun time to be around or on the water, but we’re not the only ones who think so,” said Julie Wraithmell, Audubon Florida’s Deputy Executive Director. “The end of May is a critical time for some of Florida’s most iconic coastal birds and their fluffy chicks. Roseate spoonbills, black skimmers, snowy plovers, American oystercatchers, least terns and more are using Florida’s beaches and islands right now to raise their young.”
Unfortunately, when boaters or beachgoers approach nesting birds too closely, parents are flushed from their nests, leaving chicks and eggs vulnerable to predators, overheating in the summer sun, crushing under foot (in the case of beach nesters), or falling and drowning in water beneath the nest (in the case of tree nesters). A single, ill-timed disturbance can destroy an entire colony.
“While the disturbance is seldom intentional, the result for the birds can be deadly,” said Brian Yablonski, Chairman of the FWC. “Together we can ensure this holiday weekend is safe and enjoyable for people and birds alike.”
Each year along Florida’s coast, the FWC and local officials, along with Audubon volunteers, staff and partners, post many of the state’s beach and island nesting sites to make sure people know where the birds are nesting and to help prevent disturbance. Additionally, volunteer “bird stewards” from local Audubon chapters and other partners will help chaperone nesting bird colonies on many Florida beaches this weekend. These stewards help educate beachgoers about the breathtaking spectacle of these colonies while reminding pedestrians not to enter protected areas. Volunteers also help monitor colonies to collect important citizen science data about the birds’ nesting efforts through the Florida Shorebird Alliance (www.flshorebirdalliance.org).
In 1980, Florida had 10 million residents. Today, we have 20 million, with another 100 million tourists visiting annually. At the same time, populations of many coastal birds have plummeted.
The birds need your help: to learn about volunteer bird stewarding opportunities, email flconservation@audubon.org for more information.

Memorial Day Beach Tips:
Respect posted areas, even if you don’t see birds inside them. Birds, eggs and nests are well-camouflaged with the beach environment, and disturbance by people can cause the abandonment of an entire colony.
Give colony islands a wide berth, and when fishing, be sure not to leave any equipment behind. Always dispose of fishing line and tackle appropriately.
Avoid disturbing groups of birds. If birds take flight or appear agitated, you are too close.
Refrain from walking dogs or allowing cats to roam freely on beaches during the nesting season. Even on a leash, dogs are perceived as predators by nesting birds, sometimes causing adults to flush at even greater distances than pedestrians alone.
Don’t let pets off boats onto posted islands or beaches.
If you must walk your dog on beaches, always keep it on a leash and away from the birds.
Please do not feed gulls or herons at the beach, or bury or leave trash, picnic leftovers, charcoal or fish scraps on the beach. These scraps attract predators of chicks and eggs, such as fish crows, raccoons, foxes, coyotes and laughing gulls.
Leave the fireworks at home and attend an official display instead. Impromptu fireworks on Florida’s beaches and waterways have catastrophic effects for vulnerable chicks and eggs.
Beach-nesting birds sometimes nest outside of posted areas. If you notice birds circling noisily over your head, you may be near a nesting colony. Leave quietly, and enjoy the colony from a distance.
Most people would never want to hurt baby birds. If you see people disturbing nesting birds, let them know how their actions may hurt the birds’ survival. If they continue to disturb nesting shorebirds or if you see people entering closed Critical Wildlife Areas, report it to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on a cell phone, or by texting Tip@MyFWC.com.
Photos and videos are available for use in your publication. Please credit the videos to Audubon Florida and the photos to the individual photographer listed in the file name.

These excellent suggestions and advice to William Wertz concerning a voyage from New York to Hilton Head come from SSECN Team Member, Curtis Hoff, an experienced sailor and also designer of the new SSECN mobile app. I’m sure William will be grateful for your advice as well.

NEW CRUISERS TO THE SOUTH: My wife and I are sailing from NYC to Hilton Head. We are interested in gaining some local knowledge if you are willing to share. Should we sail outside or ICW? We are thinking of going out side just below Cape Fear. Also would love to hear about good anchorages or marinas to spend the night at. We have a 36′ Catalina, fin keep 5.5′. Please share any thoughts you have.
William Wertz

Hi William,
Going outside or the ICW is both about personal preference and weather. If the weather is good, we tend to run outside more than the ICW anymore. We have traveled the ICW one way or the other 12 times now so we have experienced almost every stretch both outside and via the ICW.

I’ll focus my comments on from Beaufort south, since you don’t have any options but offshore from NYC to Norfolk and then probably the ICW until Beaufort. An option is to go up the Delaware and down Chesapeake Bay, but we only do that if the weather requires it. You can also run outside around the Outer Banks, but I don’t know many people that do and suspect you are not considering it.

In certain places we try to be outside since the ICW can be painful – particularly from Beaufort to Masonboro due to the bridge schedules. South of Hilton Head there are places where we try to be outside due to depth issues, but you don’t need be concerned about those. There are some places north of Hilton Head where we prefer not to transit at dead low tide – around McClellanville and south of Georgetown are two.

Two resources you should consider:
1. The Salty Southeast Cruisers Net App – available on the iOS App Store.
2. Bob Sherer (Bob423) publishes a good book entitled “2015 ICW Cruising Guide: A guide to navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway with charts of over 140 hazard areas and their safe navigation along … trips from New York to Key West”. (See /150181) It is available via Amazon with both paperback and Kindle versions.

Note that sometimes the distance to get outside and back in actually results in more distance than traveling the ICW so this can be a negative of going outside. Additionally, if the weather is not carefully considered you may find yourself running an inlet in less than favorable conditions. On the plus side we find traveling outside to be more relaxing and enjoyable especially on very calm days.

Here are the stretches we like to go outside if the weather permits (distances are approximate):
• Beaufort Inlet to Masonboro Inlet, 65 NM open ocean, anchorage / dockage near just inside inlet
• Cape Fear Inlet to Little River, 30 NM open ocean
• Little River to Georgetown, 40 NM open ocean (note Georgetown is 15 NM from inlet)
• Georgetown to Charleston 44 NM open ocean (Charleston 10 NM from ocean)
• Charleston to Port Royal Sound/Hilton Head, 55 NM open ocean (Hilton Head is 10NM from open ocean)

All of these inlets are pretty easy in any seas we consider traveling outside. For reference we are a 55 ft motor yacht with stabilizers, cruise at 9 kts and we look for predicted 3-4 ft max seas. If the morning seas are within this range but picking up we will still consider outside if we are entering an ‘all weather’ such as Cape Fear, etc.

There are many nice towns along the way with good marinas. We don’t anchor much since we have a dog and dropping our tender from the upper deck daily gets tiresome. Towns we particularly enjoy are:
• Oriental, NC, stay at Oriental Marina and Inn
• Beaufort, NC, stay at Homer Smith Docks and Marina
• Georgetown, SC, stay at Harborwalk Marina
• Charleston, SC, stay at Charleston City Marina

There are many other interesting towns along the way that you may want to consider, depending on how far you want to travel any given day. Next week we are heading up to Wilmington on our way north for the first time and cruisers we talk to say it is well worth the distance up the river. This is another town you may want to visit. Stay at Port City Marina.
Curtis Hoff
SSECN Team Member