Bahamas Chatter: Crossing Gulfstream
Crossing Gulfstream
Posted: 12 Nov 2017 01:27 PM PST
We are coming up from Puerto Rico on a R&C 46′ cat via Providence Channel and wanted to know where the best place would be to anchor if we need to wow before crossing over to Fort Lauderdale.
Our thanks to Brian Munroe for this chart displaying his route across this shallow bay. Brian is responding to Brian McMahon’s request for local knowledge on the area.
This is one of our tracks , our draft is only 4 foot, but the inquiry stated their intent to travel at high tide. We have never tried to travel on the weest side of Coon Key, it is too tight.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Gullivan Bay
Mr. Munroe,
Can one travel all the way from Gullivan Bay up to Big Marco Pass via Goodland Bay and the Big Marco River? We draw 3.5 feet.
Thanks
Thank you very much for responding. I will enter this into my chart plotter.
The new Cuba regulations are out and I’ll be doing a webinar on them on Monday, November 13 at 7 pm EST. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R0erHHnfI4 – if you can give this a plug, would be much appreciated!
btw – been using your mileage feature on the app – very useful. Thanks.
Wally
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Bahamas Chatter: Turks and Caicos Marinas Report
Turks and Caicos Marinas Report
Posted: 10 Nov 2017 01:29 PM PST
We have finally been able to get in touch with the marinas in the Turks and Caicos (mainly Providenciales). Hurricane Irma did some damage but most are recovering and back in operation. Here’s what we found:
Blue Haven: The floating docks were greatly damaged. There is no power or water on the docks currently. They are able to pump fuel and have limited dockage. There is minor shoaling in the channel and they will pilot boats in. The controlling depth is reported to be 10 feet.
Caicos Marina and Shipyard: We weren’t able to speak to anyone there because they are still without electricity and phone service. The report we received was that there was unknown damage to the docks, but it is believed that the channel into the marina is still accessible.
Southside Marina: They fared the best as they were small and better protected. The docks are open. They have electricity and fuel and other normal services. They channel has been re-marked with little change.
Turtle Cove Marina: They had extensive damage to their docks, but they have over half of their docks are back in service now. They will still pilot yachts into the marina. Channel depth has changed little.
The waypoints on the charts still mark the proper approach to the channels. We have been told that the routes in have changed little. The area has been receiving several transient boats recently.
We will continue to update you as we get more information.
Monty Lewis
Explorer Charts
Good reports keep pouring in for CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Marineland Marina which lies south – southeast of AICW marker #87, along the Waterway’s eastern shore. New Bellingham concrete floating docks and a new support building for a very attractive facility!
November 2017
New Marina Building with Restrooms and Laundry now open to support the new floating docks!
CLICK HERE FOR TEXT AND PHOTOS
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Marineland Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Marineland Marina
New facilities and docks are outstanding. We really enjoyed exploring Washington Oaks,Gardens State Park, about 2 miles south of the marina.
Eric and his staff are the best!
Brian McMahon is requesting local knowledge on passage through Gullivan Bay which lies east of Cape Romano. See Coon Key Pass for a similar request.
Have same question regarding transiting Gullivan Bay into Goodland. I draw 5′ and based on charts i can make it at high tide. However, looks like there are two potential routes through Gullivan Bay. Anyone have a specific route they think is best?
Brian McMahon
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Gullivan Bay
March screen shot. a lot has happened since then.
How to paste a screen shot?
Editor’s note: See http://cruisersnet.net/168278 for Brian’s screen shot of Gullivan Bay
November 9, 2017
Contact:
Kristen Crossett, 301-325-2113
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey to launch redesigned website
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey will launch the newly redesigned website, nauticalcharts.noaa.gov, on November 14, 2017. The website will feature simplified navigation and a responsive layout for all platforms, making your favorite NOAA charting products easy and convenient to find.
We encourage everyone to visit and explore the site on or after November 14. Because of this redesign effort, many of the webpages within nauticalcharts.noaa.gov will have a new address. Please be prepared to update any bookmarks or links you may have.
NOAA Office of Coast Survey is the nation’s nautical chartmaker. Originally formed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807, Coast Survey updates charts, surveys the coastal seafloor, responds to maritime emergencies, and searches for underwater obstructions that pose a danger to navigation.
NOAA Office of Coast Survey, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3 #6216, Silver Spring, MD 20906
Here is an interesting and informative article and video from Southern Boating:
https://southernboating.com/life/southern-boating-cinema/knots-to-know/
Thank you Southern Boating!
Experienced cruisers, Jim and Peg Healy, continue to generously share their observations and advice as they make their way south for the winter. Thank you Jim and Peg! See http://cruisersnet.net/168195 for their Okeechobee report east of Clewiston.
Sanctuary and crew transited from Clewiston, FL to St. James City, FL, today, 11/9/2017. Fog early, then bright sunshine, light and variable winds and calm seas.
The Clewiston Lock is a wonder to behold. Very small; less than 100 ft. Primary customer set are bass fishermen. Run by a private contractor, not the USACE. Hours of operation are posted as 05h30 to 22h00. Local knowledge indicates 06h00 is more reliable.
At about MM 72, there is a hazard marker in Active Captain that describes a submerged obstruction. That obstruction must be there, because there are TWO Red, floating markers there, R”6″ and R”8.” They are positioned together laterally across the channel; a very strange pattern, but they are there. Appear new. They force traffic way to the south side of the channel, and water depths are 4 ft less than in the visual center of that channel.
The control depth on the south rim is 8.5 ft, two miles east of Moore Haven.
Water levels in the Ortona Pool are very high. The USACE is dumping water, and there are strong westerly running currents. Stand off the locks while waiting for them to open, as the current will carry the boat toward the lock and dam. Care is appropriate at the locks, where boats get swept sideways. Especially so at the railroad pass at Moore Haven, which is very narrow and has obviously been dinged several times already. There was a significant whirlpool inside the Ortona Lock chamber which created some excitement for another boat there. Currents were very swift emerging downstream of Ortona Lock, too.
There are no depth issues on the South Rim, Caloosahatchee Canal or Caloosahatchee River at this time.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD
http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436
Click Here To View the Okeechobee Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Ortona Lock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ortona Lock
If you are familiar with Florida law related to composting toilets, let us hear from you.
Hi, I am wondering how the pump out log requirements for some marinas in Florida (e.g. Dinner Key Marina) would apply to a composting toilet? Presently I use a Nature’s Head composting toilet, and there is only one toilet on the boat.
Thanks for your help, Kevin Boothby
We were in Dinner Key and told them we had an Air Head and there was never any question. We have been boarded by all the acronyms imaginable (USCG, FWC, Homeland Security, etc.) and they never question when we say we have an Air Head. I agree with Mike, our kids were on a boat with an Air Head in Boot Key Harbor and they had to do the once a month verification for urine, but that was it. Otherwise, FL marinas and mooring fields and officials seems to be pretty used to composting toilets.
Not quite relevant to the question but… we were stopped and boarded by the FWC for a ‘potty check’ a few years ago. They saw the Air-Head composting head and left without any issues. In Marathon where pump out is included in the fee they take our word that we have a composting head. Similar experiences elsewhere.
Follow-up… in Marathon you must get and keep a receipt showing urine has been dumped ashore in their porta-potty receptacle a minimum of once per month.
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