Everglades National Park’s 70th Birthday
Celebrate Everglades’ 70th birthday with 10 interesting facts about the national park.
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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.
FREE to use due to the generosity of our sponsors - please patronize them
An Invitation and Dinner Coupon from Sandpiper’s Cove Restaurant and Bar, Old Port Cove Marinas, North Palm Beach, AICW Statute Mile 1014
Old Port Cove Marina, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is located on the western shore of the northern Lake Worth channel, near unlighted daybeacon #7. Looking for that special place to eat where you dock? Sandpiper’s Cove Restaurant is another great reason to visit Old Port Marinas especially during the Holidays!
Visiting Yachtsmen: Please contact the Old Port Cove Marina Office well in advance for Dockage Reservations 561-626-1760 and to make your dinner reservations, please call Sandpiper’s Cove Restaurant 561-626-2280
LET’S CELEBRATE, OUR 5th ANNIVERSARY TOGETHER!
Sandpiper Cove RestaurantOLD PORT COVE HOLDINGS, INC. MARINAS
Sue Morgan, Marketing and Public Relations Director
www.OPCH.com
www.SANDPIPERSCOVE.com“Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.” B. Atkinson <“))))><(
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Old Port Cove Marina
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Report Suspected Hoax Calls to USCG
News Release
Dec. 04, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic
Contact: 5th District Public Affairs
Office: (757) 398-6272
After Hours: (757) 434-7712Coast Guard experiences spike in suspected hoax distress cases in NC, Va.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Coast Guard command centers in North Carolina and Virginia experienced an increase in suspected hoax distress calls in November.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina in Wilmington and Sector Hampton Roads in Portsmouth typically notice a spike in the amount of traffic on VHF-FM channel 16 during the late fall, as well as an increase in suspected false distress cases reported on the channel.
“False distress calls incur significant cost to the public, divert limited resources to respond, and place both responders and potentially other mariners at risk,” said Capt. Bion Stewart, commander, Sector North Carolina. “We continue to encourage mariners to use VHF radios to communicate with the Coast Guard and other mariners, but it is imperative that this critical, potentially life-saving tool be used appropriately and responsibly for the safety of all mariners.”
The public should be aware that if children are found to be playing on the radio, the parents are ultimately accountable.
Hoax distress calls to the Coast Guard are considered a Class D felony and can incur more than $250,000 in fines and 10 years imprisonment, plus the cost of the search.
“We don’t take hoax distress lightly,” said Capt. Richard Wester, commander, Sector Hampton Roads. “We, along with our partner agencies, will pursue the prosecution of suspects to the fullest extent of the law. A Newport News man was convicted of making a false distress call to our command center in June 2016 and now faces potential prison time. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February.”
The Coast Guard urges the public to respond to Coast Guard callouts after accidental transmissions. Unintended communications to the Coast Guard are not prosecuted, but require clarification.
Anyone with information regarding a hoax call made to the Coast Guard is encouraged to contact the Coast Guard Investigative Service through the 5th District Command Center at 757-398-6390.
For additional information about suspected hoax distress calls at Sector North Carolina, please contact Chief Petty Officer Jeremy Thomas at 910-772-2216.
For additional information about suspected hoax distress calls at Sector Hampton Roads, please contact Lt. j.g. Stasia Ellis at 757-638-6641.
-USCG-
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BoatUS on New EPA Ethanol Mandates
NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria VA 22304You Asked for Less Ethanol With Your Gas; EPA Adds More
ALEXANDRIA, Va., December 4, 2017 – This summer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asked the public how much ethanol it wanted to be added to the nation’s gasoline supply, and recreational boaters as well as many other owners of gasoline engines and vehicles spoke up against increasing ethanol volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). On Friday, EPA set the 2018 RFS at 19.29 billion gallons, a 0.05 percent increase over the 2017 standard. Signed into law in 2005, the RFS requires an increasing amount of biofuels, such as corn ethanol, to be blended into the gasoline supply.
“In August, EPA originally proposed a slight lowering of the overall ethanol mandate. However, bowing to pressure from the ethanol backers, the agency actually notched the mandate higher,” said BoatUS Government Affairs Manager David Kennedy. “We think the EPA’s decision unfairly supports the ethanol industry over protecting consumers, recreational boaters, and the environment. If ethanol is as good for America’s fuel supply as Big Ethanol would like you to believe, then why do we have a law that forces more ethanol each year into the market? The RFS no longer works for Americans.”
When it was written, RFS assumed that America’s use of gasoline would continue to grow. Since 2005, however, gasoline usage has not increased as forecasted, which today forces more ethanol into each gallon of gas. To keep up with the RFS mandate, in 2010 EPA granted a waiver to allow E15 (15 percent ethanol) into the marketplace. However, only fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol (E10) are permitted for use in recreational boats. As higher blends enter the gas supply, the chance of misfueling increases.
“Ethanol has been demonstrated to cause harm to many gasoline engines at the present 10 percent ethanol level, especially legacy outboard motors, decreases fuel efficiency, increases fuel costs for consumers, and has questionable environmental benefits,” added Kennedy. “BoatUS will continue to fight on behalf of America’s recreational boaters to fix the RFS.”
Go to BoatUS.com/gov/rfs for more information on the Renewable Fuel Standard. BoatUS is a member of the Smarter Fuel Future coalition.
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Nice Article on Sea Pines Resort and Harbour Town Yacht Basin, AICW Statute Mile 565
Harbour Town Yacht Basin, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is now 90% open following hurricane damages. They are offering fuel sales and more than half their transients slips are open with wifi, water and electricity. With repairs almost completed, call ahead for space available. Of course, activities at the Sea Pines Resort are still ongoing as you will see in their Holiday Schedule . Hilton Head Island is absolutely marvelous any time of year and the Gregg Russell concerts are priceless!
Travel: Golf and boats are Harbour Town’s claim to fame by Cheryl Blackerby from Palm Beach Daily News
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harbour Town Yacht Basin
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Good Words for Zimmerman Marine, Southport Marina, Southport, NC, AICW Statute Mile 309.5
Zimmerman Marine is part of the excellent facilities of Southport Marina, a much valued CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR. These fine organizations lie just west of the Cape Fear River along the northern banks of the Waterway hard by flashing daybeacon #2A.
For more information, visit www.zimmermanmarine.com.Our thanks to Vicki Lathom for these words of recommendation.The company is Zimmerman Marine and has a wide-spread reputation for being among the best. Someone told me if I ever needed repairs to go to Zimmerman Marine, which has five locations. Amazing that my accident happened right at a Zimmerman Marine base at Southport Marina, NC. Tell anyone that this is a very polished and professional company. They made a difficult situation much easier and it’s obvious that the company is trusted by the insurance industry.
VickiClick Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Southport Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Southport Marina
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Vessel Fire in Tarpon Basin, Key Largo, FL, Inside Route Mile 1140
Tarpon Basin lies on the east side of the Waterway in the northeast corner of Buttonwood Sound.
Coast Guard, partner agencies respond to vessel fire in Tarpon Basin near Key Largo
Editor’s Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.
MIAMI — The Coast Guard, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to a vessel fire Thursday in Tarpon Basin in Key Largo.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West Command Center received a call from Coast Guard Station Islamorada at approximately 6 a.m. stating they received a report of a vessel fire in Tarpon Basin. The station self-launched a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boatcrew to respond.
The station SPC—LE crew arrived on scene and assisted in putting out the fire on a 50-foot houseboat using the wash from their propellers.
“Once on scene we got together with our partner agencies to help establish a safety zone to keep other vessel traffic out of harms way,” said Petty Officer 1st Class John Fleming, operations petty officer, Station Islamorada. “We also monitored the fire due to the close proximity to the mangroves and it’s potential for impacting the environment.”
There were no reported people aboard and no reported injuries.
The Coast Guard reminds boaters to keep aware of fire hazards and stay prepared with functioning smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, portable fire extinguishers or on board fire extinguishing systems.
For more information on boat safety requirements, please visit www.uscgboating.org
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Tarpon Basin
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Services Report from Fernandina Harbor Marina, Fernandina, FL, AICW Statute Mile 716
Our thanks to Vicki Lathom for this brief, but informative, report. Fernandina Harbor Marina, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, was damaged by Matthew, but is now offering limited service as Vicki Lathom notes below. The Marina docks and restaurant are right in the heart of the many wonderful things to do and see in this special port. For latest dockage information, call 904-310-3300.
12 mooring balls. Five slips available. Restaurant open. No fuel
Vicki LathomClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fernandina Harbor Marina
Comments from Cruisers (2)
- Reply to Gwyn
We just anchored at Fernandina Beach for 3 nights and had a wonderful visit. New is a Island Hopper Shuttle which picks you up at City Hall and can take you to beach, Walmart, Publix and Winn Dixie for $1.00. A great improvement for crusiers! The hours are limited to 10am to about 4 PM. Another great find was a new bicycle rental place for $15 a day with delivery to the marina. Call Steve at 904-742-4740.
- Reply to glenn
Fuel is available a few miles south at Amelia Island Marina, also check with them or Tiger Point for overnight slip with power
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Wrecked Vessels and Ecosystem Damage Potential
Thousands of Boats Wrecked by Irma Could Pollute Florida’s Ecosystems
“Many of these vessels are located in shallow seagrass and mangrove habitats and on sensitive bird and sea turtle nesting beaches, which has the potential to cause ongoing physical impacts to those ecosystems,” says Gena Parsons, a spokesperson for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT from Miami New Times
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Bahamas Chatter: “The pet thing…addendum” plus 2 more
Bahamas Chatter: “The pet thing…addendum” plus 2 more
The pet thing…addemdum
Posted: 28 Nov 2017 07:37 AM PST
To those that have pets on board. I sent in my International moneys order, and the proper form on the 16th of Sept, 2017. We left Bakers Haulover for Bimini on the 24th of November. Without having received any formal paper work back. To this day, my mail delivery/receive service has not received any paper work. Tis the Bahamas…With that in mind, I cleared into Bimini. The very nice lady at Customs, went through the usual paperwork, and questions. When she asked if I had any pets on board, I said yes, but, and then I went through the above paragraph with her. I showed her the receipts for the money orders, the Nassau form, the health certificate for Bentley, etc.
She looked at everything, shook her head, pushed all the papers back to me. So, on my cruising permit, next to the dingy and motor, the skiff and motor that I tow, the fishing poles on board, and the slings, is listed…………..ready for this……… (1) dog….
What a great country…not tied up in red tape at all…denO and Bentley
Crossing Flotilla
Posted: 28 Nov 2017 07:35 AM PST
We are planning a crossing from West Palm to the West End around the second week of January 2018. This being our first trip we would like to travel with others planning to cross to the Bahamas. We travel in a Carver 450 Voyager so our speed can vary to 20 MPH. Please let us know if you might be interested.Sea Conditions for Crossing from Ft. Laudeerdale
Posted: 28 Nov 2017 07:34 AM PST
Can anybody tell me where I can get accurate sea conditions for crossing the stream. We’re heading to Bimini. From what I can see on the off shore reports it looks like 2 ft seas, with a NE wind. Can I rely on that information? Also, anything we should know going into Bimini.Be the first to comment!
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