Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

Dec 24, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 30.153,-85.6589999
Good Words for Panama City Marina, Panama City, FL, GICW Statute Mile 290

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Our thanks to AGCLA member, Terry Godhold, for these words of praise for longtime CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Panama City Marina, located on the eastern shore of St. Andrews Bay.
I rarely, if ever, recommend a marina however, this is different. Yesterday, on the way to Panama City, I blew a oil hose. We had to call Sea Tow to tow us 17 miles where we successfully secured the Magic. The marina was given a “heads up” that we were being towed in. Rick, the harbor master, met us, helped us tie, gave us mechanics recommendation and all in all, was more helpful than almost any other marina we have visited.
Terry Godbold
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
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Dec 19, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Bahamas Chatter: “Exhibit of Bahamian Art” plus 2 more
Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: “Exhibit of Bahamian Art” plus 2 more
Exhibit of Bahamian Art
Posted: 19 Dec 2017 02:48 PM PST
If you are in the Stuart, FL area from now until February 25, 2018, you won’t want to miss a fabulous exhibit of the work of several Bahamian artists. The exhibit is at the Elliott Antique Automobile Museum at Stuart Beach. A variety of artists, some of whom were born in the 1800s, will bring joy to your eyes and heart. While you are there, you can also see numerous vintage vehicles as well as wooden speedboats, motorcycles, and lots of other antique artifacts. Enjoy!
Treasure Cay Christmas Events
Posted: 19 Dec 2017 02:42 PM PST
Development on Great and Little Stirrup Cay
Posted: 19 Dec 2017 02:39 PM PST
At the top of the Berry Island chain construction continues to turn Great and Little Stirrup Cays into a tourist fantasy land. A tower is under construction near the cruise ship beach on Great Stirrup Cay and the report of a pier to be built is on Little Stirrup Cay along with a large water park. Little Stirrup Cay (Co Co Cay) is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Great Stirrup Cay is owned by Norwegian Cruise Lines. Vessels in the area should use caution and expect cruise ships approaching and departing this area.
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Dec 19, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 29.892,-81.3089999
Municipal Marina Losing Revenue, St. Augustine, FL , AICW Statute Mile 778

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The City Marina has re-opened after being severely damaged by Hurricane Irma and is accepting transients. The marina has no fuel at this point, but the marina is staffed 24/7, has ice and the dinghy dock is open. Call ahead, 904-825-1026 to request services or make a reservation.
St. Augustine Municipal Marina losing half of its revenue
CLICK HERE FOR THIS VIDEO REPORT by Jessica Clark of WTLV
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For St. Augustine City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Augustine City Marina
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Dec 16, 2017by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment
Bahamas Chatter: Guns and Ammo in Bahamas
Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Guns and Ammo in Bahamas
Guns and Ammo in Bahamas
Posted: 15 Dec 2017 07:32 AM PST
We recently had some questions about how many rounds of ammunition one could bring in on a boat cruising in the Bahamas. We were able to talk to an official at Bahamas Customs and get this answer for what is allowed:
3 guns
250 rounds/weapon
Also, as it states in the Customs article of our Explorer Chartbooks, if one is boarded by the Defence Force, the number of rounds of ammunition aboard should equal the number on the cruising permit.
That’s the official word.
Monty Lewis
Explorer Chartbooks
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Comments from Cruisers (1)

Durando Fraino - December 22, 2017 - 2:28 pm

It sounds more as if you are planning a cruise to Afghanistan rather than the Bahamas. I can’t understand why you would want to vacation in a place where you need to worry about how much fire power you have on board.
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Dec 13, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Bahamas Chatter: “chart plotter software” plus 1 more
Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: “chart plotter software” plus 1 more
chart plotter software
Posted: 11 Dec 2017 04:42 PM PST
What free chart plotter software on your laptop do you use
when you’re downloading Explorer charts?
Lighthouse Yacht Club Andros
Posted: 11 Dec 2017 04:39 PM PST
Does anyone know if Lighthouse YC marina in Fresh Creek is open? Have heard conflicting reports. If closed, what are the options for stopping there? (don’t need any services) thx
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Dec 11, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Memories of Claiborne Young and Cruisers’ Net’s Beginning
There are bound to be a number of our readers who not only used Claiborne Young’s Cruising Guides for cruising information and advice, but who also knew Claiborne personally. With that in mind, Team Member, Winston Fowler, thinks you will enjoy reading Claiborne’s 2005 announcement of his guides going online (“live” as Claiborne describes) as Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net. Can you hear his excitement? So typical of this larger-than-life personality.
From: C. S. Young
To: Salty Southeast Subscriber
Sent: Fri, Nov 18, 2005 4:45 pm
Subject: Salty SE Cruiser’s Net Goes LIVE
SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISER’S NET GOES LIVE!!!!
Go to: http://www.CruisingGuide.com
Then, click on the “Cruiser’s Net” button along the left side of our home page
Watermark Publishing is proud to announce the genesis of what may turn out to be the most important new service to the Southeastern USA cruising community for many a year. And, best of all, it’s FREE, with nothing to subscribe to or join!
As those of you who have been on the Salty Southeast mailing list already know, we have been soliciting cruising news for a new “Salty Southeast Cruiser’s Net.” By this means, the cruising community can exchange information in real time about what’s changed, new, different, alarming or just plain exciting, on ALL the coastal waters from North Carolina to New Orleans.
NOTE: The enclosed links are no longer valid.
We have already received a wonderful selection of cruising news, ranging from changes in channels and aids to navigation, to marinas that might be charging a wee bit too much for their dockage. And, what’s really great, is that all this info is brought to you by those who know it best, namely, your fellow cruisers who have just traversed the waters you will soon be visiting.
Some of this data will be quite IMPORTANT to captains making their way south on the Atlantic ICW, and we urge you to check out the cruiser’s net at your earliest opportunity.
You will find the Salty SE Cruiser’s net divided into “North Carolina,” “South Carolina – Georgia,” “Eastern Florida” (Fernandina Beach to Miami), “Florida Keys,” “Western Florida” (Cape Sable to Carrabelle), “Northern Gulf” and “Bahamas” sub-sections.
Initially, you will find the “North Carolina,” “South Carolina – Georgia,” “Eastern Florida” and “Florida Keys” sections heavy with news. This is to be expected, as we have been hearing from the “snowbirds” as they wend their way south.
Of course, for this concept to work, WE NEED TO CONTINUE RECEIVING A STREAM OF NEWS FROM ALL CRUISERS, not just snowbirds, but also those who live and cruise weekly (or daily) on their home waters.
So, without further ado, we invite one and all to go to http://www.CruisingGuide.com, and click on the “Cruiser’s Net” button along the left side of hour home page.
PLEASE let us know what you think of the new Salty SE Cruiser’s Net, and PLEASE keep that great cruising news coming. We look forward to receiving your e-mails at opcom@cruisingguide.com.
Good luck and good cruising!
Claiborne Young
Watermark Publishing
opcom@cruisingguide.com
http://www.CruisingGuide.com
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Dec 10, 2017by: Larry Dorminy 2 Comments 25.6622,-80.15479999
Local Knowledge Requested on Cape Florida Channel, Biscayne Bay, Statute Mile 1097

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If you are familiar with these two channels, located south of Key Biscayne, into Biscayne Bay, let Kevin and us hear from you.
Is anyone familiar with entering Biscayne Bay via the Cape Florida Channel or Biscayne Channel? I draw 4.5 feet. What are the currents like? Thanks.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Cape Florida Channel and Biscayne Channel
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Comments from Cruisers (2)

Bill Marett - December 10, 2017 - 6:23 pm

You shouldn’t have any trouble with either channel. Key Biscayne channel is better marked and perhaps a little deeper, but neither is a problem for your draft. Enjoy the trip through Stiltsville. The Cape Florida channel is not as well marked, but again no problem. However, be cautious of the sportfishers that run through it on plane. Some sails chose to anchor near the channel for a quick start to a Bahamas trip – not a good idea. Also, on weekends there is a lot of traffic here going to and from No Name Harbor and its restaurant. Currents on each are not an issue for boats under power.
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Winston Fowler - December 11, 2017 - 1:01 pm

Great advice Bill. Thanks for helping a fellow cruiser .
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Dec 10, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 34.7566,-76.67359999
Sherer Report: Charted Buoy vs Buoy Reality, AICW Statute Mile 201, Beaufort, NC

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Bob and Ann Sherer, authors of 2017 ICW Cruising Guide and their popular blog, http://fleetwing.blogspot.com/, generously continue to share their research of Waterway trouble spots with our readers. Having run aground in the often shoaled Russell Creek “shortcut” into Beaufort’s waterfront, this editor can vouch for the area’s confusing array of buoys. Thank you Bob and Ann!
We’ve all faced a passage where the buoy placements don’t match our charts but when it happens at an already confusing area, it’s doubly confusing – especially whens the new buoys don’t seem to make sense. The junction between the ICW and the channel to Beaufort, NC, is such and area. The Coast Guard made major revisions to the buoys in the area and the charts have not caught up with the changes. Not even Navionics which usually does a very good job shows all the buoys in their correct positions. I used the updated light list to show the correct placements compared to what’s on most charts.

First, here’s the area of interest:

Here’s the NOAA ENC chart for the junction:

Now for the surprise, the actual buoy placement after the Coast Guard got done:

What a difference! 28A is gone, RS has been moved northward, and 30A and 30 have been moved. Imagine the confusion in approaching this area from the north when all you have is a NOAA ENC chart which most of the chartplotter manufacturers base their own charts on. For more information on the changes and how charts from different chart providers compare see:
When Charts Lie: Part I
When Charts Lie: Part II
Bob Sherer
aka Bob423
2017 ICW Cruising Guide
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Dec 9, 2017by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 32.4301,-80.67439999
Update on Ladys Island Bridge Schedule, AICW Statute Mile 536, Beaufort, SC

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With a closed vertical clearance of 30ft, Ladys Island Bridge crosses the Waterway at Statute Mile 536 immediately north of Beaufort. Our thanks to Mandy Griffin of Downtown Marina of Beaufort, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, for this updated schedule.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Ladys Island Bridge
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Downtown Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Downtown Marina of Beaufort
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Dec 9, 2017by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment
Brightline Express (All Aboard Florida) RR Set to Begin Service
Despite opposition from Florida’s marine industry, see All Aboard Florida RR to Impact OWW Boaters the new high-speed rail service in south Florida is on schedule to begin operating. How severe the required RR bridge closures will be on navigation is yet to be known.
Florida Set To Launch Country’s First Private High-Speed Train Service
December 7, 20174:25 PM ET by Samantha Raphelson of NPR’s Here and Now
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Comments from Cruisers (1)

Jack Hart - December 15, 2017 - 2:12 pm

I love how these morons try to justify their pet projects! They claim it can take up to five hours, West Palm Beach to Miami! I normally do that in an hour, in a tractor trailer!
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