Everyone enjoys sunset pictures, but this is not what it appears to be – it’s actually a sunrise photo, taken, from the bow of our boat this past July at South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, on the west cost of Florida. The photo was deliberately underexposed to help saturate the colors.
By Greg Allard
Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net joins all of you in congratulating BoatUS on their 
50th Anniversary. BoatUS remains the premiere advocate for boaters and boating safety on all waters and SSECN is proud to have BoatUS as a SPONSOR!
As BoatUS celebrates its 50th Anniversary, the story of those 50 years is worthwhile reading, especially for those of you who have been members since the beginning in 1966.
http://www.boatus.com/history/The-History-of-BoatUS.pdf
Here is an opportunity for boaters to learn more about the plans that our state government agencies are considering for our coastal waters. Even without the training session, the website can be very useful.
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Training for the Georgia Coastal and Marine Planner February 17, 2016
As use of our ocean’s resources increase so do potential conflicts between user groups. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division (CRD) facilitates state management of coastal and ocean resources through improved planning and coordination.
CRD is partnering with the Georgia Tech Center for Geographic Information Systems and Strategic Energy Institute to launch a new planning tool called the Georgia Coastal and Marine Planner (GCAMP), which provides key information to coastal and ocean use stakeholders. GCAMP is a web-based map viewer that provides Georgia-specific data and information for planning and decision making. The resource assessment and planning tool provides easy access to geospatial information without the requirement of expensive or complicated software. GCAMP was designed to provide biological, physical, and human-use information in the offshore environment to planners, managers, decision makers, and the public.
“GCAMP establishes a transparent and open process for fostering better understanding among stakeholders about what is happening in Georgia’s coastal and ocean environment. It provides factual information about the location of natural resources and the location of human uses. This will help coastal and ocean resource managers avoid conflicts when modifying existing human uses and planning future activities,” said Jill Andrews, program manager at CRD.
Training on GCAMP will be held from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm February 17, 2016 at the Susan Shipman Environmental Learning Center located at the DNR Coastal Regional Headquarters, One Conservation Way, Brunswick. The public is invited to attend. There are also tutorials on the viewer’s website Geospatial.gatech.edu/GCAMP
For more information on GCAMP please contact Sonny Emmert or Jill Andrews at 912-264-7218
Questions? Contact Us
When will GA decide to become cruiser/boater friendly and keep their portion of the ICW reasonably maintained? Most boaters that have capable boats and crews opt to go offshore to avoid the state. Many others going off shore are at high risk. Even SC has finally decided to increase maintenance.
This annotated chart gives the location of the currently being relocated navigation aids in Boca Grande Pass, as noted in this 2/11 Nav Alert.
Click Here To Download a PDF containing this graphic
Click Here To Download a GPX file containing the new channel route
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Boca Grande Pass
Came through the Pass in the dark both (in/out) times. 1 and 2 are on station and flashing accordingly. 3 is on station and flashing accordingly. #4 Red could not be found. 5 and 6 were on station and flashing accordingly. We did not have a depth finder and we did not touch bottom. No shoaling was apparent (waves). There is a dredge and/or barges on the North side of the harbor once you get in about a mile.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST 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: “Request for Buddy Boat” plus 1 more
Request for Buddy Boat
Posted: 11 Feb 2016 03:01 PM PST
This request came via our partner the Cruisers’ Net for the Intracoastal Waterway:
A boater is requesting a buddy boat or advice for crossing from Lake Worth/WPB to West End or Memory Rock.
Please respond and he will connect with you here.
Here is contact information for Tam & Craig Westover;
Phone 651 – 307 – 8214 or 612 309 – 1492
Email: westover4@gmail.com
Satellite Internet – GMN?
Posted: 25 Jan 2016 04:44 AM PST
We plan on cruising around Berry Islands, Exumas down to Land & Sea Park and back up to Abacos. I’m particularly concerned about having internet connection in Exumas. I must have at least intermittent access for my US Clients during our 3 mos cruising. Has anyone had any experience with Global Marine Network or can recommend another satellite internet service?
Thanks
CC
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is a group of dedicated cruisers who always provide unique reports from the marinas they visit. Legacy Harbour Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is located on the Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway, in the heart of downtown Fort Myers, Florida. Multiple dining and shopping opportunities are found within easy walking distance of this absolutely first-rate marina!
Cape Coral Cruise Club Cruises to Legacy Harbour Marina
By John Queen, Commodore, Cape Coral Cruise Club
Legacy Harbour Welcome Sign
Each month, the Cape Coral Cruise Club makes a scheduled cruise to a different marina in SW Florida and stays for several days enjoying the amenities and hospitality of the marina. We do this nine times a year along with an extended cruise each spring. We take a break during the summer months of July and August, as many members return north. This January vessel compasses pointed towards Legacy Harbour Marina in downtown Fort Myers.
Moonlighter arrives at Legacy Harbour.
Club boats headed out on Tuesday, January 26th on what was actually a nice dry day, and boats headed home on Friday, January 29th, also a nice dry day. Everything in between – fergetaboutit! It was rain, rain, and more rain. Did I mention it was wet? The Club plans its monthly cruises months ahead of time and cannot of course control Mother Nature, but did she really have to rain on our parade all that week?
Seven Cape Coral Cruise Club member boats made the journey plus 2 club members live-aboard and reside at Legacy Harbour year round (they didn’t have to go far). On Tuesday night, club members gathered at the Tiki Hut for drinks and a potluck dinner. That’s when the rain began. It didn’t stop until Friday morning.
Wednesday morning, after serving up a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and Bennett’s doughnuts, a tour was planned at the Edison-Ford Estates Museum and Laboratory. Seven club members made the trip only to find that Edison-Ford had closed the estate tours and grounds due to inclement weather. We toured the museum and laboratory, but it was disappointing that that the main estate was not accessible.
Wednesday night, several members brought out their best chili recipes for a chili cook-off contest. The Tiki Hut at Legacy was lined with 7 crock pots, each vying for attention. After scouting the marina to find a person who would serve as our ‘official’ chili judge, as luck would have it, Eric, the Legacy Dock Master volunteered. At the time, we didn’t realize what a true chili aficionado Eric was.
At the stroke of 6:00 PM, Eric showed up with a clipboard and judging sheet divided into 5 or 6 categories of aroma, texture, and consistency…, from which to judge. Before judging, Eric also gave an impromptu verbal lesson on the history of chili. Eric was the perfect judge! After carefully writing notes and quickly sampling each offering, Eric rose from the steam laden crocks and declared victory: Pati Queen was declared the winner followed by 2nd place to Stephanie Carrico, and 3rd place going to Bonnie Martin.
On Thursday morning, we laid out a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, dry cereals and juices for everyone. Of course it rained the night before, and the rain continued throughout the day.
Over 40 members enjoy dinner at Pinchers Crab Shack in Ft. Myers.
Thursday evening about 45 club members converged on Pincher’s Restaurant a few blocks west of Legacy Harbour. Since several members came to Pincher’s by car, they helped shuttle boaters stay out of the rain. It’s always nice to have non boating club members join the boaters for the group dinner. Pincher’s was quite hospitable by housing all club members in a private dining area.
On Friday morning the rain finally stopped and the boaters headed out to the Caloosahatchee returning to their home slips scattered around Cape Coral. The Club certainly thanks the staff of Legacy Harbour Marina for their hospitality, as well as Pincher’s Restaurant for accommodating us on this event. We thank Mother Nature for giving us a dry trip back home on Friday.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is open to new members who own a boat with overnight accommodations and reside in the Cape Coral / Ft. Myers area. For membership information please contact Phil Kryger at 239-541-0236. The Club website is being updated so the short video of recent Club activities and additional Club information may not be accessible. Club website, www.c-c-c-c.org
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Legacy Harbour Marina
In this excellent article posted in MarineLink.com, AIWA’s Brad Pickel introduces us to a new term for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway: M95.
AIWA Highlights Investment Needs on the Nation’s Marine Highways
By Brad Pickel, Executive Director, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association
Tuesday, February 09, 2016
Nowhere is that more important than on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
As 2016 begins, we at the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA) are looking forward to participating in the ongoing dialogue regarding the need for strategic investments in the Nation’s Marine Transportation System. Our organization advocates for the ongoing maintenance of one of the nation’s longest water infrastructure projects, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW). Although the waterway has received funding for the past few years, we know that more is needed for this vital transportation route. The AIWW serves a number of commercial, governmental and recreational organizations over its’ collective 1,100 mile length. Whether it’s a small town fishing village or a large-scale corporation, the AIWW provides safe transportation to all users all along the eastern seaboard. Today, we see a number of opportunities and threats facing the AIWW.
Similar to many other federal projects, we face a lack of consistent and sustainable federal funding to maintain the waterway at its full capability. The AIWW has received incremental increases over the past few years and we are extremely thankful for the effort that has led to those extra dollars. But, we also see an opportunity to invest in the nation’s most efficient mode of transportation with lower emissions, lower costs, and a good environmental safety record. As the harbor deepening projects come to fruition and Post-Panamax ships steadily arrive, the nation must maximize all of the transportation avenues that are available.
Just this past November, we were fortunate to have U.S. D.O.T. Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen participate in our annual meeting. Administrator Jaenichen painted a very clear picture regarding the expected increase in freight movement in the United States by 2040. With an expected increase of over 45% in freight movement, we were left to wonder if existing infrastructure of the multi-modal system could support the anticipated increases. Our view is that our nation has a greater opportunity to manage these increases by investing in the development and maintenance of a reliable national marine transportation system, and more specifically marine highways such as the AIWW (M-95).
Moving forward, federal dollars will continue to be constrained for infrastructure needs, and ongoing maintenance will likely require investments by non-federal partners. On the AIWW, non-federal partners have established dedicated funding sources in Florida and North Carolina to aid in keeping their sections of the waterway open. In 2015, Charleston County, South Carolina provided $500,000 to supplement federal funding for waterway maintenance within the county. We fully believe that it should remain a federal responsibility to maintain the nation’s marine transportation system, but there is a willingness to support limited non-federal funding if work can be scheduled and completed in a timely fashion.
In 2016, we are focused on pursuing additional funding for the maintenance of the AIWW, and the completion of Section 2008 of the 2014 Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA 2014). This section required the Corps to conduct an Assessment of Operations and Maintenance Needs for the AIWW and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Upon completion of this study, everyone will have a roadmap showing the needs of each waterway and the necessary dollars to maintain them. Fortunately, the congressional delegation along the waterway supported this effort and now we hope that it will be included in the upcoming budget proposal. With this information, Congress will see the amount of money needed to maintain the waterway, and non-federal partners will see the amount of funding needed to maintain their section. Through these activities, we will continue to move forward in providing what all of the users of the waterway desire, a well-maintained marine highway 95.
Editor’s Note
MARAD [Marine Administration] didn’t designate the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) as the “M-95” marine highway because it sounds nice. Running adjacent and parallel to Interstate Highway 95 for hundreds of miles, the AIWW has the potential to relieve a significant amount of pressure from one of the nation’s busiest and most congested freight and passenger car corridors. But, not if federal funding for maintenance dredging of the AIWW does not keep pace with the needs of the waterway. Beyond this, the practice of awarding dredging and maintenance funding on the basis of existing tonnage alone greatly under calls the huge potential of this waterway as a powerful intermodal marine highway. – JK.
See message above. Portions of the waterway in NC and SC are almost impassable.. Large sections in Florida don’t meet the the 12 feet depth requirement.
Congress has failed to properly maintain the AIW for years. In the case of Florida, Congress agreed in the Act of 1927 to perpetually maintain the waterway and enlarging it in exchange for Florida buying the Florida East Coast Canal and turning it over to the federal government and all necessary r/w free and clear at Florida’s sole expense. Florida bought the waterway for $725,000. Congress has failed to keep up its end of the bargain.
As posted in this article from Soundings’ Trade Only Today section, Dania’s Marine Flea Market will be March 3-6 in Hallendale Beach just south of Fort Lauderdale.
Florida marine flea market returns in March
Posted on February 9th, 2016
The Dania Beach Marine Flea Market will be held March 3-6 at the Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
The 26-acre parking lot of the casino at U.S. Route 1 and Pembroke Road will once again become a nautical swap shop.
Organizers said private individuals and marine-related businesses will sell used marine equipment, coral-encrusted antiques, new and used boats, fishing tackle, diving gear, marine artwork and other boating-related items at low prices.
“Some shoppers to the Marine Flea Market travel hundreds of miles to find that elusive part for a 1946 vintage outboard motor,” event coordinator Jennifer Dudas said in a statement. “Others are looking for antique fishing tackle. Over the four days, thousands of boating- and fishing-related items are bought and sold through a system of dickering and dealing at a fraction of their retail value.”
For the full article, CLICK HERE.
We’ve not heard of recent cases of mycobacterium marinum among our cruising colleagues since Jim Bertch’s fight with this awful infection, see /118638, but Michael Tallman’s experience can well serve as a reminder that caution is called for when working in or around water.
I used to work in a water lab. One of my jobs was setting up the fish test for water toxicity. After working with the dead fish and cleaning containers, a small scratch on my finger became infected. It wouldn’t heal for six months and constantly produced pus. The dr. couldn’t diagnose or heal it. I was finally sent to a dermatologist, who correctly diagnosed mycobacterium marinum !
By then two nodules of the infection had traveled upward to my wrist and arm. I was told powerful antibiotics which may cause liver damage,may heal it, but the best treatment was surgical incision. Which was done for the two nodules and original infection site. This horrible bacterium lives in water, so beware of the smallest cut getting infected.
Michael Tallman, California.
This is almost identical to my experience. I had 3 doctors who failed to identify the infection. A country Nurse Practitioner identified it and the road to recovery (3 years) was on.
Jim Bertch
SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET is proud to welcome our newest sponsor, Curtis Stokes and Associates of North Carolina.
Historic Edenton, also A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is 300 Years Young! Come and let them prove it!
Curtis Stokes and Associates is a professional, successful, licensed and bonded yacht brokerage firm, with brokers based throughout the United States and Europe and local representation based in Edenton, NC. Our buyers know that we personally inspect every yacht and boat we list. Our sellers rely on us for a proactive approach to marketing their yachts that includes extensive promotion in both print and electronic media.
For sellers, we regularly advertise in national, regional and local magazines. We strongly encourage other brokers to sell our listings through co-brokerage agreements and we participate and display in special events year-round.
Our internet marketing is second to none. Our web site – curtisstokes.net – is specifically designed to secure the best search engine rankings possible. We also partner with such leading yachting websites as Yachtworld.com, Yatco.com, Boattrader.com, boats.com, marinesource.com, yachtsforsale.com, iboats.com, theyachtmarket.com, moreboats.com and others, ensuring that our listings get the broadest internet exposure possible.
For boat buyers, we specialize in buyer brokerage, where we preview boats for you and provide you our feedback, thus reducing wasted time and money on your part chasing the wrong boats. Since we collect our commission from the listing broker or seller, there is no extra cost to you for this service.
For a free evaluation detailing how we can help market your boat or if you’re now searching for that perfect yacht, call your North Carolina Curtis Stokes & Associates rep, Wayne Smith at 516-445-1932, or email him at wayne@curtisstokes.net.
Please visit our website at:
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