Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

Aug 31, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments 24.5639,-81.73069999
Ocean Side Marina on Stock Island (just north of Key West) Being Sold – Improvments Coming Soon

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With special permission from KeysNet.com (http://www.keysnet.com), we have reprinted a portion of his article below. The marina which is the subject of this article lies on the Hawk Channel side of Stock Island, just north of Key West.
Having personally visited this facility several times within the last five years, it did indeed seem to be a bit down on its luck. Hopefully, with the purchase described below, everything will return to first-class status in short order!
Local developer buys iconic marina
Singh plans $25M upgrade, 80 new condos at Oceanside
One of the Florida Keys’ most successful developers will purchase one of the Keys’ most iconic marinas.
Pritam Singh will close on a deal today to purchase Oceanside Marina, on Stock Island, for $5 million from BB T Bank, he told The Citizen on Wednesday. Singh said he plans to invest another $25 million into the marina for repairs and upgrades, including 80 new condos and a restaurant.
“It (the marina) was ‘the’ place, and it can be again,” Singh said. “It was a jewel among the marinas of Key West. It was the premier sportfishing marina of the Florida Keys. There have been more world records from boats out of here than anywhere else in the country.”
Millionaire Texas oil men Tex Schramm and Clint Murchison built the marina in the late 1960s, Singh said.
The marina fell on hard times since its glory years. In early 2010, BB T Bank took the deed for the property in lieu of foreclosure from the Cortex Cos., which had changed the name to Kings Pointe Marina.
The group who managed the marina for the bank changed the name back to Oceanside in 2011.
Singh admitted that the marina needs a lot of work to bring it back to its heyday. One entire boat barn needs to be leveled, and the seawalls and boat ramp are in dire need of repairs, he said.
Rows of boat slips will remain untouched, as the slips were sold to individual owners. Singh said he purchased 8 acres of upland and 4 acres of bay bottom.
He has been working with Monroe County planning staff for the past several months to determine how much development can occur there. But he added that he plans to keep it a sportfishing marina.
“The saying is, ‘The legend is back,'” Singh said. “It’s beautiful. It’s an extraordinary site.”
Singh called Stock Island an up-and-coming community with a lot of potential. He cited the success of restaurateur Bobby Mongelli, who owns Hogfish Bar Grill and Roostica on Stock Island.
He also referenced the changes being made on Shrimp Road, on the other side of Safe Harbor, by the owners of Stock Island Marina Village, who have built a dog park and community garden on their property, extended their piers and are looking at building a hotel on Safe Harbor.
“Stock Island is great,” Singh said. “It is fabulous.”
Doesn’t sound like sailors will be appreciated. Maybe I’ll add a tuna tower!
Has Royer s/v Skye
Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Ocean Side Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ocean Side Marina
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Aug 31, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Unexpected Good Stay at Carolina Beach Mooring Field, AICW Statute Mile 295

Carolina Beach Mooring Field - Click for Chartview
The Carolina Beach Mooring Field lies south of the AICW channel, and also south of Snow Cut’s easterly entrance, in the harbor channel leading to Carolina Beach commercial district. As you will see below, Captain Spence relays welcome improvements in service to mooring users in this field.
We stayed here a year ago, and I was not looking forward to a second visit. We were only spending one night and after an 8 1/2 hour day I didn’t feel much like launching the dinghy from the second deck in the wind just to go pay our mooring fee. I was very happy to read that they now send a boat out each evening to collect fees. And great news ‘“ a second dinghy dock on the beach side with access to the beach is supposed to open in about two weeks!
Paula Spence
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Carolina Beach Mooring Field
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Carolina Beach Mooring Field
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Aug 30, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
New Okeechobee Waterway Lock Hours Due to HIGH Water

St. Lucie Lock/Okeechobee Waterway
The text below is reprinted with permission from “East Coasts Alerts,” authored by our good friends Mel and Tom Neale. This publication is a service of Boat/US. You can read the full text of the Neal’s latest “Alert” at http://www.boatus.com/cruising/tomneale/alert.asp. You can also apply for a FREE e-mail subscription at http://www.boatus.com/cruising/TomNeale/signup.asp. We highly recommend this companion publication. After all, NO-ONE knows more about cruising that Tom and Mel Neale!!!
Back to the Okeechobee Waterway, this is the first time in my somewhat defective memory that I can remember the Okeechobee locks having reduced lockage hours due to HIGH water. It’s usually during times of drought that the USACOE finds it necessary to curb the locks.
Well, as we reported earlier, the prodigious summer Florida rainfall has actually caused some concern about the dikes around Lake Okeechobee (see /?p=121826) and the release of polluted water into the OKWW, east and west of Lake Okeechobee (see /?p=121537). I guess the restricted lock hours described below are just another casualty of all this excess water!
Okeechobee Waterway Revised Locking Hours Due to High Lake Okeechobee Water Levels:
1. Lake Okeechobee is experiencing unusually high water levels requiring adjustments to lockage times on the Okeechobee Waterway to maintain maximum water releases from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee River (C-43) and the St. Lucie Canal.
2. Lockage schedules for Moore Haven Lock and Ortona Lock are temporarily revised as of this date to maintain maximum water releases from Lake Okeechobee. Lockage schedules are revised as follows:
Moore Haven Lock (26.833683Â°-81.088144Â°). First lockage is at 7AM local time both east and west bound continuing to lock through traffic only on the odd hour throughout the day until securing at 7PM local time.
Ortona Lock (26.789265Â°-81.304948Â°): First lockage is at 8am local time both east and west bound continuing to lock thru traffic only on the even hour throughout the day until securing at 6PM local time.
Port Mayaca Lock (26.984290-80.621067Â°): No restrictions. Lock gates remain open for passage 24/7.
W.P. Franklin Lock (26.723504Â°-81.693068Â°): No restrictions. Lockage is on request between 7AM and 7PM local time.
St. Lucie Lock (27.111128Â°-80.284610Â°): No restrictions. Lockage is on request between 7AM and 7PM local time.
3. Locks will resume normal hours of operations from 7AM to 7PM daily for the five locks on the Okeechobee Waterway once water levels on Lake Okeechobee are at a reduced level. For additional information regarding this issue and others may be obtained by accessing the Jacksonville District website: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Navigation/NoticestoNavigation.aspx US Army Corps of Engineers point of contact is Mr. Jack J. Pasch, Supervisor Facility Management Specialist at (863)983-8101 x229 or email: jack.j.pasch@usace.army.mil (From a Notice to Navigation Interests, USACE Jacksonville, 12 August 2013)
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Aug 27, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
“The Great Book of Anchorages, The Bahamas,” Slated For September, 2013 Release
The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is very pleased to announce the impending publication of a new member of the “Great Book of Anchorages” series, authored by our good friends, and frequent SSECN contributors, Captains Susan Landry and Chuck Baier. Chuck and Susan are the founder and owners of Beach House Publications (http://www.tgboa.com).
As you will see from the full text of their Press Release below, this new, exciting volume concerns itself with the myriad anchorages in the Bahamas! Wow, talk about a NEEDED anchorage guide book. I can’t think of any waters where a volume of this ilk will be more useful. Follow the links below to pre-order your copy TODAY!!!!!
Sarasota, Florida ‘“ August 5, 2013 — Publishers Chuck Baier and Susan Landry of Beach House Publications announce their collaboration with Wavey Line Publishing, producers of Wavey Line Charts, for the newest `The Great Book of Anchorages, The Bahamas,’ scheduled for release in September 2013.
Beach House Publications (http://www.tgboa.com/) released the first in the series of The Great Book of Anchorages, Norfolk to Key West, including The St. Johns River, in August of 2012. After an extensive cruise through the Bahamas for research, we are pleased to announce the release of our Bahamas Edition in September 2013. This new edition, featuring very detailed Wavey Line Chartlets and many anchorage details in a unique format, will prove to be a valuable resource for boaters traveling to the Bahamas. The Bahamas Edition covers hundreds of anchorages in the most popular and well traveled areas of the Bahamas, including Grand Bahama, Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, and the Exumas to Georgetown.

Sample Page - "The Great Book of Anchorages, Bahamas Edition"
Wavey Line Publishing has a portfolio of more than 300 charts covering the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands and the Dominican Republic North Coast in paper and electronic versions. Bob C. Gascoine and Jane Minty published their surveys and their first chart, TC001, in December 1993. TC001 had the distinction of being the first navigational chart primarily for use with GPS. It featured new innovations such as a ‘˜one mile grid’ for ease of position plotting and ‘˜Waypoint List.’ The first edition sold out in six months; soon after Bob and Jane took up hydrography as a full-time occupation. Although Wavey Line Charts has a portfolio of more than 300 charts, only a third of these are published in hard copy as printed charts. Wavey Line licenses many more of these charts to all major electronic chart companies including: Jeppsen Digital Charts, Garmin, Nobeltec, Navionics, EarthNC, Maptech, Fugawi, GeoGarage Marine and Transas marine.
This will be the second in what will eventually be a series of six anchorage books that will encompass the waterways of the eastern United States. Additional books in the series will be the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay, New Jersey to New York, including the Hudson River, Chicago to Mobile, and the Gulf Coast Intracoastal Waterway from Mobile, Alabama to Cape Sable, Florida. The Great Book of Anchorages is available to the boating community now at http://www.tgboa.com, along with Photo Galleries and Interactive Maps. The publications can be purchased through several local and online venders, and the list can be found on the website at http://www.tgboa.com/get-your-copy. The next edition will be The Chesapeake Bay, which is currently in the research stage and will be available by Spring/Summer 2014. The order and dates of release for the additional books will depend on input and requests from the boating community.
The most unique anchorage guide available. The Great Book of Anchorages may very well become the standard for anchorage books to follow. Boaters can finally do an entire cruise without any marina stops or choose when they want to find paid dockage. The books are designed for information on anchoring and free docks and nothing else. It doesn’t pretend to be a cruising guide or combination cruising guide and anchorage information.
- Hundreds of anchorages and free docks in each edition.
- Anchorage and free dock details including color chartlets.
- Anchorage and dock locations with GPS waypoints.
- Easy-to-use format and indexing for quick reference.
- Discussions on types of anchors and anchoring techniques.
- Suggestions for planning your next trip.
- Save time and searching with anchorage locations at your fingertips.
- Save thousands of dollars in dockage fees.
If you would like more information on The Great Book of Anchorages series, would like to order books, or interview Chuck or Susan, call us at 713-244-4686 or email info@tgboa.com.
Website, http://www.tgboa.com.
Susan Landry, Publisher/Author/Editor
Chuck Baier, Publisher/Author
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Aug 26, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Liveaboard/Landing Issues at Tarpon Basin, Key Largo, FL Keys Inside Route, Mile 1139.5

Tarpon Basin - Click for Chartview
Tarpon Basin is crossed by the FL Keys Inside Route, just south of Blackwater Sound and Dusenberry Creek. There are at least 3 good spots to drop the hook here, and creative skippers will find more.
One of our readers, Captain Mary Dixon, sent us the link below, which leads to a truly interesting article, which appeared in KeysNet.com (http://www.keysnet.com), about boats anchored long term in Tarpon Basin. As you will see, the problems reported in this article center around a small group of (I will NOT call them “crusiers”) people living on anchored vessels in Tarpon Basin. This unfortunate group is making life difficult for everyone, including fellow boat owners whose vessels are anchored in Tarpon Basin. Here is a case where many of those living on the water are asking for change, as well as the shorside powers that be! And, if this situation is not resolved soon, the responsible boat owners in Tarpon Bay may lose their rights to a public dinghy dock, which has been a great resource for all legitimate mariners!
With special permission from KeysNet.com publisher, Captain Wayne Markham, we have reprinted a portion of his article below. Follow the link in Captain Dixon’s note, or below the excerpted portions of the story, to read the entire text. Many thanks Captain Markham!!!!
Cruising News:
Interesting development for Key Largo Tarpon Basin. http://www.keysnet.com/2013/08/24/489480/key-largo-liveaboards-beg-to-keep.html
Mary Dixon
Reprinted by Permission from KeysNet.com
Key Largo liveaboards beg to keep access
By KEVIN WADLOW
kwadlow@keynoter.com
Posted – Saturday, August 24, 2013 10:35 AM EDT
Reluctant to evict the solid citizens of the Tarpon Basin liveaboard community because of a few scofflaws, Monroe County commissioners decided Wednesday to seek more law enforcement.
It was a problem that cropped up literally in the commission’s own back yard, the bayfront park behind the Murray E. Nelson Government and Cultural Center at mile marker 102.5.
“We’ve had people showering naked next to the dumpster. People bathing in the fountain, naked,” county Building Official Jerry Smith told the commission. “We deal with this on a daily basis.”
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy said the small park once attracted sunset-watchers and children’s parties. Efforts were made to accommodate a number of well-behaved boaters who started using a small dock at the site to tie their dinghies.
“We were very good to the people who live on the hook out there,” Murphy said. “For two and a half years, it was wonderful. Then all of a sudden, a different quality began to take place.”
Now the park has been overrun by a small group of sketchy characters who create anxiety among visitors and county staff, she contended.
…..
Several boaters who rely on the government-center property for shore access appealed for the county to oust the “bad apples” before banning everybody from the dock.
“The undesirables showed up when you closed other areas” used for liveaboard landing spots, said James Chapman. “You pushed them to us.”
He added, “They’re mostly gone now because they were arrested or their boats sunk.”
Murphy agreed the boaters who attended the Wednesday session “are the good ones. You’re not the problem, and you can’t solve it,” she said. “I don’t know what else we can do, except close off the dock to dinghies.”
“If you choose to close this off, you’re saying Key Largo is a town and island that is inaccessible by the water,” said liveaboard Chadwick Acevedo, married and employed. “What kind of island has no water access for the public?”
The boaters describe themselves as working locally for modest wages or retirees living a fixed income. Local marinas are too expensive, they said.
County Mayor George Neugent, a former liveaboard, said the proposed ordinance to curtail use of the park “gives me heartburn.”
Full article can be read at:
http://www.keysnet.com/2013/08/24/489480/key-largo-liveaboards-beg-to-keep.html
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Tarpon Basin Northern Anchorage
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Tarpon Basin Southern Anchorage
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Tarpon Basin Interior Anchorage
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Tarpon Basin Anchorages
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Aug 22, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Continuing Problems on Northern Gulf ICW Between Panama City and Choctawhatchee Bay (near Statute Mile 265)
Back in July, we reported that the a narrow, canal-like section of the Northern Gulf ICW (a. k. a. the Gulf Coast Intracoastal Waterway) had been closed, due to the collapse of a dike, following torrential rains, and tons of mud and sand had been washed into the channel. Then, on 8/24/13, we published an article that dredging had partially reopened the channel, but budgetary restrictions had kept the ACOE from widening the channel to its original breadth (see /?p=119741).
Now, below we hear from Captain Rich Gano, in Panama City, (who sent us the original report of the Waterway closing) that more rains have worsened the situation, and moneys are still not available for a full fix. Sounds like there may be hope though!
Last month I reported on the dike break which closed the ICW between Panama City and Destin for a week or two. We have continued to have inordinate amounts of rain, and the US COE now reports this same area has shoaled up to on the southern half of the channel at this mile marker. The northern part of the channel is OK.
For the uninitiated, that is NOT enough room for easy passage of two trawlers. There is no estimate of when the money will be available to fix this, but because it hinders barge delivery of fuel to Panama City (our normal method), I assume it will not be long.
Rich Gano
Calypso

Click Here, Or on Chartlet Above, To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of The “Partially Reopened” Section of the Northern Gulf ICW
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Aug 21, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
A GOOD Time For Florida Keys Cruising and a GOOD Dockage Deal at Hawks Cay Marina (off Hawk Channel East and North of Marathon)
We picked up the message below from the American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association Forum (AGLCA, http://www.greatloop.org/). It is authored by one of the dockmasters at Hawk’s Cay Marina (off Hawk Channel between east and north of Marathon).
Not only does this article contain a very nice fall, 2013 dockage offer at this absolutely first-rate facility, but it also confirms that the fall months, BEFORE the arrival of the “snowbirds,” is a very good time for cruising the Florida Keys!
Now that the frenzy of Lobster Season Opening has passed, it’s your chance to enjoy the time of year when you feel like you have the beautiful Florida Keys waters a bit to yourself. We want to share our quieter season with you, so we are offering extra savings on our already value oriented fall rates. Book your Main Marina dates for a stay between August 15 and December 23, 2013 and receive 20% off our published Daily, Weekly or Monthly rates. To qualify, you must confirm with a deposit by August 31st. Ask for the Fabulous Fall Special. Enjoy our tropical destination resort marina and the beautiful Keys waters during this special time and save money at the same time.
Beverly Seiling
Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Hawk’s Cay Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Mariner’s Cay Marina
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Aug 20, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Groundings in Jarvis Creek, AICW Statute 560, Calibogue Sound, Hilton Head, SC

Jarvis Creek - Click for Chartview
Jarvis Creek and its anchorage opens on the eastern shores of northern Calibogue Sound, south of Jenkins Islands and east of flashing daybeacon #1.
In the SSECN “South Carolina Anchorage Directory, we have always given Jarvis Creek our lowest recommendation (only one anchor), and the shoals surrounding this stream’s mouth are certainly one reason for this less than glowing review. Now, based on the experiences of the two shrimpers (see below), we are wondering whether we should remove Jarvis Creek entirely from our suggested anchorages????
If ANYONE has had a good or bad experience exploring and/or anchoring in Jarvis Creek, PLEASE share your observations. Either make use of the “Comment” function below, or send e-mail to EditorialDirector@CruisersNet.net. Many thanks in advance!
UPDATE: Make SURE to read the note from Captain Moore below the photo at the bottom of this posting. His local knowledge clears up most of the mystery surrounding this grounding!
Cruising News:
island packet . 2 trawlers aground in jarvis crk. trying to re float today [8/15/2013]. s of broad crk marina on icw?
Wooduck
And this reprint from The Island Packet:
By SARAH BOWMAN
sbowman@islandpacket.com
Posted: August 17, 2013
Two shrimp boats ran aground Wednesday in a marsh on the north end of Hilton Head Island. James Murray is captain of the overturned Lady Essie, a 1969, 65-foot shrimp trawler based in Port Royal. He said he came into Jarvis Creek at 7 a.m. to tow another shrimp trawler, the Dianie, from the dock behind the Crazy Crab restaurant, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Sgt. Robin McIntosh said.
Murray, who is 69 and from Savannah, said he was unfamiliar with the creek and the shallow areas, and he ran aground as he was trying to leave the creek.

Island Packet - Staff Photo by Drew Martin
We live near the Jarvis Creek grounded shrimpers, and they are not at the mouth of the creek. I would estimate that they are a little over 1/2 mile into the creek. (I cannot check this, as we just pulled our Whaler for some maintenance.) I do not disagree with your conclusions regarding Jarvis Creek, but I would doubt if the typical anchoring boat would be where these boats are grounded.
K. C. Moore, Jr.
Hilton Head
I live on Hilton Head Island and dock at Windmill Harbour, just visible on the upper left corner of your map insert, the entrance where the 10 ft. depth is shown, so I pass this mess all the time. My guess is that it is skipper error, rather than silting, and it is farther up the creek than I would go. the boats are a long way up the creek
Shrimp boats always used Jarvis Creek to tie up next to the Crazy Crab restaurant on Highway 278 one mile on the island. The article says there was towing involved, so I believe that was the issue, as it is exceptionally tight in the upper are of the creek. the crazy crab is some 1/4 mile further up the creek than where the boats grounded.
From what I can see, the boats are considerably higher up the creek than where your red anchor is placed, and I would place them between the 9ft and 5ft marks on the upper right hand side of the map insert, where it turns to the starboard (as you enter) – nearly off your insert. They appear well North East of the red anchor at any rate.
There was a Coast Guard or Auxiliary boat looking at them when I passed them the other day, and they took fuel off them, so it looks like they may be there for a while. They are on the Northwest bank of the creek, parallel to the shore, and both well aground. The fishing rig and booms have now been removed from the second boat (see left boat in picture still has booms on – they are now gone), so it is a lot safer.
I would not go that far up the creek to anchor anyway, because it would be really tight to turn around.
Hope This helps –
Bill Lawrenson,
SV Serenity,
Hilton Head Island
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Jarvis Creek Anchorage
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Jarvis Creek
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Aug 12, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from Pungo Creek Anchorage, AICW Statute Mile 136

Pungo Creek - Click for Chartview
Pungo Creek makes into the western banks of the Pungo River, a short hop south of the charming community of Belhaven, NC, on Pantego Creek, and west-northwest of the AICW’s marker #8. This is a surprisingly wide stream, but with excellent depths.
A bit off the beaten track but a great place. Better shelter from East winds can be found a bit West, closer to the fixed bridge.
Dave Boxmeyer
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Pungo Creek Anchorage
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Pungo Creek Anchorage
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Aug 12, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 32.5325,-80.41289999
Important – Alternative to AICW/Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 517

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Captain Constant’s (dockmaster at SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Port Royal Landing Marina) report below is yet another confirmation of the many reports we have posted on the SSECN about AICW shoaling in the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff Problem Stretch (see /?p=120036). And, just last Friday we appealed to the Cruising Community, for help in lobbying the South Carolina US Congressional delegation for a “supplemental appropriation” that would allow the US Army Corps of Enginners to dredge the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff, and the AICW, north of Charleston, where it passes behind shallow Breach Inlet (see /?p=120893).
Captain Constant’s suggested alternate route to avoid the Cutoff seems valid, and his is Local Knowledge – always good to have! Cruising south, the “bypass” would begin by turning southeast on the Ashepoo River (downstream), at the southern end of Fenwick Cut, then continuing downstream to Combahee Bank in St. Helena Sound. After CAREFULLY bypassing the “Combahee Bank” shoals, this route then turns northwest and heads for the Coosaw River, rejoining the Waterway near statute mile 519.5, west of marker #186.
Unfortunately, both the route around the “Combahee Bank” shoals, and the AICW route near the point of rejoining the Waterway west of #186, are very sparsely marked, and the open waters from St. Helena Sound could kickup with an outgoing tide and easterly wind. THE USE OF A WELL FUNCTIONING GPS CHARTPLOTTER IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED WHILE TRAVERSING THIS ALTERNATE ASHEPOO-COOSAW CUTOFF BYPASS ROUTE!
In spite to these challenges, until and if dredging is accomplished in the Ashepoo – Coosaaw Cutoff, this alternate passage may be preferable to the shallow depths in the Cutoff, particularly at low water.
SSECN would like to hear from ANY other cruisers who have made use of this Ashepoo – St. Helena Sound – Coosaw River alternate route. PLEASE share your experiences with our fellow cruisers. You can use the “Comment” function below, or send e-mail directly to EditorialDirector@CruisersNet.net. Thanks in advance!
I’m the dock master at Port Royal Landing Marina in Port Royal, SC. The shoaling going on just north of Beaufort at the Ashepoo-Coosaw cutoff is too low to navigate at low tide now with most trawlers and virtually all sailboats. How the dredges get through I don’t know.
One alternative to dredging this area is to move the ICW one inlet closer to the ocean. If you go east out the Coosaw River to the Ashepoo River you will see its inlet at Otter Island. This inlet is a natural river with fresh water influx and is about 20′ in depth at the mouth at one point is about 15′ then back to 20′ at the Fenwick Cut. If traveling south you would take a left when clearing the Fenwick Cut and travel close to Otter Island into the Coosaw River.
I live across the sound from this water and it is the way us locals travel now.
Tony Constant
Captain Constant offers further advice on the Ashepoo/Coosaw Rivers junction at Combahee Bank.
When entering the Ashepoo River From the Coosaw River you should be closer to the beach at Otter Island than to the port channel marker. The shoal is shoaling there as well but not near as hard. As a rule I use, when north bound, if I see 12′-15′ of depth I will steer to starboard until I see about 20′.
The Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff’s bottom is V shaped, meaning the channel is in the middle of the cut. 6-8 months ago it was much deeper with 9′-10′ of depth last year. Capt Ted took a 45′ trawler through about a month ago and only found 3′ of depth.
Tony Constant
Well this is a bad thing with the cut off! But, it would be nice if reporting vessels would post the state of the tide in their reports. If Capt. Ted had 3′ at low water very bad, but if there is 5′ at high water, not so bad. Cygnus ll draws 3’4’³
Capt. Mike Wright
We did take this alternate route a couple of years ago when heading north at low tide. We decided to avoid the cutoff and go the long way around. It worked well with our 6′ 3’³ draft. The only advice I would give is to give the Combahee Bank plenty of respect. It would appear to be shoaling further southeast.
Captain Richard
Does this alternate route turn up the coosaw river north of combahee bank or do yu have to go around the bank on the southeast end?
Jake Smith
In answer to Captain Smith’s question above, we recommend rounding Combahee Bank, by carefully passing to the east and south of this shoal, staying well south of the one unnumbered, but lighted marker which denotes its position. Then, set a course to the northwest, passing southwest of marker #12. Use your chartplotter to keep to the wide channel while continuing northwest to rejoin the AICW, west of marker #186. Hope that helps to answer your question!

Fenwick Cut - Click for Chartview

Combahee Bank - Click for Chartview
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fenwick Cut
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Combahee Bank
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Aug 11, 2013by: Larry Dorminy 1 Comment 33.8517,-78.65649999
Tender Woes at Little River Swing Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 347, Myrtle Beach, SC

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Little River Bridge - Click for Chartview
With a closed vertical clearance of 7ft, Little River Swing Bridge crosses the Waterway at Statute Mile 347 just north of the Marina at Dock Holidays.
Upon arrival at the swing bridge at approximately 11:00 pm on August 10, 2013, our boat could not make it under the swing bridge. We waited patiently for approximately 10 minutes while we watched the `swing bridge’ worker walk around in his operations office as well as look out the window at us. Although even knowing that he saw us waiting, we gave him the benefit of the doubt and politely touched our horn one quick time to try to make certain that he saw us. Well, as soon as we did that, he turned off his lights in his office as if he didn’t exist! So, we were at a loss as what to do and luckily I had my phone to try to locate a website with information about the bridge. Fortunately, I found the site with a contact number and we called it only to get harassed by the man working that night. He told us to put the top of our boat down’¦which we could not do because it is a permanent metal frame’¦then he preceded to asking multiple questions as our boat name and where we were from’¦but what really was unprofessional was the comment from him and I quote, `This is the last thing I need at midnight!’ What a very bad and frustrating ending to what was a perfect day. I would hope the inconsiderate, unprofessional, and very rude man will be dealt with according!!!
Sharon Walker
And, just in case you thought that cruisers could not make a difference by posting their experiences here on the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net, SSECN Senior Editor, Captain Larry Dorminy, forwarded Captain Walker’s note above to Michael.B.Lieberum, USCG Chief of Operations Section, Bridge Branch. We received this very encouraging response:
I will advise the bridge owner of this unprofessional behavior. If the vessel owner would like to make a formal complaint, they can email me with the details, this would allow this office to formally issue a complaint to the State of South Carolina, the bridge owner.
Mike
Michael Lieberum
Seventh Coast Guard District
Bridge Branch
Chief of Operations Section
I hope they do file a complaint. We have been cruising the ICW for many years and this bridge/bridge tender has always been a problem. Nastiness has been the order of the day here!
Bobbie Blowers
We have cruised through the Little River Swing Bridge many, many times north and southbound and it has always been pleasant passage. Sunday, April 13, 2014 being the latest passage. There have also been times when i have heard Boaters not being so pleasant with the Bridge Tenders causing them to get a little agitated with the Boater. A `10’³ for the Little River Swing Bridge. Keep up the good work.
The `Fire Dog’ & Crew
Raymond W Smith
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Little River Swing Bridge
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Comments from Cruisers (1)

Paul russell - September 21, 2014 - 4:06 pm

The swing bridge tenders have to deal with licencesed professional captains as well as the weekend warriors who think they are captains and quite often under the influence from the many surrounding bars accessible by water in the area. They are responsible not only for the vessels but motor and pedestrian traffic as well. If your lucky enough to be on the water slow down and enjoy it.
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Aug 8, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Good Words for Sunset Marina – Key West/Stock Island

Sunset Marina - Click for Chartview
Even though Sunset Marina is located on Stock Island, this facility lies within sight of the Fleming Key/Key West Mooring Field, and within a short automobile ride of downtown Key West. Thus, we usually think of Sunset Marina as being part of the Key West array of pleasure craft facilities, as opposed to the Stock Island marinas located a bit farther east, and on the ocean (Hawk Channel) side of the isle.
Sunset Marina on Stock Island just sold to a local developer July 1, 2013. We were there from November through July and loved the marina. The drawbacks are location and amenities. We overcame those with a car. It’s a $20 cab ride to/from Duvall St, but worth it if you’re drinking anyway. It’s about a 20-25 minute bike ride Downtown.
I recommend Sunset Marina, it’s 1/3 the price if you stay a month or more. For just [same as] 2-5 days stay at A&B or Galleon.
Bill Borchert
Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Sunset Marina
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Aug 6, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
News from Burnt Store Marina and Country Club, Charlotte Harbor, Gulf Coast

Burnt Store Marina - Click for Chartview
Burnt Store Marina overlooks the eastern end of the charted channel, east of marker #6 on the eastern shore of Charlotte Harbor, south of Punta Gorda.
We have been hurricane free so far and hope it continues that way. We have had a particularly heavy rainy season so the water is “high” in many places. Water had to be let out of the Okeechobee Waterway which has made some of our beaches look more like lakes. But other than that we are having a great summer here at Burnt Store Marina.
Our new ship’s store has opened and is now named the “Trading Post”. Capt. Will and his wife Lisa also own the “Calusa Queen’ which is the tour boat that does sunset cruises as well as trips up and down and across the harbor. The “Trading Post” is open from morning to evening serving breakfast and lunch and stocks most of your basic needs while cruising.
Enterprise Car Rental is still available for your transportation needs. We hope that you will make your reservations before coming to the marina in order to expedite their delivery. I have been told that they will be able to bring the car here and have it ready for you when you arrive which will eliminate the wait time and transport time.
Peggy Wark
Burnt Store Marina
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Burnt Store Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Burnt Store Marina
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