This dredging is in a relatively short section of the Waterway paralleling Hugh Taylor Birch State Park to the east and north of the Sunrise Blvd Bridge at Mile 1062.5. Unfortunately, this article from Soundings does not give project dates. However, the dredging is in a relatively wide section and should not impact through traffic.
Dredging set to start for ICW in South Florida
Posted on October 26th, 2015
After several years, permits were issued and a contract awarded for the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway in South Florida, allowing the vessels that patronize the area’s waterways to have better access to local marinas and boatyards.
The dredging, which will take place from 17th Street to Sunrise Boulevard to 17 feet deep, will be the largest single public works project for the Florida Inland Navigation District, a special state taxing district tasked with managing and maintaining the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, according to the Marine Industries Association of South Florida.
`The Florida Inland Navigation District’s ICW dredging project will provide an extraordinary benefit to Broward County through the infusion of $20 million by increasing the depth of the ICW from the congressionally authorized depth of 10 feet to a new depth of 17 feet to accommodate the vessels that are seeking to visit, reside and retrofit at our local marinas and boatyards,’ Tyler Chappell, the Broward commissioner for FIND, said in a statement.’
James Newsome is a regular contributor to SSECN and other publications, both online and print. He has been compiling his list of free dockage along the Waterway for several years and it is a list worth perusing! Naturally, author Newsome mentions Elizabeth City, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, and one of the best known free docks on the Waterway.
I don’t know if you remember me mentioning the “FREE DOCKAGE” list project back during the summer, but I’ve continued to work on this and believe I have everything listed from 0 MM at least down through Jacksonville, FL and 738 MM. I have a few more listings below Jax, but I have a lot more work to do in this area.
I’ve started a Facebook page FREE DOCKAGE where I offer the complete list. I’ve had a very good reception from folks who find the list useful and I’m currently at 643 likes. This format is working well for now because it is a no cost option for me to get this information out to a lot of folks who realize, like me, that none of the other cruising guides offer a short concise list for FREE DOCKS.
Elizabeth City, NC is a great example of a town that really tries to promote themselves as cruiser friendly with free dock offerings. They understand that most cruisers who come to their town are essentially tourists who happen to arrive by boats instead of cars, and these cruisers always spend money when they stop. Therefore, “Free Docks” is a win-win for boaters as well as communities.
James H. Newsome
Contributing Writer – Southwinds Magazine
s/v CaiLeigh Anna – Coastal Cruising With Hugh & Suze
98 Buena Vista Avenue
Warrenton, GA 30828
Free “daytime” docks at the Gulfport, Florida Casino. No overnight docking but unlike the “courtesy” docks in downtown Saint Petersburg, there is no docking meter.
This is an excellent addition to any cruiser out there. Good on you for doing this James. 🙂
I have used and really like the list of free dockage list. We traveled to the Cheaspeake and used quite often. Great idea James and thanks for the work.
James Newsome is a regular contributor to SSECN and other publications, both online and print. Since he is a Georgian, as am I, we can forgive his concern for the reputation of Georgia’s Waterway. However, he makes valid points in comparing Georgia’s ICW to those problem areas in South Carolina and Florida.
I have found that GA does have a few areas of concern on the ICW, but the extent of the concern far surpasses the reality of the problems. On my cruise down to St. Augustine last spring I learned that FL has more shallow areas between Fernandina and Jacksonville that all of GA’s ICW. And my good sailing friends who cruised to the Chesapeake Bay last summer brought to my attention the terrible condition of the ICW just north of Charleston.
I’ve never quite understood why GA’s ICW has such a bad reputation. We arguably have two areas of concern, which is Little Mud River and Jekyll Creek, but both are easily manageable. I personally don’t consider Hell’s Gate near Savannah to be a concern, but I know there are many folks who will disagree with me.
James H. Newsome
Contributing Writer – Southwinds Magazine
s/v CaiLeigh Anna – Coastal Cruising With Hugh & Suze
98 Buena Vista Avenue
Warrenton, GA 30828
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Little Mud River
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Jekyll Creek
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Walburg Creek shapes the east side of Walburg Island and the Waterway lies on the west side. Good depths and great beach combing. Our young daughters always called the beach spooky because of the skeletal trees and dense forest to the east! While the creek has both a northern and southern entrance from the AICW, we prefer the northern passage, though there is still an unmarked shoal northwest of Middle Ground in St. Catherine’s Sound which must be bypassed. Our thanks to Bob McLeran for this graphic depiction of the southern entrance which exits the Waterway eastward at Mile 623.5.
Larry,
Attached is a JPG file I created of the track we produced on October 24th when we exited Walburg Creek via the “southern” entrance/exit closest to the ICW. There seems to be a lot of misinformation about that particular entrance/entrance to this great anchorage and how best to get across the shallow area. Perhaps this will help cruisers decide whether to use the anchorage without having to go out into the “wilds” of St. Catherine’s Sound to get there.
Obviously, if one goes into the creek from the ICW in the late afternoon, the same tide height (roughly) would be available the following morning. Mid-tide or higher would work best for boats drawing more than five feet.
FYI, the software creating the background and the track-point intervals is Fugawi ENC (version 4.5x). Our primary navigation software is PolarNavy, but we also run Fugawi as a backup on the same laptop. Fugawi was used here to display the track because it highlights the track point (the square box) and the point’s data whereas PolarNavy doesn’t do that.
Bob McLeran
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Walburg Creek Anchorage
Our thanks to Skipper Meyer for these words of caution. The twin Jensen Beach Bridge anchorages lie west of the Waterway, north and south of the Jensen Beach bridge, south of unlighted daybeacon #219.
I entered the south anchorage from the east across the thin strip marked as 6′. It was a bad decision. The depth-finder showed 4’6’³ (my draft) in a couple spots. Managed to hop through but it was nerve-wracking. Will go southeast through the deeper water to exit.
Chad Meyer
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Jensen Beach Bridge CAnchorages
Our thanks to Skipper Newsome for responding to a Nav Alert posted last year by a longtime resident of Jekyll Harbor Marina, Sonny Reeves. As Sonny would tell us, the channel through Jekyll Creek seems to shift a little with each tide and, as Skipper Newsome advises, “finding” the deep water at low tide is key to a successful passage at low tide. SSECN still recommends mid to high tide passage for this Problem Stretch. See other recent reports and further advice at /?p=148121 and /?p=144895.
Passed through this area on 10/25/15 an hour past low tide and saw no less than 7-1/2′. Assuming there is at least 1′ more water an hour into the flood, this means there was at least 6′ to 6-1/2′ of water at low tide. And there was a negative .2′ tide yesterday that I’m not taking into consideration. A dock hand at Jekyll Island marina told us prior to passing through that there is at least 6′ of water in Jekyll Creek. We confirmed this with our readings.
The key to passing through here near low tide is `finding’ the water. Skippers reporting less than 6′ of water obviously aren’t in the deepest area of the channel. I draw 5’8’³ and still wouldn’t pass through here at dead low, but I feel pretty confident making the run through here an hour past low, assuming there’s not a huge negative low tide.
James Newsome
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Jekyll Creek
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Jekyll Harbor Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Jekyll Harbor Marina
Bennett Brothers Yachts/Cape Fear Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is located on the eastern banks of the northeast Cape Fear River, just north of the Isabel Holmes – Highway 133 bascule bridge, and only a few steps from the downtown Wilmington waterfront.
Acting as your host to beautiful and historic Wilmington, NC, Bennett Brothers Yachts at the Cape Fear Marina features 3,000 feet of floating docks in a sheltered harbor. Bennett Brothers Yachts (BBY) has been a widely
recognized repair yard since 1986 and every conceivable repair – mechanical, below waterline, electronic, and carpentry – is readily available. Most of all, BBY has the safe and sure reputation of getting it right the first time.
Voted by USA Today for 2015 “America’s Best Riverfront City”, Wilmington, North Carolina is a “must see” as you travel through the Carolinas and a visit Bennett Brothers Yachts at the Cape Fear Marina could be your best stop on your passage or journey. With so many sites to see and so much fun to take part in, Wilmington is located in the northernmost subtropic region with pleasant weather year round. No frozen harbors in Wilmington!
Beautiful antebellum architecture with great “gingerbread” can be
seen as you stroll this pedestrian friendly city. Guided tours and horse drawn carriages are commonly enjoyed, but self guided visiting is encouraged and well worth it. The locals are approachable and happy to share a story or two and will direct you to whatever you seek. Restaurants are abundant in all genres of fair, and provisioning is easy with Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s , Harris Teeter Supermarkets and a local seasonal Farmers Market nearby.
The Downtown historic district has some new things brewing and brewing makes another great reason to sample the flavors of the area. Microbreweries and brew pubs have become increasingly popular for locals and visitors alike. Sample craft beers while enjoying the backdrop of a fun peninsula city borded by the Atlantic ocean and the Cape Fear River. The Cotton Exchange, The City Market and Chandlers Wharf are filled with unique one of a kind retailers where you can pick up the perfect gift or present .
If your vessel needs any attention during your visit, BBY – awarded ABBRA “Excellence in Customer Care 2015” – can handle most any repair or service you require. Full mechanical, paint and glass departments supported with carpentry and electronics service are found here at BBY. Work can be completed via our mobile service in-water or, if needed, hauled-out by our certified 70 ton Marine Travel Lift with extra wide capacity to haul catamarans. It is one of the largest lifts in the region. Ask for a free, full guided tour of the BBY facility when you arrive, to see if there is something you would like to fix or upgrade to make your cruising more enjoyable.
If you happen to schedule work on your vessel, or just stop for a visit, there will certainly be no shortage of things to see and do. For starters, The USS North Carolina is moored in her permanent home and has tours below her decks that will inform even the experts and entertain the whole family. Golf, fishing, SUP, kayaking, birding, triathlon training and competition, sailing, surfing and theater are just a small taste of what the “Port City ” has to offer. Wrightsville Beach is just minutes away and was acknowledged by National Geographic as a top ten surfing town!
Located just 26 nautical miles north of Southport, North Carolina, BBY is easier to get to than you think. BBY and Cape Fear Marina are on the Northeast Cape Fear River, approximately 12 nautical miles from the Snow’s Cut passage on the AICW. As you travel north along the Cape Fear River, you will first pass the NC State Port Facility, then USS North Carolina and the scenic downtown Wilmington riverfront. You will then pass under two bridges, first the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, with a closed vertical clearance of 65 feet and 138 feet maximum when raised, should be hailed on Channel 18. Next is the Isabel Holmes Bridge with a closed vertical clearance of 42 feet and should be hailed on Channel 13. The Isabel Holmes Bridge opens at 10 AM and 2 PM between the hours of 6 AM and 6 PM and on demand at all other times.
Fly in and out of Wilmington through the International Airport ILM, located just 5 minutes from BBY. We will even pick you up at the airport! We hope you have a wonderful visit when you’re here and return with your friends to experience the many facets this ‘off the beaten path’ town has to offer.
Patricia Donovan Bennett, President
Editor’s note: Patricia Bennett was honored recently by Marina Life Magazine, see /?p=145444
Bennett Brothers Yachts, Inc.
Cape Fear Marina
1701 J.E.L. Wade Drive
Wilmington, NC 28401
www.bbyachts.com
910.772.9277
Cape Haze Marina flanks the eastern shores of the ICW/Lemon Bay, south of unlighted daybeacon #9. See /?p=148478 for great photos! This report is from our good friends at AGLCA.
The Cape Haze Marina is about 4.5 miles before the bridge [Boca Grande Swing Bridge] and is the best deal in the area. The staff and live aboards ar very friendly and helpful. I received 3 offers to take me to the local Publix the first day there. We were caught by the weather and this marina at $1.50/ft. electric included was our choice. The docks are fixed wood in good condition. Restaurant about 3/4 mile away (very good), but the heads and showers are only open from 07:30am to 5:00pm. WiFi is iffy at the transient dock.
Mitch & Carole Brodkin
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Cape Haze Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Cape Haze Marina
The Brickhill makes a pleasant, parallel detour east of the Waterway, with a north departure at Waterway marker #40 and rejoining the Waterway at Cumberland Dividings, markers #62 and #63. Cumberland Dividings has been a Problem Stretch for several years due to constantly shifting shoals and an erroneous magenta line on many chartplotters. Capt. Thorpe advises you to follow the Green markers on the east side of the channel and ignore the Red.
I have been going through this stretch for ten years at all tide stages in a coastal passenger ship 240′ long drawing 9 feet’¦coming South staying to the left (GPS will show you actually going through the marsh) will carry 20+ feet all the way. Forget that the red markers exist!
Henry Thorpe
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the Cumberland Dividings
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Henry’s advice is spot on. I learned the lesson here many years ago when I misread the markers and relied on the magenta line. I had good company as two other boats, one northbound and the other southbound with me, all ran aground. Follow the navigational aids favoring the green marker and you will have no problem.
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