In marinas from Mile Zero to the Keys, and now into the Chesapeake, onSpot WiFi is installing what every internet seeking transient and resident wishes for all marinas: fast, reliable Hotspot internet connections. If your marina doesn’t have an onSpot WiFi system, pass this information along to management. You will be glad you did! It is always good to hear of successes in the marine industry, especially when by one of our SPONSORS!
We’re heading north!
We’re very proud to announce: By this time next week we’ll have completed the installations of two new marinas on the Chesapeake Bay.
Osprey Point Marina — Rock Hall, Maryland and Zahniser’s Yachting Center — Solomons Island, Maryland are coming online. We look forward to providing high speed WiFi for the boaters and supporting the marina personnel at both these fine facilities. We also hope this will lead to the installations of more marinas in the Chesapeake Bay area. There are many marinas up there and we would like to build a strong continuous network of hotspots in the Bay like our boaters enjoy in Florida. Also, back in Florida, we just completed all the Loggerhead Marinas and we have several more marinas on the West Coast of Florida that are firming up quickly.
List of Marinas to date:
Maryland Osprey Point Marina – Rock Hall, MD Zahniser’s Yachting Center – Solomons Island, MD Virginia Atlantic Yacht Basin – Chesapeake, VA North Carolina Marina at St. James Plantation – Southport, NC Georgia Hinckley Yacht Services – Savannah, GA Morningstar Marinas | Golden Isle – St. Simons Island, GA Florida Palm Coast Marina – Palm Coast, FL Loggerhead Marina – Daytona Beach, FL Boat Tree Marina – Sanford, FL Ocean Club Marina – Port Canaveral, FL Loggerhead Marina – Vero Beach, FL Fort Pierce City Marina – Fort Pierce, FL Loggerhead Marina – Stuart, FL Sailfish Point Marina – Stuart, FL Admirals Cove Marina – Jupiter, FL The Bluffs Marina – Jupiter, FL Loggerhead Marina – Palm Beach Gardens, FL Soverel Harbour Marina – Palm Beach Gardens, FL Old Port Cove Marina – North Palm Beach, FL North Palm Beach Marina – North Palm Beach, FL New Port Cove Marine Center – Riviera Beach, FL Loggerhead Marina Lantana – Lake Worth, FL Loggerhead Marina South Lantana – Lantana, FL Bahia Mar Yachting Center – Fort Lauderdale, FL Loggerhead Marina – Hollywood, FL Loggerhead Marina Aventura – Miami, FL Miami Beach Marina – Miami Beach, FL Mangrove Marina – Tavernier, FL Marathon Marina – Marathon, FL Conch Harbor Marina – Key West, FL Legacy Harbour – Fort Myers, FL Bayfront Yacht Works – Sarasota, FL Marina Jack – Sarasota, FL Longboat Key Moorings – Longboat Key, FL Riviera Dunes Marina – Palmetto, FL Loggerhead Marina – St. Petersburg, FL The Bahamas Staniel Cay – Exumas, Bahamas Compass Cay – Exumas, Bahamas
Bob Taylor 901 494 6821
Share:
Comments from Cruisers (1)
Bob Taylor- April 27, 2016 - 11:14 am
Hi Winston, Just to wanting give you an update: We’ve just finished Westland Marina in Titusville, Fl and Homeport Marina on the west coast of Florida in Palm Harbor. By Friday, we’ll have finished Marco Island Yacht Club and we’ll be preparing for our trip to Nantucket to light up Nantucket Boat Basin. Happily, things are moving on at a modest and manageable pace. I’ll be cruising my boat up the east coast soon, maybe we can catch up somewhere in your neck of the woods. Take care, Bob Taylor
Take it easy through the Manatee Areas, as well as on all inland waters. These slow moving mammals need your assistance. Read the recommendations below for spotting the manatees.
For immediate release: March 23, 2016 Look out boaters – manatees are on the move
Taking their cues from the warm spring weather, Florida manatees have begun leaving their winter retreats and heading north along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and through inland waters.
So if you’re a boater enjoying spring days on the water, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) cautions you to look out for manatees and follow posted manatee zones.
From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being struck by motorboats or personal watercraft.
FWC law enforcement officers will be on patrol in state waters to remind boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and will take enforcement actions when necessary. Manatee zones and maps are available at MyFWC.com/Manatee, where you can select “Protection Zones” for links to county maps.
“Our officers do their very best to support conservation of this species,” said FWC Capt. Gary Klein. “We ask that boaters take notice of the zones and do their part as well by increasing their awareness of the possible presence of manatees.”
Because manatees are large, slow-moving and difficult to detect when underwater, operators of boats and personal watercraft need to take basic steps to avoid causing injury to manatees:
Wear polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees. Look for the large circles on the water, also known as manatee footprints, indicating the presence of a manatee below. Look for a snout sticking up out of the water. Follow posted manatee zones while boating. The FWC also asks anyone seeing an injured, distressed, sick or dead manatee to call the agency’s Wildlife Alert Hotline, 888-404-3922 (FWCC) or dial #FWC or *FWC on a cell phone.
You can watch manatees without disturbing them if you follow “Guidelines for protecting native wildlife – Florida Manatees,” a brochure that includes tips for canoers, kayakers, paddle boarders, snorkelers and scuba divers. It’s available at MyFWC.com/Manatees, click on “Boat, Personal Watercraft and Paddle-sport Operators” and then on “Paddle-sport Operators.”
Support the FWC’s manatee research, rescue and management efforts by purchasing a “Save the Manatee” Florida license plate at BuyaPlate.com, or by donating $5 to receive an FWC manatee decal by going to MyFWC.com/Manatee and clicking on “Decals.”
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: “Island Farm Produce at S. Palmetto Point” plus 1 more Island Farm Produce at S. Palmetto Point Posted: 22 Mar 2016 05:07 AM PDT Island Farm is a 20-minute walk from the anchorage. Great vegetable selection. New phone number is 332-0333 or cell #464-0992. Fresh-baked bread is sold at 9 AM Tuesday and Friday, but sells out quickly.
Hatchet Bay Laundry Posted: 22 Mar 2016 04:55 AM PDT A large clean laundromat is located ~3/4 mile north of the Front Porch restaurant on Queens Hwy. It is Miracle Wash, 335-0003. $3 per wash and $4 per dryer.
This Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission news is for our beach combing friends who love to dinghy ashore and explore all the beautiful beaches of our east and west coasts.
For immediate release: March 22, 2016
Help beach-nesting shorebirds by giving them space
Shorebird nesting season is underway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds beachgoers to watch out for and to avoid disturbing birds and their young. Shorebirds build shallow nests out of sand and shells on beaches in spring and summer, hatching chicks that are difficult to see. Shorebird nests, eggs and chicks are well camouflaged and can easily be missed and even stepped on unless people know to look out for them. The snowy plover, least tern, black skimmer, American oystercatcher and Wilson’s plover are several of Florida’s beach-nesting shorebird species that face conservation challenges. Despite these challenges, shorebirds can benefit from increased awareness by the public. “People visiting Florida’s beaches and coastline can really have an impact on whether shorebirds have a successful nesting season,” said Nancy Douglass, who works on shorebird conservation at the FWC. “Following a few simple steps while enjoying the beach can help nesting shorebirds succeed, giving future generations of beach-goers the opportunity to see these iconic birds along our coasts.”
Ways to protect beach-nesting shorebirds:
Keep your distance, whether on the beach or paddling watercraft along the shore. If birds become agitated or leave their nests, you are too close. A general rule is to stay at least 300 feet from a nest. Birds calling out loudly and dive-bombing are signals for you to back off. Respect posted areas. Avoid posted nesting sites and use designated walkways when possible. Wildlife photographers should ensure that no camera equipment extends beyond posted area strings or signs and limit photography to no more than 10 minutes to avoid stressing nesting birds. Never intentionally force birds to fly or run. This causes them to use up energy needed for nesting, and eggs and chicks may be left vulnerable to the sun’s heat or predators. Teach children not to chase shorebirds and kindly ask fellow beach-goers to do the same. Shorebirds outside of posted areas may be feeding or resting and need to do so wihtout disturbance. It is best not to take pets to the beach, but if you do, keep them leashed and avoid shorebird nesting areas. Keep the beach clean and do not feed wildlife. Food scraps attract predators such as raccoons and crows, which can prey on shorebird chicks. Litter on beaches can entangle birds and other wildlife. Spread the word. If you see people disturbing nesting birds, gently let them know how their actions may hurt the birds’ survival. If they continue to disturb nesting birds, report it to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on a cell phone or by texting Tip@MyFWC.com. You may also report nests that are not posted to Wildlife Alert. For more information, go to MyFWC.com/Shorebirds and download the “Share the Beach with Beach-Nesting Birds” brochure. Read the FWC’s plan for four imperiled beach-nesting bird species, part of the broader Imperiled Species Management Plan: http://myfwc.com/media/2720106/Imperiled-Beach-Nesting-Birds-Species-Action-Plan-Final-Draft.pdf. Or go to the Florida Shorebird Alliance at www.flshorebirdalliance.org.
In addition to other migratory birds, all shorebird and seabird species found in Florida are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This year marks the centennial of the first Migratory Bird Treaty, which the United States signed with Great Britain on behalf of Canada. This treaty, along with three treaties that followed with Mexico, Japan and Russia, set the stage for the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act and solidified international commitment to migratory bird conservation. Learn more about the Migratory Bird Treaty Centennial at www.fws.gov/birds/mbtreaty100.
Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, and Col. Candido Alfredo Regalado Gomez, Chief of Cuba’s National Office of Hydrography and Geodesy (ONHG), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve maritime navigation safety and related areas of mutual interest to protect lives and property at sea.
`NOAA has a strong interest in both improving navigational safety and in protecting the marine environment in the heavily travelled and vibrant waters between our two countries in the Straits of Florida,’ said Russell Callender, Ph.D., assistant NOAA administrator for the National Ocean Service. `We welcome this agreement and the progress it represents.’
`Improved navigation services are important for commercial mariners and individual boaters alike,’ said Ambassador DeLaurentis, `and it is particularly important as authorized trade and authorized travel increase between the two countries.’
NOAA Chart – 11013_Public
In addition to updating data on domestic charts like the NOAA chart above, the U.S. and Cuba agreed to work together on a new international paper chart, INT Chart 4149, which will cover south Florida, the Bahamas, and north Cuba. The memorandum of understanding between the two countries was signed last Friday in Havana. (Credit: NOAA)
The MOU calls for cooperation in the areas of hydrography, oceanography, geodesy and related services of mutual interest. One of the major focuses will be to improve maritime navigation safety including efforts to ensure the accuracy of both electronic and paper charts, eliminate charting overlaps and fill in gaps in navigational chart coverage.
`This MOU will allow us to fill gaps in essential navigational data, working on a practical level with our Cuban counterparts,’ said Kathryn Ries, deputy director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey. `The U.S. works with hydrographic offices of all nations that have waters adjacent to the United States and our territories, and this agreement improves the exchange of charting information with Cuba as well.’
In February 2015, less than two months after President Obama announced the United States’ new approach toward Cuba, NOAA and ONHG, through a set of reciprocal exchanges, launched what became a year-long effort to formulate the technical exchange that is a normal course of affairs between most of the other maritime nations of the world. Both agencies are working on plans for monitoring and forecasting tides and currents for ports and improving positioning networks among other related scientific and technical activities. The MOU is the first step in what is expected to be a long-term collaboration between the two countries.
In addition to aligning each country’s navigational charts, NOAA and ONHG are sharing data for the creation of a new international chart (known in mariner’s parlance as `INT chart’) 4149, which will cover south Florida, the Bahamas, and north Cuba. NOAA plans to publish the new chart this year.
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey, originally formed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807, maintains the nation’s nautical charts, surveys the coastal seafloor, responds to national maritime emergencies, and searches for underwater obstructions and wreckage.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our other social media channels.
U.S., Cuba agree on efforts to improve maritime navigation safety posted: 4/18/2016
In addition to updating data on domestic charts like the NOAA chart above, the U.S. and Cuba agreed to work together on a new international paper chart which will cover south Florida, the Bahamas and northern Cuba. (NOAA) Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, and Col. Candido Alfredo Regalado Gomez, chief of Cuba’s National Office of Hydrography and Geodesy (ONHG), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve maritime navigation safety and related areas of mutual interest to protect lives and property at sea. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the signing, which calls for cooperation in the areas of hydrography, oceanography, geodesy and related services of mutual interest, on March 21. A major focus will be to improve maritime navigation safety including efforts to ensure the accuracy of both electronic and paper charts, eliminate charting overlaps and fill in gaps in navigational chart coverage. NOAA and ONHG are working on plans for monitoring and forecasting tides and currents for ports and improving positioning networks among related scientific and technical activities. The MOU is the first step in what is expected to be long-term collaboration between the two countries. – See more at: http://www.thelog.com/SNW/Article/U-S—Cuba-agree-on-efforts-to-improve-maritime-navigation-safety#sthash.8a7tdNPz.dpuf
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 & Associates presents “Journey”….
At Curtis Stokes & Associates, we specialize in marketing some of the finest vessels available in the Southeast. Located in Jacksonville, NC, “Journey” is a prime example. She is a classic 2006 36′ Monk Double Cabin trawler whose experienced owner has maintained her in turn-key condition and is willing to assist the buyer with delivery and – or training. Get a complete description and view a video of this beautiful boat here: http://www.curtisstokes.net/trawler-for-sale-monk36-journey.html.
For more information or to schedule an appointment to view “Journey” please call Wayne Smith in Edenton, NC, at 516-445-1932 or you can email him at wayne@curtisstokes.net.
Our customers know they can come to Curtis Stokes & Associates to find some of the most seaworthy yachts on the market today. If you have a boat to sell, find out how we can market your vessel not just here in the Southeast but throughout the country and in overseas markets as well. And if you’re in the market for a boat, find out about our buyer broker service here: http://www.curtisstokes.net/yacht-buyer-brokerage-service.html. To view our complete inventory of fine yachts visit us at www.curtisstokes.net
Our thanks to Perry McDonald for sending us this notice of a public meeting on April 4 in Fort Pierce. Fort Pierce is home to SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Fort Pierce City Marina.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is currently revising rule language for the implementation of its Derelict Vessel Removal Grants Program. The FWC is awaiting the Governor’s signature on a $1,400,000 appropriation for the removal of derelict vessels within Florida’s public waters. FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section will be distributing these funds to state and local governmental entities over the course of the 2016-2017 state fiscal year. To effectively distribute these funds, FWC is revising its grant rule 68-1.003, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) to remove obsolete language and incorporate the revised program guidelines. A public rule development workshop will be held to introduce the draft rule and guidelines language and to solicit input from the public and stakeholders before the rule and guidelines are taken to the Commission. Your participation is encouraged.
This public meeting will be held April 4, 2016, 1:00pm – 4:00pm St. Lucie Board of County Commission Chambers 2300 Virginia Avenue Fort Pierce, Florida, 34982
For further information pertaining to the FWC Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program, please contact:
Phil Horning Derelict Vessel Program Administrator Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement Boating and Waterways Section (850) 617-9540 or email Phil.Horning@MyFWC.com
That is exactly what the team at Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net has been working on, carrying out plans made just months before the untimely death of the SSECN founder Claiborne Young.
Back in 2005, Claiborne stated that the purpose of SSECN would be, “Cruisers Helping Cruisers.” This became the motto for SSECN and is the core strength of its daily operations. The effort to bring a mobile app to the cruising community that would put the timely and content rich Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net at the finger tips of the skipper while underway is the result of many cruisers trying to help other cruisers. The SSECN Mobile App is easy to use with an intuitive interface.
True to the SSECN website the SSECN Mobile App is FREE.
Take a look at all that is available to the captain and crew, while underway, using its cartographic features and continually updated information:
Current waterway and mile marker location
Continuously displays the appropriate side ICW yellow triangle/square will be found on markers/buoys
Items that are ahead and astern, providing for each item:
– Mile marker
– Distance from current location
– Bearing from current location
– Time to go at current speed (TTG)
– Estimate time of arrival (ETA) – extremely helpful to time arrive at bridges
Items can be filtered by:
– Alerts
– ICW Problem Areas
– General Information items
– Posts
– Local Notice to Mariners (LNM)
– Marinas
– Bridges
– Anchorages
Filtering for items can be by date posted:
– All
– Within 180 days
– Within 90 days
– Within 30 days
– None
All submitted information from cruisers who have just navigated waters where you may be headed is vetted for accuracy. Local Notices to Mariners and Navigation Alerts are readily available to the skipper while underway with high-resolution charts, as well as maps for planning purposes.
Fuel prices and daily postings are automatically updated, so your information is always current. With the fuel price menu, you can quickly find the best fuel prices nearest you and/or the closest fuel available to you, sorted by type, price, location, and range.
Currently available for iPhones or iPads, plans are to have an Android release soon also.
All this always available on line or off line because of the full support of the SSECN Sponsors whose contact information will also be seen on this new tool for cruisers.
We highly recommend that if you cruise from Mile Marker “0” to Mobile, AL, get it, use it, and report back to us your thoughts and suggestions!!
Hello Larry & team, I just received the email about your new iOS app. Congratulations on finishing what must have been a real project. I’m in Annapolis and won’t be on the ICW until mid-April in Ft Lauderdale and late April in Norfolk (offshore between). The app seems to work great. I look forward to trying the location specific parts next month. I frequently speak on a range of topics, including communication alternatives for cruisers. I will update my resource list handout (which already includes SSECN) to include your app. Next distribution will be the AGLCA Spring Rendezvous in Norfolk VA. Good job. sail fast and eat well, dave Dave Skolnick S/V Auspicious
This article by Jim Flannery from Sounding’ TradeOnlyToday.com describes a new bill supporting the use of EPIRBs aboard Florida vessels. CLICK HERE for the full article.
Florida boater-safety bill goes to governor Posted on March 17th, 2016 Written by Jim Flannery Inspired by a desire to spare parents the pain of losing their children in boating accidents, a bill that would give boaters a registration discount if they carry an EPIRB or personal locator beacon aboard cleared the Florida legislature. The House and Senate passed the bill in unanimous votes and Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign it. The measure would discount registrations by almost 23 percent for the smallest boats and 11.9 percent for the largest ones — with markdowns ranging from 15 to 13 percent for size classes in between — for boat owners who can show they own a properly registered 406 MHz EPIRB or PLB.
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: “VAT Surprise” plus 1 more VAT Surprise Posted: 17 Mar 2016 03:54 AM PDT We recently had parts shipped to us in Marsh Harbour. We’ve discovered Abaco Freight in Jupiter, but that’s another blurb. Our water heater sprang a leak and needed a gasket. Parts supplier was in Boston, so we had gasket Fedex’ed Overnite to Jupiter and then Abaco Freight shipped it to MH via Cherokee Air. The parts were $52, Fedex US shipping was $70 (remember this number), Abaco Freight was $20. The invoice from the parts house showed $122. When I picked up the package the VAT was $11.41. I assumed the VAT would be on $52 + $20. Wrong! Remember that $70 US Fedex charge, that was also included. The moral of the story is try to minimize your TOTAL shipping cost, including all US shipping. John (MV Duetto)
Shipping into Marsh Harbour (Abaco) Posted: 17 Mar 2016 03:53 AM PDT This is a quick note on getting packages shipped to Marsh Harbour from the US. We recently needed to have 2 steering cylinders shipped from the US. We’ve had small items sent in the past and have used Fedex with good results. The cylinders were approximately 3″x3″x36″ and weighed 7 lbs each. I priced the cylinders from 2 distributors and they were virtually the same price. The Fedex charge was vastly different, $275 vs $125. Even at the lower price I thought that I would explore alternatives. I called Aramak shippers in Marsh Harbour. They said it was too small for them but they put me in touch with Abaco Freight in Jupiter, FL. I emailed them and Kimber Mazzeo (nick@abacofreight.com), the owner, got back to me right away. She explained that based on my sizing, the shipping cost would be $40 and they take care of getting parts through customs. She also explained in detail that she needed electronic copies of the cruising permit and an electronic invoice with the boat’s name on it. So the process is the distributor ships to Abaco Freight c/o you. They put it on a Cherokee Air flight (m-w-f) and you pick it up at the Marsh Harbour airport. I have to say from the time we placed the order we had the parts within 5 business day with no drama. As an aside one of the distributors shipped for free, so the end to end shipping cost was $40. John (mv Duetto)
Share:
1 Facebook Likes, 1 Facebook Reactions
Comments from Cruisers (1)
Danny Fraino- March 18, 2016 - 1:18 pm
The VAT tax adds an average of 12% to the landed cost of the item. So if an item costs $100 including the freight charges the VAT will be an additional $12. This is in addition to whatever the Bahamas import duty charges are on the item.
Comments from Cruisers (1)
Hi Winston,
Just to wanting give you an update: We’ve just finished Westland Marina in Titusville, Fl and Homeport Marina on the west coast of Florida in Palm Harbor. By Friday, we’ll have finished Marco Island Yacht Club and we’ll be preparing for our trip to Nantucket to light up Nantucket Boat Basin.
Happily, things are moving on at a modest and manageable pace.
I’ll be cruising my boat up the east coast soon, maybe we can catch up somewhere in your neck of the woods.
Take care,
Bob Taylor