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    • Dec 4, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Report on Punta Blanco Inner Anchorage, Western Florida ICW Statute Mile 23

      Punta Blanco Anchorages - Click for Chartview

      Punta Blanco inner anchorage will be found on the charted bubble of deep water virtually surrounded by Punta Blanco.

      If you are looking for a secluded anchorage to hide out from a strong wind, this is the spot! Getting in with a chartplotter isn’t nearly as daunting as it used to be without one- just watch the depth sounder. There is a small sand `beach’ where you can land with the dinghy. We didn’t, but a local boat pulled right up on the sand and the folks went exploring. A long dinghy ride from the state park though.
      Jean Thomason

      We can attest from a dinghy visit and speaking with those anchored there, that is a nice spot, with a few caveats. If a large boat gets there first and takes up the middle of the deep water, it is tough for another larger boat to fit.
      Second, as the description states, it is VERY easy to wind up aground, as we did. It is not always possible to read the water depth visually.
      Duane Ising

      Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Punta Blanco Inner Anchorage

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Punta Blanco Inner Anchorage

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    • Dec 2, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Good Words for Twin Dolphin Marina, off Tampa Bay on the Manatee River

      Twin Dolphin Marina, 1000 1st Ave. West, Bradenton, Florida 34205-7852, 941.747.8300 - fax 941.745.2831, e-mail: harbormaster@twindolphinmarina.com

      Twin Dolphin Marina - Click for Chartview

      Twin Dolphin Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, sits perched on the southern shores of Manatee River, just short of the Highway 41 Business bridge.

      We come to Bradenton every year and always stay for a few days at Twin Dolphin Marina. Everything is top-notch and the staff are friendly and helpful. The only difference for us is that this year we extended our stay to a week!
      Jean Thomason

      I echo Jean’s comments. Our YC visits Twin Dolphins each year as part of our cruise schedule. A great destination, a great facility with excellent amenities, and a great staff.
      Whit Sibley

      Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Twin Dolphin Marina

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Twin Dolphin Marina

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    • Nov 30, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      More Good Words for Punta Gorda Anchorage, Punta Gorda, FL, Charlotte Harbor, Gulf Coast

      Punta Gorda Waterfront - Click for Chartview

      Punta Gorda, Florida - a GREAT cruising destinationIn addition to recent news of a fully operational pumpout boat, see /?p=119532, Capt.Hyde adds these perks to anchoring in Punta Gorda, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! on Western Florida’s Charlotte Harbor/Peace River.

      To add to the amenities of anchoring off the Punta Gorda waterfront, new floating dinghy docks are now available in the recently dredged `lagoon’ behind the Punta Gorda Boat Club, just north of Fisherman’s Village.
      Noel Hyde

      Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Punta Gorda Waterfront Anchorage

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Punta Gorda Waterfront

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    • Nov 30, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Good Words for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, AICW Alternate Route

      Set in beautiful Camden Count, NC, the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center provides free dockage for cruisers' on the Dismal Swamp AICW Alternate Route

      Dismal Swamp Welcome Center - Click for Chartview

      The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!, is located on the east shore of the Canal at Statute Mile 28. For the Center’s winter hours, see /?p=128131

      I have now been retired 3 years, after 23 years as Director of the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center. I want to thank each and everyone who choose to travel the Dismal Swamp Canal. I realize the dockage is small but most the time it will meet your needs. It is the only place where you can witness nature at its best and learn of its history. Bike rides are available, clean restrooms and grounds. Try it once and I promise you will return’¦’¦..’Happy Cruising’
      Penny Leary-Smith

      The Welcome Center has provided so much needed respite over the years while cruising. The staff certainly are always very informative, and encouraging no matter what time of the day we have visited. Its great to have ‘˜the Dismal Swamp’ available to us; such a blessful experience ‘“ its like riding down a country lane viewing nature in its natural sitting. For me its a ‘˜slice’ of America, kinda like Yellowstone (a piece of history that I wish everyone could experience). My husband as well as fellow cruisers we know, are praying that tax dollars don’t ever allow it to go away. We encourage everyone to try it ‘“ along with a stop by to talk with Robert Peak & say `Hello’ to his pal, `U-Turn’; since he’s an extremely sweet pet, you might wish to have a doggie treat ready.
      Ginger Thompson

      Penny,
      Thank you for all you have done. This applies to all your staff as well. It has always been one of our favorite stops.
      Jim and Sandy Davis
      S/V Isa Lei

      Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

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    • Nov 27, 2013by:   Claiborne Young No Comments 31.3522,-81.33159999

      The “Worst” AICW Problem Stretch – Little Mud River, Georgia (Statute Mile 655) – Captains Diana and Mark Report


       View In Chartview

      Our good friends, and SSECN strategic partners, Captains Mark and Diana Doyle, founders and owners of “On The Water ChartGuides” (http://www.onthewaterchartguides.com/), give us an updated, graphic report below, relaying what they discovered as they navigated through the AICW – Little Mud River Problem Stretch on 11/20/13! Note that the Doyle’s soundings were taken near mid-tide, so to calculate MLW depths, you must subtract 4.8 feet from their figures. Applying this correction, Diana and Mark noted multiple MLW corrected 4-foot soundings along this perennial AICW Problem stretch. And, as Mark and Diana note, there are almost certainly even shallower spots.
      Our cruising duo are also quite right in noting that, “the reigning champion of this year’s ICW Trouble Spots is Georgia’s Little Mud River.” I might also add that very dubious distinction has been true of Little Mud River for many years now. If and until this AICW Problem Stretch is fully dredged, I would be hesitant to navigate anything bigger than a canoe through this portion of the Waterway at low tide!

      Hi Claiborne,
      As I’m sure you’ll agree, the reigning champion of this year’s ICW Trouble Spots is Georgia’s Little Mud River.
      With depths as low as 4 FEET MLLW, Diana and I wanted SSECN readers to have this printable graphic of our November 20th survey report and depth-annotated track:
      Best wishes on this Thanksgiving holiday,
      Captains Mark & Diana Doyle
      m/v Semi-Local
      http://www.OnTheWaterChartGuides.com

      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

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    • Nov 26, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Report from Cox Lake Anchorage on the Upper Waccamaw River, off the AICW

      Departing the Waterway at statute mile 375, four miles south of the Socastee Bridge, this “off-road” venture on the lovely, upper section of the Waccamaw River to the city of Conway, SC has pleased many cruisers and has proven to be a worthy side trip. And now Captain Thomason adds knowledge of a quiet, safe anchorage between Conway and the Waterway. This is very good news indeed, as, prior to this posting, we knew of no other place to spend the evening once the confines of the AICW were left behind, than to continue upstream to the city Marina at Conway. Now, there is a FREE alternative!
      Unfortunately, this upper section of the Waccamaw is not covered on any NOAA chart, so we must relay on Captain Thomason’s description below to find this anchor down spot. However, using the magic of “Google Earth,” we have isolated a satellite image of this body of water, which you will see on the upper, right corner of this posting!
      Has anyone else anchored on Cox Lake??? If so, we want to hear from you. Please share your experiences by making use of the “Comment” function at the end of this posting. We can’t wait to hear from you!

      Dear Claiborne,
      Cox Lake is a body of water north east of R marker 16 (approximate location N33 47 683, W 079 03 102). Depart the marked route just south of R 16, proceed through the obvious opening to the lake. Depths going in are in the 7-9 ft range. We like to anchor directly across from the opening at the mouth of a wide cove, past a large dock to starboard in 12 to 14 ft of water or deeper in to the cove for shallower depths (10 ft or less). The deepest into the cove we have anchored is N33 47 856, W 079 03 102. Cox Lake is known to locals who sometimes anchor here to party but that’s only happened once for us (and they left at night). Other than the one dock, the shores are natural cypress. At one point there were a couple of very small homemade “houseboats” on the north side of the lake but they have been gone the last two times we anchored. The anchorage is not affected by wakes from boats on the river. A nice spot to pass a quiet night. Hope this helps!
      Cox Lake is approximately two and a half miles from Conway City Marina.
      Jean Thomason

      Click Here For An Earlier Review of Conway, SC

      Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Conway City Marina

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    • Nov 26, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Dining Secret in St. Augustine, FL, AICW Statute Mile 778

      St. Augustine City Marina - Click for Chartview

      The following restaurant review was posted by Captain Skip Gundlach in the St. Augustine Cruisers Net. The American Legion Post 37 is located at 1 Anderson Circle just north of the Bridge of Lions and within easy walking distance of the City Marina.

      The Admiral and I just returned from a well-kept (well, we didn’t learn about it until this weekend, and we’ve been here 5 weeks) secret:
      The American Legion Post 37, on the corner at the circle just north of the bridge, is open to the public, with delicious food and drink, all of which are dirt cheap. We tried the leftover prime rib, which had been cut up and put into potato soup. Big bowl, $3, a meal in itself. Pig that I am, however, it was so good I had two.
      3 bowls of soup, two beers and a coke ($1, keeps it filled, in an iced glass “glass”) came to $15 with tax. A $5 tip forced it to $20. Easily the best adult-beveraged dinner we’ve eaten here for value, and we loved it as well.
      Highly recommended.
      You ask, why were you eating out? The stove is on the saloon sole, and I’m having to CUT out 2 of the 3 burners we’re replacing. So far I’ve broken 6 bits for the Roto-Zip – gonna have to walk to Home Depot tomorrow…
      Still loving St. Augustine!
      Skip

      You are ABSOLUTELY right about this being a best kept secret. I was a little leery of the article before reading it because I was afraid you were going to recommend the Santa Maria. The Santa Maria is responsible for more people getting sick on the food they serve than any other restaurant known in this area. There is a reason they advertise `You can feed the fish from your table.’ Even the fish won’t eat their food.
      Capt. Perry

      We have enjoyed the legion on several occasions’¦.and you meet some really neat people there, too.
      Mark and Gwyn aboard sailing cat ALA

      Hmmm’¦I’ll admit I don’t eat often at the Santa Maria in St. Augustine however, I’ve enjoyed the ravenous display by the fish eating the scraps dropped from our table. So I haven’t shared Captain Perry’s dining experience or illness from dining at the Santa Maria’¦
      I HAVE enjoyed the hospitality of the Legion Post and admit that I have shared the `secret’ with our close friends but now that the word is out to the entire cruising community, everyone can enjoy this `under the radar’ secret.
      David Burnham

      American Legion Post 37, St. Augustine, FL

      Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For St. Augustine City Marina

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Augustine City Marina

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    • Nov 26, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      A Successful Navigation of the Umbrella Cut, Alternate Route to St. Andrew Sound, Georgia

      Umbrella Cut - Click for Chartview

      Floyd Creek - Click for Chartview

      The alternate route discussed below by Captain Byron is the Umbrella Cut Route which takes you northbound from Mile 696 in Cumberland River through Floyd Creek, across the Satilla River and into the Little Satilla to rejoin the AICW at Mile 686 in Jekyll Sound. This is often considered the route of choice when the primary Waterway route through St. Andrew Sound is kicking up. If southbound, do NOT confuse Umbrella Cut with Umbrella Creek where severe shoaling has occurred.

      11/25/13 Six years ago when we were headed south we used the Umbrella Cut successfully to avoid crossing St. Andrews Sound when the seas were running high. This year the winds were 20 knots from the northeast and we wanted to try it again but were surprised that there was no recent info. We checked with locals and decided to try it on a mid and rising tide. We found it is still a viable alternative. We timed our approach for 2 1/2 hours before high tide. Our boat is a 34 foot trawler with a 4 ft draft. There was a strong following sea and as we made the turn into the cut we were pushed out of the channel where we saw 7 ft. That gave us pause but we kept going and found nothing less than 9 or 10 all the way through. We stayed midchannel away from the markers and kept to the outside on unmarked curves. We transited the alternative route all the way through Fields Creek without incident. As we exited and rejoined the ICW shortly behind us came a 45 foot boat out of the channel as well. I hope this observation is helpful.
      Connie Bryon

      We also took the umbrella cut October 14, 2012 due to seas being up. We went through at low tide and had only 1 depth alarm at 3 feet which I cleared immediately and the depth went back to 6 feet. Most of the passage we had depths of 5 to 8 feet. We stayed in the middle of the waterway when there were no markers. I was concerned about using the cut with the horror stories out there. We stoped at Jekyll Harbor Marina to ask the locals about the cut. They said they use it all the time and I would have no problem. We also had a 40+ foot sport fishing boat follow us through at low tide.
      Richard Clagett

      Thank you all for the great post up, as we say on the big river. Am planning on going north on the AICW this coming spring and it has been very helpful hearing from light draft vessel operators!
      Capt. Jerry Robbins

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Northern End of Umbrella Cut

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Floyd Cut

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    • Nov 26, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy 1 Comment

      More Praise for Huckins Boat Yard, Ortega River, Jacksonville FL

      Huckins Boat Yard - Click for Chartview

      Huckins Boat Yard is located on the northern shores of the Ortega River off the St. Johns River, just upstream of the Roosevelt Boulevard Bridge with a 45ft vertical clearance.

      If you are going to be in the Jacksonville area on the Ortega River and need boat yard services, give Huckins Yacht Corporation a good look. We just finished a week of annual underwater hull maintenance and would have to proclaim this was the best boat yard experience we have had in over 15 years of boating. The yard hauled us out on the day scheduled, and then splashed us on the day promised, with everything on the original list completed plus adding another large amount of work that was unseen so not anticipated. The quoted costs on those things we could estimate were honored and the additional work was quoted as we went and that was honored. Then, to top it off, the yard spent 3 hours washing our boat before casting us off. This is a job I always hate to do when first leaving a yard with the usual dirty decks and Huckins included it in the packaged bottom job. As not having any incentive from Huckins except a very happy customer, I do highly recommend them. Call Deb Grant, one of the service managers, and tell her that we sent you.
      Stay safe,
      Tom

      Huckins builds one of the best boats on the water too. Timeless classics with incredible quality.
      Brad Hines

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Huckins Boat Yard

      Comments from Cruisers (1)

      1. Alan Bliss -  January 25, 2015 - 9:45 pm

        Ditto this positive review of the Huckins Yard. They are a longtime custom boat builder with extensive facilities and equipment. They have weathered the down market in custom new-builds by cultivating their service operation. The workers are high-skill and conscientious, and management is on-site and responsive. Huckins has a reputation for being pricey, but their hourly rates are in-line with many yards, they go the extra mile to serve a customer, and their quality is such that you get full value for every dollar. They have worked on my boat several times, and I always leave satisfied.

        Reply to Alan

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