Aqua Marina is now Daytona Marina and Boatworks. The entrance channel runs west-southwest from the Waterway south of marker #39A and the southerly entrance cut for Halifax Harbor Marina. The Office Manager is Linda Grant and their new website is http://www.thedaytonamarina.com/
SSECN wishes the new management the very best!
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Daytona Marina and Boatworks
Albemarle Plantation Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! is located off the AICW, on the northern shores of Albemarle Sound, on Yeopim River/Creek. Skipper Parker’s description of this facility makes a Waterway side trip up the Albemarle Sound very inviting!
We spent Saturday night, 08-16-14, at Albemarle Plantation Marina and enjoyed a very pleasant experience. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful and the facility itself was well maintained, although showing a few signs of age. The showers and bathrooms were as nice and clean as any we have ever used. The pool was large, clean and very refreshing on a hot day. We decided to rent a golf cart and put it to good use in exploring the massive property. We did not get a chance to try the restaurant as it was being used for a private golfing event. This marina is off the beaten path but worth the effort in getting there.
Dick Parker
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Albemarle Plantation Marina
In light of our recent discussions concerning anchoring regulations in Florida, see /?p=143945, the cruising community will be interested in this message from a North East cruiser facing similar restrictions and issues. Thank you Mike ODonnell.
Hi, I cruise the east coast with my wife and two young children. The Cruisers Net has been one of my best sources for Information while travelling the southeast. We like a lot of cruisers head to the North East in summer and don’t have a good source like the Cruisers Net up here. I think the net should expand its area to the whole east coast. We are beginning to have problems with local anchoring laws. It reminds me of what FL went through. When we arrived in Newport RI we were told by the harbormaster that they passed a local ordinance this year and we had to leave the city waters after 14 days for 4 days or take a mooring ball and then return to the anchorage. They also state that any boat left unattended can be taken by the harbormaster and charged storage. They are writing tickets and have towed at least one boat away that was not abandoned or causing an obstruction. Another popular summer stop for cruisers is Vineyard Haven in Marthas Vineyard which has passed a 3 day anchoring limit. These two I know first hand but have heard others have passed similar laws. I think Block Island has also passed a local ordinance. Plymouth Mass says if you anchor you can not leave the boat, Lucky the Pilgrims did not face that problem when they arrived. So besides the anchoring issues us north east cruisers need the Cruisers Net for general cruising info up here also. I am sure many cruisers would support you in expanding to the whole East Coast.
Thanks
Mike ODonnell
SV Bay Tripper
Many thanks to our good friends, Mark and Diana Doyle, for sharing this depth survey of northern Fields Cut, which was listed as a hazard to navigation (see /?p=143997) in this week’s Local Notices. Please let this survey and our Nav Alert serve to guide you through this major Problem Stretch.
Hi Larry,
Just saw your recent SSECN report on Fields Cut. You’re right, it’s getting uglier and uglier there.
Diana and I went through yesterday so I thought I’d send you a depth-annotated track and survey report for your readers.
That end of the cut was always interesting but now it’s got a three-foot MLLW speed bump right in the middle of the ICW channel!
Best,
Captains Mark & Diana Doyle
m/v Semi-Local
www.OnTheWaterChartGuides.com
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Northern Fields Cut
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
My wife Pat and I traveled through Fields Cut on 10/26/16 one hour after low water favoring the outside of each curve and found no less than 12 feet of water from the Wright River to the Savannah River.
The intersection of Northern Fields Cut and the Wright River lies north of the intersection of the Waterway and the Savannah River. Shoaling at this Problem Stretch has always been an issue and, even with last year’s dredging, shallow depths might be expected. This new Local Notice confirms earlier reports of severe shoaling as reported on May 21st, see /?p=141095.
SOUTH CAROLINA-AICW-BEAUFORT RIVER TO ST SIMONS SOUND-FIELDS CUT: SHOALING
There is shoaling directly in the middle of the AICW in Fields Cut. A depth of 2FT was reported in approximate position 32-05.185N/080-56.022W (32°5.1850N / 080°56.0220W, 32.086417 / -80.933700) during low-tide and poses a hazard to navigation. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11507 LNM: 33/14
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Northern Fields Cut
Subject, Northern Fields Cut shoal
FYI, 3 years ago, coming north in the spring, a barge/push boat were coming up behind me so I idled on the side and told the tug captain that I would wait until he passed since I was not familiar with this area. He said I would have no problems as he passed and then he went aground. By the time he managed to push the barge through the shoal, there was a line of boats behind him and me. I called him and thanked him for moving the shoal for us.
Washington, NC, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is one of the most delightful ports of call on the North Carolina coastline. The town is located off the direct path of the AICW, but it’s a pleasant 30 mile cruise upstream on Pamlico River from the Waterway’s passage across this body of water to the Washington City Docks.
A NEW LIGHT OVER THE PAMLICO
New boating facility evokes Pamlico Point Light
A rare occurrence has taken place on North Carolina’s Inner Banks as a new lighthouse now shines its beam across the harbor of Washington, NC. The lighthouse is not intended as a navigational aid, but will welcome mariners and landside visitors to this historic riverfront town.
Construction of the new boating facility was completed in June. The lighthouse was designed to evoke the architecture of the Pamlico Point Light, which once marked the entrance of the Pamlico River. The structure includes shower and laundry facilities for boaters, as well as public restrooms and, on the second floor, new quarters for the Dockmaster and Dock Attendants.
The Washington waterfront harbor, formed by the broadening of the Pamlico/Tar River, has been Eastern North Carolina’s hub for waterborne commerce since colonial days. As the closest deep water harbor to the metro areas of Greenville, Rocky Mount, and Raleigh/Durham, it now supports a large recreational boating population.
In addition to space for long-term and transient dockage, the Washington waterfront now provides a wide variety of public amenities including a waterfront promenade, nature boardwalk, playground, concert stage, and public seating along the water. The Lighthouse Boating Facility is the latest milestone in a decades-long effort to make the Washington waterfront one of the area’s premier recreational destinations for tourists and residents alike.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/washingtonwaterfrontdocks or call 252.944.6661.
Best regards,
Beth Byrd, Director
Washington Harbor District Alliance
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WashingtonHarborDistrictAlliance
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Washington City Docks
Location, location is the name of the game at Beaufort Municipal Docks and it is certainly good to hear positive comments about this popular stopping point for Waterway cruisers. The town of Beaufort, NC is known as a real success story along the Waterway and this wonderful port of call remains one of our favorites, anytime, anywhere!
We took a weekend trip to Beaufort Town Docks this weekend and couldn’t have had a better time. Many thanks to Dock Master Neil for his assistance. If you want great views and nightlife, this is the place to be.
John Flowe
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Beaufort Municipal Docks
Skipper Halls relates his jarring experience with a shoal and the rudeness of a passing vessel. The intersection of the Waterway and Browns Inlet, a Problem Stretch south of Swansboro, has been the site of shoaling for some time, as well as a mysterious underwater hazard as reported in /?p=141557.
8/12/2014, ran aground at this spot. Letting crew steer for just a few minutes, I was down below when the gut wrenching bloop of grounding was felt. Very difficult to see the plan (markers) until almost on top when headed southbound. We had a following current and crew didn’t reduce power till I came rushing up. Had to call TowboatUS. I MIGHT have avoided if I was steering, but maybe not, quite confusing, VERY narrow channel remains. And a special thanks to the Aussie couple in a 50ish DeFever who went by as we were trying to be towed off, for waking us so hard the keel ( 4.8 draft ) slammed the shoal 3 times VERY hard !!
Randy Hall
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Little River Inlet lies south and east of the Waterway, right at the NC-SC state line, intersecting the Waterway at Mile 342. Skipper Spouse’s opening comment refers to a June 6, 2013 posting on this inlet: /?p=116922 Note that marker references are inlet markers, not Waterway markers.
Last year’s good reports about the Little River Inlet are still valid as at 16 August 2014. This morning we came out through the Little River Inlet from Calabash Creek at half-flood ‘“ just followed the buoys and remained mid channel out to the seabuoy. Tons of water and the minimum observed depth was 15ft over the bar about half-mile inshore of the seabuoy.
William Spouse
Hallberg Rassy 42
Our thanks to Captain John Kettlewell for sending us this video from Hamilton Marine on how mooring rigs are made and, especially, how they should be constructed. This video certainly adds fuel to the argument about whether you would rather trust your own ground tackle or that installed by economically strapped and budget restricted communities.
Larry:
Since lousy moorings are a hot topic in Florida, and one of the city moorings failed in Salt Run in St. Augustine, I thought your readers might be interested in the commercial video below. That mooring failure in St. Augustine would make a good article. From what I have seen and read, other mooring fields in Florida utilize similar construction methods.
John J. Kettlewell
Jim, you can certainly ask about rental moorings, but I would not expect to get a straight, accurate answer. The chances are very high that the person taking your money will have no idea, and even if they do I suspect you will get a generic response. The simple fact is that you have no idea what you are tieing up to in most cases. I have observed very large vessels in bad weather tied to moorings that were not designed for the load. How will you know that? Or how about the mooring that got wrapped up in someone’s prop the night before? I have helped boats untangle themselves from commercial rental moorings. It could have been inspected two days ago and you will not know the condition of the mooring pennant below the surface. Even in New England I have helped rescue boats from and observed many more failed moorings. The most common problem is a chafed pennant, but I have also seen failed shackles and chain, failed staple on the mooring block, shackles with the wrong pin in them, and even seen many moorings dragged ashore in bad weather. The typical mooring does not have the holding power of my anchors, which have been storm tested up to hurrican force. And, I get to visually inspect everything as I use it.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Northern Fields Cut
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