Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

Apr 22, 2014by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 27.7245,-82.68229999
New Entry Channel Markers to Maximo Marina, near Western Florida ICW Statute Mile 115

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Maximo Marina is on the charted canal cutting into Boca Ciega Bay’s southeastern shores, east-northeast of unlighted daybeacon #14. Our thanks to Skipper Burnham for this excellent report.
The Maximo Marina on the east end of Boca Ciega Bay at Gulfport, Florida is accessed by a long channel that has just recently been remarked by new unlit daymark pilings which prevents deep draft boats from running aground as they enter Boca Ciega Bay when leaving Maximo Marina and turn north to go to the Gulfport City Marina. These unlit daymarks are not on any charts or chart plotters and the western most pair of the 3 sets of unlit daymarkers, green#7 and red #8, extend into Boca Ciega Bay as far as the pair of markers, #14 and #15, just to the south or them that mark another channel coming from Tampa Bay. Green #15 is a lighted marker, red #14 is unlit.
The real confusion comes from the fact that the daymarks on the channel to the Maximo Marina, the northern channel, have the even numbered red daymarks on the right (as they should), and the southern channel coming from Tampa Bay, has the red marked pilings on the left as you approach the southerly channel from the west. The two unlit red daymarks that mark the two channels are less than two tenths of a nautical mile apart and look identical from a distance. Until chart plotters are updated, cruise carefully after dark on the west end of Boca Ciega Bay.
David Burnham
Larry,
The photos of the new Maximo Marina entrance channel day markers I took yesterday did not give enough detail to be useful. However, I am sending you this Google Earth image of the approximate locations of the new markers so that you can compare this image of the east end of Boca Ciega Bay with your charts.
David
Maximo Marina Entrance Channel
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Maximo Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Maximo Marina
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Apr 22, 2014by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Don’t Miss “Oriental Nautical Wheelers” in Oriental, NC (Statute Mile 181)
Over the weekend of April 19-20, 2014 I had the good fortune to attend the Oriental, NC Boat Show, and hold three seminars. During the show, I made the acquaintance of Bill and Camilla Wheeler and their unique business, “Oriental Nautical Wheelers.” I am very pleased to say that this firm is our newest SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Oriental Nautical Wheelers is located in a historical Oriental homeplace, right on (411) Broad Street (252-249-0359), in downtown Oriental. It is within easy walking distance of SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Oriental Marina and Condos, and Oriental Harbor Marina, plus the town’s two free docks. From Whittaker Creek, you will need to have auto transportation available for a visit.
How to describe Oriental Nautical Wheelers? I could say that this unique establishment contains everything “coastal” from clothing, to shoes, to home furnishings and accessories, to Adirondack chairs. However, that would overlook the wine section, the voluminous selection of all types of gifts and personal items, not to mention the “revolutionary Keira Watering Cans.”
The selection and range of merchandise is staggering, in a very good way, you understand! EVERY cruiser visiting Oriental will want to be SURE to include a stroll to “Oriental Nautical Wheelers.” Don’t believe me? Well, then just follow the photo gallery link below!
Click Here To Visit Oriental Nautical Wheelers Web Site
Click Here To Visit Oriental Nautical Wheelers Photo Gallery
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Apr 22, 2014by: Claiborne Young No Comments
A New, High Volume Dredge Arrives at Amelia Island Yacht Basin (Statute Mile 720.5)
In December of this year, after a personal visit to this facility, we reported that SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Amelia Island Yacht Basin, was awaiting the arrival of a new, high-volume dredge that would be permanently located here. Amelia Island has always offered superbly sheltered dockage, and full on-site services, including repairs. The rub has been depths both on the canal-like entrance channel and in the dockage basin. Well, all that will begin to change very soon.

New Amelia Island Yacht Basin Dredge
While attending the just completed MTOA Spring Rendezvous in Fernandina Beach, I again made a personal visit to Amelia Island Yacht Basin, and had a most informative conversation with General Manager, Bill Galloway and Office Manager, Kristen Galloway. I was very pleased to learn that the NEW DREDGE HAS JUST ARRIVED! Some piping must still be delivered, but in a few weeks, dredging of the entrance channel will begin.
Bill explained to me that this new dredge can “do in a few hours what took our old dredge a few weeks to accomplish.” While it will take a bit of time to get the entrance channel and harbor to the depth targets set by marina management, once that is accomplished the on-site dredge will only need to do a bit of maintenance dredging from time to time.
Wow, what a wonderful improvement to an already excellent facility. We’ll keep you informed as the dredging operations proceed!
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Amelia Island Yacht Basin
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Amelia Island Yacht Basin
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Apr 21, 2014by: Claiborne Young No Comments
More Information on Bridge Pointe Marina (New Bern, NC, on the Trent River)
We announced a few months ago, that SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Bridge Pointe Marina in New Bern, NC, had reopened after a year-long rebuilding project. I have twice undertaken a personal inspection of Bridge Pointe’s new reincarnation, and it can be stated with no fear of inaccuracy, that this is now a state-of-the-art facility. Below, we hear more from dockmaster, Jesse Schmucher, about his newly revamped marina.
Our new state-of-the-art marina includes 150 Brazilian hardwood [decked] floating deep water slips ranging from 30FT ‘“ 150FT, cable television, free wireless internet, metered electric and fresh water connections for each slip. Our newly redesigned and completely renovated boater’s lounge includes showers, restrooms, charcoal grills, laundry, and a comfortable air conditioned sitting area. Monthly dockage rates are $6.50 per slip foot, plus a $20 Pedestal Fee + Metered Electric (13 Cents per kilowatt). We will be offering a special rate for a limited time, so be sure to contact us today at (252)637-7372 or by email at bridgepointemarina@colwenhotels.com.
For more information on Bridge Pointe Marina, follow the links below:
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bridge Pointe Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bridge Pointe Marina
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Apr 14, 2014by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
REMINDER: Northern Mouth of Alligator River, Problem Stretch, AICW Statute Mile 81
A reminder to everyone that the location of markers through this stretch does not coincide with older charts or with the Magenta line. Our oft repeated advice: follow the markers, not the Magenta line! Smaller buoys are often difficult to spot and require a reduction in speed and a sharp lookout!
For more comments on the area, see /?p=125911 and /?p=101600 and /?p=56971.
Temporary floating red buoy! Didn’t go aground but S/V ahead of us did! Slow and easy!
Adventure
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the North Mouth of Alligator River
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
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Apr 11, 2014by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
More Discussion of Longer FEC RR Bridge Closures in Store for South Florida?
Wow, here is a piece of sobering news from our “man on the scene” in Stuart, Florida, Captain Ted Guy. Ted is a maritime attorney and the past president of the Treasure Coast Marine Industries Association, and is unusually knowledgeable about all things nautical when it comes to Eastern Florida and the Okeechobee Waterway. Looks like we may all have more time to wait at railway bridges in Florida, starting in 2015!
Claiborne, my friend,
A local controversy has sprung up in the boating community about FEC adding 16 passenger trains each way each day to about ten or twelve freights each way each day, more than doubling the bridge closure down time per day. It will affect their drawbridges from Cocoa Beach to Miami. The new service starting in 2015 is called “All Aboard Florida”, although I’ve heard they may rename it. Check out www.allaboardflorida.com .
W.E. “Ted” Guy, Jr.
This is going to be a huge problem if it ever comes to completion. Some estimates say the bridge will be closed up to 75% of the time for train crossings.
In addition the bridge is beyond it’s end of life and the RR company (FEC) does not intend to replace it. A breakdown is very likely.
For more information, see the grass roots campaign at:
http://www.floridanotallaboard.com/
Paul Sears
Sailing Vessel `Aurora’ currently in Palm City to the West of the RR bridge!
Vero Beach county officials are raising concerns about the impact of the All-Aboard Florida passenger rail service as outlined the article by Lisa Zahner linked here from VeroNew.com:
http://www.veronews.com/news/indian_river_county/traffic/county-vero-beach-raise-concerns-about-all-aboard-florida/article_3d54f83e-ba10-11e3-87b7-001a4bcf6878.html
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Apr 10, 2014by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from Moore Haven City Dock, Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 78

Moore Haven – Click for Chartview
Moore Haven City Dock, the first stop west of Lake Okeechobee, is located at Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 78, on the Moore Haven waterfront. This report comes to us from our good friends, Peg and Jim Healy.
The muni docks at Moore Haven are in good shape, have power and water, and are $1.00/ft. There is a good enough Mexican restaurant about 1/2 mile from the docks, but generally, Moore Haven has limited options. It’s a very convenient stop which we use and recommend.
Peg and Jim Healy
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Moore Haven
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Apr 10, 2014by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Good Advice on Okeechobee Lake Route Approach to Clewiston, FL – Statute Miles 60-65
Approach Channel – Click for Chartview
The portion of the Okeechobee Waterway “Lake Route,” described below by the Healys is found between Statute Miles 60 to 65 and is charted as Approach Channel.
The one additional thing to highlight about the Lake crossing that I have not seen mentioned is that the area charted from Rocky Reef to Clewiston is a narrow channel exposed to whatever prevailing crosswinds are to be found on the lake. It is a man-made, dredged channel. The natural bottom is sandstone; hard, not soft, and so, the channel edges are also hard. The markers at the Lake end of the channel are further apart than the markers at the shore end. They can be hard to see depending on daylighting conditions. BE SURE YOU STAY IN THAT CHANNEL. DO NOT ALLOW THE BOAT TO GET PUSHED OUT OF THAT CHANNEL BY CROSSWINDS. Backsight to make sure you really are *in* that channel. Sandstone is soft rock, but it’s plenty hard enough to hurt bronze propellors and SS rudders and shafts.
Peg and Jim Healy
Excellent advice! We were in Roland Martins marina in Clewiston a couple years ago, and there was a brand new 54 foot trawler being delivered to a boat show on the face dock. The delivery captain just barely missed a turn in that channel, and took out both props, shafts, and rudders. I don’t even want to think about that yard bill!
Jonathan Gorham
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Clewiston
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Apr 9, 2014by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Request for Information on National Park Service Docks in Ocracoke, Pamilco Sound, NC
Silver Lake – Click for Chartview
The Ocracoke National Park Service Docks are on the northern shores of Silver Lake Harbor, just east of its entrance.
Would love to hear if anyone has stayed at the NPS dock in the past few months. We sailed to Ocracoke about a year ago and the NPS docks were covered in bird droppings and looked to be in disrepair. The fellow at the desk at the adjacent museum (or whatever that building is) wasn’t happy to be answering questions about it! So we just anchored that time, but would like more current information for an upcoming trip.
Kathrine Noel
I’m reporting in [from Ocracoke] that the NPS docks are closed and `under construction’. There is obvious construction on the sidewalks and there was a tiny sign saying the docks were closed. There is a new dingy dock that is very nice. We used it, though it’s behind the construction area, so it probably couldn’t be used during the work week. Had a delicious dinner at the Flying Melon. I did forget to say that the docks are supposed to be ready for service in May. We’ll see; I’m not confident!!
Headed to Belhaven tomorrow to wait out the yucky weather. Will post a review of that visit too!
Kathrine Noel
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Ocracoke National Park Service Docks
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ocracoke National Park Service Docks
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Apr 8, 2014by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Cruising the Upper Waccamaw River to Conway, SC
For a wonderful article on the Upper Waccamaw River to Conway, SC, by Peg and Jim Healy, see /?p=138583
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