In reponse to an earlier SSECN posting on an alternate to Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff (see /?p=120938), Captain Mullins and crew took the Round-your-elbow route into St. Helena Sound to avoid the Cutoff and did so successfully.
On our trip south on an Ocean Alexander 58, 4 ft. draft, we determined that we were going to transit the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff at low tide so we decided to turn left, heading south, after we passed through the cut at Fenwick Island. The Ashepoo river had 20 to 25 ft. of water in the middle and we followed it to the mouth, exited and went out in the St. Helena sound, turned north and bypassed the problem stretch all together. I would recommend this route for anyone with a 4 or 5 ft. or deeper draft heading into that area.
The intersection of Northern Fields Cut and the Wright River lies north of the intersection of the Waterway and the Savannah River. Shoaling there has always been an issue and even with last year’s dredging, shallow depths might be expected. However, Captain Mullins offers good advice for a clear passage.
Just helped take a Ocean Alexander 58 through Field’s cut at low tide.(4 ft. draft) Entering the cut from the north going south, you must stay close to the green markers on the left for the first 150 yds, then edge over to the red side until you approach the Savannah River and exit close to the Red side. We had a fish finder screen aboard and when we entered the cut, we could see how the bottom jumped up about 100 yds from the north entrance. There was a sailboat in front of us that tried to stay on the Green side all the way and had run aground 4 times by the time we caught up with him. Phil Mullins
Little Shark River Outer Anchorage - Click for Chartview
Little Shark River is an interesting, but sometimes very buggy anchorage that lies well south of Everglades City and a short hop north of Cape Sable. It is one of the most backwater cruising possibilities in all of Florida. The SSECN recommends three Little Shark River anchorages in our Western Florida Anchorage Directory, but there are actually several dozen spots you might choose to drop the hook. These reports come to us from the Great Loop forum.
Going south from Marco I. we have stopped at the Little Shark River. One time we found it to be buggy on warm, windless night. Every other time (about five) we have found it to be a pleasant, quiet stop. VERY remote with plenty of place to anchor. Mitch & Carole On Serendipity
A good stop for the night when traveling out of Marco is Little Shark River. This breaks the trip up into two nice segments. When anchoring in Little Shark, go up the river 1/2 mile or so past the entrance. You will find good depths and good holding. Plan on a fast tidal current in both directions, inbound and outbound. This current will set you securely on your anchor for the night. Even with the cool temps currently being experienced, have screens ready for the bugs. Marty and Jerry Richardson onboard M/V Monarch
In the spring of 2013, we had a lengthy discussion on Big Sarasota Pass, /?p=111868. Now Captain Ray brings us valuable local knowledge.
I am a local, and the pass is more than just dicey these days. Over the past year’¦last week we sailed our Mariner 31 outside and back, drawing 3’10’³, and saw 5’6’³ at high tide. That’s down from 7′ only a few months ago. Be careful if you must come into Big Pass, pretend you are a large barge and make wide turns around the floating markers on your way in. Captain Ray
If you have any recent information about NC’s log requirement, let us hear from you. Apropos to this discussion is the new Key West regulation requiring a pumpout log (/?p=133955). And apropos to both situations is this ongoing discussion on Trawler Forum concerning a pumpout log requirement – or lack thereof – in NC. Got to: http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s27/nc-pumpout-log-13076.html
Captain Landry’s comment is in response to an article by Gwen Filosa that appeared January 16, 2014 in KeyNews.com, Florida Keys and Key West’s Daily Online News. While the search for cleaner waters is admirable, proof of pumpout is often difficult to provide. The new regulation does specify “liveaboards” and may not affect transients. See /?p=131066 for an earlier posting on this issue.
The [Key West] city’s Bight Management Board unanimously approved Wednesday a new policy requiring liveaboards using the historic seaport’s dinghy dock to show proof they are having sewage pumpout service done regularly. http://keysnews.com/node/52935 Susan Landry
I don’t have a pumpout log. A good time to sing the praises of my Nature’s Head. [Composting toilet] Tom Murphy
This law raises a lot of questions. How are you supposed to provide proof of pumpout if you have just arrived from an offshore run from Mexico? What if you don’t pumpout because you have a composting head, an incinerating toilet, or use a porta pottie? What if your boat doesn’t have toilet facilities and you want to dinghy in? What if the place you pumped out is free, is not attended, and offers no proof of pumpout? Is an acceptable pumpout log just notes that the owner keeps? I had some friends who lived on a large steel trawler with a 400-gallon tank and they pumped out once a season or so, but usually they just headed offshore and dumped legally. What are they supposed to do? John Kettlewell
It was with much sadness that I read the announcements below on the St. Augustine’s Cruisers’ Net (https://www.facebook.com/groups/staugustinecruisersnet/), about the passing of actor Russell Johnson, best known as Professor in the 1960s TV sitcom “Gilligan’s Island.” Like Captain Tarlecky, I think this show helped inspire my life to be associated with the water and cruising. According to CNN.com (see http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/16/showbiz/russell-johnson-obit/), Johnson, “died Thursday, his agent said. Johnson was 89.” Farewell “Professor” Johnson and godspeed on your journey!”
Its with great sadness that I learned that “The Professor” from Gilligan’s Island has passed away. For me, I always thought that living on an island and inventing all kinds of cool stuff is basically what I wanted to do and this drove at least a part of my desire to get out on the water and explore all those little tropical islands and also develop a career at an engineer. So… thanks for all the laughs Professor. Alex Tarlecky
A sad day for those who loved the castaways. Rudolph Andreae
This Nation Marine Manufacturers Association (http://www.nmma.org) Action Alert regarding ethanol went out to NMMA members this Wednesday. Last month, NMMA testified before the EPA explaining the unintended dangers of the Renewable Fuel Standard and its impact on the marine industry. NMMA will also be submitting written comments this month. But our voices, our opinions and our comments are critical to our overall success.
If you want the EPA to reduce the ethanol mandate, to modify the RFS and protect marine engines, then you must speak up! A format to submit your comments is contained in the following link: http://hd.nmma.org/t/88183/2164904/14107/7/
It is past time to terminate the negative effects of ethanol/gas mixtures. E-10 has endangered American boaters and their families, required costly repairs and modifications to boats and boat engines and befits the widespread label of `The Ethanol Fraud.’ The taxpayer forced subsidy is not only unjustified and unsustainable, it discriminates against those who must pay premium prices to locate and purchase non-ethanol fuel to protect their assets and families from the harmful results of ethanol in motor fuels. Frank Leggett
The EPA must be bought and sold by Monsanto. It’s clear the Ethanol pollutes more than gasoline. Ethanol harms engines and fuel tanks. It breaks down quickly releasing water into the bottom of fuel tanks where the water causes corrosion. This edict of 15% will also cause a major disruption in marina businesses and break the backs of boater’s budgets. Rudolph Andreae
In response to reports of numerous crab pots in the west side approach to Marathon (/?p=131869), Captain Lindberg’s remarks refer to 50 statute miles of the Hawk Channel between Rodriguez Key, just north of Key Largo at mile 1145, and Marathon at statute mile 1195.
We just came back from sailing Fort Lauderdale to Boca Chica and back 12/23/13-1/3/14. The pots were so bad between Rodriguez Key and Marathon that we had to drop sails and motor. We had planned on putting out two fishing lines, however it was impossible with all the pots. Brenda Lindberg
This was our experience as well during the week of January 6th, 2014. Be Aware and Careful ! DeeDee Lisenby
Snake Creek is the northernmost (and easternmost) channel in the Florida Keys that provides reasonably reliable access from the Florida Keys Inside (Florida Bay) Route to Hawk Channel, or the other way around. Several earlier articles here on the Cruisers’ Net, as well as my own soundings, indicate that MLW soundings on the extreme Hawk Channel end of the Snake Creek channel, have risen to 5-foot levels. Snake Creek, is one of only three passages (the other two being Channel Five and Moser Channel) between Miami and Big Pine Key that cruisers can (reliably) use to cruise between the inside and outside Florida Keys routes. So, timely operation of the bascule bridge crossing Snake Creek is an important consideration for cruisers. Below, Captain Dennis found the bridge tender a bit balky, and he also comments on some nearby powerlines.
I just went through Snake Creek bridge yesterday in a Hunter 285. They publish that they open on demand other then restricted hours. They have change the restricted hours a couple times in the recent past so I won’t quote those hours now, but during the restricted hours they still open on the hour and on the half hour when requested. After just missing the 10:00 am opening, when we could not get a response on the VHF radio from the bridge attendant, we whistled for passing at 1030 at 11 and again at 1130 before we finally got an opening. The bridge attendant’s phone number is 305-664-3632. the mast on our hunter is 44 and a half feet above the water. I estimate that we cleared the power lines by 6-10′ so your 70′ stick is way too high. I tried to call just to see for cities reference, but all I got was a recording. Capt Dennis with Sailshare
We went through the snake creek channel twice in a leopard 46 with a 70′ mast without incident. The lower wires are telephone and data cables. This was done in Feb 2011. T. Macpherson
We have taken a 50′ Prout 3 1/2′ draft with 70′ bridge clearance under the Snake creek bridge wires at low tide. The bridge tenders said we were pretty close to the lowest wires, maybe within a foot or two. Captain Harold Ochstein
January 14, 2014 We took 42ft cat through Snake Creek 12/30/13 ‘“ Took it on rising tide with no issues, except ‘“ bridge tender would not respond. After waiting 15min and requesting response again, then waiting another 15min requesting response, another captain came on and said he was waiting also and that bridge would open at 4. It did open at 4pm, however no response what so ever from bridge tender. I asked some of the locals at fuel dock, and they indicated this was pretty common complaint. Brenda & George Lindberg
Don’t know why they have not replaced that bridge yet. I lived in the Keys in the 80’s and 90’s and that bridge was stuck in the up position more than twice that I can remember. Great for the boaters, but once it was stuck for over 24 hours. Hundreds of people south were stuck, missed flights and also the nearest hospital was in Marathon. Monroe County needs to hire more friendly people as bridge tenders. Frank Collins
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