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    • NOAA’s Paper Charts Here to Stay

      Here’s good news for those of us who still want to have aboard as backup those old-fashioned, fold-able paper charts!

      NOAA emblem
      April 4, 2014
      Contact:

      Dawn Forsythe, 301-713-2780 x144

      NOAA’s paper nautical charts are here to stay

      New certified printing agents bring buying options

      It won’t be long before mariners and the boating public will have a wider choice of options and special services when they purchase NOAA paper nautical charts, thanks to NOAA’s expanded “print-on-demand” chart production and distribution system, Coast Survey officials announced today. This week, Coast Survey certified new print-on-demand chart printing agents, and gave them the flexibility to offer different color palettes, various papers, a cleaner margin, and a range of services.

      NOAA has now authorized seven companies to sell NOAA’s paper nautical charts that are printed when the customer orders them — or “on demand.” The information on the charts is still maintained by NOAA, and the charts are corrected with Notices to Mariners up to the week of purchase.

      “Last October, we announced that NOAA would stop using the government printing and distribution system we originally adopted in 1861,” explained Rear Admiral Gerd Glang, director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey. “We asked private companies to help us transition from the government-run system to a robust and competitive market for paper nautical charts, and we are pleased with the results.”

      Rear Adm. Gerd Glang certifies a new print-on-demand chart agent after inspecting the company’s sample chart.

      Five companies have now joined the original “print-on-demand” distributor OceanGrafix and the more recently certified East View Geospatial. The newly certified companies are Frugal Navigator, Marine Press, Paradise Cay Publications, The Map Shop, and Williams & Heintz Map Corporation.

      Glang is confident that the expansion of the print-on-demand system will lead to new options for all who purchase U.S. nautical charts. As a premium service, for example, print agents are authorized to customize charts with user-specified overlays.

      “With more chart printing agents, we hope to encourage competition and ensure fully up-to-date charts are widely available. Buyers can shop around and find different types of paper, or choose between traditional or new color palettes. Our printing agents can offer delivery or in-shop service, and customers can have their navigation track lines or other information printed as overlays on their chart,” Glang pointed out.

      “All charts sold by NOAA-certified agents are NOAA charts, and fully meet navigational standards.”

      For the last 150 years, the federal government produced nautical charts using lithographic printing presses. Although chart-making techniques advanced from the 19th century’s delicate hand-applied etchings on copper plates to a process that is now completely computer-based, the system remained based on printing large volumes of charts, then selling them from stock for years. Charts for sale were gradually more and more outdated until a new edition was printed. The print-on-demand system allows the changes made by Coast Survey cartographers to reach mariners much faster.

      Coast Survey continues to examine applications from additional companies wishing to become certified as NOAA chart printing agents. The examination process includes testing of applicants’ sample charts, to make sure they stand up to normal onboard usage conditions.

      The paper charts sold by the NOAA-certified printing agents meet carriage requirements for ships covered by Safety of Life at Sea regulations, specified in Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

      NOAA Office of Coast Survey is the nation’s nautical chartmaker. Originally formed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807, Coast Survey updates charts, surveys the coastal seafloor, responds to maritime emergencies, and searches for underwater obstructions that pose a danger to navigation.

      POD charts are no substitute for being able to walk into a store and quickly purchase several charts you need’“you need to plan ahead because it takes some time to order and print the charts, and POD places are still very rare. Don’t plan on being able to find a NOAA paper chart in every harbor’“even major ones. However, it is good news for those of us in the paper chartbook business as we are already seeing a surge in sales.
      John Kettlewell

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    • Report on Shoaling in St. Lucie River, Okeechobee Waterway, Statute Mile 1, Stuart, FL

      St. Lucie Shoaling – Click for Chartview

      Skipper Harmon is referring to a stretch of shoaling at the eastern end of the Okeechobee Waterway where we have had a Navigation Alert posted since May of 2013, (see /?p=113451). Again, our advice, and that of Skipper Harmon, is to ignore the magenta line and follow the markers.

      The problem stretch near markers 17 and 17A claimed another boater. I recently completed the Okeechobee Waterway and found the charts make this area very confusing and, the small can marker 17A is hard to see. The charts depict a dredged channel and the magenta line indicates you can pass west of the green marker 17. If you follow this route (magenta line) you will find very shallow water. When I passed the area all east bound traffic was leaving the green markers 17A and 17 to the starboard, west bound to the port. If you are meeting traffic, slowing down will allow everyone to pass 17 safely.

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position in St. Lucie River

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    • North Carolina Mariners Museum Annex, Beaufort, NC Now Offering Transient Dockage, Near St. M. 201)

      NC Mariners Museum Annex Docks - Beaufort, NC

      NC Mariners Museum Annex Docks – Beaufort, NC – Google Earth

      The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net just received an e-mail from former “Coastal Cruising” magazine contributor, Captain Brent Creelman, who now works with the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, North Carolina. As you will read below, the museum annex, which lies at the intersection of the Gallants Channel and Town creek, north of the eventually to be replaced (with a high-rise) Grayden Paul bridge, near 34°43.669’N,76°40.054’W, is now offering transient dockage for visiting vessels. The transient rate is a VERY reasonable $1.00 per foot, per night!
      While power and water connections are available, there are no other shoreside facilities, and it will be a hefty walk (or a very quick taxi ride) from this facility to the many delights and dining attractions in downtown Beaufort. Mariners should also be advised that to reach these docks, they must either navigate the Bulkhead Channel from Beaufort Inlet, and then pass through the restricted Grayden Paul Bridge, or run the somewhat iffy (but still very do-able), Russell Slue – Gallant Channel route from the AICW to a point just short of Town Creek.
      martimemuseumannexdocks Even with those mild disadvantages, many cruisers will be understandably enticed by the dockage rates featured at these docks. If interested, drop Captain Creelman an email, or give him a call!

      Ahoy Fellow Mariners!
      The Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort invites transient vessels and historically significant craft to visit and be our guests at the museum’s expansion site on Gallants Channel just north of downtown.
      The facility has deep water wharfs running some 1,500′ and floating docks with 10 slips and a 100′ face dock.
      The Friends of the Museum is offering a very reasonable short term dockage rate of just $1/foot per night, or $10/foot per month.
      Water and power are available but there are no shore side facilities at this time. There is ample parking on site.
      Located less than a mile from the AICW the site is well protected, has plenty of water depth, and is just a mile from Beaufort’s Front Street.
      Brent Creelman
      Director of Operations
      Friends of the Museum
      brent@maritimefriends.org
      252-728-2762

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Mariner’s Wharf Annex Docks

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    • Channel to South Seas Resort and Redfish Pass Described, Western Florida ICW, Statute Mile 14

      Redfish Pass - Click for Chartview

      Redfish Pass – Click for Chartview

      Skipper Colgan describes a channel from the Waterway to South Seas Resort and Redfish Pass which departs the Waterway southwestward and is marked by a series of non-waterway buoys 24, 23, 22, etc into South Seas Resort.

      I recently found a channel from GICW to South Seas Resort on Captiva Island with reworked channel markers starting south of ICW “39” in descending order, then making a dogleg to right and eventually leading to Redfish Pass. South Seas entrance is to port prior to Redfish. Redfish Pass is now a straight heading out of 270 with proper buoyage. The 1,4,5 aids on charts have been relocated to mark current channel. South Seas Resort has a handout printed showing both.
      Pete Colgan

      Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For South Seas Island Resort Marina

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of South Seas Island Resort Marina

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    • On the Water ChartGuides Now Offering E-Book Editions of Their Popular AnchorGuides

      onthewaterchartguides2Well, Skippers Mark and Diana Doyle have been busy boys and girls of late. It was less than two weeks ago that we featured an announcement from this dynamic cruising duo that their company, On The Water ChartGuides, had just been granted non-profit status, and, consequently, prices of their various publications had taken a dynamic nose-dive (see /?p=137541).
      Now, below we learn that their extremely popular AnchorGuides are available in Apple electronic book format for just $3.99!
      Wow, is this great news or what! Click their ad panel in the upper, right corner of this article to learn more!

      Hi Claiborne,
      Here’s another one of the things we’ve been working on for a bit … eBooks!
      More and more iPads out there and we’re trying to drive the prices WAY down for our non-profit projects … to make everything really affordable and convenient for folks.

      $3.99 for an on-steroid version of the AnchorGuides should be popular.

      eBooks free us from print costs (color, page count, format size, you name it) so we can add LOTS of extras in these digital versions:

      Vector charts with breadcrumb tracks
      Raster charts with breadcrumb tracks
      Satellite maps with breadcrumb tracks
      Street maps for going ashore
      Geotagged photos of the anchorage and shore access
      Audio summaries

      Plus Diana’s quote is spot-on … our first order was from Spain! Go figure.
      lol
      Thanks again for your support,
      Mark & Diana

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    • Skipper Seeking Advice on a Southerly Cruise

      Skipper Jerry is asking for your input into a cruise he is planning. He has given us his email so you can communicate directly. While the bulk of the cruise will be well beyond the waters covered by SSECN, we know that many of you have made the trip he is proposing. If you have advice for Skipper Jerry, give him a shout!

      I’m looking for input from SSEC members who have sailed recently to Guatemala through Mexico. I will be sailing from Fort Myers Beach and am interested in any customs problems and piracy issues. jcvillines@gmail.com
      Jerry

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    • Praise for Fort Myers Yacht Basin, Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 135

      Ft Myers Yacht Basin - Click for Chartview

      Ft Myers Yacht Basin – Click for Chartview

      Located at Mile Marker 135 on the Okeechobee Waterway, 15 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Myers Yacht Basin is a well designed and protected marina. It is owned and operated by the City of
      A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! Ft. Myers Yacht Basin lies along the southeasterly banks of the Caloosahatchee River, between the 3rd and 4th bridges from west to east.

      S/V Jolie and her crew are making our annual stop at Ft Myers City Yacht Basin. Last night the marina put on a customer-appreciation event, with a catered sunset cruise on a local tour boat. We continue to be impressed by the fine service and love being right in the heart of historic downtown Ft Myers. Shops, restaurants, galleries, theater and more are close by and there’s even a free trolley that goes to Publix. The new pricing structure includes $1/foot for transients.
      Julie

      Oops, I neglected to add that the pricing of $1/foot is the weekly winter rate for transients. Nightly winter rate is $1.95/ft. From May 1 ‘“ Oct 31, it’s $0.90/ft/week and $1.70/ft/night.
      Julie

      Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Ft Myers Yacht Basin

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ft Myers Yacht Basin

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    • Good Words for Madeira Beach Marina (Statute Mile 122.5)

      Madeira Beach Marina - Click for Chartview

      Madeira Beach Marina – Click for Chartview

      Madeira Beach Marina flanks the northwestern banks of the cove southwest of unlighted daybeacon #10, itself just southeast of the Welch Causeway Bridge.

      Wonderful experience here, very friendly staff. Bathrooms/showers are very well maintained. Ended up staying a couple extra nights because we liked it here so much.
      Kevin

      Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Listing For Madeira Beach Marina

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Madeira Beach – Johns Pass Anchorage

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    • Successful Passage through Little Mud River AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 655

      Little Mud River is almost universally acknowledged to be the worst section of the entire AICW run from Norfolk, VA to Miami, FL. This “AICW Problem Stretch” lies some 21 statute miles north of Brunswick, Georgia. SSECN recommends navigating this stretch at mid to high tide only, as Skipper Lancaster was savvy enough to do. For a comprehensive report from Little Mud River, go to /?p=128659

      I hit Little Mud River just after low tide. Following the guidance I anchored for 2 hrs. Went through on a rising tide 6 minimum except for the SW entrance which was 4’8″, more water on the E Side.
      Keep up the good work, I check regularly.
      Sliding behind Hilton Head Island right now.
      Steve Lancaster

      In early March, we timed our north bound departure from Brunswick to traverse Little Mud at high tide, and saw nothing less than 11 feet all the way through. This river is too shallow to pass at low tide, but because the tide here is approx. 8 feet, there is lots of water when the tide is up.
      A captain who follows SSECN advice to pass at mid to high tide should not have any problems.
      Richard Ross MV Chez Nous

      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

      Comments from Cruisers (1)

      1. Susan Parker -  August 17, 2015 - 10:46 am

        We traversed the Little Mud River this morning 08/17/15 at 2 hours before high tide. We say 7 ft. near G 193. We draw 4 ft. As others have said, don’t try it at low tide.

        Reply to Susan
    • Report from New Pass, between Longboat and Lido Keys, Sarasota, FL, near Statute Mile 75

      New Pass - Click for Chartview

      New Pass – Click for Chartview

      New Pass is the northernmost of Sarasota’s two inlets, and this channel separates Longboat Key from Lido Key. It is spanned by a bascule bridge with a vertical clearance of 23ft.
      IN SPITE OF CAPTAIN CONWAY’S INFO BELOW, WE SPECIFICALLY DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT ANY MARINER MAKE USE OF NEW PASS! This channel shoals faster than it can be dredged, and I have personally photographed a large sailcraft (several years ago) that foundered when it tried to navigate New Pass. You would be far better served to make use of Longboat Pass to the north, or, better yet, Venice Pass to the south.
      If anyone has ignored this advice, and run New Pass recently, let us hear from you.

      Sailed from St. Petersburg to Longboat Key. We took a bike ride over the New Pass bridge/channel. The bridge went up before we got over it and we saw a 40′ sailboat pass under. This tells me the depth is at least 4′ and probably 5-6″‘. I’m not sure of the tides at that time.
      For a long time I avoided this pass due to a reputation as risky & too shallow. I think I call some folks down there & get their input. I think it’s worth a second look…
      Mike Conway

      Skipper Holiman confirms the reputation of risk for this channel:
      I went out this pass in a 3 foot draft twin inboard cruiser in September 2001, right after Tropical Storm Gabrielle had passed by and blew all of the moored channel markers out of the channel. The wind was still up and there were breakers on the bars. Luckily the sun was right to read the water depth, but I pretty much decided I was never going to use this pass again in anything that it would hurt to run aground.
      There is nothing that would make me attempt to go through this pass with my five foot draft sailboat.
      R. Holiman

      Last October I transited New Pass and found marker “mo(a)” intact, but was warned about a dredged channel with a rough heading of 60 degrees (shown on chart leading to bridge) that had shoaled. I found local traffic heading into New Pass by running parallel to beach roughly in area where NEW PASS is printed on charts [west of Lido Key] and I found small floating nav aids marking shallow passage leading around point to deep water in land pass. I recall wreck did appear on latest chart plotter chip and believe it to be further inside pass perhaps between marker 8 and 9. My boat drew 4′ without hitting.
      Pete Colgan

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of New Pass

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