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    • Jan 10, 2013by:   Claiborne Young No Comments 24.5726,-81.74159999

      Thoughts on Stock Island Marinas, just East of Key West


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      Stock Island - Click for Chartview

      Here is a very interesting message copied from the AGLCA Forum, concerning marina recommendation on Stock Island. Those who have already visited Key West know that Stock Island is the next body of land east (think of that as “north”) of Key West. By auto, it is only a 4 miles or so drive to downtown Key West, but Stock Island is too far from Key West Bight or Garrison Bight for a dinghy ride, and it’s a bit far for walking as well, though city bus service is available.
      The dockage rates here are certainly more reasonably than those found at the marinas in Key West proper, so the Stock Island facilities are well worthy of consideration!

      We’ve stayed on Stock Island several times and know of Stock Island Marina Village. This particular marina area is a little rustic and very eclectic. There is a bar/restaurant on sight, the Fish Buster fish market near and a short walk to West Marine, several more restaurants and the bus stop for catching a ride into Key West. We would stay here as long as we did not get a slip up close to the bar area as it can get a little noisy from the music and bar patrons.
      If you like things a little quieter and you do not want to be in downtown Key West, try Sunset Marina or Key West Yacht Harbor on Stock Island.
      If you’re only going to be in Key West for a few days I think you’d get more from your visit it you stayed at one of the downtown marinas.
      Jim & Lisa Favors

      We stayed at Sunset Marina on the bayside of stock island for one year and were quite happy there, very nice clean modern floating docks, bathrooms / showers OK, very quiet at night, very clean and reasonable rates. Draw back was that in our slow moving sailboat it took a long time to get to a reef on the ocean side, Had to go around Key West to the west to get to the ocean. Navigation entering the marina is tricky but once we did it a few times it was easy. Also don’t mind the Sheriffs headquarters/jail and juvi detention center next door. These are new modern county buildings and don’t bother the eye. There was a homeless shelter on the grounds of the Sherriff’s HQ which caused the homeless folks to gather up the road from the marina which there were complaints about but they never bothered us, but I believe that shelter has been closed down as of this time but have to confirm.
      To reduce time to get out to the ocean we moved to Key West Harbor yacht club on the ocean side of stock island, this only after finding out rates had been reduced to the same as Sunset Marina. This is a high end resort style marina with a fine restaurant, bar, pool, brick paver parking lots, nice new docks, and condos for short term rent. Also very clean and quiet at night. Second story restaurant has spectacular view of the Atlantic and best bathrooms/showers of any marina I have stayed at.
      I would highly recommend both of these marinas and a cab ride to Duval street was 20.00 one way and there is also a bus or you can rent bikes nearby. We chose stock island because annual slip rates are 50% or less of what they are in Key west bite and these two marinas were as good or better than any in Key West Bite.
      Jules Robinson

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Stock Island

      Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Sunset Marina

      Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Key West Yacht Club

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    • Jan 9, 2013by:   Claiborne Young No Comments

      More Praise for Port St. Joe Marina (Florida Panhandle Between Apalachicola and Panama City)

      The Port St. Joe Marina is at the heart of Florida's Forgotten Coast, on the eastern shore of pristine St. Joseph Bay on Florida's northern Gulf Coast. Located between Panama City and Apalachicola, Fl

      Port St. Joe Marina - Click for Chartview

      The praise just keeps pouring into the SSECN concerning this wonderful facility. It is accessed via the Gulf County Canal, which departs the Northern Gulf ICW between Apalachicola and Panama City, and runs south to St. Joseph Bay. Port St. Joe Marina lies hard by the town of, what else, Port St. Joe. And, these good people are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

      Our stay at Port St Joe Marina was ideal. Everyone was so helpful. This is certainly a good stop for getting ready for your crossing. Please see previous tome on that subject.
      Tom

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    • Jan 7, 2013by:   Claiborne Young No Comments

      Florida “Sojourner’s Permit” Reprise

      Recently, there has been a lively and ongoing discussion taking place on the AGLCA Forum about the so-called Florida Sojourner’s Permit. This string of messages was kicked off by a posting which opined that the Sunshine State had cancelled the Sojourner’s permit.

      NOT SO! That, as pointed out in all the subsequent messages on the AGLCA forum, was bad info from a badly informed Florida county official. And, by the way, many Florida county officials are NOT fully (or sometimes even partly) informed about this important document for cruisers.

      So, even though the SSECN presented a thorough discussion of this issue back in September of 2012 (see /?p=97389) we thought a perusal of the various AGLCA messages on this subject below, would be very helpful to the cruising community.

      First, though, why is it important to get a Sojourner’s Permit if you plan to have your vessel in Floridian waters longer than 90 days. There are at least two reasons:

      1. If your vessel is registered in another state besides Florida, you can operate in Floridian water for up to 90 days without a problem. HOWEVER, if your vessel is Federally Documented, and NOT ALSO state registered, you MUST register it with the state of Florida, or you may be ticketed immediately upon entering Floridian waters. Or, put another way, Federally Documented vessels MUST ALSO be state registered (either with Florida or another state), or you face the possibility of a ticket.
      By the way, it’s this onerous feature of Florida state law that used to allow the “Venice Water Nazi” to ticket boats coming and going in the city of Venice.
      If your vessel remains in Florida for longer than 90 days, even if it’s registered in another state, YOU MUST ALSO REGISTER IT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA UNLESS YOU OBTAIN A SOJOURNER’S PERMIT! Conversely, iF you succeed in getting a Sojourner’s Permit in hand you will not have to fork over for a costly FL state registration (again, see below) for stays up to 11 months.
      My, my wasn’t that fun!

      2. With a Sojourner’s Permit, you will NOT be hassled to pay sales tax on your vessel. I know this sounds crazy, but if your boat has been owned out of state for less a year before being brought into Florida, and the state in which you purchased your vessel does not collect sales tax on purchases of pleasure boats, the Sunshine State will actually try to charge sales tax on your vessel’s purchase price, if you stay in Floridian waters longer than 90 days (without a Sojourner’s Permit). So, to avoid this ridiculous and expensive charge, get a Sojourner’s Permit. Again, crazy, I know!

      OK, so the above is why obtaining a Sojourner’s Permit is a really good idea. How does not obtain such a document?

      We are pleased to report that our good friend, Captain Mike Dickens at Paradise Yacht Sales and Service (Fernandina Beach, FL, http://www.paradiseyachtsales.net/CruisingCenter2.html) provides what cruisers need to obtain one of these permits on his web site. Follow the links below.

      Sojourner’s Permit Form – http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/forms/BTR/87244.pdf

      Sojourner’s Permit Instructions – http://www.paradiseyachtsales.net/Sojourner1.pdf

      Hopefully, along with a little cash, that’s all you will need to cruise tax free in the Sunshine State for up to 11 months.

      Click Link Below to Peruse the Full Discussion:

      /?p=104504

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    • Jan 7, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments 26.7734,-80.05149999

      New Docks and Dockage Rate at Riviera Beach Municipal Marina, AICW Statute Mile 1018


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      Riviera Beach Municipal Marina - Click for Chartview

      Riviera Beach Municipal Marina lies west of AICW marker #42. A phone call confirmed Capt. Bjarno’s information about a price increase for transient dockage.

      Cruising News:
      New floating docks open within the next week, this is well located and promises to be a “go to” location with its new TIKI Bar, but the price was “JUST INCREASED” to $1.75.
      Peggy Bjarno

      Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Rivera Beach Municipal Marina

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Rivera Beach Municipal Marina

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    • Jan 5, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Additional Information on Main Street Bridge, St. Johns River, Jacksonville, FL

      Copied from Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net Eastern Florida Bridge Directory is the updated listing for the Main Street Bridge in Jacksonville with new comments by the Bridge Tender, Dave, who has been very helpful in offering his expertise and exact information.

      Main Street Bridge‘”crosses the St. Johns near downtown Jacksonville, west of lighted nun buoy #82
      30 19.345 North/081 39.514 West
      Lift bridge
      40 feet closed vertical clearance
      Restricted opening
      VHF Hailing Channel 9
      Does not open at all Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays) from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.’”opens on demand at all other times

      Hi, I am a Bridge Tender at Main Street bridge. The restricted hours are Monday ‘“ Friday 7-8:30am and 4:30-6pm(except Fed holidays). There are no restrictions on Saturday. Also, buoy #82 is now a lighted combination buoy (flashing 4 seconds red). Smooth sailing to all !
      Dave

      Every opening clearance is about 82ft. at Mean High Water (MHW) contrary to NOAA chart 11491 and Coast Pilot. Range of Tide is only about 18 inches. We can give up to 138ft. of clearance if needed with a special slow Highlift procedure.
      Dave (Bridge Tender at Main Street Bridge)

      Thank you Cruisers Net. We are above the bridge at Ortega Yacht Club Marina and planning to exit Monday. A great marina by the way, laid back, friendly, about 1/3 livaboard and walking distance to anything you need.
      Brian Walter

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    • Jan 3, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Interesting Night in Russell Pass Southern Anchorage, between Indian Key and Everglades City

      Russell Pass Southern Anchroage - Click for Chartview

      Russell Pass sits between Indian Key and Everglades City. The marked Indian Key Channel, which eventually leads to the Barron River and Everglades City, allows relatively easy access to Russell Pass. The southern anchorage is found on the waters of charted Russell Pass which opens into the northern flank of the Indian Key-Everglades City channel, southwest of marker #7.
      Granted, Captain Kydd’s info is a bit dated, but we suspect the same, strong currents are still very much present on these waters.

      In February 1980, while my wife, Helen and I were cruising in our 26 foot Pearson sailboat, we were anchored in Russell Bay when the anchorage became very choppy and we moved to Russell Pass. During the night we dragged anchor and at 0300 were wakened by mangroves running both sides of the boat. I rowed the dinghy till I found the pass again, went back and motored out to re-anchor with two anchors. The current in these passes can be pretty strong.
      What a beautiful cruising area.
      Ed Kydd

      Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Russell Pass Southern Anchorage
      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Russell Pass Southern Anchorage

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    • Jan 2, 2013by:   Claiborne Young No Comments 26.4568,-81.95919999

      New Pink Shell Resort Marina Opens in Fort Myers Beach


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      Pink Shell Resort and Marina - Click for Chartview

      We had an earlier contact here at the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net with the dockmaster of what was then the as yet unopened marina at Pink Shell Resort. Sounds like this facility is going to be a GREAT addition to the cruising scene for the waters hard by the southerly genesis of the Western Florida ICW, and the westerly extreme of the Okeechobee Waterway/Caloosahatchee River.
      From Captain Smith’s report below, looks like some of the marina’s wet slips are already open and ready for business, while the rest will be coming online by the 25’th of this month (January, 2013).
      From our previous research, we know that Pink Shell Resort guards the southern shores of the Mantanzas Pass channel, west of Moss Marine, making this new marina the first facility encountered as one enters from the waters of the open Gulf!
      It’s really great to get such an early, positive report of a new marina such as this one. Can’t wait to check out this facility in person!

      Cruising News:
      AT LAST! the Pink Shell Resort, located just inside Matanzas Pass on Fort Myers Beach, has finally opened their new docks – and what a lovely spot it is indeed! Brand new floating docks, with all the amenities of the resort for your use and enjoyment.
      We were fortunate to be among the very first customers at the new docks for this past New Years weekend. While the new docks aren’t yet complete (I was told by the dockmaster that all 41 slips should be done by Jan 25), this new facility sure shows a lot of promise. Once checked in, you get the run of the Pink Shell Resort, including all the pools, fitness center, and spa, as well as easy access to the newly restored beach, all just across the street from your docks. It is absolutely first class! There is also an inexpensive trolley service to the hub of Fort Myers Beach at Times Square – a delightful walk along the beach if you choose.
      Contact Dock Master Dave O’Connor at doconner@pinkshell.com or marina@pinkshell.com for details – group rates are also available.
      Capt Mike Smith
      S/V Blue Skye

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pink Shell Resort and Marina

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    • Jan 1, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments 32.2248,-80.78189999

      Another Report of Reduced Clearances on AICW Bridges, Statute Mile 557.5


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      Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net has received so many reports of reduced clearances at both fixed and opening bridges, plus damaged tide boards and higher-than-normal tides, that we would have to post a Navigation Alert at practically every bridge. This has been a major annoyance for our tall masted friends and our advice to all is to assume a lower vertical clearance and wait for a lower tide.
      Our boat is a 43′ Fontaine/Pajot catamaran. Our mast is 62′ from the water. Hilton Head says it’s 65′ fixed clearance and our VHF radio antenna hit the bottom of the bridge as we passed. We went under the Hilton Head Bridge on December 23, 2012 at about 1 PM at about a 4.6 tide. A bit of a close one.
      Sandy Horn

      Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Hilton Head Bridge

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Hilton Head Bridge

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    • Dec 30, 2012by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Reduced Clearance Reported at Socastee Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 371

      Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net lists the closed vertical clearance for the old, decrepit Socastee Bridge at 11ft. However, this has been an unusual year for higher-than-normal water levels at many bridges over the Waterway, aggravated by a number of damaged or misplaced tide boards. When in doubt, take the Tigars advice and call the bridge tender to discuss the clearance and/or to request an opening. In the case of reduced clearance at a fixed bridge, wait for the tide. Socastee swing bridge opens “on demand” UNLESS water traffic becomes heavy, as on a weekend, then bridge closures may be required every 15 minutes to accommodate road traffic.

      Cruising News:
      One guide book says 12 feet, the chart says 11 feet, but the tide board at high tide said 9 feet. Eyeball estimate says 9 feet is probably about right. The bridge tender on duty December 29 was polite and opened early for us.
      Michael and Jane Tigar

      Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Socastee Bridge

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Socastee Bridge

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