Visit Logged
  •  Chart View
    • At Current Location
    • At Selected Location
    • Enter A Location
    • Enter Latitude and Longitude
  •  Fuel Prices
    • Lowest Diesel Prices Anywhere
    • Lowest Gas Prices Anywhere
    • Virgina to North Carolina
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Georgia
    • Eastern Florida
    • St. Johns River
    • Florida Keys
    • Okeechobee Waterway
    • Western Florida
  • Select Region
    • All Regions
    • VA to NC Line
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Georgia
    • Eastern Florida
    • Western Florida
    • Florida Keys
    • Okeechobee Waterway
    • Northern Gulf
    • Bahamas
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Washington
    • Puerto Rico
    • Minnesota
    • Maryland
    • Tennessee
    Order by:
    • Jan 13, 2013by:   Claiborne Young No Comments

      Alligator River Bridge (AICW Statute Mile 84) Will Not Open in Heavy Fog

      Alligator River Bridge - Click for Chartview

      AICW cruising veterans have long known the decrepit Alligator River Swing Bridge (closed vertical clearance – 14 feet), will not open in high winds due to the possibility of mechanical injury to the bridge mechanism. Now, we hear this same, troublesome span may not open in heavy fog!!!

      Cruisers from Maine who are used to traveling in fog should be aware that the Alligator River Bridge will not open in reduced visibility as they are afraid cars won’t see the stop lights. There are no set standards. According to the bridge tender, it is up to his discretion. I can see cars half a mile down the bridge from where I am now anchored in the middle of nowhere. With the current weather report, I could be here all day and night.
      Roger Long S/V Strider

      Kudos to the bridge tender. We have watched semi’s and others gun it to get across the ARB swing span after the lights have turned red. The tender is responsible for all the users, even the irresponsible ones.
      Chris

      Click Here To View the North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For the Alligator River Bridge

      Be the first to comment!

    • Jan 11, 2013by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Report and Comments on Bradenton Beach Anchorage (Western Florida ICW, Statute Mile 87)

      The anchorage under discussion below lies just south of the Cortez Bridge, west of the ICW.
      Two important notes need to be considered when evaluating this anchor down spot. First, successful entry can be very tricky for first-timers, AND the city of Bradenton Beach has twice tried to regulate this anchorage, first by creating a mooring field, and later by city registration of boats. Both attempts failed, but who knows what may happen here in the future!

      I am writing this as I am anchored here today (the first time in four years). I have always found this to be a great anchorage due to the fact that it has just about everything for onshore that a cruising sailor would want. A beach, a fair number of good places to eat and drink, a free trolley to take you up and down the beach to get to West Marine and the grocery stores and other places to eat and drink (circle K convenience store is just a block away).
      I have never had a problem navigating the pier entrance (draw 4 feet) but the first time I grounded when I tried to enter the anchorage directly off the ICW and hit the shoal. So go in as directed.
      There are still some derelict boats, one is sunk. It is somewhat noisy mostly from the road traffic going over the bridge or pier fisherman. The anchorage is shallow and the charts do a fairly accurate job of showing the depth. Holding is mud and I have dragged a little bit is a 20 knot blow. As for the the winds out of the south east, this is a lot better than jewfish key anchorage. However, any winds coming from the south or northeast, above 20 knots, I would find another anchorage.
      For the politics here, I had a conversation with a local town rep and they said the problem was not the cruising sailors, it was some of the local anchored live aboards that were creating some police issues and had some assorted conflicts amongst each other as well as some theft. The town was trying reduce those issues by putting in a mooring field’¦. . However, the town cannot do it as this is part of the ICW.
      As far as I am concerned, people need a place to live and in this economy, this offers an economic refuge in relative paradise. But, people have to be responsible for their selves and their assets and respectful of others and the environment too. Unfortunately, because some people do not follow this, that cruisers and local live aboards suffer from this tide of regulation.
      Brad

      Yep, and complain about the junk boats and their owners and you will be labelled `politicaly incorrect’ keep going, all of the rights of the hard working will be gifted to the non caring, layabout drug smoking forgiven , who will, take away all your fun and enjoyment. Proof of the pudding’¦
      Dennis McMurtry

      As a local, I regularly traverse this section of the ICW heading to/from Tampa Bay or the Manatee River. Seems that after the creation of the Marina Jack mooring field, some members of that `Floating Junk Flotilla’ moved North. Cortez folks may be more tolerant, probably not over time.
      Blake Whitney

      Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For the Bradenton Beach Anchorage

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Bradenton Beach Anchorage

      Be the first to comment!

    • Jan 10, 2013by:   Claiborne Young No Comments

      Thoughts on Miamarina (Miami, FL, Statute Mile 1089)

      Miamarina lies in the heart of downtown Miami, and right in the middle of a shopping complex. Honestly, we don’t even list this facility on the SSECN’s “Eastern Florida Marina Directory” as, several years ago, my experience was that transients were a very low priority here, and the crowds milling around the docks were, to say the least, disconcerting.
      However, after reading the accounts below, copied from the AGLCA Forum, I think this facility deserves another visit on our part. HAS ANYONE STAYED AT MIAMARINA WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. If so, PLEASE, follow the “Click Here to Submit Cruising News” link, found on the upper right of this, and all (except Chart View) SSECN pages, and share your experience.
      Many thanks in advance!

      We’re currently enjoying our stay at Boot Key Harbor City Marina, and are contemplating going to Miamarina at Bayside. I’ve been told that it’s a great place to visit with all the shops and live music, but it’s also impossible to get to sleep with all the mayhem and music going on. Does anyone have any feedback/advice please?
      Boot key’s facilities are excellent in case anyone’s wondering, although getting your clothes washed is almost a 6-7 hr. affair at the least, with the waits for open machines. Any quick thoughts are welcome.
      Dave Carter

      I personally love Miamarina at Bayside in downtown Miami although it is not for everyone. After the remoteness of the Florida Keys it is quite a shock to the senses to be thrust into a major metropolitan area. I like to sit in our cockpit with a beverage and absorb the live music. I never have trouble sleeping. The marina surrounded by restaurants and shops is adjacent to Hard Rock Cafe. A boat tour of the homes of the rich and famous that leaves from the marina every thirty minutes is worth a trip.
      Alan Lloyd
      Author, Great Loop Navigation Notes
      http://Www.NavigationNotes.com

      My wife and I stayed at Miamarina a few years ago and had a very nice stay. I would not hesitate to go back. You can walk a few blocks to the tram stop jump on and ride for free all over Miami. Our sleep was never disturbed by
      noise.
      Randy Stacy

      We stay there at this moment (from Jan. 11th to Jan 20th). The marina people are nice and friendly, only the old guy who tried to help us getting in a slip did not speak any english at all. He stood on the dock and did not know what to do. The sanitary area is old, dirty and damaged, absolutely not to recommend!! The noise level is not as bad as expected. The big advantage and this is the only reason we stay there is the direct access to downtown. The internet connection is very poor and our Verizon Mifi is blocked by some heavy interference. Good to know a Starbucks is on the premisses.
      In total ‘“ the marina is lousy and expensive but the location is good.
      Manfred
      from SV Balimara

      Be the first to comment!

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

      Thoughts on Stock Island Marinas, just East of Key West


       View In Chartview

      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

      Be the first to comment!

    • 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

      Be the first to comment!

    • 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

      Be the first to comment!

    • 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


       View In Chartview

      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

      Be the first to comment!

    • 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

      Be the first to comment!

    • 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

      Be the first to comment!


    Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com