Titusville City Marina is a very valued SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR. This facility has been working on a new mooring field for sometime now. An earlier article here on the Cruisers’ Net reported the field was nearing completion, but now, IT’S OPEN! This welcome addition will make it even more convenient to visit this charming port of call. Please note that the Titusville Mooring Field is NOT part of the Florida Pilot Mooring Field Program, so there is no rankling about anchorage regulations on adjacent waters!
Cruising News: The Titusville Municipal Marina is excited to announce our new MOORING FIELD is now OPEN. The mooring field consist of 50 moorings accommodating vessels up to a maximum of sixty feet. Wet slips, fuel and water are also available. Daily rate is $15.00 plus 6% sales tax. Rates include: trash removal, use of restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, holding tank pump out, vehicle parking and dinghy dockage. Please click the link below for additional information. Moorings will be assigned on a first come first served basis. Boaters wishing a mooring are asked to contact the Titusville Marina on VHF channel 16 or phone 321-383-5600.
Just in case anyone didn’t think the fall 2011 transient season wasn’t well underway. Take a look at this photo!
Robert of Deep Creek Lock squeezed 18 boats in the lock yesterday – we were like sardines in a can. I found the whole thing quite hilarious! Arnold Parkinson
By special permission from the author, Captain Bill Bishop, the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is proud to present, “The Mourning Field,” one of the wittiest, wry-est (is that a word) articles ever written concerning Florida anchorage regulations and mooring fields. IF YOU HAVE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INTEREST IN EVER DROPPING YOUR HOOK IN SUNSHINE STATE WATERS, or just want to read very well written prose, follow the link below. YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!!!
SSECN’s newest sponsor is an experienced, well informed, expert a repairing that dreaded bottom condition called BLISTERS !! Captain Phil Turner has have been serving boaters and boat yards on the Northern Gulf for 15 years. His new website is now linked to “The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net” in his effort to connect with boaters in his expanded service area, serving West and North East coast of Florida. Click on the sponsorship panel to the left to visit BoatPeel’s site.
Phil’s practical down to earth discussion informs potential customers about the problem and his services. Phil’s website hopes to better inform vessel owners of the causes of the blistering of fiberglass boats and the proper repair of them. Much has been written about these subjects and there is nothing to be gained by repeating them here, but he will give you some links that should be helpful. We hope you will visit Boat-Peel’s website to better inform yourself about this serious maintenance issue.
The “Rock Pile” is a three mile section of a man-made canal, officially known as the Pine Island Cut, used by the AICW to run between Little River and the Waccamaw River. Capt. Marquet was wise to heed the “dire warnings” about the Rock Pile, but misses the point of those warnings. The channel is narrow and lined with submerged concrete and rocks. Cruisers are urged to announce their presence on VHF in case large commercial traffic is approaching which could force you out of the channel’s mid-width and onto the “rocks”, especially at high tide when the rocks are fully submerged. Capt. Marquet is correct in stating that the passage is easy “if you stay well within the channel”, but that becomes a “big if” when facing an approaching barge in the narrowest sections.
Cruising News: Because of dire warnings, we slogged through here @ 6 knots, but if you stay well within the channel there is no problem going faster. Carolou Marquet
The dredging of 2009 is slowly being overcome by shoaling through this perennial problem stretch, making Hell Gate another section that requires mid-to-high tide passage for vessels carrying 4ft or more draft. With his 6.25ft draft, Capt. Pascal is very alert to depth changes and his is the kind of vessel you would hope to be following through these trouble spots!
Definitely more shallow, by a couple of feet, again on the same lines I usually run thru there. MM602, Hell Gate, 8′ to 9′ MLW thru most of the cut but some readings as low as 5′ to 6′ MLW around R90 and G89. Had 8′ of tides so I tried poking around for better readings, no luck. I usually pass about 40′ from R90, and about 30′ from G89; this time around it s definitely shallower by about 2 to 2.5′ compared to earlier this year. Capt. Pascal Gademer
Always a pleasure to hear such good words about A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! Charleston Harbor Marina is located on the eastern banks of the Cooper River downstream of Patriots Point between Horse Reach’s flashing buoys #34 and #36.
My husband and I made Charleston Harbor Marina our 1st stop in a month long cruise out of Southport. Capt. Stan, the Harbormaster, and his crew made our stay carefree and he even offered to make reservations for our destinations along our route. The breakwater out front does its job to deaden the wakes of boat/ship traffic and lessens any current, which makes the boat happy. The showers and bathrooms were clean, laundry on site and the hotel amenities and a shuttle to Charleston are available. We enjoyed our stay and look forward to stopping again on our return. The Callemyn’s aboard M/V Turning Point, 320EC World Cat
Cruising News: We are staying at Charleston Harbor Marina and find it an excellent facility. It’s really windy (20-30knots) but we are comfortable in a slip. Shuttle serve to Charleston was convenient. Enjoyed a nice light supper at the Reel Bar. Definitely recommend this marina if you can’t get in to the City Marina. Eve-Marie Lacroix
Many, many thanks to professional nautical writer, Captain Jessica Geffen, for allowing the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net to publish her in-depth account of Dinner Key Marina, their adjacent mooring field, and the nearby Coconut Grove community, as well as the included photos. This article offers GREAT information to all cruisers who coil their lines at this popular port of call!
Miami, Coconut Grove, Dinner Key Marina The highly sought after Dinner Key Marina, in the cozy little village of Coconut Grove now has 225 moorings located on Biscayne Bay, giving boaters more options in Miami. Dinner Key Marina’s location has roots in the Pan-American Airline industry. The mooring field has many benefits to cruisers either passing through to ports further south or as a storage option. While slip rates are up to $33 per foot, a mooring ball costs just $295 per month. Dinner Key Mooring Field offers transient or short-term rates. Amenities include dinghy dockage, showers; closed for cleaning twice daily, laundry, a detergent -dispenser, a snack machine, soda machine and an ice machine. A few shelves in the office denote a book exchange. Other services include; package handling, pump out service, and a shuttle boat. When choosing a port to wait for weather, parts, or labor we look for a few key items. Access to Internet is always high on the list, marine and hardware stores and access to good grocery stores as well as safety in the harbor. Transportation can be an issue for cruisers that lack a vehicle or even a bicycle but Miami’s super convenient public transit has endless possibilities for those wishing to provision or sightsee. The marina is conveniently located close to Highway US 1, the main road that runs North and South. The Grove Circulator, a bus that runs every 15 minutes stops within walking distance to the marina and costs just 25 cents. Stopping several times until arriving at the Coconut Grove Metro-Rail Station where a high-speed train runs from South Miami ‘“ for $2 per ride. Another option is the Tri-Rail that runs from North Miami to West Palm Beach round trip for under $10. With about 20 different stops along the way one can find just about anything.
Internet access Coconut grove is the home to Coco-Walk centrally located in the business district, street shops geared with tourists in mind. A bevy of eateries and art galleries are nestled in among the Post Office and Bookstore. The Bookstore in the Grove, a local’s spot, located on the corner of Virginia and Grand, is a very cozy place to get a cup of coffee while checking emails. Supplies for boat projects can be purchased between Shell Lumber, West Marine, Home Depot and Crook & Crook Marine all within walking distance.
MISC Refilling Propane can be a daunting project. It is illegal to transport a propane tank by public transportation. Our daughter’s passport needed renewing before we left, the Passport office is easily accessible. This time we rode our bikes a total of (3 miles) and hours of operation were convenient. The Public library is located at the south end of Bayshore Dr and will allow guests Internet access.
Eateries **Flannigan’s Monday – Nachos free with purchase of pitcher Tuesday -Tumbleweed fried onion free with purchase of pitcher Wednesday – 10 wings free w/ purchase of pitcher M-T lunch deals under $8 Wi-Fi & Happy Hour at the bar only
***Las Culebrinas (The Snakes) $1 tapas, buy 1 get 1 happy hour
*Burger King Dollar Menu & 2 for $3.33 daily deals Check the back of your receipt for a coupon
**Sandbar Friday night Trivia night up to 7 players Trivia begins at 7 with an extended happy hour until 9pm if you play Happy hour from 4-7 Daily
Coco-Walk offers several eateries including CocoWok, Chili’s, and Cheesecake Factory.
The businesses are more and more becoming aware of the presence of the local boating community are very welcoming. With this many options it’s no wonder more and more people are calling Coconut Grove home!
Dinner Key is great in many ways. It is a beautiful location but its flaw is the bathrooms. All those 275 mooring cans plus the many dock slips all use the same small bathrooms that are outdated and minimal in number. Time for the City of Coconut Grove to give back to boaters and renovate the facilities. A comfy lounge for boaters would be welcome too. marniekm
The DKM mooring field is limited to 42′ and exposed to wins and chop Sailing enthusiasts should visit the Barnacle, a state park just 1/2 mile away from DKM. it was the home Ralph Munroe, of one of the early settlers (late 1800) on Biscayne bay. Originally from Staten island he designed and built a number of boats, incl the recently revived Presto sharpie Capt Nat herreshoff spent a few winters there late in his life, always bringing a boat from Bristol RI to enjoy the bay, still great sailing ground. Pascal
And, a question from a fellow cruiser, inspired by the article above. If anyone has an answer, PLEASE send your info along to CruisersNet@triad.rr.com. Thanks in advance!
Can we anchor off Hobie Beach for an extended period of time? If not where would there be a safe anchorage in the area not a mooring field. Thank You “Almost Heaven”
And, a warning from Captain McMurtry:
I hope the locals will not turn it into a `liveaboard’ community and destroy it for transient visitors. good to see a positive result. Hope it stays that way. Dennis McMurtry
Now here is a REALLY USEFUL posting for all who are cruising south on the AICW, from the Chesapeake, this fall. What a great listing of free (or inexpensive) dockage. I only wish Captain Parky had provided Lat/Lon positions for these five finds. If anyone has Lat/Lon’s for any or all of these, PLEASE e-mail that info to CruisersNet@triad.twcbc.com.
Cruising News: Thanks to Robert and the boys of Deep Creek Lock the Dismal Swamp Canal is now free of the dreaded intake blocking duckweed. If you’re a cheap and mean sailor like me, there are several free docks in this area. 1) Portsmouth City Docks – either one – 48 hour restriction but not enforced. 2) Chesapeake City Landing just south east of what was the old Jordan bridge. Next to a park and shops within walking distance. 3) Great Bridge Lock – great for stores and Canadian geese 4) Elizabeth Dock at Deep Creek Lock. Capn Bill, who built it, has just kindly finished another at Marker 19 on the Dismal Swamp Canal. And of course a little further down the Visitors Center where you can get water and lots of info. 5) The least expensive marina docking in the area – Scotts just north east of Portsmouth. The least expensive marina for fuel – Top Rack Marina just north of Steel Bridge. I’ve spent over a month going from to another, meeting many nice cruising friends along the way. Happy gunkholing Cap’n Parky on Pisces
I e-mailed Cap’n Parky, and asked for more details on the locations of these free and inexpensive facilities, and received the following reply:
My emphasis is that it is possible to find free docks in this area despite the attempts of the two big marinas (Ocean Marine and Tidewater) to place time restrictions on them – which nobody enforces fortunately. Cruising traffic is very much down from two years ago – presumably because of the poor economy – and I find that most owners these days are seeking good places to moor out and dinghy in – as well as free docks. Cap’n Parky
Great timing for this we will be making our first trip south through there in a copule of weeks (Oct 21 ish) JIM Lady
Upon receiving the message below, we immediately telephoned SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Osprey Marina, and learned that Captain Good’s observations below are quite correct. Due to slow landside traffic during the summer months, the on-site grill is indeed not currently operating. Also, South Carolina DOT work on a small “channel bridge” nearby has closed direct access from Ospry to Scatori’s Italan Restaurant, which normally picks boaters up from the docks and returns them to the marina after dining. The road work in question was originally slated for completion this November, but, surprise, surprise, that date has been put off until the latter part of December, 2011. Fortunately, all is not lost when it comes to shoreside dining. The 707 Diner (843-215-7707) and Delaney’s Dog Haus (843-650-8336), will both make food deliveries to the marina parking lot. And, Captain Lynn at Osprey tells us Delaney’s has “the best cheeseburgers in the world.” Even with these dining changes, Osprey Marina remains one of the very best marinas in northeastern South Carolina. Pay them a visit, and you won’t be sorry!
Cruising News: We stopped at Osprey Marina 10/08/11 for fuel and to spend the night. Scatori will not pick up for dinner or deliver because of a bridge being out. The cafe at the marina is closed at present. Nice folks. 1.00 per foot.tied up at their fuel dock for the night. Reggie Good
Titusville City Marina is a very valued SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR. This facility has been working on a new mooring field for sometime now. An earlier article here on the Cruisers’ Net reported the field was nearing completion, but now, IT’S OPEN! This welcome addition will make it even more convenient to visit this charming port of call.
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