I. Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net Proudly Announces NEW Fuel Price Comparison Feature
OK, I'll admit it, we are proud of this new service, and the entire Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net bunch hopes the cruising community will find it very useful indeed. And, perhaps this new feature will help you cruise just a bit farther and more often by lowering the price of your sojourn.
As you may remember, several months ago, we began listing marina fuel prices as part of the data window which opens when one clicks an "M" (marina) icon on our Chart View pages. That was a good idea, and this feature remains in place, but now we have gone one better.
 What we have done is to provide a cartographical/chart means for you to quickly and easily compare diesel fuel and gasoline prices within a particular region. As always, an example is worth a thousand words.
AFTER reading the instructions below, follow this link:
http://cruisersnet.net/cruisersnet-marine-map/?ll=33.3608333333,-79.2798666667&z=15 When invoked, this link will bring up a Chart View page centered on Georgetown, South Carolina. At first, you will find nothing new, as our new Fuel Price Comparison feature is turned off by default. As you will see, the various fuel price mini-windows (see below) obsure too much data to leave this new feature activated all the time. Now, look above the chart, and you will see two rows of check boxes. The ones on  the left row, "Marina," "Anchorages" etc. are checked by default. The "check" in these boxes turns on the Marina, Anchorage, Bridge, Nav. Alert and AICW Problem Stretch icons. More importantly, look at the right column of unchecked, check boxes. Note the bottom two, which are labeled, "Gas Prices" and "Diesel Prices." Using your mouse, put a check in the "Diesel Prices" box. Voila! A series of small mini-windows will now open on the chart, showing the diesel prices for the four marinas in Georgetown. At a glance, you can tell who has the best deal!!!!! Now, click in the "Diesel Prices" box again and remove the check mark. The Diesel Fuel prices mini-windows disappear. Click in the checkbox for "Gas Prices" and another set of mini-windows will open, this time displaying gasoline prices for the four Georgetown facilties. Uncheck "Gas Prices" and these windows go away as well.  Neat huh!!!!! And, when you pick out a facility that has diesel or gas prices which are appealing, click on the "M" icon for that facility, and learn much more about the marina in question. You can even follow the link in this data window to view the full listing of a facility in it's corresponding Marina Directory.
Two words of warning. First, we will not begin reporting fuel prices for NC, SC and Georgia once again, until 3/4/11. And, occasionally, an icon will obscure a fuel price mini-window. We are told that is a bug in Google Maps technology, and there's nothing to be done about it at this point. Stay tuned. PLEASE let us know what you think about our new fuel price comparison service by e-mailing yours truly at: [email protected] All input and suggestions are valued and appreciated! |
II. First Ever Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net Calendar  Now Available
Late last year, many of you participated in our on-line contest to pick Photo Contest Winner images to be included in our first Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net calendar. THANKS to one and all who participated!
Well, being our first time, there were some delays and snags to be overcome, but all that is behind us now, and the calendars are ready to ship. Please note that since we are a bit late, THE CALENDARS RUN FROM MARCH, 2011 TO THE END OF FEBRUARY, 2012. That way, you'll still get a full year's use from them.
 And, speaking of using them, WOW, wait until you see the photos and how beautifully they have reproduced. Any true cruiser will want to have these images hung above their desk, or in the galley!
The SSECN calendars are being offered at $9.00 (our cost to produce them), plus a little S&H. If that sounds like a good thing, please go to our home page at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net
Look on the right side of the page, just below our "Click Here to Join the Cruisers'  Net Alert List" link. You will quickly spy the window from which the calendars can be ordered!
Hope everyone enjoys these fun and colorful reminders of the cruising lifestyle! |
III. SSECN Record Popularity Results In An Explosion of Data For Floridian Waters
We are very pleased to report that you, the members of the Cruising Community, have visited and participated with the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net in unprecedented numbers since the first of the year. The month of January, 2011 broke all previous records in regards to site visits and pages viewed. WOW, and this took place during a month where cruising is at minimal levels in the Carolinas and Georgia. We can't wait to see what our numbers look like this spring.
This record breaking popularity has resulted in an EXPLOSION of input from you, our fellow cruisers, about all Floridian waters, but particularly those of the Western  Florida coastline. Many thanks to one and all for your much valued input.
Everyone else can reap the benefits of this info bonanza by going to:
All Easter Florida News:
http://cruisersnet.net/category/east-fl-eastern-florida/
All Florida Keys News:
http://cruisersnet.net/category/keys-florida-keys/
All Western Florida News:
http://cruisersnet.net/category/west-fl-western-florida/
Of course, don't forget that you can narrow your reading to a sub-set of any  Floridian coastline, by selecting "Regional News" from the drop down menus which will appear below, "Eastern Florida" "Florida Keys" or "Western Florida, when you click these selections on the red, vertically stacked menus found along the right side of all Cruisers' Net pages (except Chart View pages)
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IV. Sunken Sailboat and Dinghy Reported Near the  Caloosahatchee River - Okeechobee Waterway Channel (Western Florida)
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V. Shoaling Reported on Key West's Northwest Channel
All cruisers who plan on traversing Northwest Channel from or to Key west, please check out:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/ shoaling-reported-on-key-wests-northwest-channel
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VII. Submerged Tree in Watts Cut, AICW near Statute  Mile 502 (South Carolina AICW)
Watts Cut is used by the AICW to span the gap between the Dawho River and South Edisto River. The Local Notice to Mariners has reported a "submerged tree" here. For full details, go to:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/submerged-tree-in-watts-cut-aicw-near-statute-mile-502
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Pirate Author Seeks to Raise $10,000
for the Epilepsy Foundation
Offers Adventurous Reading
to Fantasy-Seeking Young Adults
(Raleigh, NC) - Social networking has changed the way young people communicate. Are books old-school now? According to KidSay Market Researchers, Facebook ranks as the favorite website among tween (8-11) boys and teen (12-15) girls. Over 90% of tween boys and girls play games online. Could a pirate tale be the perfect antidote to the adolescent blank-stare fascination with video games?
"My goal in writing this book is to spur the imagination of young readers-boys especially," says The Curse of Captain LaFoote author, Eddie Jones. "I hope to create a desire to read and set sail for a life of adventure on the high seas. I also want to help those who suffer with epilepsy. My goal is to raise $10,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation in honor of Ricky Bradshaw, the hero of the book." For landlubbers and pirates alike, with each book sold, the publisher will donate a few pieces of eight-half a sandy dollar-to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Jones explained, regardless of how well the book sells, if it helps others become "Seizure Smart" and raises money to fight epilepsy, it's a success.
Upcoming Events:
- Purple Pirate Eye Patch Day-in conjunction with Purple Day and International Epilepsy Day on March 26, see website below.
- Jones will be participating in the 2011 National Walk for Epilepsy, March 25-27.
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The Curse of
Captain LaFoote |
About the Book
RICKY BRADSHAW has never sailed the Caribbean Sea, searched for buried treasure or battled pirates on the deck of a Spanish Galleon. He's never fallen through the floor of Davy Jones' locker or watched an old fisherman morph into a porpoise. All Ricky knows is his lonely life with his widowed mom in a tiny apartment overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. But all that changes on a snowy Christmas Eve when Ricky's apartment building burns down and he suffers a seizure, falling into the chilly waters. Suddenly Ricky finds himself thrust into a world where there is surprising beauty on every island, danger around every corner and great honor and glory ahead of him-if only Ricky can summon the courage to survive the curse of Captain LaFoote.
The Caribbean Chronicles are Mom Approved
Moms love the virtues presented in The Curse of Captain LaFoote. The story offers a "clean" read void of the sex and cursing found in so many of today's young adult novels. This is by design.
A Young Adult / Tween novel, Rated PG13 (for violence and light adult themes)
Print Edition  $9.95 Kindle eBook $2.99
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About the AuthorEddie Jones is a fulltime freelance writer and co-founder of the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net. He's authored five nonfiction books, one young adult novel, and one adult romantic comedy. He sails, surfs and freely admits he had more than a little fun dreaming up this book. For more information see: http://www.captainlafoote.com/. |
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