I. Sunken Vessel Reported North of Egmont Channel (Tampa Bay Entrance, Western Florida)
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II. Georgia's 30-day Live Aboard Limit Being Rethought
For years now, all of us here at the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net have known that there was a Georgia law on the books that theoretically prohibits boat owners from living aboard their vessels for more than 30 days during any calendar year. This regulation is often ignored, but captains and crew cannot count on this oversight. This puts cruisers who want to stay in Georgia waters, during the entire winter, for example, in quite a quandary.
Well, the times, they may be a-changing. Learn more at: http://www.CruisersNet.net/georgia-live-aboard-regulations-being-re-thought
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III. Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net Announces New, Easier to Read and Record Marina and Anchorage Reviews
At the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net, we believe the perfect combination of marina and anchorage "news-you-can-use" is composed of professionally gathered data on facilities and anchor-down spots, coupled with comments and reviews from fellow cruisers who have recently visited here. And, while we do not ask our readers to "rate" marinas and anchorages, impressions and accounts of experiences at these facilities, recorded by members of the cruising community, are, we believe, invaluable.
Anchorage and marina reviews have always been available on the Cruisers' Net, at least since 2007 when we added marina and anchorage directories to our site. However, users looking for this data have been forced to follow a less than intuitive route.
NO MORE!!!! Effective yesterday, 7/21/11, our resident web genius, Captain Chris Spires (http://www.gotboda.com), has figured out a way to place a vertical "box" beside the many entries in our various marina and anchorage directories. This "box" provides snippets from the five most recent reviews concerning a particular marina or anchorage. And, there are also easy to follow links which allow you to record a new review, or access the full text of all reviews.
If there are no reviews for a certain marina or anchorage, then no box appears, and if there are less than five reviews, only snippets from the existing reviews will show.
As usual, an example is worth a thousand words or so. Please follow this link to the South Carolina Marina Directory listing for Osprey Marina:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/12-osprey-marina
Once this listing comes up, notice the vertical, rectangle box just to the right of the marina stats. Now, check out the snippets from the five most recent reviews for this facility, and also please notice the "Click Here to Review This Marina/Anchorage" link at the top of the box, and the "Click Here to View All 23 Reviews of This Marina/Anchorage" at the bottom of the box. You can also click any of the snippets to be taken to a full text version of all the various reviews.
That's how this new feature works - let us know if you have any questions.
And, while we are on the subject, PLEASE REMEMBER we need as many reviews/accounts/personal impressions as possible for the marinas and anchorages with which you visit. It's EASY!
All you need do is either look up the marina or anchorage that you have just departed in its appropriate directory, and click the just described "Click Here to Revies This Marina/Anchorage" link, or just click the "Click Here to Submit Cruising News" button/link, found near the top right of all (except Chart View) Cruisers' Net pages. And, finally, you can always just e-mail yours truly at [email protected].
We hope you like this new feature of our web site. Please let us know what you think!
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IV. A Really Outstanding Photograph - "Black Skimmer"
Over the last several years, Captain Linda Bernabucci has been one of the most prolific contributors of truly quality images to our "Photo of the Week" section. And, this week, she has really come up with a truly outstanding photograph. It's almost as if Captain Linda convinced the waterfowl in question to pose in mid-flight while she snapped the shutter.
Well, however she did it, trust me, this image is worth more than a few moments of your time.
Check out Captain Bernabucci's photo at:
http://cruisersnet.net/category/photo-of-the-week/
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V.Depths at Entrance to Calabash Creek (Statute Mile 342)
Calbash Creek sits right on the South Carolina - North Carolina state line. For many years I, and many other cruising guide authors, have been recommending cautious anchorage on the lower part of this creek. HOWEVER, when last I sounded these waters some eighteen months ago, we noted some MLW depths of as little as 4-feet near the creek's marker #2 (NOT to be confused with the AICW's marker #2 which lies close by).
Recently, we posted an account from Skipper Bill Raynor who described how he found nothing less than 6.5 feet at low water. Did Captain Bill find a new channel, or just one this writer missed during our last visit.
Please follow the link below, read what Captain Raynor has to say, and then register your experiences with this body of water by clicking the "Click Here to Review This Marina/Anchorage" link at the top of the "review box" just to the right of the anchorage's stats.
http://www.CruisersNet.net/report-on-calabash-creek-anchorage-aicw-statute-mile-342
Don't confuse the shoaling at the Calbash Creek/AICW intersection with the shoaling at the southern mouth of Calabash Creek. They are two entirely separate issues, with the former potentially affecting all AICW cruisers, and the latter shoaling only a concern for those cruisers who choose to enter or anchor on Calabash Creek.
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VI. Bio Diesel Fuel Now Available In the Florida Keys
Have you ever considered fueling your vessel with environmentally friendly Bio-Diesel? If you don't mind exhaust that smells like french fries (and who does), this novel approach to filling your tanks is now available in the Florida Keys. Our very special Florida Keys correspondent, Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd, reports
http://www.CruisersNet.net/bio-diesel-in-the-florida-keys
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VII. Input Needed for Our New Repair Yard Project
Over the past two weeks, we have been busily preparing our new LPG/CNG Availability directories. That project is drawing to a close, and, some time next week, we anticipate letting you know this new feature is ready for use.
Our next Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net addition will be a series of "Repair Yard Directories" covering every marine servicing center we can discover between southern Virginia and the Western Florida coastline.
Before beginning this ambitious project, however, we need your help. We have set up an example Repair Yard form, this one (with their kind permission), using Core Creek Marine (near Beaufort, NC), as a proverbial guinea pig.
PLEASE take a moment to peruse this entry at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/core-creek-marine-statute-mile-197
Let us know if you spot any needed information we have omitted, or have we included some needless data. Your input will insure we get this exciting new section of our web site formatted correctly from the "get-go."
So, please let us hear your reactions, good, bad or indifferent, by e-mailing us at:
[email protected]
Many, many thanks in advance!
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VIII. Anchorage and City Dock in Swanquarter, NC ???
The tiny village of Swanquarter, North Carolina guards the northern banks of southwestern Pamlico Sound, well off the AICW. This is one of the Tar Heel state's most obscure ports of call, boasting only one tiny marina which is, often as not, frequented by local fishing craft. Now, we hear in a very recent posting from Skipper Keith Sullivan that he may have discovered new "town docks" here. Also, he apparently anchored on the waters of Swanquarter Bay, to the northwest, an anchor-down spot I've never even tried or considered. Those of you out there who are familiar with North Carolina waters, particularly southwestern Pamlico Sound, PLEASE follow the link below, and compare your observations and information with the report from Captain Sullivan. Then, let us hear from you by following the "Click Here To Submit Cruising News" link, to the upper right! http://www.CruisersNet.net/report-on-swanquarter-nc-off-the-aicw-in-pamilico-sound
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IX. Partially Sunken Slow-Speed Sign Reported on Western Florida ICW, North of Treasure Island Causeway Bridge (Western Florida ICW, St. M. 119)
Now, here's a news item that EVERY western Florida cruiser who will be piloting their craft on the Waterway north of Tampa Bay, needs to peruse. We have just posted a report of a potentially serious navigtional obstruction, immediately adjacent to the Western Florida ICW, just north of the Treasure Island Causeway Bridge.
If you will be operating your craft over the next several months in these waters, run, don't walk to:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/partially-sunken-slow-speed-sign-reported-on-western-florida-icw-north-of-treasure-island-causeway-bridge-st-m-119
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X. Stay Away From St. Augustine Inlet (near Statute Mile 776)
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