In This Issue
I. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Crisis - A MAJOR Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net Editorial
II. THANKS to Everyone Who Participated in My Just Completed Western Florida Speaking/Research Tour of 2/9/14 to 2/16/14
III. Detailed Description of Boca Grande Marina Entrance Channel, Western Florida ICW, Statute Mile 28.5)
IV. Good Report from North Lake Worth Anchorage, AICW Statute Mile 1014.2
V. The Cruising Community Has Lost a True Gentlemen: Jack Dozier, Former Owner of "Waterway Guide," Dies of Cancer
VI. Biodiesel Available at Burdines Waterfront Marina, Boot Key Harbor, Marthon, FL
VII. Bridge Construction to Begin, AICW Statute Mile 372, Socastee, SC
VIII. Vertical Clearance Reduced at I-95 Bridges over New River, South Fort Lauderdale, FL, off the AICW
IX. Punta Gorda Pumpout Boat an Obvious Success, Charlotte Harbor, Western Florida Coastline
X. Discussion of Depths on the Florida Keys Inside Route
XI. 4th Annual Washington Marine Market is Coming to Washington, NC, April 26, 2014
XII. REALLY GOOD NEWS - Three North Carolina AICW Problem Streches and One Developing Trouble Spot Will be Dredged By April, 2014
Longboat Key Moorings AICW

I. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Crisis - A MAJOR Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net Editorial   

Port Royal Landing Marina Fellow cruisers, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway faces a maintenance crisis, the likes of which we have not seen since the mid 2000's. Portions of the AICW in South Carolina and Georgia are now all but impassable at low tide for the vast majority of cruising sized vessels. Something must be done about this state of affairs, and done SOON! 

Charleston Harbor Marina To that end, the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net has just published a major article/editorial, penned by yours truly, which, if I may be so bold, deserves the attention of each and every cruiser whose craft follows (or plans to follow in the future) the track of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Dataw Island Marina This article is the result in-depth research by the SSECN staff into this pressing issue, and discusses both how the Waterway has reached such a state of affairs, and what the solutions might be.

We urge ALL AICW cruisers, or wanna-be Waterway captains, to follow the link below. I'm going to go out on a proverbial limb here, and suggest you won't find it a waste of your time!

Please visit:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=135982


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Bennett Brothers Side Panel Western Florida

II. THANKS to Everyone Who Participated in My Just Completed Western Florida Speaking/Research Tour of 2/9/14 to 2/16/14

Harbourgate Marina I have just returned from a delightful speaking/research tour of the Western Florida coastline. THANKS to everyone who helped put this very worthwhile sojourn together. I had the good fortune to visit with:

St. Charles Yacht Club
Punta Gorda Isles Cruising Club (allied with several other Punta Gorda clubs)
Landings Yacht Club
Clearwater Yacht Club
Isles Yacht Club
Longboat Key Moorings Yacht Club

Downtown Beaufort Marina All my presentations to these groups were WELL attended! I'm told the crowd of better than 150 cruisers who gathered for the Punta Gorda Isles Cruising Club meeting, (which was generously opened to the public) set something of a record at the local civic center. And, we could hardly have stuffed another person into the Isles Yacht Club's huge dining room for their "Captain and Crew" dinner, which I had the honor to address.

Harborwalk Marina During this same "land yacht" sojourn, I also personally visited almost every marina from Dunedin, FL to St. Petersburg, as well as marinas in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island and Sarasota. There is simply no substitute for personally visiting a marina, talking one on one with the staff, checking the condition of the docks and shoreside facilties, and just getting a good, overall feeling for each individual operation.

We are please to report that all the new data which came to light as a result of this on-site research has now been keyed into the SSECN's Western Florida Marina Directory (http://cruisersnet.net/category/west-fl-marinas/)!

Lady's Island Marina I also had the good fortune to meet with "Team Punta Gorda" during this trip, including several members of their town council, and discuss ideas about how to make this attractive community even more of a cruising destination. The verbal give and take resulted in some really exciting ideas, and I can't wait to see what happens in PG over the remainder of 2014.

Bucksport Marina Finally, a very special thanks to fellow cruisers Nancy and Steve Johnson who hosted me for most of this trip. Your hospitality and kindness are MUCH appreciated.

Now that my life has changed, I plan to undertake these sorts of Floridian speaking tours more and more often, as well as presentations to individual yacht clubs, US Power Squadrons and other nautical groups in the Carolinas and Georgia. There is still no charge for these get-togethers, other than my travel expenses.
Harbour Town Yacht Basin 2012

If you belong to such a group, and are interested in a presentation about cruising the waters of your particular coastline, please call me at 336-266-1369,or send e-mail to [email protected].
 
Charleston City Marina Western Florida

III. Detailed Description of Boca Grande Marina Entrance Channel, Western Florida ICW, Statute Mile 28.5)

  

Boca Grande Marina One of the most important personal marina visits during my above described Western Florida speaking/research tour, was to call at Boca Grande Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR, on lovely Gasparilla Island. I knew this facility had just dredged, and sported entirely new docks. And so, it was with more than a little pleasant anticipation that I drove my "land yacht" across the causeway and down the length of the island, on my way to Boca Grande Marina.

Windmill Harbour Marina The reality I discovered upon seeing the new iteration of this fine facility was NOT disappointing. And, I gained vital information about how to successfully navigate the post-dredged entrance channel.

Please follow the link below, and discover why there is more reason than ever to visit the charming village of Boca Grande and its liked named marina, my personal favorite port of call on the Western Florida coastline.
Barefoot Marina
Read all about it at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=136038  
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club Eastern Florida

IV. Good Report from North Lake Worth Anchorage, AICW Statute Mile 1014.2
 
Isle of Palms Marina One reason for the popularity of the North Lake Worth Anchorage, hard by the community of North Palm Beach, is the presence of a dinghy landing just north of the anchorage. However, over the past year or two, repair work on the small bridge crossing the stream to Little Lake Worth, has, from time to time, disrupted cruisers' ability to land their dinghies here.

Osprey Marina Happily, we reported some time ago that this situation seemed to be remedied. Now, in a just published article, we present an on-site report from vessel "Plan B" that describes both the dinghy landing and the anchorage.

If you are at all interested in these waters, please visit:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=136031

In Memoriam: John ("Jack") Dozier
1946 - 2014
Goodbye Jack


V. The Cruising Community Has Lost a True Gentlemen:  Jack Dozier, Former Owner of "Waterway Guide," Dies of Cancer

Fellow Cruisers:

With the passing of Jack Dozier, former owner of "Waterway Guide," the cruising community has lost one of the greatest gentlemen that ever graced the business of marine publications. And, I might add, Jack was a man I greatly admired!

Like most everyone else in the industry, I knew Jack had been fighting colon cancer for some time, but I had been told Jack's cancer was in remission. How very like Jack to minimize his difficulties, and forge ahead anyway!

Few know better than I how quickly cancer can take someone away, often when it is quite unexpected. Perhaps that's what happened to Jack.

From the moment Jack Dozier bought Waterway Guide, he and I were competitors, and, at times, fierce competitors, but never have I known a more honorable or worthy gentlemen. Jack and I exchanged information often, and he was kind enough to host me in his waterside home in Stuart. I was and am proud to be able to call Jack Dozier a friend, and how many can truthfully say that about a competitor.

Jack Dozier was a person of the greatest personal integrity, and it was my privilege to have known him.

Farewell, Jack, I will miss you, and you will be missed by all who knew you! Good luck and good cruising on your new journey!
Adventure Sailing - Authorized Amsoil Dealer Florida Keys
 

VI. Biodiesel Available at Burdines Waterfront Marina, Boot Key Harbor, Marthon, FL                  


Isle of Hope Marina Burdine's Waterfront Marina overlooks the northern banks of Boot Key Harbor's westerly approach channel, just a quick hop east from Pancho's Fuel Dock. Burdines is one of the most popular refueling centers in the Florida Keys, and now they are offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel fuel.

Full details at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=135520
Jekyll Harbor Marina South Carolina

VII. Bridge Construction to Begin, AICW Statute Mile 372, Socastee, SC         

Sunbury Crab Company Prior to the spring, 2014 transient season, construction will begin on a new high-rise bridge just south of the two high-rise spans at Socastee, South Carolina. This new bridge will be part of an extension of SC31, Carolina Bays Parkway, which is already under construction. Bridge construction is expected to begin in April of 2014 and will almost certainly affect Waterway traffic during the spring, 2014 transient season.
Amelia Island Yacht Basin 2
Full details at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=135939

Marineland Marina Eastern Florida                   
 
VIII. Vertical Clearance Reduced at I-95 Bridges over New River, South Fort Lauderdale, FL, off the AICW

Vero Beach Municipal Marina Even though the I-95 twin bridges cross New River well west of the AICW, and even west of the two city of Fort Lauderdale New River marinas, large vessels still have to pass under this span to reach popular Marina Bay Resort and several large repair yard operations farther upstream. That is why the temporary, vertical height reduction described in the below linked article is well worth noting for those piloting larger powercraft or small sailboats (larger sailcraft will not Cammachee Cove Marina be able to clear the normal 55-foot clearance).

Full details at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=135965
Punta Gorda, Florida Western Florida
 
IX. Punta Gorda Pumpout Boat an Obvious Success, Charlotte Harbor, Western Florida Coastline

Palm Cove Marina The Punta Gorda pumpout boat has been in operation since November of 2013 and has definitely been good news for cruisers visiting SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR, Punta Gorda, on Western Florida's Charlotte Harbor/Peace River. Follow the link below to learn more, and to access the pump-out boat's schedule. New Smyrna Beach Marina

Please visit:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=135514
Pilot House Marina Florida Keys

X. Discussion of Depths on the Florida Keys Inside Route

Hammock Beach Resort & Marina There are two possible routes for cruising the Florida Keys, the offshore Hawk Channel passage, and the "Inside Route." Hawk Channel features more, but not all, marinas, while the Inside Route offers the greatest bonanza of wonderful anchorages to be found anywhere in the Southeast. Trouble is that I have personally sounded 5 feet at low tide directly between the markers in places on the FL Keys Inside Route. Mind you, only in places, but nevertheless, this is a real concern for those piloting vessels that draw more than 4 feet.

Staniel Cay Club Recently, Skipper Zimmers expressed his concern about depths along this passage, and received several answers via the AGLCA Forum (http://www.greatloop.org/).

See what was said at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=135500 

 

Washington NC North Carolina            

XI. 4th Annual  Washington Marine Market is Coming to Washington, NC, April 26, 2014

Harbortown Marina - Merrit Island, FL Washington, NC, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR, is one of the most delightful ports of call on the North Carolina coastline. The town is located off the direct path of the AICW, but it's usually a pleasant 30 mile cruise upstream on Pamlico River from the Waterway's passage across this body of water to the Washington City Docks.

On April, 26, 2014 the Washington waterfront is hosting the "4th Annual  Washington Marine Market." Sounds like an event that any true cruiser MUST attend.

Get the full skinny at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=135482 
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XII. REALLY GOOD NEWS - Three North Carolina AICW Problem Streches and One Developing Trouble Spot Will be Dredged By April, 2014

Westland Marina The wonderful message linked below contains some of the BEST news it has been our pleasure to post on the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net in quite some time. As you will see, the AICW/Bogue Inlet intersection, the AICW/Lockwoods Folly Inlet intersection and the AICW/Shallotte Inlet intersection, ALL of which are SSECN designated "AICW Problem Stretches," are either being dredged, or will be dredged soon, and all this work is slated for completion by early April, 2014, just in time for the spring, 2014 transient season! Additionally, the developing shoal at the intersection of the Waterway and Mason Inlet, north of Wrightsville Beach, NC (280) will also be dredged.

Gulf Harbour Marina Read more about this GOOD news at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=135383

That's all for now. Good luck and good cruising to all!

Claiborne S. Young
Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net
http://www.CruisersNet.net
[email protected]
 
Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina  St. Petersburg Municipal Marina   Legacy Harbour Marina Southwest Florida Yachts
  
 Twin Dolphin Marina Fort Myers Municipal Marina Regatta Pointe Marina Riviera Dunes Marina