Changing Times on the Atlantic intracoastal Waterway

Changing Times on the
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
By claiborne s. young
co-founder & editorial director,
cruisersnet.net
W
e’ve all heard the old saw, “Things Change.” Well,
that is doubly true on the water, and triply true when
it comes to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW). What’s a
cruiser, much less a cruising guide author, to do?
In 1980 there was not a single instance I can recall of shoaling directly on the Waterway. Oh sure, there were some stretches
where markers blended into the shoreline, and others where I
had to warn skippers not to cut a corner, but, by and large, the
US Army Corps of Engineers could almost always be relied
upon to quickly sweep away any encroachings and or mud. Not
top: boating on the intracoastal waterway
near charleston, south carolina. [sebastien windal]
to be repetitive, but, boy, have times changed. So, how did we
arrive at the current situation?
marinalife
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Legislation requiring the Corps
Taylor Creek. That’s what I call “eco-
suddenly occurred to me, “Hey, you
to maintain records that recorded com-
nomic impact!” And the same is true
already have a website. Why not begin
mercial tonnage carried by barges in
for all AICW ports of call from Nor-
posting this cruiser-to-cruiser informa-
the waterway was passed somewhere
folk, VA to Key West, FL.
tion here for all to see and use?” So
around 1920. The downslide began in
Fortunately, by the turn of the
it was with partner/webmaster Eddie
the 1990’s when a decision was made
century, the collective voice of the
Jones that Salty Southwest Cruisers’ Net
by the Office of Management and Bud-
cruising community was being heard
was formed. To get things rolling we
get (OMB) to reduce the Corps main-
in Washington, and, perhaps most
solicited info from the cruising com-
tenance budget for the AICW. Shortly
importantly, an organization known as
munity, and it was only a few days
thereafter, the Corps was required to
the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
before data was streaming into our
prioritize projects based on the tonnage
Association (http://www.atlintracoast-
computers via e-mail.
data they collected and OMB based
al.org) sprang into being. Originally
By February of 2006, the Cruisers’
Some of the worst ICW stretches from the fall of 2007 including the Carolina Beach
Inlet/ICW intersection, and the ICW/Ponce Inlet Intersection (north of New Smyrna
Beach, FL) have, thankfully, been dredged.
their budgets on which waterways
founded by tow operators, the associa-
Net, with a new URL, www.Cruisers
had the most ton-miles. They totally
tion’s ranks have now been swelled by
net.net , had clearly filled a void in
dis-regarded any other users of the
hundreds of cruisers. While the AIWA
the cruising community with its free
waterway, including the commercial
has not been successful in restoring all
exchange of information between
fishing industry, con-struction vessels
the funds needed to properly maintain
those voyaging on the waters of the
that moved their equipment from port
the AICW, they have pried loose
Southeastern USA. At that time, the
to port via the waterway, cruise ships,
enough monies to keep the Waterway
site was expanded to incorporate
passenger vessels and recreational
largely navigable. However, there are
reference data, including directories of
boaters. It was a descending spiral,
still problem sections to worry about.
every bridge, anchorage and marina
which, if left unchecked, would have
As the AICW’s problems mounted,
from North Carolina to the Florida
led to the utter abandonment of the
they became a real concern for me as
Panhandle. In a continuing effort to
incredible natural resource known as
an author of five (and co-author of
enhance the Net’s usefulness, this fall
the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
a sixth) cruising guides covering the
we will introduce various ways to view
waters of the Southeastern USA. I had
messages from your fellow cruisers
ignored the fact that, at least since 1970,
grown used to changes coming about
regionally as well as chronologically.
the real impact of the AICW has been
by the time the ink was dry on the
Returning to the Atlantic Intracoastal
cruisers like you and me. All one need
paper, but now significant shoals began
Waterway, let’s take a look at the rouge’s
do is walk out any given evening dur-
to appear within a few months. How to
gallery of trouble spots that have been
ing the spring or fall transient season
get this sort of critical info out to the
identified on the Salty Southeast
to the Beaufort, NC boardwalk (for
cruising community was a question
Cruisers’ Net. These problem stretches
instance) and look at all the boats
with which I wrestled daily.
are listed geographically, moving north
Of course, this philosophy blithely
moored to the docks and anchored on
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marinalife
In November of 2005, a thought
to south.
Northern Mouth of Alligator River
at mid to high tide, and favor the
The solution: Cruise this section of
(Statute Mile 81, North Carolina ICW)
northern side of the Waterway slightly
the Waterway as near to high tide as
The problem: The charted shoal
between #47 and #47A.
possible.
Intersection of ICW and Shallotte
east. The markers have been moved
Inlet Folly Inlet
Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff into
accordingly. Some electronic charts
(Statute Mile 330, North Carolina ICW)
(Statute Mile 515, South Carolina ICW)
will take you too far west as you ap-
The problem: The Waterway is
The problem: Shoaling has en-
proach the gap between #7 and #8.
shoaling between unlighted daybeacon
croached on the southeastern side of
The solution: Download the latest
#80 and flashing daybeacon #83.
the Waterway channel, at the south-
version of chart 11553 from NOAA.
The solution: Traverse this section
western tip of the Ashepoo – Coosaw
Cruise from unlighted daybeacon #9
of the Waterway at mid to high tide,
Cutoff, just before the ICW flows out
directly to a point about 50 yards west
and watch carefully for temporary
into the wide waters of Coosaw River.
of flashing daybeacon #7. Do NOT
markers.
The solution: Traverse this section
west of flashing daybeacon #8 has
been building farther to the south and
blindly follow your chartplotter.
Intersection of AICW and
Coosaw River
of the Waterway at mid to high tide.
Waterway Northeast
Favor the northwestern side of the
channel, marked by flashing day-
Lockwoods Folly Inlet
of Ben Sawyer Bridge
(Near Statute Mile 459.5, South Carolina
beacon #184.
(Statute Mile 321, North Carolina ICW)
ICW)
The problem: The Waterway is
The problem: The ICW is shoaling
Fields Cut
shoaling along its southern flank
severely along its southern flank be-
(Statute Mile 575, South Carolina ICW)
between markers #47 and #47A.
tween the Ben Sawyer Bridge and
The problem: Severe shoaling has
The solution: Traverse this section
flashing daybeacon #118.
shelved out from the southern and
bottom: the neuse river in north carolina offer spectacular views of the coast
but contains several problem areas. [©iStockphoto.com/James Bossert]
44
marinalife
southeastern banks, just north of the
section of the ICW, particularly the
the cruising community to peruse the
Fields Cut/ICW’s intersection with
section just north of the Waterway’s
Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net and
Savannah River.
intersection with Altamaha Sound,
learn more about the problem stretches
The solution: Favor the northern
is universally considered to be the
listed above, as well as where to find
and northwestern banks as you cruise
WORST single stretch of the AICW.
some of the very best anchorages,
south and round the last turn to the
The solution: Time your passage
marinas and ports of call offered by
south, north of Savannah River.
through Little Mud River for high tide
the AICW. In spite of its difficulties,
Hell Gate
– NO FOOLING!
(Statute Mile 602, Georgia ICW)
cruising the Atlantic Intracoastal
Waterway is still an experience like no
The problem: The ICW – Hell Gate
Jekyll Creek
other. I highly recommend this storied
passage has generally shoaled, and
(Statute Mile 683, Georgia ICW)
passage to my fellow cruisers. Just
significant shallows are found along
The problem: Severe shoaling has
watch out for those shallow spots. See
the channel’s easterly flank near #89.
taken place north of the Jekyll Island
you on the Waterway! v
The solution: Traverse Hell Gate at
bridge near flashing daybeacon #19
mid to high tide and favor the western
The solution: Traverse this section
Claiborne Young, co-founder and
side of the channel slightly as you ap-
of the Waterway at mid to high tide.
editorial director for Cruisersnet.net,
proach and pass #89. There are hopes
Some of the worst ICW stretches
is a full-time writer and speaker.
that Hell Gate will be dredged by the
from the fall of 2007 including the
He grew up in a boating family and
latter part of 2008.
Carolina Beach Inlet/ICW intersec-
has spent his life on the water. He is
tion, and the ICW/Ponce Inlet InterLittle Mud River
the publisher of several successful
section (north of New Smyrna Beach,
cruising guides for the Carolinas,
(Statute Mile 655, Georgia ICW)
FL) have, thankfully, been dredged.
Georgia and Florida. For more infor-
The problem: The Little Mud River
We cordially invite every member of
mation visit: www.cruisersnet.net
above: a dog waits for its owner outside of a boat run aground on the icw..
fall 2008
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