We rented a house on BHI several years back. It was one of the several times
we've been there. When the tide came in, we couldn't use the entrance on the
beach side because the water came up under the house. I loved to sit on the
porch watching the ships come through the inlet and up the river. Keep a
scanning radio handy so you can listen to the VHF traffic from the
freighters coming in... "I want two tugs boat."
There's plenty to do on the island without spending a lot of money. Beach
combing; there's a Nature Conservancy and nature trails, and seminars. It
seems you can walk miles out to Frying Pan when the tide's out. There's a
swimming pool, and a couple not too expensive places to eat (Eb and Flo's &
River Pilot) and more expensive places if you prefer. Explore Old Baldy,
spend some time in the gift shop, walk the docks. Dig your hands into the
newly uncovered sand on a falling tide and filter out the little critters
that skitter beneath the surface - they tickle.
There's small outboard (fishing) boats and canoes for rent.
Follow the ferry into the marina if you're worried about shoal water. On a
nice day, anchor on the islands in the inlet that appear at low tide. Expect
to get boarded by the Oak Island Coast Guard if you boat in the area -
they'll leave happy and quickly if your papers and safety gear are in order.
Carolina Beach is a super marina and park but it can be a loooooong 10 miles
to the BHI Marina if the tide is coming in and the wind is blowing up the
CFR. Did you know the State Park has indigenous carnivorous plants?
As others noted, the CFR markers change colors at the ICW and to a newcomer
it can look like a Christmas tree of lights/markers especially if you're not
familiar with the lay of the land. It's not a bad idea to put a route in
your GPS before you get out there on the water. Snow's Cut is an interesting
boating area, so is Carolina Beach 'pocket'. There's the battleship North
Carolina on display in Wilmington. Wrightsville Beach isn't that far by boat
if the weather is nice.
Ride the State Ferry out of Southport even if you don't need to go where
it's heading. .
Take some kites.
Good place to watch the stars with a telescope.
Get a table near the ferry dock for a long lunch. Watch the people getting
on and off the ferry, lugging their bags and bicycles in a flurry of
ecstatic kids.
Learn about loggerhead turtles...maybe see some.
....usually in August and September, the eggs begin to hatch. Each nest
contains between 30-50 hatchlings. The hatchlings will make their way to
the water, following the moon as its guide. This is truly an amazing site
to behold.
You'll get at least one golf cart with the house - they're great for
exploring the island, but because there are no cars, bicycles are also a
very nice way to get around. Don't speed in the golf cart - you can get a
ticket...the cops have radar guns.
We've also stayed on a boat in the marina for a week. Great experience --
talking with the folks on the yachts that come and go.
Do take the bug repellent.
I love that place.
Nick in Spartanburg, SC
http://www.geocities.com/jeff_nicholas/BBR.html
"gccch" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Don. We are renting with another family on the island so we've
been
checking the situaiton on land. Since there isn't much to do we're
planning
to bring our runabout. This is great info. I've been looking at logistics
and plan to use the state ramp and parking at Carolina Beach. I've already
called the harbor master on BHI and got the scoop on daily dockage. It
looks
like there's plenty of open water for the kids tubing and skiing, plus
some
nice opportunity to catch fish. That's all we could hope for I suppose.
Otherwise we'll be hanging at the beach.
What do you mean by AFIK?
Greg
"D0N ßailey" wrote in message
...
"gccch" wrote in message
...
Anyone have experience boating at BHI? We're planning a week there
this
summer and thinking of bringing our 18' ski boat for the intercoastal.
Any
advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg
Check in with the Dock Master on Channel 16 when entering the harbor.
I usually get charged about $10 for a few hours. Not sure what longer
term dockage would be. Watch out for shoaling in the Cape Fear
when crossing over to the ICW. You can easily get in about 1' of water
behind
Battery Island if you're not careful. Stay close to the buoys and
you'll be fine.
1. Its going to be HOT!
2. Bring mosquito repellant.
3. Bring $$$.
4. Bring golf clubs
You are aware you cannot bring a motor vehicle on the Isl.. right?
If your interested in just relaxing/fishing/boating, you'll have a good
time. Not much
else going on over there AFIK.
Fishing can be good around the markers just outside of the harbor. On a
calm
day, you can probably go outside the inlet. Try bottom fishing close to
the
beach around the Oak Island lighthouse. You'll catch lots of whiting.
Stop in at the Provision Co. for a Corona and a Grilled Tuna sandwich
when
at Southport. Great family place to eat with it's own docks. Mr. P's is
not
bad
either. They have docks as well, but are usually almost out of the water
at
low
tide.
Tell Gene, Don sez "hey" when you see him. 
You'll know its him
because
he looks like ZZ top.
He'll probably chime in here soon.
db