"Mike" wrote in news:1161119366.751945.167400
@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:
I would like to take my Endeavour 32 down to Florida from NC offshore,
on a coastwise route, over a series of six weekends. I would be
interested to hear from sailors in the Charleston, St. Simons Island,
New Smyrna Beach, and Stuart areas, about the feasibility of leaving
the boat unattended at anchor for up to a month at a time in between
trips, in those areas, and any suggested anchorages. Thanks.
CHARLESTON, SC.....
There's a mooring field on the opposite side of the channel from the
Charleston City Marina in the no-wake zone. The local boaters lost in
court to the city bureaucrats, so call City Marina on (843)723-5098 to ask
about the status and fees to use the mooring field they stole. Lots of
boats have gone adrift trying to anchor in the 5-7' tides of Charleston.
Anchoring out would be OK if you were aboard, but don't leave it for a
month there. If I were you, I'd rent a mooring bouy in the field if I
could. This field is easy to find, too. From sea, come into Charleston
Harbor and take the Ashley River channel to port right after you pass Ft
Sumter National Monument. Where the ICW turns south at Wappoo Cut, the
mooring field is straight ahead of you across from the big Charleston City
Marina. It's 11 acres big on the port side of the channel. City Marina
monitors 16, 24/7.
There are some boats that anchor just towards the ICW from Buzzard's Roost
Marina in the Stono River, not far from the south end of Elliott's Cut
(where tides REALLY rip through the cut, by the way). Buzzard's Roost has
a little boatramp, but you'd have to take your dingy with you. Tides don't
rip through there as the river widens into a bay, but boat wakes might be a
problem. There's plenty of room but zero security.
Here's some good information, too:
http://mysite.verizon.net/tomdove/icw.html
WARNING - I know some people at City Marina who were on their way to
Florida, like you are. That was 3 years ago and they're STILL HERE!
Coming into Charleston Harbor was their downfall. Why would anyone want to
go to Florida and drive their boat in a DITCH with thousands of other nut
cases, lined with condos, when they can have nearly the same weather AND
3200 miles of uninhabited waterways within 50 miles of any dock?
Download Google Earth (earth.google.com) and compare.....
Man, look at NSB and Stuart! That water doesn't look deep enough to float
a rowboat! I remember those damned sandbars we dragged the bulb
through...how awful!...(c;
We'll save ya a spot on City Marina J-dock when ya git this anchor-out
nonsense out of your head. Do you like oysters, crabs, shrimp and parties?