Waterway Explorer Magazine 2020

The Cruising Authority ®

2020 Edition The Official Waterway Guide Magazine

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WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 3

WEXAPTELROWREARYThe Cruising Authority Subscription
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WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 5

Editor-in-Chief ’s Letter

2020 Explorer Magazine

Thank you for picking up a copy of our party navigation platforms such as Aqua Map
annual magazine. This 2020 edition and iNavX, among several others.
contains some great advice, interesting places We also were spurred to action on some
to cruise and superb insight into navigating issues in Georgia and Florida that came up
the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Our team unexpectedly related to boater’s liberties and
of on-the-water editors and staff writers have deviations from long-held freedoms. Based on
put together another impressive edition of any number of reasons, there is increasing
our Waterway Explorer intended to advance and pressure from many localities and government
promote safe boating, travel and adventure on agencies that is stifling access to anchorages
America’s waterways. and some waterways. Boaters and those of us
Here is hoping that you were able to get on in the industry are mindful of the changes and
board a boat and spend some time underway are conveying to policymakers that America’s
this past year. We have boundless opportunities waterways are resources held in the public trust,
for exploration and adventure along our coasts to be managed for all.
and inland rivers and Waterway Guide is right As you peruse this year’s edition of Waterway
there alongside you with our books, apps, advice Explorer, I’m confident that you will find an
and guidance to make your trips as trouble interesting fact or topic that will remind you
free as they can be. Note that the Featured of how fortunate we are in the U.S. to have
Marinas listings in the back of the magazine the most remarkable waterways in the world.
are the crème de la crème of facilities that I challenge you to get involved and help our
await your visits. They are long-term partners lawmakers arrive at solutions for the issues that
with Waterway Guide, and we appreciate vex us all, including abandoned and derelict
their commitment. vessels and bad actors who thumb their noses
Our team of editors and staff covered a lot at regulations already in place. Contact your
of water last year from the Bahamas to the local natural resources agency or elected
Great Lakes, Mississippi River, Gulf Coast and representative and remind them of why you
the Keys to Nova Scotia checking facts, updating value boating and the boating lifestyle. Find out
information and generally living the dream. what issues and pressures they are facing and
We also rekindled a longstanding relationship help them arrive at solutions that do not impede
with our friends in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, boaters’ liberties.
released a new book on the Florida Keys and From all of us at Waterway Guide Media
one on the Western Gulf Coast, and began thank you for another successful year and we
offering our guidebooks via digital subscription. hope to see you on the water. Email or call with
Our evolution and growth continues, as does our your suggestions and observations, post a review
commitment to delivering accurate and verified on your favorite marina or anchorage and keep
data through our various platforms and to third in touch. We value your insight and expertise.

Ed Tillett

6 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS 34 Anchoring Laws Not Going Away

FROM THE BOATYARD A restrictive anchoring law went into effect in January
2020 in Georgia that has prompted boaters and
12 Lightning: Toeing the Standards Line marine industry organizations to rally together to
wrestle with the state’s policymakers. Ed Tillett
A lightning strike can occur ashore or afloat, often examines the issue and its affects on cruisers.
with devastating consequences. Steve D’Antonio
applies firsthand experience to illustrate how 38 Dredging Natural Channels:
American Boat and Yacht Council Standards for Why Fight Mother Nature?
lightning prevention can save your boat and maybe
even your life. Natural channels that are wider and straighter than
the dredged ones exist in many areas of the AICW.
16 Learning Boatyard Lingo Bob Sherer (“Bob 423”) proposes that there’s a
better way to spend valuable dredging dollars than just
Marine professionals have a language of their own following the 1930s channel.
that can sound like pure gibberish. Capts. Alyse &
Chris Caldwell decipher some of the more pertinent FEATURES
lingo so you can have a meaningful conversation with
those who are working on your boat. 44 T hinking About a Great Loop Adventure?
Here’s What You Need to Know
20 Loads on Ground Tackle (Excerpt)
Who better to guide you in preparing for a Great
Anchor load is the force on the anchor caused by Loop adventure than the Director of America’s Great
wind and seas. In this excerpt from ANCHORING–A Loop Cruisers’ Association? Kim Russo demystifies
Ground Tackler’s Apprentice, Rudy & Jill Sechez the trip by answering frequently asked questions for
show us how to read a load table to determine what would-be Loopers.
type of ground tackle is best for your vessel and offer
tips for the best protection from wind and seas. 47 Paddler Crossing Ahead!

AICW UPDATES Whether captain of a ship, kayak, canoe or
paddleboard, Capt. John Johnston reminds us that
26 Dredging Report: a few commonsense rules apply on the waterways
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) including (1) expect the unexpected and (2) be
prepared to slow down and give way when necessary
Waterway Guide Contributing Editor Bob Sherer regardless of the size of your vessel.
(better known as Bob423) provides a mile-by-mile
update on dredging in the most troublesome spots 48 PEW: Passively Getting Income,
along the AICW. Detailed graphics show the updated Earning An Income Underway
recommended routes through the deepest water. & Working Remotely

8 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM Self-proclaimed “digital nomad” Mary Rodriguez
presents some options for making money while
underway. From managing rental properties to picking
up writing gigs, she suggests several tried and true
ways to set sail on a retiree lifestyle.

50 Nav Alert: Fairport Bridge
Construction on Erie Canal

The 106-year-old Fairport Lift Bridge on the Erie
Canal will be undergoing major repairs throughout
the 2020 season. Expect some delays.

52 Staying Up Past Bedtime:
Learning to Love Overnight Trips

There are many reasons to take an offshore
overnight hop rather than stay on the well-traveled
ICW. Veteran explorer Lucy Claiborne gives a
firsthand account of her very first offshore passage
and offers well-earned advice on equipment, watch
keeping and more.

58 Understanding “Young Cruisers” 84 Exploring the St. Lawrence River

Among boaters, “age” is a relative term. So what Taking the road less traveled can be challenging and
exactly is a “young cruiser?” Mary Rodriguez rewarding at the same time. Such is the case of the
attempts to define the term and offers tips on how to St. Lawrence River cruise undertaken by Michael
find other like-minded individuals. O’Reilly. Tides of up to 20 feet, currents of nearly
10 knots and a major weather front between Ontario
62 Meet the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Newfoundland were all part of the adventure.

Most people know that the U.S. Coast Guard 90 D aytrips Around Buzzards Bay
Auxiliary promotes and improves recreational boating
safety. What you may not know is they also augment A 10-stop route through Buzzards Bay highlights
the Coast Guard and enhance security of our ports. the most popular destinations and provides tips on
Ed Tillett introduces the Coast Guard Auxiliary and attractions and events. The trip starts in a place “to do
describes their many missions. a whole lot of nothing” (Cuttyhunk) and ends at the
Victorian waterfront community of Onset.
DESTINATIONS
96 A Side Trip to Rochester
68 C ruising Adventure: The Bahamas Loop
Capt. John Johnston takes us on a 6-mile side loop
The Triangle Loop, the Down East Loop, the off the Erie Canal on the Genesee River to Rochester,
Albemarle Loop…Cruisers just love loops. NY. It’s an easy day trip but don’t be surprised if you
Matt Claiborne has another loop in mind: The decide to stay awhile.
Bahamas Loop. This less-traveled route allows you
to hit all the “must see” spots in the islands without 100 Passing Commercial Traffic on the
backtracking even once. Inland Rivers

74 Landing in Hampton, VA Towboats pushing long lines of barges are
commonplace on the Western Rivers and deserve the
Hampton, VA, is a Waterway Guide Preferred utmost attention. George Hospodar lays out the
Destination for good reason. The historic attractions correct protocol in a passing situation and explains
alone make this a worthy stop. Add in delicious dining the “whistle signals” still referred to by some towboat
and ample events, all just steps from the James River, captains to communicate their intent.
and you have a destination of discovery.
104 St. Marys, GA: Celebrating
78 Anglers Hooked on Martin County Thanksgiving on the ICW

With over 800 species of fish, it’s no wonder Martin The annual cruiser Thanksgiving potluck held at the
County is so well known in the Florida fishing Riverview Hotel on the banks of the St. Marys River
community. Through the Catch a Florida Memory is attended by hundreds of cruisers. Some boaters
program, anglers of all ages and skills can earn prizes even plan their southbound trips around it and return
(and bragging rights) in one of three challenges. year after year. The gathering has been a tradition
since 2001 with no signs of stopping.

105 Featured Marinas

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 9

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Advertiser’s Index

1000 Islands Harbor Hotel.........................................................................................................................81
1000 Islands International Tourism............................................................................................................80
Adventure Yacht Harbor............................................................................................................................77
Albemarle Plantation Marina.....................................................................................................................23
America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA)................................................................................ 5
Annapolis Boat Shows.................................................................................................................................67
Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina........................................................................................................88
Bald Head Island Marina...........................................................................................................................25
Beaufort SC Chamber of Commerce.........................................................................................................36
Bluewater Yacht Sales................................................................................................................................... 8
Boat Club at Basin Harbor, The.................................................................................................................81
Boat Owners Warehouse.............................................................................................................................. 3
Boston Waterboat Marina...........................................................................................................................94
Bowleys Marina...........................................................................................................................................77
Burlington Community Boathouse Marina................................................................................................81
Canyon Club Resort Marina......................................................................................................................10
Captain Chris Yacht Services, LLC............................................................................................................19
City of Fort Lauderdale Marinas................................................................................................................76
City of Portsmouth, VA..............................................................................................................................33
Dataw Island Club......................................................................................................................................32
Deep Point Marina.....................................................................................................................................25
Fishing Bay Marina.....................................................................................................................................73
Galleon Marina...........................................................................................................................................57
Harbor Fuels...............................................................................................................................................94
Hilton Head Harbor Marina......................................................................................................................56
Inner Harbor Marina.................................................................................................................................66
Leukemia Cup Regatta...............................................................................................................................99
Lighthouse Point Marina............................................................................................................................66
Marine Diving Service................................................................................................................................88
Martin County Tourism..............................................................................................................................Inside Front Cover
Morehead City Yacht Basin........................................................................................................................33
Osprey Marina............................................................................................................................................43
Parker’s Boat Yard.......................................................................................................................................89
Parks Canada..............................................................................................................................................82
Piccozzi’s Dering Harbor Marina...............................................................................................................94
Pope’s Island Marina...................................................................................................................................89
River Forest Boatyard/Shipyard.................................................................................................................56
River Forest Yachting Centers...................................................................................................................... 9
Safe Harbor Zahnisers................................................................................................................................56
Shelter Cove Marina...................................................................................................................................24
Sister Bay Marina.......................................................................................................................................83
South Jersey Marina....................................................................................................................................10
Southport Marina.......................................................................................................................................37
Steve D’Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc...................................................................................................15
St. Petersburg Municipal Marina................................................................................................................79
Suntex Marinas...........................................................................................................................................Back Cover, 1
Swansboro Chamber of Commerce...........................................................................................................42
Town of Plymouth, NC..............................................................................................................................71
Trent Port Marina.......................................................................................................................................83
Utsch’s Marina............................................................................................................................................87
Wave WiFi...................................................................................................................................................95
Wentworth Bay The Sea Marina................................................................................................................89
Westrec Marinas..........................................................................................................................................51
Windmill Harbour Marina.........................................................................................................................33
Wolf ’s Marine Inc.......................................................................................................................................83

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 13

FROM THE BOATYARD

Toeing the Standards Line

Having lived and worked on the Chesapeake Bay for the past goal of the TE-4 is to afford those aboard the vessel some level
two decades, I’ve learned many things about lightning, the of safety and protection from electrocution and side flashes,
most important of which is to be skeptical of anyone who or arcs that can travel aboard the vessel. Below is purely an
says they can predict what it will do. Lightning in this region is interpretation of TE-4, rather than a discussion of alternative
incredibly intense and only second to Florida for the number or supplementary methods of damage mitigation, of which
of boat strikes. I was afforded a valuable learning opportunity there are several.
concerning lightning and its effects during the 11 years I ran a
boatyard in the area, repairing scores of vessels that had been My first assertion is vessels equipped with bonding systems
struck and, in some cases, sunk. I’ve worked with cases in which are less likely to suffer damage or will suffer less damage than
vessels were struck both ashore and afloat, dockside, at anchor, those equipped with no bonding system. Even those bonding
on a mooring and underway. In one case, a vessel that had been systems that are partial, in poor repair or otherwise don’t meet
repaired after a strike was struck yet again before it could be American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards are
retrieved by its owner. better than none at all. Second, a sound grounding system (i.e.,
contact between exposed metal and seawater) may also serve to
While I won’t claim to know enough about lightning to prevent damage to gear, electronics and such. And while there is
prevent strikes, I can share guidance based on my firsthand, no proof that a well-grounded vessel is more likely to be struck
purely anecdotal experiences. It is important to have an by lightning, I believe there is ample proof that vessels that
understanding of the American Boat and Yacht Council lack adequate grounding are more likely to suffer damage (and
Standard TE-4, “Lightning Protection,” which may enable you thereby, crews more likely to be injured).
to install a system that will prevent or at least reduce the degree
of lightning-induced damage. It’s worth noting that the primary Two examples bear out this belief, and again these are purely
anecdotal rather than scientific. The first, a 40-foot sailing

14 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

Lightning is an all too common occurrence along the U.S. East Coast, evidenced by the volume of
strikes and insurance claims for recreational craft. (Photo by Ralph Naranjo.)

vessel, was struck by lightning while dockside and unattended. aboard the boat, once dried out, showed signs of damage,
It was relatively new and equipped with non-metallic seacocks, arcing and overheating, and the conclusion was that the vessel
an external ballast keel and standard bonding system, one that was struck by lightning, which exited the transducer and hull,
for the most part meets ABYC E-2 “Cathodic Protection” and causing it to flood and sink.
E-11 “AC and DC Electrical Systems.” The VHF whip at the
masthead apparently took the brunt of the hit and melted, Hardware
sending stainless-steel slag into the cockpit, where it burned
the gelcoat and the dodger. The VHF radio still worked, as did While compliant bonding and an AC/DC ground system can
all of the remaining gear aboard the vessel, save a handful of be beneficial in reducing the damaged caused by nearby (or
blown-out light bulbs and small fuses. in some cases direct) lightning strikes, a system that complies
completely or at least closely with TE-4 is preferred. I’ll be the
The second case involves a 36-foot trimaran, roughly 10 first to admit that full compliance with TE-4 can be difficult
years old, with no bonding system and non-metallic through- if not impossible; however, most vessels can be made to be in
hull fittings, including the transducers. The owner of the vessel compliance with the bulk of the standard. The following are the
called to report that his boat had sunk at his dock. A salvage components in the system that are of the greatest importance or
crew raised the vessel and transported it to the boatyard. most often misunderstood.
The remains of one of the transducers was hanging from its
wire, which passed through its original mounting hole, the The air terminal (or “lightning rod”) is “…a device at
transducer itself was shattered, and there was damage to the the uppermost point of the lightning protection system that
outboard side of the starboard, balsa-cored ama below the attaches a lightning stroke to the lightning ground system.” It’s
waterline, although it was not breached. Electrical systems designed to bridge the gap between a lightning bolt and the
vessel. Air terminals should be made from solid 3/8-inch copper

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 15

Contact with the water in which the vessel floats is yet another essential
aspect of a lightning mitigation system. Ground plates are most effective
when their edges are longest. Thus, a long rectangle like the one shown
here is preferred.

An air terminal, what landlubbers might call a lightning rod, is an The more robust and complete a vessels bonding system, using copper bar
essential part of a lightning mitigation system; ideally, it should extend at and heavy-gauge wires, the more likely it is to survive a lightning strike
least 1 meter above other structures. The vessel shown here has no such with less damage.
protection, making its antennas, mast and other onboard gear far more
vulnerable to damage in the event of a strike.” connect this to the hull and serve as connection points for the
or a 1/2-inch aluminum rod (the latter being better suited to primary conductor from the air terminal, as well as secondary
aluminum spars), the top should be domed, and it should stand 6 conductors from other bonded gear and underwater metals.
feet above the masthead or other ungrounded or non-conductive
structures (which is essentially everything). Wiring

The ground terminal–essentially the other end of the system– The primary conductor, which runs from the air terminal
is the connection between the vessel’s lightning protection system (or the base of an aluminum or steel spar) to the grounding
and the sea. These must be metal and can be made from copper, conductor, should be tinned, stranded copper with a minimum
copper alloy, aluminum, stainless steel or lead, with a minimum #4 gauge. It should be as straight and vertical as possible;
thickness of 3/16-inch and 1-square foot of surface area. bends, if necessary, must not exceed 90 degrees and radii no
Existing underwater appendages can fulfill this requirement, less than 8 inches. Secondary conductors, which connect other
particularly an exposed ballast keel, shafts, struts and rudders, fittings, chain plates, tanks, rails, pedestals outriggers and such
provided they are nearly directly under the down conductor to the grounding conductor, must be no less than #6, and also
(more on that later). In most cases, that excludes everything but a as vertical as possible while avoiding sharp bends.
keel; however, these other submerged objects may be electrically
tied to the ground terminal, augmenting its effectiveness. Lightning may be unpredictable; however, even a nearly
compliant lightning protection system will almost certainly
For standalone, dedicated ground terminals, TE-4 calls for improve the odds of survivability for vessels operating in
the edges to be square, or sharp, rather than radiused, and strike-prone areas. H
not filleted with caulk or fairing for maximum dissipation Steve D’Antonio is a marine systems consultant offering
effectiveness. Some studies indicate that the edge is what does services to boat buyers, owners and the marine industry, as
the heavy lifting in strike dissipation so the longer it is, the better, well as an author and photographer. He is an ABYC-Certified
meaning a rectangle is more desirable than a square. (Longer is Master Technician. Read more from Steve at stevedmarine.com.
better from the standpoint of reducing side flashes within the
vessel as well.) My preference is for a solid 1/4-inch thick, 1- or
2-inch wide copper strip (a band of sorts) that runs parallel with
the vessel’s centerline placed amidships (or beneath the mast) and
totals a minimum of 1 square foot of surface area. Through bolts

16 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

STEVE D’ANTONIO

Marine Consulting, Inc.

CHOOSE AND CRUISE WITH STEVE D’ANTONIO BY YOUR SIDE

Known throughout the marine “The bottom line: No one should
community for his technical buy a new or used boat without
expertise and his writing in first having Steve D’Antonio carry
PassageMaker, Cruising World, out an inspection.”
Professional Boatbuilder and other Walter Conner
magazines, Steve will guide you as Taswell 44
you select or build a new boat or
refit an old one, personally inspect “Membership in your Captain’s Club
your new or existing boat to make adds an essential dimension to our
sure it meets his standards, be your boating experience that no one can
advocate when dealing with vendors duplicate. In short, Sandy and I
and boatyards and be your technical could not have had the success we
problem solver as you cruise. enjoyed over the last 13 months
and nearly 7000 miles without
Your personal advocate for a safer, more reliable you being [virtually] on board
and less costly boating experience. to provide critical help when we
needed it.”
Sandy and Bill Brubaker
Cruising aboard the
Krogen Express 49 Coconuts

For more information visit: www.stevedmarine.com
Email: [email protected]

SOTr caEll:V804E-77D6-0'9A81 NTONIO

Marine Consulting, Inc.

I PUT STEVE ON YOUR SIDE
TO ENSURE YOU FULFILL YOUR BOAT OWNERSHIP DREAM.

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Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. I 804-776-0981 I [email protected]

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 17

Travel LiftFROM THE BOATYARD
ruisers have a language
all our own. If you are
new to this adventure

C Learningthenyoumaynotyet
understand what sounds
like gibberish. This language is
particularly important to decipher
when you enter the world of the
boatyard. In a boatyard you will see

Boatyardboats up “on the hard,” supported by

tripods, blocks and straps. But how did
they get up there and what keeps them
from toppling over? A skeg, a shoe
and a V-strut all have something in
common. But what are they and what
do they do? Boatyard professionals

LiLninggotendtotossaroundthesesaltyterms

so let’s help you interpret what they
mean and how you can learn to speak

o“boatyard lingo” too. 
This heavy-duty machinery hauls boats of various sizes from Tripods & Blocks
the water and onto dry land (also called “on the hard”). The boat is lowered down by the travel lift onto wooden blocks.
The travel lift straddles the boat slip, which is called a “haul- The keel is balanced on these blocks, fore and aft. The hull
out well.” The lift operator slides straps attached to the travel is supported by pairs of tripods, one on each side from bow
lift under the hull of the boat from starboard to port sides. to stern. In hurricane season you may see these tripod pairs
Depending on the length and weight of the boat, two or more chained together from one side of the boat to the other. This is
straps will cradle the boat’s beam as the travel lift raises the to prevent the tripods from wiggling out of position. Often the
boat from the water. sails and canvas will be removed to keep from catching wind
and challenging the balance of the boat on the tripods.

18 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

Bottom Job

You can stop blushing…This bottom refers to
the underside of the boat’s hull. And the
job in question usually includes a haul-
out, pressure washing and eventually a few
coats of paint. The pressure washing removes
surface growth and dirt, allowing you to see the
condition of the hull. If all is well, the hull is
sanded and then antifouling paint is applied
to prevent immediate attachment of marine
growth once the boat is back in the water.

Blisters You may find a V-strut supporting the shaft of a boat with a more
powerful and larger propeller.
During the pressure washing and sanding no play and inspect the trim tabs for any hydraulic fluid leak.
process the boatyard staff will examine the These are all made from different metals and must be protected
condition of the hull surface, which should be by sacrificial anodes. Depending on the water that your boat is
smooth and without blemish. If they see any used in (salt, brackish or fresh), the anode may be made of zinc,
raised areas or the appearance of bubbles magnesium or aluminum. Check with your boatyard for the
beneath the antifouling paint, it could mean proper metal anode.
your boat has osmotic blisters. Unlike blistered
skin from the sun, the osmotic blister occurs Running Gear Support
when water seeps through the gelcoat layer into the
structural fiberglass layup of the boat hull. Blisters should not The skeg is an extended keel which will protect the propeller
be left untreated. The remedy could be a simple as grinding and rudder. The shoe is commonly found on a wooden boat
through a layer or two of coatings (e.g., paint, barrier coat, and is a softer wood than the hull. It will act as a sacrificial
gelcoat) allowing it to dry and then refilling with an epoxy resin. material that worms and other marine wood borers will
In extreme cases, the entire hull will need to be peeled of the attack instead of attacking the wood comprising the boat
gelcoat layer down to the dry fiberglass layers. This can be more hull. A shaft strut supports the propeller shaft. You may
than a simple DIY project. find a V-strut supporting the shaft of a boat with a more
powerful larger propeller. On other boats it takes the shape
Paint of an I instead of a V so it is called an I-strut or just a strut.
All struts have a vulcanized rubber insert that is called a cutlass
After any fiberglass repair such as blisters or an entire hull bearing. The cutlass bearing is what prevents a metal shaft to
peel, the affected area should be painted with a barrier coat. metal strut contact.
This prevents water from permeating into the fiberglass
layer of the hull and is applied before the antifouling paint. ICW Mustache
Antifouling paint choices include Ablative which is a soft coating
and Hard paint which is not really hard like the paint on the While some of you take the opportunity to grow a nice set of
fender of your car but harder than Ablative. Both have toxins whiskers while cruising, this mustache is found on the bow of
which are designed to prevent marine growth from attaching your boat at the water level. A brown stain starts to form as
to the hull. Nothing works forever so plan on hauling out again your bow wake splashes against your hull. Tidal waters often
every 12 to 24 months. Depending upon how often you use have tannin from the tree roots and leaves that also make the
the boat or leave it sit in the water of your marina, growth water a darker brown tea color. This tea stain finds its way
happens. Having a diver scratch the bottom every month or two into the porous fiberglass gelcoat that is unprotected by wax.
can extend time between haul outs but tell him not to be too
aggressive and scratch away all the antifouling paint.

Running Gear

Nope, not topsiders or anything else you wear on your feet.
Propellers, shafts, rudders and trim tabs if equipped are
considered your running gear. When you notice any vibration
or unusual noise while underway you may want to have your
propeller checked to see if it is true and exact with proper pitch
and angle. The shaft should be straight, rudders snug with

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 19

After any fiberglass repair the affected area should be painted with a barrier coat
to prevent water from permeating into the fiberglass layer of the hull.

Good news! You don’t have to haul your boat to clean So now you know some Boatyard Lingo to begin a
this badge of honor from your bow and sometimes swim conversation with a marine professional. These fun phrases
platform. Straight lemon juice in a spray bottle will will start you on your way but there is always more to learn.
make this brown stain magically disappear in minutes. When you read or hear other marine phrases that need a
No scrubbing. The next time you are in the boatyard translation…Ask Captain Chris. H
reapply your wax to prevent further staining. Captains Chris & Alyse Caldwell are USCG 100-
ton Masters and Cruising Coaches who offer Personal
No Cash, No Splash Boat Training Online or Onboard your boat anywhere!
The Caldwell’s help build your cruising confidence with
This phrase is heard when the work is done and you hands-on training, with their AskCaptainChris.com training
are ready for your boat to be put back in the water. videos and through 2-day seminars filled with tons of tips for
The Boatyard wants to be paid when you leave their the boater who loves learning. If you have additional questions
property so make arrangements before launching. for Captains Chris or Alyse, please call 772-205-1859 or
Some yards are still small enough that credit cards are not email them at [email protected].
an option. Hard to believe but it’s true.
20 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

PERSONAL BOAT TRAINING
ONLINE OR ONBOARD YOUR BOAT

Docking • Locking • Anchoring

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Ready to start living the dream?
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WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 21

FROM THE BOATYARD

Loads on Ground Tackle
Load tables are extremely useful; that’s where you As simple as this chart seems, it is the small print at
find the information on how strong to make your the bottom of the chart- “traditional-sized” sailboat,
ground tackle-anchors, rope, chain, shackles, cleats, sand, moderate protection from seas, and freedom
maybe even a swivel. to oscillate that if not understood can result in gear
that will underperform, even fail, once the wind
In order to pick items that meet minimum strength starts to pick up.
requirements, their strength rating-known as a Work
Load Limit (WLL)-­­ should meet or exceed the load TRADITIONAL-SIZED SAILBOATS
generated by the highest wind speed that will be
encountered. Take a look at the following Load Table: The data in the chart above is based on sailboats that
are modest in freeboard and beam, and without top
Boat Size Wind Speed Load on Ground hamper. Boats with more windage will have higher
(knots) Tackle loads, as much as 50 percent higher. Included in this
20’ sailboat 15 90 lb. “higher-windage” category are: trawlers; multi-hulls;
30’ sailboat 15 175 lb. houseboats; sail or power boats with greater beam than
40’ sailboat 15 300 lb. the “traditional-sized” sailboat; or sailboats with more
50’ sailboat 15 400 lb. than minimal freeboard or that have top-hamper from
such things as pilot houses, wind generators, solar
20’ sailboat 30 360 lb. panels, enclosures, arches, or radar/TV/phone arrays.
30’ sailboat 30 700 lb.
40’ sailboat 30 1200 lb. SAND
50’ sailboat 30 1600 lb.
Sand has better holding power than do softer bottoms,
20’ sailboat 45 720 lb. such as mud. If you are anchoring in mud, your anchor
30’ sailboat 45 1400 lb. must be bigger than that used in sand if it is to have the
40’ sailboat 45 2400 lb. same holding power, at least one size bigger.
50’ sailboat 45 3600 lb.

20’ sailboat 60 1440 lb.
30’ sailboat 60 2800 lb.
40’ sailboat 60 4800 lb.
50’ sailboat 60 6400 lb.

These figures are for a “traditional-sized”
sailboat, anchored in sand, where there is
moderate protection from seas and the boat
having the freedom to oscillate.

22 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

PROTECTION FROM SEAS
 P oor protection–Miles of, or unlimited fetch with no features that would block the wind or seas.

If you are anchoring in an areas with “poor” protection, the figures in the load table above should be
increased by fifty percent.

 Good protection–Less than a quarter mile of fetch, with features that significantly reduce the wind or
seas. If you are anchoring in an area with “good” protection, the figures in the load table above can
be decreased by fifty percent.

 M oderate protection–This term represents anchorages that would fall between those having “poor”
protection, and those having “good” protection. In this category, a “sliding scale” must be used,
ranking the anchorage based on the extent of protection offered. The figures in the load table above
can be applied as is, or skewed, if the ranking tends toward one extreme or the other.

FREEDOM TO OSCILLATE

If a boat is anchored fore and aft, when the wind comes onto the
boat’s beam, the load on the ground tackle will increase, as much
as fifty percent.

SAFETY FACTOR

The loads on ground tackle in the table on page 20 are comprised
of the load caused by the wind, as well as that created by seas.
This table also contains a third component­–­ a safety factor, included
to account for loads that are transient and difficult to quantify.
These loads include:

 S ide loads–Gear used for ground tackle is rated for loads that will
be, relative to the center line of an item, in straight-line pull. A side
load, or bending moment on an item, intentional or not, can cause
it to bend or break with as little as half of the item’s rated load.
WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 23

 Wind gusts–Typically, wind gusts can exceed the Some items used in ground tackle do not come with a
sustained wind speed by thirty percent, while a WLL (e.g., anchors, rope and cleats) so the use of a Load
lesser number of gusts can exceed the sustained Table is ambiguous. Here’s how these items are sized.
wind speed by seventy percent or more. This is
an important consideration, for as wind speed ANCHORS
doubles, the wind’s force quadruples.
For use in sand, go to the anchor manufacturer’s sizing
 Duration–Winds of long duration allow the seas chart then, unless the manufacturer states differently:
and waves to develop more fully than do winds • F or winds under 30 knots, use the size
that are of short duration. Because of their larger
size, these seas and waves have more power; plus, indicated in their chart.
the longer the wind blows, the more time Mother
Nature has to wreak havoc on the gear. • For gale force winds, go up at least one size.

 Currents–The greatest concern with currents is • F or storm force winds, go up at least two sizes.
the increase in windage created if the current
yaws the boat more than thirty degrees. With this • F or an anchor that has demonstrated in anchoring
change in yaw, the load on the boat, thus the tests significantly less holding power than others, go
ground tackle, can increase by a factor of two, but up at least one more size.
can go as high as five.
• F or mud, go up at least one additional size from
 Current vs. Wind–Depending on the speed of that mentioned above.
each, when these two forces oppose one another
the resulting seas can be anything from small chop ROPE
to large waves, any of which can increase the load
on the ground tackle. Per American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and
The Cordage Institute standards, rope used in
ON BEING CONSERVATIVE ground tackle should have a tensile strength that is
at least eight times the maximum load. To size, go
How conservative one should be when computing to the rope manufacturer’s chart, locate the needed
the load on the ground tackle is a personal decision. tensile strength then match that strength to the
Fortunately, there is one rule that reigns supreme- corresponding diameter.
those who “oversize” their gear seldom have the
problems which often plague those who don’t. CLEATS
Since the term “oversized” often imparts a negative
connotation, maybe we should, instead, start using the Cleats should have a length 12 times the diameter of
term “big enough.” the largest rope that will be made up to it and 16 times
if two lines will be attached.
So, the loads on ground tackle, even for modestly
sized boats, can be huge. When loads like this are
anticipated, it is no wonder that the use of big, hefty
gear comes highly recommended. If the boat can be
located so as to not receive the full force of the wind or
surge, so much the better, though don’t trust that you
can always arrange this. H

This article is excerpted from the book
ANCHORING–A Ground Tackler’s Apprentice
by veteran cruisers Rudy and Jill Sechez, who
conduct trawler and anchoring training. See more
information at trawlertrainingabc.com. Their book is
available through the Waterway Guide Ship Store at
waterwayguide.com/ship-store.

24 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

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Just 20 miles west of the ICW

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WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 25

S C MHILTON HEAD ISLAND

HELTER OVE ARINA

Dock. Shop. Dine. Play.

Located in the middle of Hilton Head Island across from Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
and just off the Intracoastal Waterway, Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina offers easy access
to great shopping & restaurants plus bikes, watersports, golf, tennis & pickleball.

The Ship’s Store offers a large selection of apparel, accessories, convenience items & fishing tackle.
• Floating docks / vessels up to 150 feet • Electrical: 30, 50, 100 amp • 9' MLW, well marked channel

• Pump-out boat • Monitor channel 16 • Restrooms, showers, laundry • Grocery store nearby
• Full service yacht maintenance • Wi-Fi internet access & cable available • Seasonal resort shuttle

1 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 • 844-238-3237 • ShelterCoveHiltonHead.com

26 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

YOUR NEXT PORT OF CALL. Located two miles off the coast
of North Carolina, the Bald Head
Island Marina is a convenient
base for mariners cruising the
Intracoastal Waterway, Cape
Fear River or Atlantic Ocean or
for those who wish to explore
and experience Bald Head Island.
The 10-acre, protected harbor
is framed by floating docks and
surrounded by charming Harbour
Village. The marina is serviced
by the Dockmaster Convenience
Store. Slips are available for lease
on a daily or monthly basis.

33.52’ N – 78.00’ W • 2 miles east of ICW Mile Marker #307 • Near Cape Fear River Buoy #13A BALD HEAD ISLAND
Offering easy ICW and ocean access via a deep-water shipping channel with federally maintained MARINA
navigational aids • Accommodates yachts to 100’ with • 7’ draft at MLW • Ice-free basin with lighted
entrance channel • 30-, 50- and 100-amp electric hookups • WIFI AND cable TV available • Restrooms, For slip rentals call 1-800-234-1666 ext 7380
shower and laundry in centrally located bathhouse • Gas and diesel fuel available via high-flow pumps. or 1-910-457-7380 or use VHF channel 16.
For Bald Head Island Yacht Club slip sales
information, call 1-800-888-3707.
WWW.BALDHEADISLANDMARINA.COM

LOCATED ALONG THE CAPE FEAR RIVER IN SOUTHPORT, NC, Deep Point Marina
offers comfortable dockage for both large and small vessels, along with easy ocean,
ICW and river access. Slips are available for lease on a daily, monthly and annual basis.

The Harbormaster Store, open to the general public as well as marina guests,
offers beverages, snacks and ice. Transient boaters and annual slipholders enjoy use
of the swimming pool, shower and laundry facilities.

33˚ 55.872’ N - 77˚ 59.772’ W
• Across from red Cape Fear River buoy #20
• 82 slips accommodating vessels up to

102’ with 8’ draft at MLW
• Lighted entrance channel
• 30-, 50- and 100-amp electric hookups
• Gas, diesel fuel & marine pump-out
• Cable TV & wireless internet service
• Harbormaster building with laundry,

showers, ship’s store and pool
• Convenient to Southport’s downtown

restaurants, shopping and historic district
• Adjacent to the Bald Head Island

Mainland Ferry Terminal
• Overnight rates are $1.40 per foot, 24’

minimum

1301 Ferry Road, Southport, NC | 910-269-2380 | [email protected] | VHF channel 16 www.DeepPointMarina.com

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 27

ICW UPDATE

Dredging Report:

Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW)

How to Read the Charts Let’s turn the clock back two years. The AICW was facing a crisis.
Several stretches were impassable at low tide by boats with drafts of 5
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to 6 feet and the number of problem areas was increasing. Commercial and
hydrographic surveys are used throughout recreational vessel operators had to be diligent in arranging passage through
Waterway Guide Navigation Alerts such areas at near high tide, which greatly limited their options for finding a
on Explorer at waterwayguide.com. resting place for the night if they planned to stop. Even if you followed the
The graphics display as an overlay on deepest water at high tide, any deviation from the best course could still put
charts provided by Aqua Map. If you use you aground as there was little room for error.
the Aqua Map navigation mobile app
you have the option of displaying the In 1999 a group concerned with the declining maintenance of the
surveys on the base charts in the app. AICW formed the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA)
The surveys are also available from the with the expressed purpose of obtaining funding and support to keep the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's website. waterway dredged to accommodate safe navigation. Over the last two
years, the AIWA has been particularly successful with influencing funding
The sample charts used in this analysis decisions resulting in many improvements along one of the world’s most
are from Aqua Map Master, which displays economically important and scenic waterways.
the USACE survey charts. It’s the only app
with that capability and is available for Dredging is the single most important effort that has improved the
both Apple and Android devices. All the outlook for safely navigating the AICW. In the past two years work has been
charts will show a blue dotted line, which performed on some areas that had not been touched in the previous 10
is a Bob423 track created in October years. The result is, overall, the traditional problem areas of AICW are now
of 2019 when transiting and plotting in excellent condition.
for the deepest water. The charts with
the USACE surveys are color-coded to Let’s explore the results of the latest round of dredging activity. The best
show depths to Mean Lower Low Water way to do this is to fire up your navigation program or follow along with
(MLLW). The legend on the right side of an app on your tablet. We’ll take an armchair cruise down the AICW from
(Figure 1) below shows the depths by Hospital Point in Norfolk, VA, at Mile Marker (MM) 0 to Key West, FL, at
color. The Aids to Navigation (ATONs) can MM 1245 to examine the recently dredged areas.
be buoys or pilings with a number on top
and are usually either red or green but can Figure 2. Browns Inlet, MM 238
occasionally be other colors.

Figure 1. Map Legend

SAMMAPPLE The first infamous shoaling area on our trip south is at an inlet known
to all AICW cruisers. Browns Inlet (Figure 2) is in North Carolina at MM
28 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM 238. It was dredged in the spring of 2019 but has already started to shoal
in again. It is an example of a common problem in keeping the channel

open in areas where there’s rapid shoaling and shows the need for continued funding. The dredging opened a channel for a straight
shot through but has since shoaled in again (as shown by the chart), requiring a slalom course through the ATONs. The blue dotted
line shows the present deep-water path as taken by Bob423. Browns Inlet is on the list of dredging projects due to be completed
by March 30, 2020. The old channel will be dredged so it will once again be a straight shot through, at least until it shoals again.
(NOTE: The current status of any shoaling area can be found in a Waterway Guide Nav Alert for the area, which is located online
at waterwayguide.com.)

Figure 3. New River Inlet, MM 244

New River, NC, at MM 244 Figure 4. Carolina Beach Inlet,
(Figure 3) has been a thorn in MM 294
the side of boaters for the last
three years. It required a series WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 29
of S-curves to thread your way
through safely and it’s been one
of the most infamous areas for
groundings. It’s on the list of
areas to be dredged in 2020
and should be completed early
in the year in time for vessels
transiting in the spring.

After New River on the way
south is Carolina Beach Inlet
AICW crossing in North Carolina
at MM 294. (Figure 4) The
shoal by R154 keeps growing and
threatens to severely narrow the
AICW. The dredges are scheduled
to clear sand from the AICW
channel by March 30, 2020.

Figure 5. Snows Cut, MM 295 Farther south is Snows Cut, NC, at MM 295.
Figure 6. Snows Cut (West End), MM 297 (Figure 5) Shoaling has persisted but it, too, is on the
list for dredging by March 30, 2020.

The west end of Snows Cut, NC, at MM 297
(Figure 6) has been a slalom course the last few years,
which required weaving back and forth between shoals.
It’s also included in the March 2020 dredging plans.

Next is Lockwoods Folly, NC, at MM 321, another
area that shoals rapidly and requires frequent dredging.
Without dredging, the AICW would be closed to
navigation at this location. The Wilmington USACE
does a good job of keeping Lockwoods Folly open and
publishes charts like the one seen here (Figure 7) every
few months to direct boaters to deep water. The green
ATONs G47A and G47 do not appear on any NOAA
charts yet. They have been manually placed on the chart
for reference and also appear on the chart included in
the Waterway Guide Nav Alert for the inlet. They were
recently moved to the locations shown to direct boaters
to safe passage, away from the shoals.

Figure 7. Lockwoods Folly, MM 321

30 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

Next is Shallotte Inlet, NC, at MM 329, which was Figure 8. Shallotte Inlet, MM 329
recently dredged (Figure 8). Unlike Browns Inlet and Figure 9. McClellanville, MM 431
Lockwoods Folly, the path through has remained straight.
Not all inlets shoal equally. Without dredging, the inlet
most likely would have become impassable in 2019.

Thanks to the increased funding shepherded by the
AIWA, a very welcomed addition to the list of dredged
areas is McClellanville in SC at MM 431 (Figure 9).
For many vessels, especially those drawing 5 or more feet,
McClellanville has always been an area to be traversed
only at mid to high tide. The great news is that dredging
has been completed and now it’s 10 to 12 MLLW all the
way through. The chart shows a section of the passage by
R38 before dredging was finished. Notice the dramatic
change in depth from dredging. The completed dredged
area extends all the way from McClellanville at R35A to
G43. Now there’s no need to hang out at Georgetown
waiting to get in sync with the tides for a passage
through McClellanville.

The problem with the passage from Georgetown
to Charleston, SC, was the presence of two shallow
areas along the way: McClellanville and Isle of Palms.
You could time the passage for high tide for one or the
other but not both. They are 30 miles apart and by the
time you pass through one at high tide, it is near low
tide at the other. Isle of Palms, SC, at MM 460 was
also dredged (Figure 10). The chart shows a section of
the Isle of Palms by the notorious G117A buoy where
previously there was only 2 to 3 feet of water at low tide,
no more. Now, if you have the time for traveling 56 nm,
you can go all the way from Georgetown to Charleston
and not have to worry about passing through a 3 MLLW
area at low tide.

Figure 10. Isle of Palms, MM 460

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 31

Figure 11. Dahow River, MM 496

Dawho River, south of Charleston, Next in line on our southward One shoal area not dredged is Little
SC, at MM 496, was another place only journey of dredged areas is Fenwick Mud River, GA, at MM 654. It turns out
to be passed at mid to high tide. It was Cut, SC, at MM 511. It’s another area that the mud there is especially fine and
dredged, but the dredged path (known as that was originally dredged deeper but must be disposed of off-site, which is very
the “southern route”) is very narrow and has shoaled to 7 MLLW as of October expensive. The reports say it’s a project for
goes through the middle of shoals, which 2019. Nevertheless, it’s better than in the next time funding becomes available.
allows no room for error if the wind or the spring of 2019. Until then, it’s as shallow as ever at 4.0
current pushes you off the 90-foot-wide MLLW at the southern exit.
channel that is not very well marked. Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff, SC, at MM
The southern route is shown by the red 516 is a short distance south and was one Buttermilk Sound, GA, at MM
line connecting the waypoints numbered of the first areas in South Carolina to 661 was dredged to 12 MLLW.
1 through 8. Knowledgeable cruisers are be dredged in 2018, but the depths have Now just follow the buoys and you should
now taking the “northern route” for 8 decreased from the dredged 10 to 12 feet have no problems.
MLLW, but it’s unmarked so a route must down to 6.2 MLLW at the southern exit as
be entered into your navigation app or of October 2019. Even at 6.2 MLLW, it is The best news of all was when we
chartplotter to follow the red course line deeper than at any time in the past 5 years heard that Jekyll Island, GA, at MM 683
with the waypoints numbered from 1 to 4. so it’s still good news but more shoaling is was due to be dredged. It’s been a thorn
Details on both routes are available at the expected by spring of 2020. in the side of cruisers for at least the past
Waterway Guide Nav Alert for the Dawho 10 years. The path was narrow and only
River. As shown on the screen shot of the Fields Cut, SC, at MM 575 had a 4 to 5 MLLW if you stayed exactly in
chart (Figure 11), ignore the area between shoal area in the middle of the northern the channel, which was hard to do given
the two routes, which is all shoal. You must entrance. Cruisers had to hug the shore the scarcity of ATONs to guide the way.
follow either the northern or southern on the green side of the channel to With the recent dredging, it’s now 6.7
route for safe passage, nothing in-between. get through. Dredges were at work in MLLW but the channel is just 75 feet
November 2019 to remove the shoal, so for wide. You must follow the dredged channel
Just south of Dawho River is Watts future passages follow the ATONs. exactly for the deepest water. A GPX
Cut, SC, at MM 503, which was dredged route has been provided for download
to 10 MLLW but has filled in somewhat One of the most famous shoal areas that follows the centerline that the dredge
to 6.7 MLLW as of October 2019. It was standing in the way of a relaxing journey took in Jekyll Island. If you follow that
a struggle at one time to get through south on the AICW has always been Hell route, you will have 37 feet of leeway
and required mid to high tide but Gate, GA, at MM 601. Virtually everyone on either side. It can be downloaded
now is much better. waited for mid to high tide since it was from the Waterway Guide Nav Alert
32 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM 3.5 to 4.5 MLLW in places and narrow. for Jekyll Island.
Now it’s been dredged to 10 MLLW and is
a straight shot with no problems.

Fernandina, FL, at MM 719 was one of Be aware that even though an area is schedule changes and updates to ATONs,
the first shoal areas to be dredged. With the dredged, it does not mean the entire width as well as other pertinent information to
new ATONs in place you can follow of the channel is deep. make your journeys safe and as trouble
them for good water but do not hug the free as they can be. After all, there are
markers. Stand off R16 by 350 feet and the Ft. Matanzas, FL, at MM 792 is a sunsets to see, anchorages to enjoy and
rest by 100 feet. perennial shoaling area and seems to be towns to explore so take advantage
dredged every year or two. The latest of all the information available at
Amelia River, FL, at MM 728 was round of dredging was completed in Waterway Guide to make your time on
dredged between the ATONs R44 and November 2019 so it’s in good shape for the water the experience of a lifetime.
G43 where there used to be 4 MLLW; probably a year. The sands of the inlet will See you out there. H
now it is 12 MLLW. most likely creep back in and we will be
hugging the western shore once again while Additional Resources
Sawpit Creek, FL, at MM 731 being guided by multiple green ATONs but
(Figure 12) was a location where you for now, it’s fine. When scheduling your time on the AICW
needed to hug the shoreline, but no more be aware that navigating and avoiding
shallow areas is a simple exercise in
Figure 12. Sawpit Creek, MM 731 knowing tides, the effects of wind on
water levels and having at your disposal
since it’s been dredged to 12 MLLW. Ponce de Leon, FL, at MM 843 is recognized planning resources. If your
On the 4/8/2019 chart, you can see the another area periodically dredged and with vessel draws more than 4 feet, you will
dredged channel in light blue. It’s where the the latest touch-up, it’s deep to 9 MLLW. want to transit shoal areas on a half-
blue dotted line passes through, which is rising tide. Waterway Guide’s Atlantic
the Bob423 track of 10/28/2019. (The red St. Lucie, FL, at MM 986 was down ICW and Southern guidebooks are
dotted line was the old path.) You can see to 5 MLLW by R234 but after the recent updated annually and contain detailed
a familiar pattern in the dredging here. dredging, it’s back to 10 MLLW or better. information about inlets, bridge heights
Time is money and a contract will typically and navigation alerts.
specify a dredging width, usually along the This completes our armchair tour
old channel. In this case, you can clearly see of recently dredged areas of the AICW. Explorer at waterwayguide.com
the dredge path. The reason for showing While the AICW is in much better shape provides real time updates in the form
this chart is to illustrate that when dredging than at any time in the past 10 years, of Navigation Alerts that are updated as
is done in an area, the entire width of the there are still shallow spots that you often as daily as new information becomes
original channel is not usually dredged, must consider. Before transiting, do your available. The symbol looks like this:
only the portion specified in the contract research using the Waterway Guide Nav
determined to be enough for safe passage. Alerts (waterwayguide.com) for the areas You will also find Marinas, Featured
If you get out of the dredged channel, you intend to navigate. They are updated Marinas, Anchorages, Service Facilities,
you can immediately run into shoal water throughout the year from on-the-water Bridge details and Lock schedules and
(shown as red shading on the chart). experts, USACE surveys, Local Notices to Fuel prices. You can subscribe to Explorer
Mariners and comments and reviews from and receive digital versions of Waterway
boaters. The Nav Alerts also cover bridge Guide books that can be read when in
range of an internet signal.

Skipper Bob Publications offer
mile-by-mile information on
anchorages and marinas.

The Aqua Map mobile navigation
app is a user-friendly and well-designed
app that contains NOAA-based charts,
Waterway Guide data and other
impressive features.

Bob Sherer is one of Waterway Guide’s on-
the-water cruising editors recognized for his
experience navigating the AICW from NY to
Key West. His work in charting the AICW is
recognized for its detailed guidance and insight.
Bob and his wife Ann have sailed together for
the past 34 years and have published numerous
guidebooks, articles, blogs and digital content
associated with their adventures. Ann works in
pastels and has a beautiful touch. Visit them at
fleetwing.blogspot.com.

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 33

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WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 35

ICW UPDATE

Anchoring Laws Not Going Away

There’s a growing storm of discontent brewing among For many years Florida has been grappling with the issue
extended cruisers and weekend adventurers who expect to of long-term liveaboards and abandoned vessels left at anchor.
anchor safely in a quiet cove or gunkhole in the states of The climate and geography contribute to the abundance of boats,
Florida and, more recently, Georgia. marinas and visitors. The patchwork of regulations in the state,
The passage of legislation in 2019 to restrict anchorage in combined with local law enforcement’s interpretation of the rules,
Georgia has prompted boaters and marine industry organizations makes it more difficult than ever for boaters to locate a spot to
to rally together to wrestle with the state’s policymakers on the drop the hook for a night (or a few days) while passing through or
issue. It has been a hard fought and time-consuming effort, fueled vacationing there. It can still be done, but you best pay attention
by the fact that the State of Georgia seems unsure of what results to where you are and be prepared to move if asked.
it wants or even what problems And while Florida and,
exist, while boaters and industry ...most boating industry leaders more recently, Georgia
groups remain perplexed as and organizations agree that the laws have been in the news, it’s
to why this law came about passed there were cobbled together by not just those southern
in the first place. non-boating politicians... states that are dealing with
evolving anchoring policies.
Georgia’s new law went An increasing number of
into effect in January 2020 laws and ordinances that
with a complicated array of restrict where and when boats
restrictions that now awaits
coastal cruisers out for a weekend adventure or transiting the state may anchor are being implemented in many localities along our
on the Atlantic ICW. The regulations are a mélange of various nation’s waterways.
requirements that do not honor the freedoms that most boaters Why are states creating what many consider draconian
have come to appreciate. All of these are rolled up in a law that responses to problems that don’t necessarily exist? The primary
makes it a criminal violation for non-compliance. By the time you reasons appear to be overcrowding of popular anchorages,
read this article, Georgia’s law will probably have been amended, long-term liveaboards who move in and don’t move out, and
so details will not be published here in the interest of accuracy. irresponsible boat owners who anchor their vessels and walk
Nevertheless, be sure to check what’s legal and what’s not before away for months on end or never return. Each of these scenarios
anchoring or even passing through the State. creates problems that are difficult to unravel.

36 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

Homeowners and businesses along These abandoned and/or derelict vessels Bad actors create many of these issues
shorelines often express displeasure (ADVs) are a menace to us all and owners and reasonable law-abiding boaters are
over what they consider the marginal must be held accountable. left to fend for our lifestyles. Many locales
lifestyles of vessel owners who often live along America’s waterfronts have come
a few hundred feet away from shore for It’s no wonder that states and to terms with managing visiting and long-
months, or even years. The boats don’t communities are attempting to come to term boats using mooring fields, creating
move, and it’s assumed that holding terms with these increasing problems. reasonable set back distances to prevent
tanks are not maintained, which means Pressure from constituents and requests infringement on commercial or public
the vessels are sullying the waterway from agencies charged with keeping the access, and assigning specific areas where
and, in some circumstances, the scenery. landscape and environment in order anchoring is not allowed due to navigation
Some landowners believe they have prompt lawmakers to make rules to or safety considerations.
a right to an unimpeded view of the address the nuisances, often with no
water from their property, and some background or understanding of boating, The joy of adventure while on
lawmakers support them. navigation or the concept of waterways the water and appreciation for the
held in the public trust. In the case of places we visit are the reasons we
In other instances, that first great day Georgia, most boating industry leaders and cruise. The problems of derelict and
of boat ownership is followed by the vessel organizations agree that the laws passed abandoned boats and irresponsible
being anchored in a public waterway there were cobbled together by non- owners notwithstanding, our lawmakers
rather than tied to a dock in a marina. boating politicians who were attempting and agencies responsible for helping to
The unattended boat deteriorates, batteries to satisfy complaints from a few voters. manage these problems must be made
no longer power the bilge pumps, and Opinions are plentiful on whether states aware of the nuances of the extended
then the anchor drags during a storm. have the power to regulate where boats cruising lifestyle and access to our shared
Bouncing off other boats or docks or may anchor based on the jurisdictional natural resources. Boaters should demand
laid up on the shore, the trashed boat responsibilities of the U.S. Coast Guard a seat at the table to assist in the crafting
is left for someone else to clean up. and Army Corps of Engineers. of regulations that will protect us all.
Georgia’s new law was created in a
vacuum with little or no understanding of
its impact on the economies of the coastal
communities, the state or vessel owners.

Thousands of anchorages, quiet
coves and creeks remain where we can
drop a hook and never see another
vessel or hear a highway. With this
latest round of legislation in Georgia
we are warned that in the future those
spaces will become even more essential
to our sailing freedoms and traditions.
Responsible boaters must maintain
awareness and offer advice and guidance
to policymakers at every opportunity to
ensure that laws and ordinances do not
infringe on the freedoms and lifestyles
associated with anchoring and spending
the night on your vessel while transiting
America’s waterways. H

Looking north at the SR 520 Bridge over Fancy Bluff Creek, which separates Jekyll Island, GA, Ed Tillett is editor-in-chief at
from the mainland. Jekyll Harbor Marina is on the right. New anchoring regulations in Georgia Waterway Guide Media. His in-depth
will impact where vessels may now anchor in this waterway and many more throughout the state. coverage and reporting on the actions of
Georgia’s legislature and Department
of Natural Resources related to new
anchoring and boating regulations in
the state has appeared in Waterway
Guide News, Nav Alerts and Cruising
World magazine.

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 37

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WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 39

ICW UPDATE

Dredging Natural Channels
Why Fight Mother Nature? NorfNoolrfkol,kV,VAAMMM0M 0
CoinCojionjocckk,,NCNMCM 5M0 M 50

Editor’s Note: Cruising Editor Bob Sherer (“Bob423”) focuses on
navigational alerts along the AICW for Waterway Guide. Here he
proposes a better way to spend valuable dredging dollars while
explaining the surveying process.

BeaufoBerautf,orNt, NCC MMM M203 203

Southport, NSouCthpMortM, NC M3M03909

Charleston, SC MMCha4rl6est9on, SC MM 469 T he Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW)
from Norfolk, Virginia to Key West,
 Florida has been a work in progress since
the late 19th century. By connecting natural
waterways with dredged channels (called “cuts”)
nah, GA MM 582Savannah, GA MM 582 and deepening channels to 12 MLLW where needed,
America’s marine highway is a multi-use resource that
impacts millions of stakeholders along it 1,245 miles.
Many channels regularly shoal and periodic dredging is
required to maintain adequate depths. Funding is allocated
yearly for dredging the most critical areas, but funds are limited
in scope and timing and not all areas that need dredging
e, FL MM 739 Jacksonville, FL MM 739 can be addressed.
The standard approach to improving depths in problem areas
of the AICW has been to deepen a channel that was most likely
surveyed and charted in the 1930s. However, shoaling conditions
and geography change and the channels and routes defined years
ago may not be the most economical to maintain today, or into the
ville, FL MM 878 Titusville, FL MM 878 future. Because natural channels have formed in some sections of
the AICW, valuable dredging dollars can be used elsewhere rather
than dredging material from a channel that continues to fill in
while an adjacent route flows unrestricted.
Here is an approach taken by Bill Aley and his team at
Taylor Engineering in Jacksonville, FL (Figure 1). They were
asked to recommend a path for dredging a channel through
the shallows south of Fernandina Beach, FL, at MM 719.
The area is infamous with cruisers for the uncharted
shoals that have prompted many calls to local
towing companies.
The first step was to conduct a survey of the
Miami, FL MM 1090Miami, FL MM 1090 full width of the zone to see if there was a better

path than just dredging the old channel.
What Taylor Engineering found was a new
Key West, FL MM 1240 channel, naturally maintained, that was
far outside of the old AICW channel.

40 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

Figure 1. Fernandina Route

The three white parallel lines represent the old AICW channel (labeled AIWW in the insert). The blue shading shows a natural
channel with 11 to 20 MLLW with a solid yellow line down the centerline.

The conclusion was simple. Why dredge through an area 2 to 10 feet deep at MLLW (the green shaded area) when a natural
channel already existed at 11 to 20 MLLW (the blue shaded area)? The natural channel did require some “touch up” dredging
along the edges but much less than dredging the entire width and length of the old channel, as shown by the white lines in the green
shaded area. Dredging was completed in December 2017. Towards the end of the project, I published a GPX route in Waterway
Guide Nav Alerts.

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 41

Figure 2.East Entrance, Dawho River An area with similar
shoaling and a natural
channel is the east entrance
to the Dawho River in
Georgia at MM 496
Norfolk,VA MM 0(Figure 2). Conveniently, the
US Army Corps of Engineers
Coinjock,t(UhNeSwAiCCdEth) MM 50did a survey across

of the area in
March 2017 that showed a
natural channel of 8 MLLW
to the north of the NOAA
marked channel. Most of the
channel was 20 MLLW so
only a fraction of the route
Beaufort, NC MM 203needed any dredging at all.
However, when the dredging
plans were drawn up, the old
channel was selected.
Southport, NC MM 309 In addition to having to

remove much more dredge
material, the old route
required many turns to stay
Charleston, SC MM 469 in the 90-foot-wide dredged
channel and those turns were not all well marked. If you wandered outside that narrow channel you immediately encountered 3 to 4
nah, GA MM 582MLLW depths. In contrast, the natural channel was wider and straighter. To those navigating the AICW, the natural channel became
known as the “northern route” and the old AICW channel became known at the “southern route.” I published a northern GPX route
in March of 2018, which is available for download in the Waterway Guide Nav Alerts and from my blog site (fleetwing.blogspot.com).
As more and more boaters learned of the “northern route” it became the preferred path through the east entrance to Dawho River.
In August 2019 the USACE did an updated survey following the “northern route” and confirmed the depths shown in Figure 2.
An opportunity was missed when planning the dredging for Dawho, but it will shoal again. The next time dredging is needed, the
Fernandina model can be followed and the official AICW channel can be moved to follow the northern route. Natural channels exist
e, FL MM 739in many areas of the AICW. Here are some additional locations.
Figure 3 shows the
channel just west of the
Dawho River entrance
Figure 3. West of Dawho River between R118 and G121

before dredging. The original
channel dipped south into
ville, FL MM 878 a shoal that had developed
over the years. The natural
channel was already good to
10 MLLW and is shown as a
dotted blue line.
Following the natural
channel with perhaps some
touch-up dredging would
have saved dredging time and
money. Based on historical
evidence we can expect the
Miami, FL MM 1090 dredged channel, which runs
through an existing shoal,
to fill in again. The natural
channel has not shoaled for
at least 10 years.

42 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

Figure 4 shows the original Figure 4. Ashepoo Channels
channel that shoaled to 5 to 6
ft MLLW. The chart is from
the Aqua Map navigation app
displaying the overlaid USACE
surveys of August 2019 (blue
dotted line area), and the survey
of February 2019 (red line area)
after dredging was completed.
There is a natural channel that
has been stable for at least the
last 10 years shown by the blue
dotted line. Why dredge a shoal
that continues to fill in when
considerably less dredge material
removed elsewhere will achieve
the 10 to 12 MLLW target
depth? The designated channel
can be relocated to it natural
course (as shown by the blue
dotted line), which saves time
and resources. Not every shoal
area has developed a natural
channel. Places like Hell Gate and Jekyll Creek are evident. There are few options for most shallow areas because the AICW is
exceptionally narrow. But where options exist, funding should be allocated to other sites requiring improvement.
Boaters who travel the AICW have an incentive to find the deepest paths and move through the channels on all tides and times.
Their data collection and observations are ongoing, timely and transferable. When that information is combined with data from
annual surveys the shoaling of channels and bottom profiles are evident, which aids in defining the best strategy for dredging an
area. I propose that finding natural channels should always be considered in future shoaling projects and that data mining from
trusted sources will benefit planners and engineers pursuing solutions to keeping the AICW navigable. It truly can continue to be a
win-win for everyone. H

Editor’s Note: Navionics has been a leader in developing processes and procedures for accepting logs and
recordings of sonar soundings. Boaters who use Raymarine, Simrad, Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance and
Navionics’ Sonarchart Live can record and store their tracks and depths, which can then be made available
to hydrographers who use the information when updating charts. If you want to provide information to an
increasing number of hydrographers who are using crowd sourcing to develop more accurate charts and
navigation platforms conduct some simple research in your owner’s manual or online for your charts and apps.

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 43

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WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 45

FEATURES

Thinking About a Great Loop Adventure?
Here’s What You Need to Know

Have you ever dreamed of leaving behind life on were founded before roads existed, so Loopers travel in some
land and taking to the water for the adventure of a of the most historic areas of our country, finding nostalgia and
lifetime? If so, a cruise around America’s Great Loop exploring long-forgotten slices of Americana.
may be on your horizon. The Great Loop was once
a route known only to lifelong boaters and hard-core long- While Loopers have traditionally completed the route in
distance cruisers, but the secret is out. “Looping” has become a about a year by following warm weather around the Loop and
passion for thousands who hope to one day navigate their boats spending summer on the Great Lakes and winter in Florida,
on this 6,000-mile trip around eastern North America. more and more are undertaking the journey in segments,
cruising for weeks or months at a time and then returning home
The first documented Great Loop completions date back to to tend to other obligations.
the late 1800s, but the popularity of the Great Loop increased
with the opening of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Q: Who are the Loopers?
1984, which allowed “Loopers” to avoid the heavy commercial A: Many Loopers are retirees traveling as a couple aboard
traffic on the Lower Mississippi and enter the Gulf of Mexico
through Mobile Bay instead. The publishing of Honey, Let’s Get their boat. However, technology, the availability of mobile
a Boat by Ron & Eva Stob in 1999 popularized the Great Loop service and WiFi around the route and the rise in the number
in many boating circles and the number of Loopers cruising of people able to work remotely means that many other age
and sharing their journey through letters back home increased. groups are exploring the Loop. In addition, the increase in
But the rise of social media means instead of sharing the details popularity of home schooling and the availability of on-line
of the trip with a handful of close friends and family members, curriculum means more families are “boat-schooling,” giving
today’s Loopers chronicle the adventure for hundreds (or even their children opportunities to go beyond the curriculum and
thousands) of followers. That exposure, coupled with articles engage in experience-based education in the cities and towns
in mainstream media outlets like The New York Times Magazine, they visit along the way.
The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and hundreds of local
publications across the country, have led to a rise in interest Q: What Kind of Boat Do I Need?
in the Great Loop. A: The Great Loop has been completed in everything from a

Membership in America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ dinghy to a 100-foot yacht and including all types of vessels in
Association–an organization dedicated to helping Loopers between. Everyone’s ideal Great Loop boat is different, so the
with all facets of their high-adventure, low-risk, long-distance key to cruising the Loop successfully and enjoyably is choosing a
journey–has doubled in the last 10 years, and the total number boat that is right for you. While there are a wide-range of Loop-
of memberships doled out since the Association’s inception capable boats, there are a few requirements for your Looping
20 years ago exceeds 20,000. But with only about 150 boats vessel. First and foremost, it must be seaworthy. Although the
reporting completion of the route each year, Gold Loopers Great Loop is primarily an inland route, there are some places
(those who have completed the route) remain an elite group. where you’ll find yourself in “big water,” including the Gulf of
Would-be-Loopers have a lot of questions about successful Mexico, the Great Lakes and various sounds and inlets around
completion of the Loop, including the ones here, which are the the route where you are likely to experience some rough seas.
most frequently asked. Second, the boat you choose must have an air draft of less than
19.6 feet so it can clear the lowest fixed bridge on the Great
Q: Exactly What Is the Great Loop? Loop, which is located on the Illinois Waterway and cannot be
A: The Great Loop route totals about 6,000 miles, passes bypassed by taking an alternate route.

through more than 15 states and provinces and includes more There are also some places on the Great Loop where the
than 100 locks. Loopers follow the route northward on the water can be shallow, particularly during low tide, so you’ll have
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), through Chesapeake an easier time if your boat draws 5 feet or less. If you draw
Bay, around the tip of New Jersey into New York Harbor, up much more than that, you will have to pass up some options
the Hudson River, into the New York State canals, through the (like the Trent Severn Waterway) and getting into some marinas
Great Lakes, south on the inland rivers to the Gulf of Mexico along the Loop will be challenging.
and around Florida. The trip includes passage through big cities
like Chicago and New York and small towns, many of which Most Loopers need not worry about the length or beam of
their boat as there are really no restrictions on those dimensions

46 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

that would prevent you from completing the Loop. The Trent understand the rules of navigation, procedures for contacting
Severn Waterway has a length restriction of 84 feet and a width lock and bridge tenders, and how to contact other vessels in the
restriction of 23 feet, but there are alternative routes if your area. Most Loopers will spend a year or more (sometimes much
boat exceeds those specifications. more) planning and preparing for departure.

Q: Do I Need Lots of Q: How Do I Get Started?
Boating Experience? A: Get started by getting connected. There are hundreds of

A: While the Great Loop is not a technically challenging details to consider before beginning your Loop. What do you do
with your “dirt-based” home while you’re living on the water?
cruise (you’re not circumnavigating the globe, after all), it does How do you get mail along the way? What kind of electronics
require confident handling of your boat in unfamiliar waters. do you need aboard your boat? What’s the best type of anchor?
It also requires that you know the “rules of the road” and how
to keep yourself and the people and property around you safe. The best way to learn all this is through your own research
If your Looping boat or boating in general is new to you, be and connections with those who have come before you.
sure to spend some time before the trip becoming acclimated. There are many books and online resources that can help
If you’re a complete novice, hire a training captain and you, and you’ll find that cruisers in general, and Loopers in
practice until you’re capable and comfortable handling your particular, are very willing to help. Plus, they love to share their
boat. You can also take courses to learn boating skills or brush experiences! Don’t hesitate to get involved in online forums and
up on the skills you already have. Since every day on the Looper groups. Walk the docks and look for Looper burgees.
Great Loop is a trip through unfamiliar waters, you’ll need to Attend “dock-tails” and ask questions so you can learn from the
experiences of others.

NUMBER OF NUMBER OF LOCKS ON THE LOOP:
STATES &
100+
PROVINCES
INCLUDED IN THE

ROUTE:

15+

NUMBER OF THE GREAT LOOP
COMPLETIONS BY THE
REPORTED IN
NUMBERS...
2018:
NUMBER OF MILES:
146
~6,0000

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 47

Almost without exception, when
asked about their trip highlights, Gold
Loopers mention the people they met
along the way, so do get engaged,
well before you drop the dock
lines and head out.

Whether the Great Loop is a
lifelong dream or a new item on
your bucket list, the best advice is
to do it in a way that is enjoyable
for you. There is no right or wrong
way to do the Great Loop as long
as you maintain safety for yourself
and those around you. Whether you
choose a 25-foot tug or a 50-foot
trawler, whether you spend 6 months
or 6 years completing the route,
whether you travel at an average
of 6 knots or 15 knots, remember
that it’s your journey. Make it your
adventure of a lifetime. H
Kimberly Russo has been the director
of America’s Great Loop Cruisers’
Association for 4 years and has
been working with AGLCA for
10. She is a regular speaker about
the Great Loop at events like the
Miami Boat Show, Chicago Boat
Show, TrawlerFest, and others.
When not helping others with their
Loop adventure, she enjoys cruising
her home waters of Charleston, SC.

AGLCA fall rendezvous at Joe Wheeler State Park in October 2019. Photo and images courtesy of AGLCA.
48 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM

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Paddler
Crossing
Ahead!

We’ve all seen the signs reminding drivers to stop Their advice includes:
for pedestrians at crosswalks. It’s the law. But what Be aware of your surroundings
about on the water, where there is no such thing as Know the channels or “lanes of travel”
a “four-way stop?” See and be seen (e.g., wear bright clothing)
Learn to read navigational buoys
It’s confusing enough when two boats are involved but
throw in human-powered vessels and it can be an accident Don’t forget that in ports and harbors, there are restrictions
waiting to happen. on watercraft within 100 yards of all U.S. Navy vessels.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Rules and Regulation Handbook
details ways to navigate safely while on the water to avoid This includes all watercraft from ships to dinghies to kayaks.
collisions when two vessels are crossing paths, on a head-on course The bottom line is we all share the waterways and
or when one wishes to overtake another. All vessels under safety is everyone’s job. Paddlers are advised to stay
navigation must follow these regulations, including kayaks, out of ship channels, avoid crossing in front of large
canoes and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs). motor vessels and stay close to shore when possible.
Nevertheless, many paddlers venture out without Boaters should also keep a good lookout and, like
proper training, knowledge and/or equipment and on the highway, practice “defensive driving.” That
create serious situations for themselves and other vessels means expect the unexpected and be prepared to
encountered on the water. Hazards include not slow down (to no wake) and give way. H
wearing a personal floatation device (PFD),
not using a leash, the inability to re-board a Capt. John “J.J.” Johnston is our Cruising
capsized craft and venturing (purposefully or Editor for the Erie Canal and NY Sate Canal
inadvertently) into rough waters. System. He holds a 100-ton USCG license
The American Canoe Association’s website at and speaks from experience!
americancanoe.org includes a wealth of information
on paddlesport safety, including the brochure “Rules
of the Road, What Paddlers Need to Know” to help
educate this audience on safety and accident avoidance.

WATERWAY EXPLORER 2020 49

FEATURES

There are three different areas for
making money while traveling. To help you
easily understand and remember it think of
PEW–Passively Getting Income, Earning
Money Underway, and Working Remotely.

PEWaaorsnsrkiinvinegglAyRnGeIemntctoiontmegleyInUcnodmeerway Passively Getting Income

F or many, selling all their belongings and setting sail to a simpler life while debt free The best way to set yourself up for
is the ideal way to retire. It sounds like a perfect lifestyle but who really wants to cruising is to plan to earn money that
wait that long? That could be years from now and ‘ain’t nobody got time for that! requires little to no daily effort to
That’s why my husband and I both decided to start cruising full time before we turned maintain. Examples of passive income
30. Now we’re living an awesome retiree lifestyle without actually being retired. are managing rental properties, investing
money, crowdfunding, affiliate or influencer
Don’t get me wrong…We are still working. We are choosing to manage our jobs, marketing, or starting an online business.
side work and other projects simultaneously while traveling via sailboat full-time. It’s a Let’s dive a little deeper.
busy lifestyle but for the right person(s), it can be a dream come true.
Managing Rental Properties
This article will share with you some of our experiences when it comes to
working remotely and some ways you can passively earn an income or extra money Rental properties are a huge money maker
along your travels. if you’re able to manage them from afar or
pay for a property manager. I’ve been able
Getting Started to fill our properties with full-time renters
or via Airbnb to help us cover expenses
There are a lot of questions to ask yourself before deciding which way is the right way while reserving availability for us when we
to earn money for your cruising kitty, especially when it comes to cruising. Here are a visit. This is an ideal situation if you want to
few of those questions to get you started. keep your house as a backup or can afford
1. Am I cruising part-time, full-time, or for a set amount of time? to invest in multiple places. It’s a little risky
2. Will I have the time to manage everything? but in the right market you can earn some
equity and capital gains.
 Family
 Travels Airbnb is a great way to test the market
 Boat Maintenance and allows you to have an organized
 Financial Responsibilities platform for short-term rentals. You’ll need
3. How much time can I dedicate to a job? to get someone to clean between guests
4. Will the job(s) be flexible around due dates or will I need but could make a boatload of money while
to be available during specific times? cruising around. Sign up atairbnb.com/r/
5. How often will an Internet connection be needed? marym721 for an extra $10 after receiving
6. How much money do I need to budget per month with a job in addition to savings? your first rental.
In our experience, it’s best to categorize your budget into parts, add a little buffer
(we suggest 20 percent) and keep yourself on track with that budget the best you are Investing Money
able. Everyone’s experience will be unique but preparing ahead will help you get a
better understanding on how you can make working while cruising make sense for you. Investing money helps you to retire faster
and many times can allow you to save
without thinking much about it. I’m talking
about saving a specific amount each month,
adding extra funds when you’re able and
gaining dividends or interest on a regular
basis; nothing as complex as day-trading or
highly involved investing, just simply saving
and getting a little extra along the way.
A couple of good options with little to no
cost for getting started is through Vanguard
or Acorns. Do your research with different
companies but Acorns will actually give you
$5 to start when you sign up with this link:
acorns.com/invite/DGTXHZ.

50 WATERWAYGUIDE.COM