After a week on this river, we received the attached message about Jax.....pretty timely! If you are going by the NE corner of FL, don't miss this side trip. It reminds us of one of our favorite spots on the Loop so far, the Tennessee River! We are now 150 miles upriver and close enough to Orlando and experience the big city glow at night. Narrowing river, fresh water, lots of gators and manatees, wonderful old Florida charm. A week or two makes a nice side trip to consider. BTW We used Lambs marina for our seasonal break. They have a concrete roof so very secure (reportedly was going to be a floor for a condo complex) Jim and Vaughn on TWINS Enjoy Every Sandwich ! Begin forwarded message: > From: news@activecaptain.com > Date: March 21, 2012 8:08:49 AM EDT > To: vquince@comcast.net > Subject: ActiveCaptain - Destination: Jacksonville, FL > Reply-To: news@activecaptain.com > >>>> Destination: Jacksonville, FL >>> > > It's been a while since we wrote a destination piece. But after > spending nearly 5 months in Jacksonville, we've gotten to know the > environment, the facilities, and the reasons to come here very well. > We think it's a terrific destination that is typically overlooked. So > to help encourage boaters to make the lovely trip up the river we've > worked with some of our Sponsors to offer some enticing deals. So come > see for yourself. We think you'll be surprised what's here. > > So many east coast cruisers spend a lot of their time in Florida. But > how much do they know about Jacksonville? Here are a few interesting > tidbits. > > Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida by both population and > land area. It has a huge geographic boundary extending many miles in > all directions and is, in fact, the largest city in the entire US by > land area. > > You reach Jacksonville by cruising up the mighty St Johns River which > has a major all-weather ship inlet at the Atlantic ocean. It twists > its way past a crossing with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and > continues on for hundreds of miles of navigable water. Seriously, > hundreds of miles. > > We first came to Jacksonville in November, 2003. It was a good staging > area to store the boat while we returned to Maine for the holidays. > Rental car companies are plentiful and a large international airport > is close by. The river is a protected place and the mostly fresh water > is great for melting away saltwater bottom growth. > > But there's a lot more here - and we can only give a small sampling. > > As you meander away from the ICW you'll come through downtown Jax, a > busy, tall-building-city complete with an NFL stadium visible from the > water and city services that are very welcoming. Metropolitan Park > Marina is run by the city and has free slips unless there is a major > event like a football game. Water is free and electricity costs $8.56 > a day by kiosk. Leases allow for only a 3 day stay. It's a little > remote but it's free: > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=30.319350&lon=-81.641116&t=n&z=15 > > Just a mile further up the river is Jacksonville Landing - a free dock > also run by the city. It's a very long face dock with access to > restaurants, shops, and good times. We stayed there for a night > waiting for the FEC bridge opening (which is now supposed to be fixed). > The location is wonderful and we plan to go there in the future no > matter what the state of the bridge is: > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=30.324322&lon=-81.660261&t=n&z=15 > > Head just a few more miles up the St Johns River and you'll come to > the Ortega River. There are great marine services and a fantastic > marina where we've been since November (Marina at Ortega Landing). We > had major refit work done by Sadler Point Marine Center and Huckins > Yacht Corporation and can highly recommend both. Lambs Yacht Center > is in this area too adding yet another large yard for boat projects. > > After enjoying the winter here we began thinking of ways to expose > other boaters to this hidden gem. So we went to the management at the > facilities we've worked with while here and came up with some > interesting deals we think should encourage you to give Jacksonville > a try. Jacksonville is unique in its labor costs - they're much less > than further south in Florida and remarkably less expensive than many > areas north of Florida too. It's something you should experience so > here's the offer: > > - The Marina at Ortega Landing is offering a great weekly rate but the > real icing on the cake is that you can split the week and still keep > the low rate. This provides you with a great base to set off to explore > the St Johns River or arrange to have work done at one of the yards. > > - Both Sadler Point and Huckins are offering great bottom painting > specials. Both yards do excellent work and have their own paint/labor > specials that are very, very good. But here's the kicker - get your > bottom painted in April/May and they'll include a free haul-out > and pressure wash in the Fall. If you need to be blocked and out > of the water for longer, that'll be an extra fee. Otherwise, just > schedule the free haul out sometime in 2012. > > Think about this. First, both facilities know that you're hearing > about this in ActiveCaptain so they KNOW you're going to write a > review about your experience. Second, they know you're going to get > hauled out next season and see how well their bottom painting lasted > so they know they have to do an exceptional job. Third, doing this will > easily save the cost of a diver to clean the bottom after the Summer. > > We think it's a fantastic idea and would like to see more yards offer > this type of feature. Show us that you want it too by taking advantage > of these offers and we can show other Sponsors how to win your business. > > A couple of details: > > 1. Space is limited. We think a lot of boaters will want to experience > Jacksonville while taking advantage of these offers and both yards can > only handle a limited number of boats. Call now and reserve your space. > This special offer will sell out. > > 2. There is a 45' fixed bridge between Sadler and Huckins. Sailboats > larger than this will have to use Sadler. Sadler has a 35 ton > travelift. So if you're a sailboat, contact Sadler. That's not a > disadvantage - our own 75,000 lb boat was bottom-painted by Sadler > and they did the best job we've ever received. > > 3. Huckins has a 40 ton and a large 77 ton travelift but you have to > be able to get through that bridge so trawlers and other powerboats > should contact Huckins. We had major cabinetry work done at Huckins > and can attest to their quality. We saw many boats having their > bottoms painted and know first-hand that they do great work. > > But there are even more reasons to come to Jacksonville: > > - There's a major grocery store, West Marine, and other shopping and > restaurants walking distance from the marina and yards. > > - The Marina at Ortega Landing is a true 5 star facility. You will > be impressed and will say "Wow" when you see what's here. > > - There is fantastic cruising by continuing up the St Johns River. We > found time to leave the dock, play with (calibrate) our new electronics, > and explore some of the St Johns River. It's a beautiful trip with many > places to stop - too many to mention them all. We ate at the Outback Crab > Shack (free dock) and had a glorious weekend at Murphy Creek south of > Palatka. That's a basic beginning. Remember the split week special from > Ortega Landing - that allows you to arrive and settle in, explore the St > Johns River, then come back to provision or wait for good weather before > heading north. > > Jacksonville is a fantastic place. Take advantage of these ideas and > you'll find yourself coming up this wonderful river many more times. > > Ortega River area for the split week and bottom painting specials: > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=30.274106&lon=-81.714566&t=n&z=15 > > Contact information (call today): > Marina at Ortega Landing: 904-387-5538 > Sadler Point Marine Center (sailboats): 904-384-1383 > Huckins Yacht Corporation (motorboats): 904-389-1125 > > Six Mile Marina and Restaurant (Outback Crab Shack): > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=29.960037&lon=-81.543992&t=n&z=13 > > Murphy Creek - 3 anchorage: > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=29.581736&lon=-81.635597&t=n&z=13 > > > >>>> Defender 1st >>> > > This week's Defender 1st is offering two high quality safety devices by > Switlik. The MOM-8A is a rugged and reliable system providing the most > advanced aid in the recovery of a person overboard. It is a completely > self-contained system consisting of the canister with an inflatable > horseshoe shaped buoyant device, inflatable locator pylon, and a self- > opening sea anchor, all packed in the canister and ready for instant > deployment. The kit includes rail clamps and all necessary hardware. > > The MOM 600 Throwable Rescue Platform With Pylon is designed for crew > overboard or small boat emergencies, this neat, flat pack stows and > throws as easily as any Type IV throwable cushion and includes an > inflatable pylon for greater visibility. > > Switlik MOM-8A Man Overboard Module: $639.99 (List $775.00, Regularly > $719.99) > Switlik MOM 600 Throwable Rescue Platform With Pylon: $1,018 > (Regularly $1,098.00) > > Special ends: March 27, 2012 > > Get the special price and learn more at: > http://www.defender.com/activecaptain.jsp > > You don't want to gamble with the safety of your crew or yourself. Take > advantage of these prices to get the best rescue equipment available. > > Remember - Defender 1st: one product, one week, one incredible price. > > When you're thinking about purchasing boating supplies, think of > Defender first. > > > > Well we threw off those lines and spent 3 nights anchoring along the > St Johns River. The whole crew had a terrific time and our new > electronics functioned great. Dyna and Dylan even got to go to the > Outback Crab Shack. You can read about their adventure on their blog: > http://www.takingpaws.com > > > Karen and Jeffrey Siegel > aCappella > Castine, Maine > > www.activecaptain.com > The Interactive Cruising Guidebook > > www.captainrated.com > Real reviews from Active Captains > > You are receiving this email because you subscribed to receive > the ActiveCaptain newsletter to: > vquince@comcast.net > > You can modify your e-mail options or unsubscribe at any time at: > https://activecaptain.com/subscriptions.php?i=288087609 > > Copyright (c) 2012 Active Corporation. All Rights Reserved. >

Jim: The channel from Coon Key Pass, behind Marco Island, to Gordon Pass and Naples, is not really the "old ICW." This passage has never been part of the official Western Florida ICW (which begins at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River and moves north to Anclote Key and Tarpon Springs), and it has never been maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. That does NOT mean this is not a useful route. It IS, but cruisers need to understand that MLW depths, particularly around Goodland (southern Marco Island) can get as thin as 4 1/2 feet, RIGHT BETWEEN THE MARKERS!!!! For more info on this passage, go to: http://cruisersnet.net/?p=25439 Good luck and good cruising to all!!! -- Claiborne S. Young Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net http://www.CruisersNet.net CruisingWriter@cruisersnet.net ---- Jim Quince <vquince@comcast.net> wrote: > After a week on this river, we received the attached message about Jax.....pretty timely! > > If you are going by the NE corner of FL, don't miss this side trip. It reminds us of one of our favorite spots on the Loop so far, the Tennessee River! > > We are now 150 miles upriver and close enough to Orlando and experience the big city glow at night. Narrowing river, fresh water, lots of gators and manatees, wonderful old Florida charm. > > A week or two makes a nice side trip to consider. > > BTW We used Lambs marina for our seasonal break. They have a concrete roof so very secure (reportedly was going to be a floor for a condo complex) > > Jim and Vaughn on TWINS > > Enjoy Every Sandwich ! > > Begin forwarded message: > > > From: news@activecaptain.com > > Date: March 21, 2012 8:08:49 AM EDT > > To: vquince@comcast.net > > Subject: ActiveCaptain - Destination: Jacksonville, FL > > Reply-To: news@activecaptain.com > > > >>>> Destination: Jacksonville, FL >>> > > > > It's been a while since we wrote a destination piece. But after > > spending nearly 5 months in Jacksonville, we've gotten to know the > > environment, the facilities, and the reasons to come here very well. > > We think it's a terrific destination that is typically overlooked. So > > to help encourage boaters to make the lovely trip up the river we've > > worked with some of our Sponsors to offer some enticing deals. So come > > see for yourself. We think you'll be surprised what's here. > > > > So many east coast cruisers spend a lot of their time in Florida. But > > how much do they know about Jacksonville? Here are a few interesting > > tidbits. > > > > Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida by both population and > > land area. It has a huge geographic boundary extending many miles in > > all directions and is, in fact, the largest city in the entire US by > > land area. > > > > You reach Jacksonville by cruising up the mighty St Johns River which > > has a major all-weather ship inlet at the Atlantic ocean. It twists > > its way past a crossing with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and > > continues on for hundreds of miles of navigable water. Seriously, > > hundreds of miles. > > > > We first came to Jacksonville in November, 2003. It was a good staging > > area to store the boat while we returned to Maine for the holidays. > > Rental car companies are plentiful and a large international airport > > is close by. The river is a protected place and the mostly fresh water > > is great for melting away saltwater bottom growth. > > > > But there's a lot more here - and we can only give a small sampling. > > > > As you meander away from the ICW you'll come through downtown Jax, a > > busy, tall-building-city complete with an NFL stadium visible from the > > water and city services that are very welcoming. Metropolitan Park > > Marina is run by the city and has free slips unless there is a major > > event like a football game. Water is free and electricity costs $8.56 > > a day by kiosk. Leases allow for only a 3 day stay. It's a little > > remote but it's free: > > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=30.319350&lon=-81.641116&t=n&z=15 > > > > Just a mile further up the river is Jacksonville Landing - a free dock > > also run by the city. It's a very long face dock with access to > > restaurants, shops, and good times. We stayed there for a night > > waiting for the FEC bridge opening (which is now supposed to be fixed). > > The location is wonderful and we plan to go there in the future no > > matter what the state of the bridge is: > > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=30.324322&lon=-81.660261&t=n&z=15 > > > > Head just a few more miles up the St Johns River and you'll come to > > the Ortega River. There are great marine services and a fantastic > > marina where we've been since November (Marina at Ortega Landing). We > > had major refit work done by Sadler Point Marine Center and Huckins > > Yacht Corporation and can highly recommend both. Lambs Yacht Center > > is in this area too adding yet another large yard for boat projects. > > > > After enjoying the winter here we began thinking of ways to expose > > other boaters to this hidden gem. So we went to the management at the > > facilities we've worked with while here and came up with some > > interesting deals we think should encourage you to give Jacksonville > > a try. Jacksonville is unique in its labor costs - they're much less > > than further south in Florida and remarkably less expensive than many > > areas north of Florida too. It's something you should experience so > > here's the offer: > > > > - The Marina at Ortega Landing is offering a great weekly rate but the > > real icing on the cake is that you can split the week and still keep > > the low rate. This provides you with a great base to set off to explore > > the St Johns River or arrange to have work done at one of the yards. > > > > - Both Sadler Point and Huckins are offering great bottom painting > > specials. Both yards do excellent work and have their own paint/labor > > specials that are very, very good. But here's the kicker - get your > > bottom painted in April/May and they'll include a free haul-out > > and pressure wash in the Fall. If you need to be blocked and out > > of the water for longer, that'll be an extra fee. Otherwise, just > > schedule the free haul out sometime in 2012. > > > > Think about this. First, both facilities know that you're hearing > > about this in ActiveCaptain so they KNOW you're going to write a > > review about your experience. Second, they know you're going to get > > hauled out next season and see how well their bottom painting lasted > > so they know they have to do an exceptional job. Third, doing this will > > easily save the cost of a diver to clean the bottom after the Summer. > > > > We think it's a fantastic idea and would like to see more yards offer > > this type of feature. Show us that you want it too by taking advantage > > of these offers and we can show other Sponsors how to win your business. > > > > A couple of details: > > > > 1. Space is limited. We think a lot of boaters will want to experience > > Jacksonville while taking advantage of these offers and both yards can > > only handle a limited number of boats. Call now and reserve your space. > > This special offer will sell out. > > > > 2. There is a 45' fixed bridge between Sadler and Huckins. Sailboats > > larger than this will have to use Sadler. Sadler has a 35 ton > > travelift. So if you're a sailboat, contact Sadler. That's not a > > disadvantage - our own 75,000 lb boat was bottom-painted by Sadler > > and they did the best job we've ever received. > > > > 3. Huckins has a 40 ton and a large 77 ton travelift but you have to > > be able to get through that bridge so trawlers and other powerboats > > should contact Huckins. We had major cabinetry work done at Huckins > > and can attest to their quality. We saw many boats having their > > bottoms painted and know first-hand that they do great work. > > > > But there are even more reasons to come to Jacksonville: > > > > - There's a major grocery store, West Marine, and other shopping and > > restaurants walking distance from the marina and yards. > > > > - The Marina at Ortega Landing is a true 5 star facility. You will > > be impressed and will say "Wow" when you see what's here. > > > > - There is fantastic cruising by continuing up the St Johns River. We > > found time to leave the dock, play with (calibrate) our new electronics, > > and explore some of the St Johns River. It's a beautiful trip with many > > places to stop - too many to mention them all. We ate at the Outback Crab > > Shack (free dock) and had a glorious weekend at Murphy Creek south of > > Palatka. That's a basic beginning. Remember the split week special from > > Ortega Landing - that allows you to arrive and settle in, explore the St > > Johns River, then come back to provision or wait for good weather before > > heading north. > > > > Jacksonville is a fantastic place. Take advantage of these ideas and > > you'll find yourself coming up this wonderful river many more times. > > > > Ortega River area for the split week and bottom painting specials: > > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=30.274106&lon=-81.714566&t=n&z=15 > > > > Contact information (call today): > > Marina at Ortega Landing: 904-387-5538 > > Sadler Point Marine Center (sailboats): 904-384-1383 > > Huckins Yacht Corporation (motorboats): 904-389-1125 > > > > Six Mile Marina and Restaurant (Outback Crab Shack): > > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=29.960037&lon=-81.543992&t=n&z=13 > > > > Murphy Creek - 3 anchorage: > > https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=29.581736&lon=-81.635597&t=n&z=13 > > > > > > > >>>> Defender 1st >>> > > > > This week's Defender 1st is offering two high quality safety devices by > > Switlik. The MOM-8A is a rugged and reliable system providing the most > > advanced aid in the recovery of a person overboard. It is a completely > > self-contained system consisting of the canister with an inflatable > > horseshoe shaped buoyant device, inflatable locator pylon, and a self- > > opening sea anchor, all packed in the canister and ready for instant > > deployment. The kit includes rail clamps and all necessary hardware. > > > > The MOM 600 Throwable Rescue Platform With Pylon is designed for crew > > overboard or small boat emergencies, this neat, flat pack stows and > > throws as easily as any Type IV throwable cushion and includes an > > inflatable pylon for greater visibility. > > > > Switlik MOM-8A Man Overboard Module: $639.99 (List $775.00, Regularly > > $719.99) > > Switlik MOM 600 Throwable Rescue Platform With Pylon: $1,018 > > (Regularly $1,098.00) > > > > Special ends: March 27, 2012 > > > > Get the special price and learn more at: > > http://www.defender.com/activecaptain.jsp > > > > You don't want to gamble with the safety of your crew or yourself. Take > > advantage of these prices to get the best rescue equipment available. > > > > Remember - Defender 1st: one product, one week, one incredible price. > > > > When you're thinking about purchasing boating supplies, think of > > Defender first. > > > > > > > > Well we threw off those lines and spent 3 nights anchoring along the > > St Johns River. The whole crew had a terrific time and our new > > electronics functioned great. Dyna and Dylan even got to go to the > > Outback Crab Shack. You can read about their adventure on their blog: > > http://www.takingpaws.com > > > > > > Karen and Jeffrey Siegel > > aCappella > > Castine, Maine > > > > www.activecaptain.com > > The Interactive Cruising Guidebook > > > > www.captainrated.com > > Real reviews from Active Captains > > > > You are receiving this email because you subscribed to receive > > the ActiveCaptain newsletter to: > > vquince@comcast.net > > > > You can modify your e-mail options or unsubscribe at any time at: > > https://activecaptain.com/subscriptions.php?i=288087609 > > > > Copyright (c) 2012 Active Corporation. All Rights Reserved. > > > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com