Cuba - you got questions? We've got answers...

I received an email today from a friend about what's needed to cruise in Cuba, and it inspired the following blog post...which will be the last blog post here until I reach Cuba in a few days. You can follow my progress along the Cuban coast at Where's Wally?
I'll be posting regular short updates via my Delorme Inreach satellite tracker to my Facebook page about Cuba until I reach someplace where I can get back on the internet.
Here's what my friend Carlos had to ask about cruising in Cuba...

Hi Wally,

 My imagination has been “running” at high speed with this discussion of ours on Cuba.  I saw your video (sailing to Havana) last night on You Tube.  I hear that there are less than 100 usable slips in Hemingway Marina.   Most of the slips are in dis-repair..no water..no power per the websites I saw.  100 Slips isn’t that many for the Miami Crowd.  Over 60,000 boats in Florida….any decent 20 footer could make the trip on a nice day….Aside from Havana where should one go?   Varadero?

1)      Does my Raymarine GPS/Chartplotter need more charts?  Where can I buy charts for Cuba here in FTL?  How about a Cuban FLAG?

2)      Do I need a SSB Radio to do this trip? Or VHF sufficient.  In some countries only SSB is permissible.

3)      I don’t have a Mariner’s or Captain’s license…like most American boaters..is this an issue?

4)      Insurance—not sure if US Boat will cover me there.  Will need to check.  If not,  I hear that a Canadian and a German company sell insurance for Cuban waters.

5)      Medical Insurance for me and my crew.

6)      Harmony is in top condition—all maintenance has been done.  I did remove the Staysail—but we should be ok with the furling genoa and the main.   I don’t have any spare sails.    I wonder what spare parts for the engine I should bring?  Water pumps, belts, starter…..I wonder what would be a prudent “spare set.”  I can’t predict everything…what should I have on board?    I’ll top off with fuel and bring plenty of gas for the dinghy before going.  50 gallons of diesel should be more than enough…and 5 gallons for the dinghy.

7)      Are their pump outs at the marinas in Cuba…probably not but should not dump except way offshore…

8)      I read a lot about provisioning—How long will we be in Cuban waters?   A week?  10 days?  I hear fish, chicken, pork and veggies are easy to get….I would bring “other stuff”…canned stuff, booze, things for “trading” everyone suggests.   If the trip is for 10 days—I’ll provision for 20+ days. Just in case of bad weather..or the winds keep us from departing on time, etc.   Its not a long passage---the water supply on board 60 gallons is ample.   Good suggestion to bring some clean  “Jerry Cans” to bring water back in the dinghy if water isn’t available dockside.     

9)      Security—I hear that you really can’t leave your boat unattended. Security at the Marinas is a “joke”….what has been your experience?   Can we leave the boat locked up—and go into Town?  Taxi’s available?

10)   US Credit Cards are now usable in Cuba….but how much cash should we bring?

 My sister was just in Cuba and really enjoyed the music and food….She said that there are many “inconveniences” but nothing major.  If we’re staying aboard Harmony, we’ll be very comfortable…especially if we have power and water at the dock.  

All of these topics seem obvious to someone with your vast experience—but would be useful information for a novice like me to have before leaving. 

Here are my answers to Carlos...

For charts and a flag, contact Bluewater charts and books in Lauderdale. 

VHF is sufficient, especially along the north coast. SSB is always nice, but not needed.

No license, Captain or otherwise required, to cruise in Cuba

No US firm will cover your boat at this point. Lloyds of London is one option. This may change if you are traveling legally with a license for your boat - and since the situation is changing so rapidly, you need to check with your insurer on this before leaving.

You purchase medical insurance in Cuba, approximately $3.25/day/person US. Mandatory for all but Canadians, whose health insurance covers them while in Cuba.

Spares - the usual. Fan belt, impeller, filters. Fuel and water are easily had in Cuba, and are of good quality. 

No pumpouts. Best to void the tank at sea, yes. 

You have the right idea about provisioning. Also, bring adequate toilet paper, it's $3.50 a roll IF you can find it.

Security is good at the marinas, but I would lock up in Hemingway all the same, it's more open than most other marinas. Be more worried about other boaters, not the Cubans. It's against the law for a Cuban to board your boat, other than the officials, and they don't. Taxis, no problem.

Despite what some so called 'knowledgeable' people are telling you, US credit cards do NOT work in Cuba, not yet anyhow. Bring cash. Bring cash anyway, because ATMs are not that easy to find and often do not work. Mini-rant to follow...
(I really hate watching someone at a boat show give wrong information, especially when those in attendance paid $100 per head to listen, and I give the correct information for free. If you put on the show, at least have the courtesy to hire someone who knows what they are talking about - and yes, that means you, Trawlerfest and Passagemaker. We had this discussion last spring and you didn't like it, especially when the next day, the Wall Street Journal backed me up on this. Then your speaker got her information on bringing a dog into Cuba wrong also. Not impressed at all). End of mini-rant.

No, there are not a lot of usable slips at Hemingway, but the marina is slated for improvements, or so the rumour on the Malecon goes - but those in use do have water and power. However, power may only be 30 amps. Not sure about 50 or 100. The dockmaster will have an electrician set things up for you on arrival. The electrical setup is not as scary as it looks - or perhaps it is, I'm no electrician.

Varadero is nice, although I've not yet seen the new marina there, which is way outside of town. The old marina, Darsena, is nice but dated. It's also close to town, making it very convenient. 

That's it for this blog post folks. I have to get the boat ready for sea, and pick up some last minute items - not TP, got lots! Mas tardes, amigos y amigas!

Two cases wine, one case dog food, one case toilet paper...CHECK!

Huh? What's Moran babbling about now? 

Well, for those who've not gone to Cuba, the above is part of my provisioning list for the trip, because none of those three items is easily found in Cuba. Dog food, in fact, is not available at all to my knowledge and Aduana, the WonderPup®, would not be a happy gal if we ran out of kibble somewhere around Cienfuegos. 

The last time I saw TP for sale in Cuba, it was at Marina Hemingway, at $3.50 US a roll. That's some expensive sh$%t there! (sorry, I HAD to use that line...regular readers of my Sailing and Cruising Facebook group, known for top notch sailing advice and epic TP threads, will appreciate it).

TP - $3.50 a roll in Hemingway

So what else do you bring along to Cuba? Good question. 

Money, for one thing, since American credit and debit cards don't work. I know, you've been told all that has changed. Well, don't believe everything you read - cruising friends just returned from Cuba have advised me that what you're reading in the news - and hearing at some boat show seminars in fact from so-called knowledgeable people - is incorrect, despite the hype. Bring cash. Yanqui dollars work just fine, change them to pesos at the bank. American credit and debit cards do not yet work.

You'll also want to bring along things such as condiments, spices, soda...in fact, anything that isn't a staple, and a few things we think of as staples. Beef? Hard freeze your favourite steaks, because you're not likely to find beef. Same with hamburger. 

Dinner being delivered - fresh and fast!

Pork is easier, chicken (pollo) is easy, and local fisherman will bring fish (pesca) and lobster (langosta) to your boat at anchor to trade for t-shirts, old snorkeling gear and so on. They won't sell it for cash usually, because they have nothing to spend that cash on. There are no Walmarts in Cuba...damn few grocery stores either, at least as we understand them.

Vegetables aren't a problem either, just check out the local farmer's markets in the nearest town. The selection will be fresh and grown without fertilizers or pesticides - you'll appreciate the difference in taste from North American grown veggies.

Fresh from the owner's own garden....

So what else do you need? 

You should already have on board spares for the mechanical items that usually give trouble: fan belt, impeller, oil filters, fuel filters and so on. These will be difficult, or impossible, to get in Cuba. And you can't just call out to have one shipped in either.

One friend, a Canadian, had the water pump go on his trawler while in Moro, at the west end of Cuba. It took three weeks to get one in. First, he had to order it from the US, via his satphone. It then had to be re-ordered out of Canada, shipped via DHL through Europe, it somehow at one point ended up in Africa (no, I don't know how or why), finally landing in Havana. It took a $350 car rental for the 300 mile round trip, half a day spent screwing around at the airport to get it cleared through customs, and a healthy 'tip' for the customs agent.

Imagine how stupid you would feel doing all of that for a $20 impeller.

I'm making Cuba sound very difficult, but in reality, it isn't. You do have to have a very different mindset however, to enjoy a Cuban cruise. Otherwise, it can frustrate you beyond belief.

In Hemingway, when you are ready to plug in, the dockmaster will have an electrician set up the pedestal for you, as in rewire it. 

Guarda officer being rowed out to my boat...

You have to clear in, and out, of every stop, with two Guarda Frontera officers boarding your boat for the paperwork and cursory search of your boat. Learn to enjoy it. They don't want to do it either, and they're respectful and pleasant about the job. Everything takes longer, is more difficult. Sometimes things are done on the sly, because that’s the only way they CAN be done due to bureaucracy and rules. Cubans are masters at McGyvering things - witness those old Chevs and Fords running on Russian tractor diesels. 

And through it all, the Cubans just keep smiling, being their wonderfully friendly selves.

Nothing is the same, in other words, and that alone is reason to cruise Cuba, before the developers and marina builders get their mitts into Cuba, and turn it into Fort Lauderdale south. Already, they're talking about a $150 million redevelopment of Hemingway, funded by the Chinese, and building something upwards of a dozen marinas, with golf courses, on the north coast. You’ll hardly know you’ve even left the US in these places.

I won't give my opinion on this idiocy, but those who read me regularly know what I think of this 'pave paradise, put up a parking lot' mentality. This isn’t what cruising is all about. If that’s what you want, stay at a marina in Miami - you’ll hear more Spanish spoken there anyhow.

The next post you see will be sent via my Delorme Inreach tracker, and you can follow my progress at Where's Wally? As I cruise the south coast of Cuba, I'll try to answer your questions, but bear in mind, net access can be a challenge there.

A quick reminder for those interested in cruising the ICW with my rally group this fall, Sail to the Sun ICW Rally.  It's going to be a great time and space is filling very fast - we're already 50% full in only five days, so if you're interested, don't hesitate! This is going to be an even better time than last year's rally.

Mas tardes, amigos y amigas. See you in Cuba! Vaminos!

Sail to the Sun ICW Rally

We have liftoff! Oh my gosh, do we have liftoff, the space shuttles should do as well.
Just a few days ago I announced that I would be hosting the "Sail to the Sun ICW Rally" this fall, and the response has been astounding. We had people signing up within hours of the announcement, not wanting to miss out on their spot in what will be the best and most enjoyable ICW rally of them all. And last year's was pretty darn good, so that says a lot. We had a great time, as you can see from comments on my website, ICWally.
I want to thank, before I go any further, the folks who were on the original ICW rally with me last year, for all of your best wishes on this venture. All of you are aware of how difficult this decision has been for me, and it was with your encouragement - and because of your encouragement and support - that I decided to launch this new rally. Your hope that others could experience the joys of a trip south on the ICW, such as we had together, has very much inspired me.

So just what will this rally offer to its members? First of all, safety. While the ICW is in and of itself a very safe route to travel, it has its challenges. There is constant shoaling, strong currents, and some confusing inlets to pass through. After 25 transits, I'm aware of all of these and well able to assist new cruisers through them safely.
On top of that, we'll have even more navigational assistance from some of the most knowledgeable people around on the ICW - the staff at our sponsor, Waterway Guide. They will be monitoring the situation ahead of us on a daily basis, letting us know of any new and unexpected problems that might crop up.
Then - there's comfort. Part of being comfortable on a trip such as this is knowing you're being well taken care of. To that end, our itinerary is planned so that no day is too long, or too challenging for even the newest cruiser. Our anchorages are chosen so that they are protected, and with good holding. Marinas are chosen for their convenience to cruisers, and for their amenities.
This, by the way, will be Waterway Guide's doing, as they have over 60 years experience dealing with the marinas on the ICW. They know the route, they know the people, and they'll be taking good care of all of us. And, you can expect some amazing deals for dockage too!
Then there's fun. People going south on the ICW are often a long way from family and friends and the life they used to have. The Sail to the Sun ICW Rally provides a ready made social group of fellow cruisers - people with similar goals and dreams, adventurous souls like you heading out on your cruising dream.
Sailing and traveling together, you'll get to know one another better than even your closest friends back home, as you share gorgeous sunsets, beautiful sailing days, helping one another into the dock, sharing a libation at sundown, potlucks on the beach...

These are people who will become your friends for life...people you'll look forward to seeing in your next anchorage, sharing still more good times with. In the end, that's what cruising is all about - lots of great sunsets, and wonderful new friends.

If you want more information on the Sail to the Sun ICW Rally, contact me via ICW.Wally@gmail.com, or check out my website at ICWally.com and request a brochure while you are there.
I look forward to getting to know you on our way south this fall.

Sail to the Sun this Winter with ICWally.com

I am extremely pleased, and very, very proud, to announce the 2015 Sail to the Sun ICW Rally. This will be an amazing event, and I hope you will join in with us, or follow us online if you're not ready yet to head south.

Last year, as many of you already know, I led the hugely successful ICW Snowbird Rally. Eighteen boats, seven dogs, three kids and a whole bunch of fun people headed south from Hampton VA, ending up in Miami FL seven weeks later. We had a great time.
This time around, we're going to do it even better.
This year's Sail to the Sun Rally will start a little sooner, so we can avoid some of the cold weather we experienced last year. That polar vortex chasing us south was cold!
At the Annapolis Boat Show, there will be a meet and greet for dinner and drinks at a local restaurant close by the show. A group of us did this last year and as those who were there can tell you, it was a great time.
The kickoff to the Sail to the Sun ICW Rally will be in Deltaville VA, one day's short sail out of Hampton VA. While there, the publisher of Waterway Guides, Jeff Jones, will host a reception and seminar, with time spent learning about the ICW from professionals and veterans of the route, and getting to know our fellow rally participants. This will be a very special event, I can tell you now, with lots of great people and information.
Then we head for Norfolk and the Dismal Swamp, the first stops on our way south, all the way to Miami.
There are some fun events planned already, and more in the works. Right out of the Albermarle, a lovely dinner and evening's entertainment, will be hosted by River Dunes Marina in NC.  This marina has been named one of the top 25 marinas in North America - here's the article for you!
While at River Dunes, we'll be able to visit Oriental NC, a popular spot on the ICW - without having to fight the boater traffic and marina congestion that is typical of this time of year, especially in a small harbour such as Oriental.

And that's just one of the events you'll enjoy on your way south. In later posts, I'll fill you in on even more of the great events we have planned for you. There will be quite a few.
There will also be evenings out for dinner at various stops along the way, potlucks on shore, and evenings shared with your new friends on board one another's boats.
Our major sponsor, Waterway Guides, will be providing an amazing swag bag for all participants - I won't tell you what will be in it, but it alone is worth the price of admission to this rally.
They've got a few other goodies lined up too, but I'm not going to spoil the surprise just yet. And I've got a couple of rabbits I plan to pull out of a hat for the group also. Stay tuned.
There will be significant discounts on dockage for rally members, and 10% or better savings on fuel costs at marinas on your trip south. That adds up to a lot of money you can save to spend on rum and fun in the islands.
Most importantly, you'll be getting professional advice and guidance on how to transit the ICW safely, comfortably and enjoyably. That means regular briefings on the more difficult areas and how to safely transit them, as well as on the spot guidance via VHF, text and celphone.
Our goal is not only to get you south safely and comfortably, but to help you learn what the cruising lifestyle is all about. If you need help, you'll get help, whether it's in figuring out how to provision, or setting an anchor, or docking practice. When we get the opportunity, further south, we'll do an offshore day to give you a taste of it in a group with others, so that when you are ready to head offshore, it won't all be a surprise to you.
Best of all, you'll be in the company of new and wonderful cruising friends, people whom you will keep in touch with for years to come, cruise with, share adventures with...

Dismal Swamp Canal

at the Palace Saloon, Fernandina Beach, FL

It just doesn't get better than this. For more information - AND a free ebook on ICW Tips and Techniques as well, go to ICWally.com. That's right - IC Wally. And don't forget to follow Aduana and I on our Delorme Satellite Tracker as we head off to Cuba, at Where's Wally?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
p.s. I'd especially like to welcome Steve and Barb Kurtzman, and Dave Pollock and Brenda Libby, who sailed with me on the 2014 Rally, to the 2015 Sail to the Sun Rally.
Thanks guys, for your trust and faith in joining up with me again for another great adventure. That's very special to me.

Awards Ceremony, Coconut Grove, Miami

Akula, on the Pungo River

Next Up - CUBA!

Weather permitting that is! The last few days in George Town Bahamas have been miserable, and so I've been stuck here waiting out squalls, thunderstorms and general mayhem out of the sky.
The predictions, however, have been much worse. Worse still, none of them agree with one another, and I check several on a daily basis: Passageweather, Windfinder, Predict Wind, even Chris Parker!

Ok, I know some of you are saying - Moran, that cheapskate sailor? (I know, that's redundant.) He has a subscription to Parker? When hell freezes over!

Relax, ol' Beelzebub ain't buying iceskates just yet - but I'm going to tell you a not well known fact here. You can listen to Chris' broadcast online, for free, at this site here.  Here is Chris' website, and here is the broadcast schedule along with other relevant information on Chris' services. Just another friendly tip from LiveBloggin'...

The plan now is to start into the Jumentos early next week, continue on to Ragged Island at the bottom, have a visit with Percy Wilson,

who owns the pub there with the DC-3 on top of it, then head over.
The last time I chatted with Percy, he was attempting to salvage a wooden boat that started to sink while transporting 114 Haitian refugees.
Imagine crossing that piece of ocean in THIS boat you see behind Percy. It's about 40 feet, no engine, no head, no deck of any sort. 

The closeup of the interior says 'desperation' in a way that nothing else can.

Leaving Ragged Island, it's a 62 nm trip across to Puerto de Vita, where I'll meet up again with marina manager Tina. She is a former schoolteacher, and began working for the marina because it is much better money due to the tips they receive from boaters.
Tina has been a huge help to the many boaters who have come through Vita, with tips, hints and suggestions.
From there, it's 130 miles east to the cape, then around to the south coast. Let the adventure begin....uh, after this rain and contrary winds all quit that is.

Stay tuned to LiveBloggin' and Sailfeed, as I'll be posting regularly from Cuba using my Delorme Tracker. You can also follow the adventure via Facebook, at Sailing and Cruising, where I'll be making short regular posts on what's happening.
And, don't forget that you can follow my progress here on LiveBloggin' with the 'Where's Wally' feature, this is the link - and yes, the link is now working properly for those who had a problem previously.
For those contemplating their first trip south, or their next one - or for those wanting to relive the memories or assist new cruisers - I've started a new Sailing and Cruising Facebook page, Sailing and Cruising: ICW
This page will feature lots of great tips, techniques and information to make your ICW cruise - the first one or the next one - easier, safer and more fun. After 25 trips on the ICW, I have a few ideas to share, and so will others.
It will also provide snowbirds with an opportunity to make friends before heading out, to join up and socialize with other cruisers heading south, and, in essence, create a sense of community for all. It is already fulfilling those goals as people get to know of others heading south and plans are already being made.
Keep in mind also, if you are heading south and need advice or assistance, you can contact me via the 'Contact' form on this page - the one that keeps pushing up into your view from the bottom right - or you can contact me via Facebook.
Look forward to hearing from you, and also to welcoming you to Sailing and Cruising: ICW.

Heading East from Bimini, and a New Crewmember

It's hard not to love these islands. Coming from the dirty brown water of the US east coast, your boat is suddenly immersed in a clear turquoise liquid. As you look down at starfish and other marine life, you just marvel at all that you've been missing on your journey south. The arrival alone is a suitable reward for all of your effort in coming south. 

This post will be mostly photos of this trip from Bimini to Georgetown - I'm not feeling particularly literate today, and no, rum was not involved!
Enjoy....

On my way across the Banks, I had a new crewmember come aboard - a lovely small bird who spent a considerable amount of time with us exploring the boat...then left after several hours. Great fun watching this little guy. Aduana was quite concerned at the intrusion, but settled down after a while.








No trip to the Bahamas is complete without a $26 hamburger from MacDuffs, on Norman Cay. Yes, you read that right - $26. Beer is only $7...both plus tax!

Yep! $26 for a burger...

View on the beach at Normans Cay - fortunately, it's free!

Sunset at Warderick Wells

Stopped at Exuma Land and Sea Park, otherwise known as Warderick Wells - beautiful here, very natural, what the Bahamas used to be before so much of it was paved over and turned into a parking lot...
















Next stop, Staniel Cay...Aduana was fascinated by the nurse sharks at the marina...there are over a dozen of them, attracted by people tossing food into the water around the dock. It's quite the attraction...

Let me leave you with a photo that, for me, expresses the real Bahamas, the Bahamas I came to find...this too was on Staniel Cay in front of the home of a local schoolteacher.

an Ode to Marine Manufacturers, or Fixing Stuff in Exotic Places, Redux

We all know the line, we even use it as a badge of honour amongst ourselves in recognition of our reality: We are not 'cruising', we are 'fixing stuff in exotic places'. Except that if you're like me, not technically competent, it's having stuff break - or breaking stuff in exotic places - and then traveling to still more exotic places till you find someone who can fix it.
That's not really what this lifestyle is supposed to be about....
A good friend who replaced his alternator with a pricey Balmar system was good enough to give me the two 80 amp Hitachis he was originally going to use for the upgrade when he was unable to sell them. One, he told me, needed new diodes, the other was fine. Better than fine, it was new, unused, in the box even!
So while sitting in Bimini waiting for a weather window, I decide to swap out my working just fine, 35 amp alternator for the larger one. What was I thinking? Cue in the violins now please....
First of all, I installed the 'new but not working one', thinking it was the good one. It didn't work. So, I installed the other one. It didn't work either, so I figured it was actually the broken one since it was in the older box.
That's logical, isn't it? I mean, they're both new, so go with the condition of the box it came in. I re-installed the first (non working) one, figuring I had missed something in the install.
There was a reason I nearly failed shop class in grade school, as you can imagine...
I read online that the unit needed to have the exciter wire installed correctly....that wasn't required on my old unit. So I spent hours searching out the information on the internet.
Now I'm not a totally inept doofus...ok, I am, but I've installed a windlass on this boat, as well as an engine, a new furler, I've built a sail from a kit...but if you've ever tried to install an alternator in anything but the four wheeled vehicle it was intended for, you're in uncharted waters, let me tell you. For starters, the manufacturers do NOT put proper labelling on the units. If you're not a trained 'alternator guru', you have to guess at which stud is the ground attachment for example. Or which terminal is the 'L' terminal and where does it attach to?
And since no two boats are the same, you then have to figure out the connections that are appropriate to your boat. All this while hoping that that red and white wire at the instrument panel in the cockpit is the red and white wire you see in the wiring harness in the engine room. And no, it wasn't, it was the yellow and green wire....that took some time to figure out too. (Aside - WHY WHY WHY do the manufacturers of multimeters use such stupidly short cords?)
Now all of this would be considerably easier if the manufacturers were to put some labeling on the units, or include a nice photo or two (the photo above is from a cruising website, NOT a manufacturer), and instructions - you know, like people who manufacture windlasses, or mainsail kits, or furlers - do. Marine manufacturers in other words.
Yes, I'm about to commit what to many of us is a horrific sin - I'm going to praise, with faint praise, the natural enemy of most boaters, the marine manufacturer. Hold tight....I know this is scary stuff.
These guys don't assume we're some kind of technical genius - they figure we're as dumb as dirt and they are right. They know us well! After all, we own boats, how bright can we be?
They very kindly don't say that, or even give a hint that they know how dumb we must be, they just put together directions that a complete doofus, such as myself, can follow to get the job done. That's smart on their part. (Special thanks here to Matt and Jeff at Sailrite, and also Scott and Scott at Selden, you guys rock!)
Seriously - a windlass installation (see Installing a new windlass, SAIL Magazine) is a complex job, involving some serious wiring to several components, numerous connections and a fair bit of ingenuity to complete. Compared to installing an alternator - two, perhaps three wires and three bolts - it's like flying a 767 compared to flying a kite.
Yet I had a far simpler time installing the windlass, with a great deal less trouble - all because the instructions were complete, detailed and well thought out. Thanks to the guys at Quick for their fine directions and superb customer service...
The sum total of instructions for the alternator? There were None. At. All. And the diagram of the unit was wrong in any event. And the right info about the exciter wire? Ahhh.....don't ask, heck, it wasn't even labeled on the unit. Honestly, I now understand why car repairs are so fraught with problems.

My opening query - the thread ran to over 120 posts

So I turned to the internet, particularly my friends on the Sailing and Cruising group on Facebook. This, it turns out, was the right move, as there is a considerable amount of expertise in the group and a huge willingness to help. Although it took a while to ferret out the problems, the suggestions, diagrams and questions about what was happening with this job kept me moving in the right direction until finally, I established that the alternator I was attempting to install was, indeed, the faulty one.
About this time almost to the minute, my benefactor came online and told me which one was bad.....wouldn't you know it?
Out came the other unit again and, since all the other potential problems - ground wire, exciter wire, connection to the instrument panel, etc. - had been corrected while 'fixing' the faulty one, it was just a matter of three bolts, three wires and start 'er up.
The exciter wire, now properly connected, fired off the idiot light and warning buzzer, then stopped as the power came up. The voltmeter immediately shot to 13.4 from 12.3, telling me that all was good in Electronville. So good in fact, I popped a couple of warm brews into the fridge to turn them into ice cold ambrosia as a reward for all my hard work.
So the next time you are struggling with an impossible install or repair - remember, it could be worse. Or cost more. Or, more likely, both! Don't struggle on your own - join an online community of sailors and share the misery with them. It may not make the job go faster, but it'll be much more fun!

At anchor in Bimini....

Local hunting conch in Bimini...

At anchor here in Bimini, after an uneventful crossing. The arrival, now that had some drama!
About seven miles out, I decided to put in the North Bahamas chart chip so that, you know, I would be able to see the channel clearly and enter without any problems.
Now where did I put that silly little chip? It's always in the nav table. Always - well, except for now, when I need it. Seems that when I sold the old chartplotter, I left that chip in it. Darn. Someone got a deal there.
Fortunately, I've got my paper charts...
In any event, the entry to Bimini is very easy and well marked, especially now that the casino is here - can't be having the guests roll the dice before getting to the tables, can we?
How many of you remember the range markers - a couple of stakes - we used to use to get into Bimini - line them up, turn left about 20 yards off the beach, and follow the pretty blue colour into the harbour. I honestly wonder how many of the boaters I see here now could actually manage that?
Fast forward to about 500 yards from the channel markers....and the sound of the exhaust changes. What's this? No water from the exhaust? Not good, especially this close to shore. Turn the boat around and head back out towards sea...
Duck below to check out the engine and whew! - it's just a hose clamp at the top of the engine that's broken, the hose coming loose. Easy fix. Stick it back on, and run the engine slowly to keep the pressure down so it's not blown off again. Being so close in, I didn't want to take the time, unless forced, to find and install a new hose clamp if this would work.
And why didn't I just raise the sails? Love the concept, but there was no wind at all to use the 'emergency white things'...
That changed real quickly the next day though. The winds went into the east, the direction I'm heading in, and are anywhere from 10 - 20 knots...which makes for a miserable ride across the Bahama Banks in a slow sailboat. The waves are small, perhaps two feet, but short. Think Albermarle Sound here. Worse still, they will be staying out of the east until sometime next week and I won't be able to leave here.
Gee...that's tough.
So...what's changed in Bimini? The north end of the island has been developed with a resort and casino - lots of pretty pink houses, to quote Mellencamp, and they are doing the best they can to 'pave paradise' here, to quote Joni Mitchell. Don't you just love progress?
However, the rest of Bimini is doing fine. Sherry is still serving her great conch fritters on the beach, and her Goombay Smash is still pretty darn potent. Captain Pat at Seacrest is still as congenial as ever. Captain Bob's has new owners, and the menu prices are badly out of date, with a $10 meal ending up at $17. Eleanor is still Eleanor, hard at work in her shop.
My Three Daughters still has the best conch fritters in Bailey Town, and really fabulous conch burgers - at $5 for the fritters, and $6 for the burger. No kidding - someone should tell them progress is happening and they need to jack up their prices and drop their quality to keep up - ok, sarcasm meter just pinged the limit there. Oh, did I mention they have homemade ice cream for $5 a bowl? Yummmm.
I come to the islands to experience a different lifestyle than what I find on the mainland. Why people call it progress to transplant what you can already experience there is beyond me.
At this resort, they actually ship in crates of shells to build walkways and gardens, bring in palm trees - I'm serious - and build sand beaches on the harbour side when there is a beautiful sand beach just 200 yards away on the Atlantic side.
Except, no one goes to that beautiful beach, and it's empty even at sundown. These people are all hanging out at the infinity pool, telling one another how great it is in the Bahamas.
Fact is, they could be at any resort in any tropical area and it would be exactly the same. These people will tell their friends they have been to the Bahamas and I suppose that's true, but it's not accurate.
They may be traveling, but they aren't exploring, aren't discovering the real world, and they wouldn't understand what we do as cruisers, because they wouldn't be willing to put in the effort it takes to cruise.
They miss so much, and they haven't the slightest idea that they do. They may be living the good life, but it sure isn't the best life.
In any event, I'm happy to report that the sun still shines, the beach is still free and the water is warm. Life is very good. Now if only I could get 24 hours of anything but an easterly wind and get moving on to Chub Cay and then the Exumas.
Gotta run folks - there's a sunset awaiting on the Atlantic side that needs my rapt attention.
(Remember, you can find my location by following the 'Where's Wally Now' link here on LiveBloggin', at "Where's Wally?")

Cuba Bound!

A quick post, as I'm getting the boat ready for travel...

At last - the stars have aligned and it's off to Bimini after far, far too long in Miami. From Bimini, it's then over to Chub Key - or possibly Andros and then over to the Exumas. I'll be avoiding Nassau like the plague - far too many murders there recently, including several on boats (see story here). Besides, why go to an island paradise and spend time in a city? I want beaches, sun, sand and rum!
From there, it will be on to the Exumas. This trip, I want to visit the northern Exumas, I've missed them in past years. Some lazy cruising down the islands follows, with a stop at Staniel and other popular spots to revisit some past haunts. Maybe drink some rum, chase lobsters and find the best conch fritters in the world. That sounds about right...
Of course, Georgetown comes next - it'll be quiet at this time of year with most of the winter transients having returned north, or moved on further south into the Caribbean.
Lots of room at the Chat and Chill for a cold brew in other words, and less crowding at the market when de mail boat comes in!  Maybe take in a rake and scrape....Ya mon, we be limin' dere, goin' wit' island time.
Talking about the market, sad news that the Georgetown straw market burned down - I'm sure the folks who traded there will rebuild and I'll certainly let everyone know what I find out in a forthcoming post.
Following Georgetown, it's Salt Pond on Long Island. The resort there, Long Island Breezes, has apparently closed, which is unfortunate - it was a great spot to hang out. I'll reprovision from the anchorage in Long Island, since there are two stores and prices are considerably less than in G-town.
Next, it's on to the Jumentos, which with the advent of the Explorer Charts for that area are much easier to transit. The bottom end of that chain brings us to Ragged Island, and this trip, I'll probably take a day or two to explore there. My last trip, the weather was just right for crossing to Cuba, so I was gone the next morning barely 12 hours after I'd arrived. Ragged Island has the bar with the airplane on (or is it 'in') the roof. Met the owner my last trip, so it'll be fun to reconnect.
Sixty-five miles from Ragged Island and up comes Puerto de Vita, Cuba's easternmost port of entry. The folks at Puerto de Vita are very friendly and make the process quite simple, for which I'm quite grateful.
I'll be using wifi as it's available to keep everyone in touch, and also, you'll be able to follow my trip using the 'Where's Wally' feature on the Delorme InReach unit I carry.
To find my location, and where I've been, click on the 'Where's Wally' tab you see at the top of this page, just below the photo of my boat. Currently, as you can see, it's set to my last location at the end of the ICW Snowbird Rally, but that will be changing as of Saturday at about 0100 hours.
You can also keep up with my posts on Facebook, at Sailing and Cruising, and also Sailing and Cruising: Cuba, even while I'm in Cuba.
Using the Delorme InReach unit, I'll be able to post regular updates via satellite, so you'll be able to follow what's happening. Unfortunately, photos won't be possible unless I find internet, which is difficult in Cuba outside of a resort or major hotel. Even then, given the poor bandwidth, photos might not be possible.
It will be possible for you to email me via the Delorme, and I do hope to hear from you while I'm underway. I'll try to answer questions, but at 160 characters per message, it's gonna be a challenge to give a lot of detail.
For those wanting more information about cruising to and in Cuba, my FB page is the most up to date site for information about cruising in Cuba on the net. I actually have people who live aboard in Cuba posting to it, as well as people who are cruising there now, or who have very recently returned from cruising in Cuba. It doesn't get more up to date than that, so accept no substitutes!
I make a serious effort to keep the information current, and to give you the facts, not the rumours and incorrect scuttlebutt you'll find everywhere else. Check it out, if you're planning - or just dreaming - of cruising to Cuba, then you'll appreciate Sailing and Cruising: Cuba

(ps - posted while at anchor in Bimini, Bahamas, after an uneventful crossing :>)

WE'VE WON!!!

Just in from Scott Berg of the SSCA - the Florida Legislature has adjourned three days early. This ends the current round of fighting to preserve anchoring rights in the state of Florida. In other words, we won. Our rights to anchor in that state have been preserved...for now.
Best of all, I won't have to write (and you won't have to read!) again about this issue for another six months.
Special congratulations to everyone! I hesitate to mention names because I'll be sure to miss some, and there are some who deserve mention who don't want me to mention them, or whose place was on the quiet side of this fight and who can't be mentioned.
So I'll cheat here, and quote from the SSCA's press release - Judy Mkam, Kim Russo, Jim Neff, Mike Bodin, Phil Werndli, Jackie Werndli, G.W. “Casey” Jones, Bob Burns, Sue Ross, Kingsley Ross, Sally Marcinek, Becky DeVillier, Eric Eisle, Brian Davidson, Brian Schaefer, Glenn and Eddie Tuttle, Scott Berg, Ken Chumley, Jay Campbell, Dave Skolnick, Wally Moran, Mike Ahart....and there are more, many more. 
Also, to those leading this fight - Scott Berg, Phil Johnson of the SSCA and Capitol Access and lobbyists Jerry Paul, Robert Shave, and Jamie Miller.
My personal congratulations to everyone I worked with, everyone I spoke to, everyone who shared a post on this, signed the petition, encouraged the leaders or troops, donated money, designed a poster, found emails, or even simply offered to help - every sailor, cruiser and boater everywhere who took even the smallest part in this battle. This was your fight, and YOU all came through in the end.
This is YOUR victory.
YES, I'm babbling...you expect me to be coherent with this news, after this fight? 
After I'm done babbling, I (and probably everyone else in this fight) am going to crack open a fresh new bottle of rum to celebrate.
One of the biggest highlights of this fight was how the entire boating community came together to fight as one against the people who would remove our rights. I personally noticed several new leaders who raised their heads above the gunwhale  - and that is great news. 
I think everyone is much more aware of how strong we really are, what we can accomplish when we put our hearts to it.
That's important because the battle may be won, but this war is not over. Now, we need to consolidate, and to start working towards changes in Florida laws and regulations that will resolve the problems that have led to this ongoing fight. So even though this current battle is over (thank God for that!), there's lots left to do. But now, we have a united boating community to work with, and that will be so important going forward.
In the meantime, however, there are boats to sail, anchorages to find, and sunsets to enjoy. I'm out of here. Next blog will be from Bimini!

Moving on to Cuba!

It's time to head out, if for no other reason than to play with my new Furlex roller furler. I've been here in south Florida for far, far longer than planned. So the first weather window next week, I'm outta here! Vaminos!!!
As you can see on the chart here, it's off to Bimini, and then on to Eleuthera, down to the Exumas, through to the Jumentos, and then off to Cuba.
From Puerto de Vita, it's east and around to the south coast of Cuba. During this voyage, I'll be visiting Cienfuegos, Trinidad and the other beautiful and historic cities on Cuba's south coast.
I'm also looking forward to exploring Jardines de la Reina - Gardens of the Queen. This area is a beautiful, and remote, region of cays on Cuba's south coast renowned for fabulous diving and some spectacular beaches. It's reputed that you can go for weeks here and never see the Guarda Frontera.
The dockmaster at Hemingway also told me that you can look over the side and watch the lobsters marching along under your boat - and I do love lobster!

area of Jardine de la Reina

one of the many small cays in the Jardine...

From there, it's westward bound to Cayo Largo, and some beach time, then around to the north coast and back to Hemingway to revisit Havana. Then, 115 miles back across the Florida Straits to the Keys.
While I'm away, I'll be using the DeLorme InReach unit to communicate when I don't have easy access to the internet. That will be most of the time - Cuba's communications infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired.
Among its other talents, this unit provides 160 character text messages, plus the ability to create a 'bread crumb' trail of your track. I used it last fall coming south on the ICW Snowbird Rally, and over 8000 people checked it out in a seven week span, so it was pretty popular. My ex-wife's divorce lawyer REALLY thought it was great...(kidding, just kidding!).
You can follow me here, over on this page: Where's Wally? Bookmark it now, and it will be live starting on Monday, April 27. The Where's Wally feature will also appear regularly on my Facebook page, Sailing and Cruising, along with regular updates of the trip.
Hasta la vista, amigos!

Strange Bedfellows in the Florida Anchoring Battle

The fight goes on, and we are are struggling to hold our ground against sneak attacks and behind the scenes amendments in Florida. In the meantime, while others are fighting the good fight at the pointy end, I’m in the bilge skulking about as usual. I came across some interesting sludge down there...

The big three on the Florida Anchoring Wars have historically been Boat US, the Seven Seas Cruising Association and the National Marine Manufacturers’ Association.

Lately, a lot of people have been questioning why the NMMA has not taken a more public stand against SB 1548. I mean, really? Not be against a move that will harm boating in one of the Union’s most ‘boaty’ states?  A bill that will harm sales and employment in their membership?

So I sent NMMA director Thomas Dammrich a letter that asked that question. I also asked that if I were incorrect in this, that he please correct me. 

He advised me: “Your information is incorrect. NMMA has been engaged on this issue for years and continues to be engaged today”. Note the use of the word “engaged”, which is typically doublespeak and means whatever the person using it wants it to mean. He also said that their state legislative director, David Dickerson, would contact me. 

Mr. Dickerson called, we talked, and I asked: “Could the NMMA state that they are unequivocally opposed to residential anchoring setoffs?” There ensued a very long silence.

He ultimately had this to say: “The NMMA does not believe that homeowners have the right to an unfettered view of the horizon. We recognize that in limited circumstances there are problems with boats anchoring too close, for extended periods of time. We're working with the legislature to find a way to protect boaters' rights and also recognize, also address, the issue of boaters anchoring unreasonably close for extended periods of time”. 

So there. It’s definite, they don’t like setoffs. 

But wait - what are “limited circumstances”? What does he mean by “too close”, or “extended periods of time”? What is “unreasonably close”?
That’s a lot of gray area for the NMMA to play about in and I’m a guy who likes things black and white. I asked Dammrich about these specifics in another note. Dickerson got back to me and basically said - we feel that these are issues for negotiation with the legislature and not a subject for public discussion.

 So I am left having to speculate because of that. It is NEVER a good thing to let me speculate as I have a vivid imagination... so fasten your seatbelt, take your motion sickness pills, this could be a wild ride.

NMMA has a nice young man, David Chiles, who lobbies for them. Met him in Vero Beach last September. One might think that, during this crisis, he’d be going from office to office in Tallahassee, speaking with senators, discussing the pros and cons of SB 1548. Ok - the cons, since by and large, this is not a good bill for boaters.

One might think that....but Chiles, so word has it around the capitol, has been told to sit down and stay quiet. Now why would that be? This is important business - so said NMMA Director Thomas Dammrich in 2011 in a letter to me, stating:

“I expect that NMMA will be very active in 2014 when the report is reviewed by the legislature to be sure that any bill under consideration supports the boating lifestyle and the right of boaters to use the state’s waters liberally and under consistent laws.”

But some things have changed since then, including, so it seems, the NMMA’s staunch support of boaters’ rights. Let me tell you an interesting little story I heard...

Seems some young Miss who works as a lobbyist for boating interests wants to see the city of Fort Lauderdale drop its ordinance that disallows people from remaining on their boats for more than six months. That’s horribly inconvenient to the megayacht crews - and to the owners, who have to provide supplementary (and expensive) housing for them.

Let’s face it, we cannot, in Fort Lauderdale, ever inconvenience the rich. Right, Mayor Seiler? But I digress...

So this young Miss, she suggests - or it is suggested to her, I’m not sure on this point - that if the NMMA is quiet about SB 1548, which Fort Lauderdale loves to the point of having hired an expensive lobbyist to promote it, the City just might, you know, wink wink, nudge, hey doncha know - change its ordinance to suit the megayacht people. 

Isn’t politics wonderful?

So is there the least bit of evidence for any of this? Well, yes there seems to be...

During the committee hearing when SSCA and Boat US openly opposed the dwelling unit set back provision, the NMMA supported the bill and did not oppose the amendment. There has not been one single statement from the NMMA opposing the dwelling unit setback provision, and no effort by the NMMA to push for amendments that would delete the dwelling unit setback for view. That’s pretty telling, isn’t it?

During the hearings process, people addressing the bill fill out an attendance card in which they state that they a) support; b) do not support; or c) are there for information only. In other words, they don’t have any real feelings on the proposed legislation.

Well, young Chile’s card reads ‘C’ - there for the information. Really?
So I thought, maybe Chile’s has a case of ‘management induced laryngitis’, which, if ignored can lead to unemployment, so let’s see what the NMMA website say about this issue.

Dang! I must have a faulty internet connection. There’s not a single mention that I could find on the NMMA site regarding SB 1548.

WHAT? The NMMA isn’t damning this legislation because of how it affects boaters? Not to mention the people who sell to boaters, who pay dues to the NMMA, who pay the salaries of the NMMA executives?

I must be wrong. So I thought, let’s talk to Phil Purcell of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) about this. 

Well, Phil sounds like a nice fellow, he really does, very considerate man. He even said that local municipalities need to be able to weigh in on this subject, that “one size doesn’t fit all”, (or so it sounded, which is why I put that in quotes), but my phone connection was a bit iffy. He really wasn’t advocating a return to local ordinances again, was he? Nahhh, couldn’t be.

He did say lots of nice things about not wanting to harm the boating lifestyle though, and that everyone should play nice, which I thought was very lovely of him.

Except - the MIASF hasn’t taken a public position on this issue, which I find amazing for an organization that represents companies doing “$11.5 billion dollars south of Palm Beach,  with 136,000 employees”. That’s a quote from Phil, by the way. See, he knows his stuff, doesn’t he?

But - maybe what he has to say on this issue might not be welcome news to the boaters who buy the products and services of his members? That would make it bad news for the owners of the companies he represents, wouldn’t it? 

A shame my phone went out just before I was going to ask him that. He did say that he wanted more information on this topic - so perhaps we, as boaters, can provide him with more information on this issue. 

His email is info@miasf.org, and you should tell him that SB 1548 affects you directly, that you won’t be cruising in Florida because of it, and that you will not be spending money with his members for that reason.

That should focus his attention on this issue properly. We might even hear from him on this issue, publicly, which would be nice for such a prominent organization located right in Fort Lauderdale, where megayachts and bedrooms are so closely linked, and everyone understands what is needed - wink wink, nudge, doncha know? doncha know?

There's actually more - a major power yacht builder who supports the legislation, for one. Also a Fort Lauderdale marina. What about a legislature that has no data - I’m serious, a senator asked this question just last week -  on how this bill will affect businesses, or even how many anchorages will be affected. 

No one in the government has any idea how much damage this bill will do to Florida businesses and communities - because they haven’t bothered to research this issue at all. 

This bill is being driven by a few wealthy homeowners who don’t like boats at anchor, and it is being enabled by boating organizations such as the NMMA and MIASF that won’t stand up, grow a spine and publicly make the concerns of the boat buying public - who are the clients of their member companies - the major issue instead of playing politics with their friends.

Excuse me now please, I have to leave you...for some inexplicable reason, I feel the need to go have a long, hot shower. 

Florida Anchoring Battle - We Need YOU to Speak Out Please

Time to fight for anchoring rights!

Fellow boaters - I promised I would keep you up to date, and aware of what you can do to fight back against the unjust and unfair attempts in Florida to restrict anchoring rights. Well, the time is now!
I've just been speaking to SSCA not five minutes ago. Scott Berg, and Phil Johnson are in Tallahassee, fighting for us on the Florida Anchoring issue. They cannot do this on their own - they need ALL of us, and they have asked me to speak to you directly.
Everyone - right now please - send a letter regarding your opposition to the Senate anchoring bill. Even if you've already sent one, send another one. Don't put it off, it's too important.
The SSCA wants a flood of letters over the next several days, as hearings start on Tuesday. Write your letter - I'll post some ideas below to help you - and share this post with EVERYONE, on EVERY group you belong to that might even have someone using the water, even if it's only a stand up paddleboard! wink emoticon
Be polite. We are the good guys in this fight, and we have to look like it. There are enough out of control landowners - with dinghies anchored out, loud blaring stereos, even paintball guns being shot at anchored boats - to make us look good. We don't have to be shrill or angry - we just need to point out that it is not us who are the problem here.
Then - if you are a Florida resident, the SSCA NEEDS you in Tallahassee on Tuesday. They NEED to show the committee that it's not just out of staters who are crying about this issue - it's taxpaying locals. They currently have four people to put in front of the committee - how about another dozen of you making the trip?
Also - if you guys think it's the way to do this - how about some offers of cash for gas for these people who go for us? Let's get this effort humming.
I can't go - I'm too recognizable in this fight, and I'm not local - I don't present the image that this committee needs to see. They need to see you, and know you were concerned enough about this issue to take the time to come to Tallahassee to speak to them. The SSCA will give you some pointers on this beforehand - don't worry, you'll be supported all the way. Contact me using the contact link on this page if you can go, or go directly to Scott Berg on the SSCA Facebook page and let him know you're in for this.

Here are the people we need to email, the committee members:

Chairman Charlie Dean: dean.charles@flsenate.gov
Vice Chairman Wilton Simpson: simpson.wilton@flsenate.gov
Senator Thad Altman: altman.thad@flsenate.gov
Senator Greg Evers: evers.greg@flsenate.gov
Senator Alan Hays: hays.alan@flsenate.gov
Senator David Simmons: simmons.david@flsenate.gov
Senator Chris Smith: smith.chris@flsenate.gov
Senator Darren Soto: soto.darren@flsenate.gov

Below are the points you should make. Try not to copy and paste, but if you have to - hell, do it. Just get the letters out there.
Thanks everyone - together, we can WIN this one. Let's make it happen. One last remark - I already am aware of how much so many of you have done in this fight - the letters, the shares, all of it - and I'm hugely proud of the effort you have put out in defence of your rights.
Just one more time now. TOGETHER, WE CAN DO THIS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting with the subject line -
Florida Senate Bill 1548
Opposition to Dwelling-Unit Anchoring Set-Back Provision
______________________________________________
1. As boaters and cruisers, we support the SAFETY-RELATED provisions of SB 1548 that directly relate to the stated purpose and title of the bill which is Vessel Safety such as: the provisions limiting anchoring within a safe distance from a marked mooring field, public boat ramp, marine railway, launching facility or landing facility. Similarly, public safety justifies the provisions restricting the anchoring or mooring of a vessel that is incapable of navigating under its own power, vessels that cannot dewater, vessels leaking petroleum, vessels in violation of marine sanitation laws, and vessels that are unattended or derelict. We support all of these provisions.
2. But statewide legislation should not include provisions that are founded upon interests that are not necessary for safety. We oppose provisions that are designed to establish preferential rights or control over areas of public waters of the State of Florida based upon setbacks from all “developed waterfront property” that would arbitrarily create areas of public waterways within which occupants of boats may not anchor. Such provisions are related to convenience, preference, and aesthetics, rather than safety, and would result in laws that pick between classes and groups of people based upon the nature of the structure they choose to occupy.
3. Therefore, we strongly oppose the provision banning overnight anchoring in public water anywhere within 200 feet of a dwelling unit that was built on private land. We respectfully ask that, as members of this Committee, you please remove this provision
4. We are sensitive to the concerns raised by some legislators and constituents about issues related to anchored boats. Some of these relate to disputes about between a few individual high-profile property owners and boaters. We recognize that these concerns have increased and will continue to increase as more people move to Florida and buy properties located adjacent to public land such as submerged land and the waterways above it along Florida’s coast.
5. As to disputes between individual upland property owners and boaters, we believe those are matters that are proper for handling on a case-by-case basis through enforcement of civil and penal measures, such a nuisance and harassment. Although existing laws allow for policing of such bad conduct, we would support reforms that strengthen the enforcement tools to help resolve such disputes. But we do not believe the proper approach is to pass sweeping statutory statewide bans on where members of the public can anchor on public waterways throughout the State.
6. Waterfront property owners (including many of us boaters) must be reminded that the marine coastal resources of this State are not private. They are public. The submerged lands that would be roped off by a blanket set-back would encompass land that is owned by the State and, accordingly, by ALL Floridians … including many of the boaters and cruisers who also own land in Florida and pay taxes in Florida to help support the State's ownership of this submerged land.
7. We understand the “Not-In-My-Back-Yard” or NIMBY concept. But public waters are not the "back yard" to any waterfront private property. It is public submerged land. The back yard of upland private property ends at the mean high waterline. Every waterfront property purchaser knew this when they purchased their land. As upland property owners, we should not expect the government to give us control and dominion over public waters just because we purchased private property adjacent to it.
8. Such a blanket setback covering lands owned by the public would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to proposals by people owning property adjacent to other public lands (such as condos on a beach and houses next to state parks) … asking that beachgoers stay off the beach and park visitors stay away from the boundaries of state parks.
9. Similarly, as boaters, we recognize that it would be improper for us to ask government to give us control and dominion of land that is upland of the waterline through a provision preventing landowners from locating their house or condominium within 200 feet of any shoreline. This too would be unfair. To be fair, we recognize that private upland property is not the "back yard" of boaters.
10. We've heard some people in the capitol tell stories about their experiences with boats anchored near properties they own on a lake. Remember, marine coastal waterways are very different from a private lake. First, coastal waterways are not private at all. Second, in most lakes, the depths throughout it allow anchoring just about anywhere. With marine coastal waters, however, there is a small number of areas where there is enough depth to anchor a vessel and enough depth in the areas necessary to access those anchorages ... and where there is adequate protection from the wind and weather. These anchoring spots are unique and serve as the basis for the estimated 1,000,000 boats travelling throughout Florida's waterways annually.
11. The proponents of such this anchoring ban have not performed a necessary analysis showing the consequences such as the number of anchorages that would be eliminated by a particular setback. Without that geographic and bathymetric analysis, it is very risky to adopt such a setback.
12. Remember too, that there are some stretches of the Inter Coastal Waterway where there may only be a couple small suitable anchorages within a stretch of 50 miles or so and theses spots are necessary resting grounds for boaters seeking safe, daytime travel, and safe night time rest. We would not want to take away these safe havens for the convenience or view of others who are safely ashore.
13. The proponents of the anchoring setback have not performed a necessary analysis showing the economic consequences such as the amount of lost revenue, lost taxes, and lost jobs resulting from the exclusion of so many customers supporting so many coastal small businesses from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys, Southeast FL and all the way to Jacksonville. It is not clear to us that local businesses and Chambers of Commerce have been included in this discussion ... although there are some local Chambers that are starting to take notice. Without this economic analysis and full involvement from the small business community, we believe such a provision is not ripe for consideration.
14. Access to Florida's coastal waterways is a key component of this State's rich maritime history. One recent article asked whether Florida is becoming '...The most cruiser-unfriendly state'. This is a sad trend. To many, Florida MEANS water and the salt life. This needs to be preserved, protected, and jealously guarded.