More for loopers

There are three more reasons to cruise the Albemarle Loop Route in East Carolina’s historic Albemarle Sound—new marinas. This year’s latest additions are Manteo Waterfront Marina, Everett Marine at Cypress Cove Marina and The Dismal Swamp Welcome Center. Nine marinas now offer free dockage, pump-outs, two nights’ free dockage, and several amenities including swimming pools, shopping, museums, tennis, and restaurants on the Sound. albemarleloop.com/Marinas.html

Inlet advocate

According to North Carolina Congressman Walter B. Jones, continuous poor navigation conditions at the Hatteras and Oregon inlets in North Carolina may close both inlets to vessel traffic if additional dredging isn’t performed. Jones is calling for increased funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge those Outer Banks waterways. “I will do everything I can to fight for that cause,” Jones said, “[…] fishermen, recreational boaters and the Coast Guard must have reliable access through the inlets.” The Waterway Guide steers cruisers away from both inlets due to constant shoaling and shifting.

Party time in South Carolina

For a one-of-a-kind cultural experience in South Carolina’s low country, visit Beaufort, South Carolina’s Original Gullah Festival May 27-29. Festival tickets are only $5 on Friday to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Arts, crafts, a Caribbean Dance Party, African drumming, jazz, rhythm & blues, gospel, reggae, storytelling, and local delicacies await your arrival. For more information and ticket prices visit theoriginalgullahfestival.org

Sea cows’ center

South Florida manatees have yet another place to call home: West Palm Beach’s Manatee Lagoon—An FPL Eco-Discovery Center. The 16,000-square-foot educational center that opened on February 6th features hands-on exhibits that teach visitors about these unique endangered creatures and their Lake Worth Lagoon home. With free admission and parking, the center is open 9AM to 4PM Tuesday through Sunday. Due to improvements in its population, manatee’s status may be downlisted from endangered to threatened by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. visitmanateelagoon.com

Miami-Cuba ferry

U.S. travelers may soon be able to visit the island of Cuba by sea. Overnight ferries from the Port of Miami, Florida, to Cuba are set to begin late this year or early 2017—that is, if the Castro regime picks up the pace. Although a ferry terminal is needed at PortMiami, officials are looking at temporary solutions to get things started. The Italian Grimaldi shipping line proposes a 220-foot ferry and Miami’s Baja Ferry plans to carry 2,500 passengers per week on its 623-foot vessel. Both lines foresee daily runs. United Caribbean, Carnival and other operators were also issued Cuba-ferry licenses by the Obama administration. Last winter, 55 sailboats raced from Key West to Havana’s Hemingway Marina in the Conch Republic Cup after responding to an invitation from the Commodore of Club Náutico Internaciónal Hemingway de la Habana. While it wasn’t the first Key West to Cuba race, it was the first one sanctioned by the U.S. government.

— By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating Magazine May 2016

Bahama Boat Works 41

The Bahama Boat Works 41 offers a combination of speed, safety and durability into a 41-foot, 3-inch-long center console loaded with fishing features. Built in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Bahama Boat Works 41 utilizes hardware that has been carefully chosen for its individual beauty and durability. The fully lined center console pod contains a spacious head offering 6 feet, 6 inches of headroom and 11 feet of below-deck storage area. Latches and hinges are recessed and many blind fasteners are utilized, which results in few visible screw heads. All tooling is built in-house using CNC computers, and the 41’s strong, lightweight composite hull consists of Armourflex gelcoat over AME 6000 T-35 vinylester resin for maximum osmotic blister resistance.
LED-illuminated hatches and lockers are fully finished with gelcoat for durability and easy cleanup, and the hardtop features three spreader lights and two LED lights. Fishing amenities include 60- and 90-gallon livewells, the latter in-deck, as well as numerous fish and dry-storage boxes. Every hatch and door boasts a double O-ring seal that, when combined with all-standard compression latches, assures each compartment’s total watertight integrity. The 41 is fully customizable, including the paint schemes, electronics packages, upholstery, and furnishings. Power options include four Mercury 350-horsepower outboards to triple Seven Marine 557-horsepower outboards that push the Bahama Boat Works 41 to 70-mph plus. (561) 882-4069; bahamaboatworks.com

By Doug Thompson, Southern Boating Magazine July 2015

Palm Harbor Marina, West Palm Beach, FL

VIPs will love it at Palm Harbor Marina.

Since opening in March 2010, the marina has put a lot of effort into offering luxury, beauty and lots of attractions in the area. Located in the Palm Beaches, Palm Harbor Marina has been designated a Florida Clean Marina. There’s 24-hour security; they have secure parking and gates with key card access.

Palm Harbor Marina has 200 slips for yachts up to 250 feet, a state-of-the-art Marinetek® concrete floating dock system, high-speed diesel and gasoline pumps, plenty of single and three-phase power with surge protection. There are computers, cable TV, phones, and free WiFi for the boating enthusiast to enjoy. Visitors can spend time in Palm Beach Harbor’s lavish private yacht club (complete with fitness center, catering kitchen, wet bar, game room, and more). Guests have access to exclusive discounts and benefits at local restaurants.

If you want to get away from the marina for a little while, there are a lot of exhilarating options to choose from, whether you want to golf, go shopping or relax on one of the legendary beaches. There are also exciting nightlife and dining options in downtown West Palm Beach, City Place or Clematis Street.

If you’re used to VIP status, consider staying at Palm Beach Marina, where their amenities will make you feel very comfortable (and, hesitant to leave). This new marina offers luxury, safety, beauty, and loads of entertainment options.

Video:

Information:
Marina Spotlight: Palm Harbor Marina
400 N. Flagler Dr. Suite A
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 655-4757 or (800) 435-8051
info@palmharbor-marina.com
palmharbor-marina.com

By Laura Dunn, Southern Exposure

Mollusk Mania on Florida’s Forgotten Coast

July brings with it a unique tradition for recreational boat owners on Florida’s Big Bend on the Gulf Coast—bay scallop season. A run of sandy barrier islands and a marshy estuarine system contribute to an ideal salinity and ecosystem for the tasty mollusks, an environment unique to the Gulf Coast. Highly susceptible to even minute environmental changes, the harvesting of bay scallops is strictly controlled and no commercial activities are allowed. The one exception is for recreational boat owners and individuals who wade from shore with dip nets, a pastime that has led to an almost cultural institution on this stretch of Florida’s coastline.

Midsummer brings out the snorkels, flippers and mesh bags as Floridians and tourists peruse the sandy seagrass beds just offshore of Florida’s Forgotten Coast between Port St. Joe and Tarpon Springs. “Diver down” flags pop up above tried and true secret scalloping spots, and with scallops preferring depths of only 4-6 feet of water, it is a family-friendly experience. Port St. Joe also holds an annual Scallop Festival every August in this very authentic old-style Florida town.

Bay scallops once had an extensive habitat throughout the state from Pensacola to West Palm Beach on the Atlantic Coast, but it is increasingly shrinking due to development pressures. Today, isolated populations—still numerous enough to allow scalloping—can be found in the waters around Port St. Joe, Crystal River, Steinhatchee, and Homosassa on the Gulf Coast. Florida saltwater fishing licenses are required and scalloping charters can be found in many of the marinas. The 2014 season runs from June 28th to September 10th, and the per-person limit is two gallons of in-the-shell scallops per person on board, but no more than 10 gallons on board any vessel. It is best to clean scallops almost immediately after harvesting, for the bag limits are one pint of meat per person and no more than ½ gallon per vessel.

After long afternoons swimming in the cooling Gulf waters, families and friends get together for scallop feasts on the beaches or back porches, with most dishes lightly breaded, seasoned and flash-fried. Similar to an oyster in that it is a mollusk, bay scallops are more muscular because of their ability to actually swim. They have lean, firm meat but a very delicate flavor and as such, cooking methods should be light and gentle. More inventive dishes have been making the rounds in the past decades with scallops served in ceviche or lightly broiled and served in beautiful salads and even sliders. Many coastal restaurants will even prepare your fresh catch and simply charge a “corkage” fee for preparing your feast.

Scalloping is one of those unique institutions that hearkens back to a Florida of a bygone era. It is an ideal method to launch your boat and get your kids and friends out on the water—not that you ever need an excuse—and make them earn their dinner.

By Troy Gilbert, Southern Boating July 2014