Folding Bikes are Ideal Boat Gear for Transient Boaters

With ease of storage and quality construction, folding bicycles on board boats give you the freedom to travel by land at boating destinations

Folding bikes are easy to carry and stow on board boats. Photo courtesy of Montague Bikes.

One of the best parts about taking a boat trip is exploring new ports and waterside towns. But after you dock your boat at a marina its not always easy to get around town on land.

Having a bike on board gives you easy access to everything that waterside towns can offer transient boaters - and folding bikes make it even easier to carry and stow a bike on board.

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Green Boating Tips for the Eco-Minded Mariner

How boaters can strive to be more environmentally friendly when running, cleaning and maintaining their boats

Photo by Jameskingfish via Wikimedia Commons

Boaters understand better than most people the need for environmentally responsible behavior. Oceans and lakes have taken a lot of abuse over the past century from humanity, and the damage shows. No one wants to boat, swim or fish in polluted water, making green boating a priority for the modern boater.

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The Granary Restaurant Reopens on Sassafras River

Located on the upper Chesapeake Bay on the Sassafras River, The Granary Restaurant welcomes boaters back with new owner and tasty menu

New owner / operator Dave Anderson reopens The Granary Restaurant
and Sassafras Grill on the Chesapeake Bay

Upper Chesapeake Bay boaters will be pleased to know that The Granary is open and back in business for the 2013 boating season... and possibly better than ever!

Long before we docked our boat on the Sassafras River, The Granary Restaurant was always our favorite place to dine on the upper Chesapeake.

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Boating Fun at National Marina Day on the Delaware

Delaware River marinas and marine businesses celebrate family-friendly boating event "Welcome to the Water on National Marina Day"

Each year since 2001 marinas nationwide have celebrated National Marina Day... an event to celebrate the boating lifestyle.

The event typically involves an independent marina celebration that marinas all hold on the same day.

This year the event was greatly expanded with the introduction of a national partnership with Discover Boating (the marine industry's campaign to grow the boating industry) and an invitation to all marine businesses to participate.

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Using the Right Anchor Gear for Anchoring Out Overnight

How to choose an anchor for your boat and your anchorage conditions for a secure and safe night out on the water

Taking your boat out for a cruise can take boaters on wonderful adventures, with virtually thousands of magnificent destinations to choose from. Most areas also offer boaters a number of anchorages where you can secure your boat and anchor out for the night to fully enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding you on the water.

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ICW Cruise - Day 19 Final Destination in Ft Myers FL

Final leg of the AICW Cruise navigates the locks of Okeechobee Waterway and reaches the final destination of Ft. Myers FL

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

Day 19 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise at 8:45 am we said "Lets go home." 

After a crazy night of partying, dancing and singing at the Roland and Mary Ann Martin Marina TiKi bar we are ready to roll. 

This will be our final day on the water on our 19 day cruise from the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland to the Florida Gulf Coast in Ft. Myers. 

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ICW Cruise - Day 18 on Okeechobee Waterway in FL

The final days of the Atlantic ICW Cruise once again faces foul weather as they navigate through the St. Lucia Canal and locks of the Okeechobee Waterway

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

We woke on Thursday 5/30/13 to another day of high winds and rain.  It is Day 18 and we are determined to make it to our new home in Fort Myers FL.  

We fueled up and finally left the Four Fish Marina in Jensen, FL behind at 8:30 am.  We headed toward the St. Lucia Inlet where we would pick up the St. Lucia Canal.  This canal will take us to the Lake Okeechobee Waterway. 

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ICW Cruise - Days 15-17 in Jensen Beach FL

The journey from the Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast continues along the ICW stopping at Jensen Beach FL on route to Okeechobee Waterway 

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

Day 15 on the water - we are fueled up, pumped out and on the water by 8:00 am as we pull out of beautiful, historic town of St. Augustine, FL. 

We are hoping to be at our final destination in just a few more days - and boy are we ready to get there. 

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ICW Cruise - Days 13-14 in St. Augustine FL

Special K starts Day 13 with a small detour facing white caps on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean before turning back on track with the ICW on route to St. Augustine Florida

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

It has been two weeks since we left our home port in Georgetown Maryland to set off on our ICW adventure. We are getting anxious to finally meet our future awaiting us in Fort Myers Florida.

On Day 13 we left the port of Morningstar Marina in St. Simon's Island, GA at 7:15 am. Destination - Historic St. Augustine, FL.

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ICW Cruise - Days 11-12 in Savannah and St Simons Island GA

Special K cruises through Georgia - stopping in Savannah and St. Simons Island as they prepare for the next leg through FL on the Okeechobee Waterway

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

We started Day 11 of our AICW journey a bit late - not shoving off the dock until 8:30 am.  Leaving Bohicket Marina in Seabrook Island, SC with our eyes set on Savannah, GA. 

As we headed up the Bohicket River back to the ICW we enjoyed sunny, partly cloudy skies.

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Intracoastal Waterway Cruise - Day 10 in Seabrook Island SC

The journey on the AICW continues as Special K cruises through the beautiful waters of South Carolina amidst calm waters and angry green heads

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

On Day 10 of our two week long  Atlantic ICW cruise we woke to a glorious sunrise and a beautiful day with clear blue skies.  The waters were as calm as glass.  We Left Georgetown Marina in Georgetown, SC sharply at 8:00 am to continue our journey down the ICW. 

It started off as a relaxing and calm morning cruise - Betty Ann and I sunbathed on the bow as the guys managed the helm. 

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Intracoastal Waterway Cruise - Day 9 in Georgetown SC

The Special K crew cruises on the Waccamaw River in South Carolina dodging rainy weather on their ICW journey

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

Wow... it's hard to believe how far we have traveled already from Maryland, yet how much further we still have to go along the Intracoastal Waterway to arrive in Florida.

We left the beautiful setting of Village Harbor Marina in Hampstead, SC on Day 9 with overcast skies and an uncertain destination. 

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Intracoastal Waterway Cruise - Day 8 in Little River SC

Finally crossing the state line from North Carolina to South Carolina, the ICW cruise is greeted with foul weather and beautiful coastlines

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

After an overnight stay in Hampstead, NC, the Special K crew left port at 8:00 am to begin day 8 of our Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway cruise to Florida.

The day was overcast with a chance of showers.  At 8:45am the south west winds began to pick-up (10 miles/hr) and the chop increased. 

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Intracoastal Waterway Cruise - Day 7 in Hampstead NC

The Atantic ICW cruise takes a minor detour navigating to Bald Head Island North Carolina, ending up in Hampstead NC for the night

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

Well it has been a whole week and we have not read a newspaper or watched TV.  I is amazing how quickly the days run together and you loose track of time. 

We left Beaufort, NC at sunrise. It was a nice calm morning on the water.

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Intracoastal Waterway Cruise - Day 5-6 in Beaufort NC

The "Special K" crew takes a much needed break with a few restful days in the beautiful waterside town of Beaufort NC en-route to Florid on their Atlantic ICW cruise

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

After a few intense cruising days with high winds and rough water on the Chesapeake Bay, it was time to dock "Special K" and enjoy some relaxing time at port in Beaufort, NC.

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Intracoastal Waterway Cruise - Day 4 Oriental NC

An unexpected yet pleasant stop at Pamlico Sound in Oriental NC as "Special K" slowly heads south along the Atlantic ICW cruise to Florida

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

The fourth day of our ICW cruise started off with a little unplanned clean-up. Our little fellow Diesel decided to start the morning off with a dip in the local black mud swamp.  OH what a mess!  I wish I had a picture. Well once again I can not say enough about how wonderful our "pocket hose" is... a must-have for boaters (especially boaters with dogs)!

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Intracoastal Waterway Cruise - Day 3 ICW Bridge Locks

The third day of the Atlantic ICW boat cruise continues to head south taking the "Special K" crew from Norfolk VA to Coinjock NC

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

We traveled 61 NM (our shortest distance yet on our ICW journey from Chesapeake Bay to Gulf Coast of FL) but this leg of our cruise down the ICW still took us 8 - 9 hours.  On this leg of the cruise we traveled from Norfolk VA to Coinjock NC.

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Intracoastal Waterway Cruise - Day 2 Cruising Chesapeake Bay

Atlantic ICW cruise takes crew from Solomon's Island MD to Hampton VA on day two of the two week journey to FL

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

Day 2 of our two week journey from the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland to the Gulf Coast of Florida (May 14, 2013) started off much better than our somewhat rough first day of the ICW cruise. They skies were blue and the winds had finally died down.

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Intracostal Waterway Cruise Adventure: Day 1 Lessons Learned

Day one of the east coast cruise brings rough seas on the Chesapeake Bay on the way to the first stop in Solomon's Island

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

 

After a wonderful Bon Voyage celebration with friends and family we were ready to set-off on our Intracostal Waterway adventure to Florida. 

We left port on Monday May 13th, 2013 to begin a whole new life. Although we are excited about the future, we are sad to leave behind so may wonderful friends and family. 

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Cruising Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Chesapeake Bay to Florida Gulf Coast

Follow the two week journey of a liveaboard couple as they cruise their boat down the east coast to relocate from the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland to the Gulf of Mexico in South Florida

This weekend we wished two friends Bon Voyage as they prepared to leave for the boat trip of a lifetime. Although we are are so sad to see them leave and they will be missed, we are excited for their amazing adventure ahead cruising their boat over 1,000 miles along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterways.

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