St Augustine Inlet

[PBzeer]

Anyone have any info on the St Augustine Inlet. None of my charts show any data, and my guide books isn't very clear on it. I would like to go inside there, but am hesitant at this point.

Thanks,

Currently at Dinner Key Marina, Florida

[brak]

We passed by it on the intracoastal recently. It looked very narrow, with lots of shoaling on both sides - it was obvious in the light we had, but might be more difficult with sun in a wrong direction (west, if coming in). They had temporary buoys marking the inlet channel, that differed from any of our charts (paper and Garmin GPS unit), apparently sands shift there pretty often. Powerboats went in and out, though - but I didn't see any sailing vessels there.

Make sure to give yourself lots of time and go slow, I guess thats all I can contribute on that.

[camaraderie]

Hey John...didn't you get that guide to SE Inlets by Doyle??? Stop at Bluewaterbooks in Ft. Lauderdale and get it!! You need it if you are gonna stay outside!!!

OK...here is St. Augustine directions. It is FINE in settled weather
WAYPOINT 29 54.98 N by 81 15.03 W puts you just NE of the sea buoy "STA" which is an RW type. Head on a course of about 240M to pick up the first set of channel buoys #'s 2&3...from there the next set is about 275 degrees #'s 4 & 5...then it is a straight shot into the inlet on a course of about 250M leaving green 7 on your port and red 8 and 10 to starboard and you are inside at that point.
Stay to the red side and...
To get to the town anchorage and docks keep about the same heading leaving R60 to starboard and then the closely spaced R2,R2A and R4 to starboard as well and heading for R6 and G5 on a slightly more southerly course which will put you in sight of the Bridge of Lions. The anchorage and muni marina is just south of the bridge.

JOHN ...note that the headings may have changed a bit with adjustments for shoaling but the actual entrance is about 250 degrees from the waypoint I gave you so look for your buoys in that direction! It is a little less tha 2mi from the waypoint to the entrance.

Here's a good arial photo...you can see why coming in slightly from the northeast helps you get a straight shot in.
Microsoft TerraServer Imagery

[PBzeer]

No cam, haven't picked up the book yet, nor Skipper Bob's, but I should be in Fort Lauderdale tomorrow, and my guide book shows there are docks there, so I do plan on picking them up at that time.

[camaraderie]

John...they've moved recently:

Lat. 26°.06N & Lon. 80°.07 W Bluewater Books & Charts
1811 Cordova Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Plenty of FREE Parking
Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 9am to 6 pm
Contact Us:
800-942-2583 or 954-763-6533
Fax: 954-522-2278


Click to email Bluewater's manager

Near 17th st. bridge.

[PBzeer]

Dang, Google shows them in both locations. Now it looks like another night at a doc$.

[dogsailors]

inlet is narrow I would recomend going in on a slack or ingoing tide. lots of small surf and sand stick to the middle of the channel if you head south on the intercoastal make sure you are fallowing the correct markers there is an old set that dead ends. lots of boats anchored in st. augustine. exspensive town. lots of tourists. sorry about the spelling

[stoutwench]

The St Augustine Inlet is very well marked and you should have no problem entering during daylight hours. I discussed shoaling with the owner of the clipper ship Freedom that sails out of the St Augustine Municipal Marina. He indicated that there were no shoals when we left via the inlet about 30 days ago.

The current can be fairly strong, but we have been in and out at various points in the tidal cycle with no problem (you will need your motor). If you need specific information concerning the inlet, you should contact John at: Cruises

He and his wife, Sarah, are two of the nicest people you will ever meet. (They share the cruising dream) He will be more than happy to help you with anything you might need. If you do contact him, please tell him that Roger & Evans on StoutWench said hello.

Roger

PS: I'm not familiar with Doyle's Inlet Book, but the Inlet ChartBook by Steve Dodge is excellent.
The calls that camaraderie gave you are the same as those found in Dodge' book.

[billangiep]

Marinas.com | St. Augustine Inlet - Florida, United States


If you decide to attempt the St. Augustine Inlet, you should only do so with advance local knowledge from a reputable source. Alternatively, you can follow a locally-hailed boat in, but keep in mind your leader may be as unaware of conditions as you.

Navigating the Water:


The St. Augustine Inlet is by far the most dynamic part of the area where it, the Tolomato and Matanzas rivers converge. Though local boats use this are heavily and frequently, visiting boaters should be aware that the inlet is potentially hazardous during storm conditions when wind meets current. The shallowest portion of the inlet, by far, is the area around the outside markers, which are uncharted, as they are moved frequently by the Coast Guard to reflect the deepest area of the inlet. If you are in doubt as to current conditions in the inlet, you should call ahead to one of the St. Augustine-area marinas or to the SeaTow or BoatU.S towing operations in the area.

North of the inlet, the Tolomato River passes under the Usina Bridge (65-foot fixed vertical clearance) just north of flashing green “57A,” and then proceeds south toward the St. Augustine Inlet past red nun buoy “58C,” red nun buoy “58D,” an unnumbered flashing red light, red nun “58E,” green nun “59,” and then red nun “60.” Once you have picked up red nun “60,” you can set a course southwest toward flashing green “1” and red nun “2,” which both mark the beginning of the Matanzas River north of St. Augustine.

Once you have cleared flashing green “1” and red nun “2,” the channel bends toward the west past Davis Shores, eventually turning south near the Bridge of Lions (25-foot closed vertical clearance, replacement span under construction). The Matanzas River then flows south all the way to ICW Mile 810 near Silver Lake.

There are many marinas in the St. Augustine area, and most of them cater to transient guests, as this area is very heavily used by cruising boaters. North of the Usina Bridge and the St, Augustine Inlet is the Camachee Cove facility, which has a repair yard, large transient marina, and restaurant bar with dockside slips. The majority of the rest of the marinas are located up the San Seastian River in St. Augustine, with repair yards and transient marinas.

[camaraderie]

Stout/PB...Stout is right...it is not Doyle...it is Dodge...I'm looking at the book and got it wrong! Duh!!