FYI: Channel Markers Missing

[Captain Phil]

The red and green stick markers that take you from the Wildwood ICW back to 18st are missing two important markers. They are the 1st two that are missing. Last weekend some idiot hit one and on Monday someone hit the other and both are now gone. They are important for two reasons. One, the channel appears to go strait in the next set.... This is not right. The last of markers that are missing were just north of the next set, so you now have to go around an unmarked bar. It looks like you can just got staight in, do not do this, there's is only 8" of water there. Second, when traveling the ICW, it now appears the channel is wider then it is and it's not. Those last set of markers were extremely important to give reference to where you needed to be. There must have been 60 boats stuck there yesterday and it was chaos. I talked to two state troopers and they said they would make a report but prob nothing will be changed. Travel this area with extreme caution. If you don't go in this area often you probably won't know what I'm talking about but for those of you who do, you will understand. Be careful out there.

[Hardtop]

Good man Phil. Info passed on - thx for posting

[Hank/Golden Dream II]

Thanks Captain.

[CamoRay]

Those marker poles were probably hit at night by someone who couldn't
bother to buy a $15 spotlight......Happens every year and causes every one else a lot of grief.........If you're going to come in there at night...



GET A LIGHT!!!!!!

[Rageboat]

I use those 2 sticks for reference all the time especially heading north. Getting more difficult every day back in that area. Who replaces them or is it just a local thing? I'd be willing to help put them back in if you want Phil.

[grtwhthunter/fisherman]

the red one got hit weeks ago. i guess someone took out the green as well. they even have reflectors on them for nighttime.

[Leithal]

Why doesn't the coast guard or army corps of engineers go out and put the Red and or green cans in these areas and the other areas in the ice that are not marked correctly where some areas have shoaled up a bit. These cans can't be that much money. He k I'd be willing to put in a couple bucks to have the icw remarked correctly. If we all did I'm sure it could get done!

[Captain Phil]

Why doesn't the coast guard or army corps of engineers go out and put the Red and or green cans in these areas and the other areas in the ice that are not marked correctly where some areas have shoaled up a bit. These cans can't be that much money. He k I'd be willing to put in a couple bucks to have the icw remarked correctly. If we all did I'm sure it could get done!

ICW markers are aids to navigation, and if you follow the aids there is deep water there. The problems are people want to run to close to the edge of the channels. If you stay in the markers, there is plenty of water there. CG Cutter Sledge came through months ago, if they needed to be moved they would have done it then...

[Captain Phil]

I use those 2 sticks for reference all the time especially heading north. Getting more difficult every day back in that area. Who replaces them or is it just a local thing? I'd be willing to help put them back in if you want Phil.

You have to be careful doing that. If someone hit one or they got moved and someone got hurt, you can bet they would sue you. That's our world...try and help people and you can't.

[Keeper Seeker]

So whats the reason that the CG doesn't replace the markers immediately? 60 boats run aground you would think that they would be all over it.

[Captain Phil]

So whats the reason that the CG doesn't replace the markers immediately? 60 boats run aground you would think that they would be all over it.

CG handles the ICW markers...the state handles the stick markers and that's what is missing.

[R401k Angler]

Thanks Phil.
We keep our boat on 18th street and have for 15 years now.
I can't tell you how many times we have seen missing sticks or sticks w/o the appropriate green square or red triangle.
People just need to exercise caution and stupid things like this won't happen

[Captain Phil]

Crazy again yesterday there. Someone put two old floats there in the morning but it really didn't help. They look like crab pot markers and I didn't see too many people going through them.

[ClamminFrank]

If I'm not mistaken those stick markers had the wrong designation even when they were all still standing. Shouldn't the red markers have been on the right when leaving the ICW and returning to the canal? RED RIGHT RETURNING?

[chunking]

Sad part is the sticks don't actually mark a channel. They mark the slightly deeper section dug out by everyones props. Kept my boat at 18th street for years. Trick at low tide is speed. Heading in or out get up on plane. Speed especially in shallow water helps. Water presure from your prop hits the bottom and lifts your boat higher in the water. Slow down and you drop the prop right into the mud.