Thunderbolt Sports & Outdoors Tips by grandmaR

MM 584 Herb River Anchorage

Herb River is at marker #37 on the right . Favour the left side on your way in and anchor in soft mud. The tide here is 7 feet . December 2, 2000, it was starting to rain and be nasty, so we went up into the Herb River and anchored by 2:30 after 28.5 miles at 6 mph for a total of 657 nm.

COSMOS the other CSY is also anchored here. Also POLAR BEAR, and a boat with dark topsides from D.C. KISMET comes in later and anchors ahead of us, and CHARISMA anchors closer to the end of the creek with another boat.

Equipment: We are fairly comfortable although there is a brisk north wind. There is no wind protection from the north, but the low marshy banks keep there from being much fetch. The tide and current has more effect and the boat swings around 180 degrees, and Bob worries that we will swing or drag into someone's dock. The windmill whined all night generating electricity. He is learning about tide (we don't have that much at home) and swing room.

December 3rd

Temp got down to 42.5 last night. Bob started the engine at 6 in order to flush the toilet. He made bacon, grilled cheese and hot tea for breakfast and pulled the anchor. He started pulling the anchor by 7:30 and were well underway by 8. A bit damp, but not actually raining.

Directions: ICW mm 584

Theme: Boating/Sailing

MM 583.2 Thunderbolt Marina was Palmer Johnston

I fell in love with this marina the first time we came, but I've been less than happy with later stays. They have a mega yacht manufacturing facility in the Great Lakes. This yard does a lot of repair work for the big boys. I am told that the marina has now reverted to the original ownership and is now called the Thunderbolt Marina

Initially, Palmer-Johnson's rates were $1.05/foot plus $3.00/day electric and cable TV $3.00/day. They charge per actual footage of the boat with bow sprits and dinghy davits included in the length since they are all face docks. We got 25 gallons of fuel and it was a little over $38.00, and ice was $1.50/bag.

Equipment: On the way down the next year, they put us on the tippy end of the dock and still charged us for 45 feet. We were on the waiting list, and that's where we ended up. They called about 9 to say that we had a place, and we left at 10, and we got there about 5 which was really pushing it from Beaufort. They charged us $5.00 for electric even though it was only 30 amp, and their literature says it is less for 30 amp. There are no longer separate lines in the mens and womens rooms for internet - you have to share. On the way back in the spring of 2002, Palmer Johnson insisted that our boat was 50 feet. The restaurant there has closed and the dockmaster says the building is unsafe. So you have to walk up to Teeples (which looks like a greasy spoon) or Tubby's. Not too far. The docks have deteriorated too.

Directions: MM 583

Phone: 912-356-3875

Theme: Boating/Sailing

Website: http://www.palmerjohnson.com/