The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 09/12.

Continuing until further notice, the Dredge E. STROUD will be operating in the GIWW from Rollover Pass to the Galveston Causeway. Dredging will
be performed 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. The Dredge E. STROUD will be monitoring VHF-FM Channel 16. Mariners transiting the area will not
have tows exceeding 70 feet in width and are urged to use caution. Mariners are also urged to transit the area at their slowest safe speed to
minimize wake and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made.

The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 02/12.

The Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge across the GIWW will be removed from service and the barge will be taken to a dry dock for inspection and
repairs. Mariners are urged to exercise caution when transiting through the bridge site as all other portions of the bridge structure will remain. It
is anticipated that the repairs will take 3 months to complete. During this time period, the Grand Lake Pontoon Bridge across the GIWW, Mile
231.4, WHL, at Grand Lake, Louisiana, will be closed to navigation from 6:30 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday, from Monday, January 9, 2012 through Friday, March 30, 2012. During the closure period, the bridge can open for navigation in
the case of an emergency. Mariners are urged to transit the area with extreme caution.

Ed Note: The hours of operation for the Grand Lake Bridge are a change from those currently published.

The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 03/12.

Continuing until approximately June 30, 2012, a Safety Zone is in effect from approximate Mile 35.2, WHL to Mile 35.5, WHL, on the GIWW. This
Safety Zone is for the installation of rip-rap adjacent to the new floodwall, along the southeast bank of the GIWW. Mariners are urged to transit
at the slowest safe speed to minimize wake. For up-to-date information, mariners can contact the M/V YAYA on VHF-FM Channel 69.

5 years ago this morning I had to tell my children that their dad had died. It seems like yesterday but still like forever ago. 5 years ago today I lost the best friend I ever had.

Elaine Reib

Exactly five years ago today, I got out of bed and checked my email and saw
there was one from Skipper Bob. The evening before, I had sent him my
latest batch of updates for the New York Canals book. The email was a
short thank you note from Bob, time-stamped exactly 8 AM that morning. I
could picture Bob sitting at his desk, probably looking forward to doing
some editing on the books that morning.

It turned out sending me that email was the last thing Bob did … and then
he slumped to the floor and died. The email remained on his screen
afterwards.

Bob is a great guy. He wrote the Skipper Bob books to asist the long
distance cruisers, and with the help of his wife Elaine Reib, he did a
mighty fine job.

I first saw a copy of the New York Canals book, on my first visit up here
in 2003. I was amazed how it contained absolutely everything I needed to
know for my cruise, and I got my own copy the first chance I had. Kathy
and I spend many days planning our future trips with the Skipper Bob book
open as the ultimate reference. It wasn’t very wordy, but it was concise
and to the point, the perfect cruiser’s helm reference. I loved the book,
so I contacted Bob and started helping with it.

Since about 2004, I had been sending Bob all kinds of updates and
corrections, so that the book might be correct and complete and benefit
future boaters, as it had done for me. The books are now continued by Ted
Stehle, who continues Bob’s excellent work, and I continue to send Ted
updates for it. Bob is often in my mind as I gather info for the next
updates.

When Bob died, he left a big gap, but I always talk about Bob in the
present tense as he will always be around. He will live on in the memory
of those who knew him, those who worked with him, and his family. Skipper
Bob is out there on the canals and waterways somewhere even now. You may
not see him on your cruises, but he’s out there with you.

Skipper Bob, December 11th, 2006. May he cruise with us forever.

Fred Wehner

The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal is still closed and it will not open for some time. As the attached photo shows, the flood gate at the Lake Ponchartrain end of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, which was supposed to be completed in the late spring of this year (2011) is still under construction. The current official estimate is that the work will be completed in the spring of 2012. A couple of pesimistic types at the Seabrook Marina think the end of next year is more likely.

Red Walkabout

The Flood Gate accross the GIWW at Mile 15.5 EHL is still under construction. There is a “No Wake” zone and traffic control through the construction site. All vessels are to contact traffic control on VHF 18 1 mile before reaching the construction area. On 11 Nov. 2011 a Coast Guard boat was on site to enforce the No Wake zone.

Red Walkabout

 

The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 43/11.

Possible pilings from the closure of the old Pacific Railroad Bridge in the GIWW in the vicinity of Mile 58.5, WHL, have been reported, on October 19, 2011. The pilings are reportedly not marked. Mariners are urged to use caution in the area and report any findings to their nearest U.S. Coast Guard unit.

Ted Stehle, editor

The following is from the CG 8th District (Gulf) NTM 43/11.

The U.S. Coast Guard has received a report that Tiger Pass Temporary Buoy 52A, has been set to mark shoaling in approximate position 29-13-05N 089-21-02W. Mariners are urged to transit the area with extreme caution.

Ted Stehle, editor

The following is from the CG 8th District NTM 41/11.

A burned, grounded, partially submerged oyster boat has been reported in the GIWW, off the south bank in the vicinity of Mile 509.0, WHL, in approximate position 28-09-28.8N 096-53-17.4W. The wreck is reportedly not marked. Mariners are urged to use caution in the area.

p.55 Bahia Mar Marina boasts excellent Oar House restaurant. For info, see www.the-oar-house.com/ p.56 Market on the Island, recommended in (2) closed down in 2010, alas.

Many thanks to the cruiser who submitted the above report.

Ted Stehle, editor
Skipper Bob Publications

Ted,

 It was a pleasure meeting you at the Miami Boat Show last week.  Again, I wanted to tell you what a great resource Skipper Bob’s  ”Cruising the Gulf Coast” was for our travels.  My wife and I, along with two friends traveled from Destin, Florida to League City, Texas the first week of November.  Our cruise was great and I give a lot of credit to your publication.  My friend was next to me at the helm using “Cruising the Gulf Coast” as our guide.  The information was timely and extremely valuable.  The recommendations on where to stay, what to avoid, and how to travel was great.  After leaving Destin we stayed at Home Port Marina (Lulu’s) in Gulf Shores for the first night.  From there we went to Seabrook Marina in New Orleans and then on to the City Marina in Houma, which was my wife, Sherri’s, favorite.  The next day it was on to Shell Morgan Landing in Intracoastal City for the night and then Lake Charles where we stayed at L”Aburge Du Luc. The next morning it was homeward bound. 

Going through New Orleans, the Locks, and the Mississippi River is pretty intimidating, not to mention all the different people and organizations you need to communicate with just to travel through the area.  At one time I was communicating on three different radios.  Again, Cruising the Gulf Coast made it easy, as I knew who to contact and on what channel to contact them.

Thanks for providing a great publication to assist us in making cruising enjoyable.  Otherwise, I’m afraid our cruise might have been titled “Cursing the Gulf Coast.”

 Thanks again,

 Gary and Sherri Romer
League City, Texas

Continuing until approximately April 30, 2013, construction will be conducted in the GIWW approximate Mile 6.0, WHL to approximate Mile 8.0,

WHL. Barges and support vessels will be in the vicinity. Construction will be performed 24-hours a day, 6-days a week. For up-to-information,

mariners can contact the project manager at (504) 941-7400. Mariners are urged to transit the area with extreme caution.

The Bayou Blue Pontoon Bridge on State Route 316 across the GIWW, Mile 49.8, WHL, near Bourg, Louisiana, has been severely damaged as the result of a vessel allision. The pontoon barge has been secured along the north side of the waterway and protrudes approximately 30 feet into the navigation channel. Most of the fender system has been destroyed or has been seriously damaged.
In order to facilitate repairs, the following waterway closure schedule will be implemented Monday through Friday, beginning on Monday, November 1, 2010 and continuing through the end of February 2011.
6:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. - Complete closure with the exception of small tows less than 40 feet wide and small boats
10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. - Open to all tows with eastbound traffic allowed to transit first, followed by westbound traffic
1:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. - Complete closure with the exception of small tows less than 40 feet wide and small boats
Outside of the above closure times and on weekends, mariners will be able to transit through the work zone unrestricted. Additionally, no waterway restrictions will occur during the following holidays: Thanksgiving holidays (November 25-28, 2010); Christmas Holidays (December 24-
26, 2010) and New Year’s Holidays (December 31, 2010 through January 2, 2011).
UPDATE: Diving operations will be conducted throughout the repair operation. All mariners are to contact the bridge on VHF-FM Channel 13 or (985) 857-3666, in advance of arriving at the bridge for clearance and passing instructions. Mariners may also contact the Attendant Tug, M/V BRIDGE BUILDER I on VHF-FM Channel 13. Once cleared for passage, mariners are urged to exercise extreme caution when transiting through the bridge at their slowest safe speed.