Opinions Please

I saw this in our local paper and I thought I'd seek some opinions. The local USCG has removed all Day markers and can markers marking a shallow area. We as local boaters know the area the writer is talking about, it is well marked on the charts and has been marked by local crab and fishermen. I'm not trying to fuss or start a battle but isn't it the responsibility of a boater to know his planned path? Or at the least know how to read a chart and use a depth finder? This area the boater is speaking about has not changed in over 10 years. Why should the counties taxpayers be paying for something that a boater should already know?

James City Marina
Clearly, the waterway entry to the James City County Marina has a known hazard to navigation. It appears the county knows it. As a boat owner, I am astounded to read the county has chosen to do nothing. Has JCC truly shunned responsibility for assembling and leading a team for clearing the waterway into the marina? At the very least, the county should champion the effort to get the obstacles more clearly marked for safe passage, day and night. One grounding causing significant damage to a vessel, let alone injury to passengers, could draw the owner's insurance company to heavily litigate against whoever they deem responsible. At best, word will spread among boaters about the obstacle and they will tend to avoid the marina. JCC needs to address fixing this waterway safety issue.

If the markers were removed for a dredging operation they will be returned with the new channel. If not you local boaters should get some white barrels with the correct reflective tape some rops and cinderblocks and remark it the best you can. Then file a lawsuit against the government

Bt Doctur said:

If the markers were removed for a dredging operation they will be returned with the new channel. If not you local boaters should get some white barrels with the correct reflective tape some rops and cinderblocks and remark it the best you can. Then file a lawsuit against the government

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USCG removed the markers in most if not all non commercial creeks and rivers. They say they no longer have the funds to maintain those channels. Locals have placed 2" PVC pipe at the channels edge. Most know the channel

I am not knowledgeable of USCG specific policies regarding what areas they mark and those that they do not.

I do know that there are a tremendous amount of "private channel" markers that show up on the east coast. My assumption is that these are marked and maintained by a local group or maybe a marina in some cases.

Maybe its driven by the extent of whether it is a public channel for both commercial and recreational traffic versus a limited use channel used in a limited group who transit.

Not fact based - just guessing.

https://www.vagazette.com/news/va-vg-safety-sandy-bay-james-city-marina-1228-story.html

If there's really increased activity/business growth expected at the marina you'd think they and the county might pitch some $$$ toward the local group so they can mark what's needed.

To your question...yes, if your driving the boat, it is up to you to know where you're going but we all appreciate the help when it's there don't we.

There were a lot of areas like that on the Rappahannock too when we used to live there. M

Woody said:

https://www.vagazette.com/news/va-vg-safety-sandy-bay-james-city-marina-1228-story.html

If there's really increased activity/business growth expected at the marina you'd think they and the county might pitch some $$$ toward the local group so they can mark what's needed.

To your question...yes, if your driving the boat, it is up to you to know where you're going but we all appreciate the help when it's there don't we.

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Woody, many of us there have banded together and have marked the unmarked area. This year we plan to do the paperwork needed to place seasonal markers. We built 2" PVC markers with orange flashing LED lights. Solar powered dusk to dawn. We have used our own funds to build and maintain the markers. Our plan is to add two more this year. We have to remove the lights and radar reflectors in November due to ice.
The county is not going to spend another dime on the creek. They are spending over 6mill on the marina itself.

WOW we are blessed! We have commercial barge traffic on the Kanawha River and the Army Corp maintains all of our channel markers. red, right, return !!