Anchorage Review for Petit Bois Island

Reviewed by: James A Ferguson on May 16, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.9'

It is very easy to find yourself aground in this anchorage. Water depth goes from 19 feet to 6 feet very very quickly. Holding is decent. I pulled up grass, sand and mud.

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Anchorage Review for Mermentau G5

Reviewed by: James A Ferguson on Apr 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.9'

We made our way into this anchorage at about 4:30PM. We found the depth as described. Holding was excellent. We were in a wind advisory with speeds of 30-40 mph. Although protection from the wind is not that great, protection from the waves was really pretty good. We didn't move until we pulled up the anchor (35 lb Mantis with 20 feet of chain). We were comfortable all night. As you make your way in, leave bread crumbs on your chart because it is easy to run aground outside the channel which narrow as you make your way to/from the anchorage from the main marked channel…been there, did that?.

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Marina Review for Harborwalk Yacht Club & Marina

Reviewed by: James A Ferguson on Dec 22, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.9'

Rating: 4

The facilities at Harborwalk are in the process of being upgraded. The 3 pools were completely refinished in the summer of 2019 but are close for the winter. Channel from ICW to the Marina entrance dredged to 8 feet in spring/summer 2019 however there are still some 5 foot bumps at low tide. At this time the restaurant has been renovated but it is not open. It may open again in the spring or summer this year (2019). Gasoline and Diesel available year round but the store hours are limited during the winter and it is only open Thursday - Sunday. There are 16 very nice and large floating transient slips at the bulkhead adjacent to the pools.

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Bridge comment on Galveston Causeway Railroad Bridge

Comment by: James A Ferguson, Mischief Managed, on Apr 7, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'

Bridge operator monitors channel 16 and requests change to channel 9 for more information.

Water level gauges on the starboard side (right) when passing under the bridge indicate bridge clearance when it is in the fully down position. Bridge has painted on broad white stripe on the lifting part of the bridge that match up with broad white stripes on the stationary parts on both sides when the bridge is in fully up position. One sailor friend of mine regularly taps the RR bridge with his mast top vhf antenna on this bridge (at high tide) but not on the fixed Galveston Causeway Bridge adjacent to the RR bridge. His height with antenna is 72+ feet.

Watch for strong currents in either direction depending on the tide flow. Wind can become a little "squirrely" between the bridges.

Normal tidal difference between high and low tide is 1 - 2 feet.

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