WILSON LANDING BECOMES SC’s 14th CLEAN MARINA

The South Carolina Clean Marina Committee has granted Clean Marina certification to Wilson Landing, a part of the Palmetto Bluff development on the May River near Bluffton, SC.

A flag and certificate were awarded to the marina at the South Carolina Marine Association annual meeting. SCMA administers the SC Clean Marina Program in cooperation with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and the SC Department of Natural Resources. more>>

Wait! Don’t Put Your Boat Away Yet!
By Suzi DuRant

One huge advantage boaters in South Carolina have is that there is absolutely no reason to put the boat away after Labor Day. In fact, the late fall into December offers some of the best conditions for enjoying your boat, whether for fishing or just cruising around.

Unlike in the spring when the water temperature is cool enough to make boating a bit uncomfortable, fall usually brings mild weather. The water temperature is still in the 70s and the cool mornings and evenings combined with warm days makes being out on the water very enjoyable. An added benefit is that the bug population dwindles to almost nothing.

Capt. Brad Prescott from Belle Isle Marina agrees: “Fall is a fantastic time of year for boating from South Santee to Little River. No heat and no humidity are just two great reasons.” Not only that, but there are “no horseflies, yellow flies and other pests that prohibit you and your family from enjoying the remote beaches only accessible by boat.” more>>

How to get Started Wakeboarding
By Chris Eller

With the popularity and access to wakeboarding still increasing at a rapid pace there a few simple rules to think about when getting started. Choosing the right gear and learning the fundamentals correctly from the beginning will make progression to harder, more advanced tricks happen more quickly. Even more importantly than the gear and technique to the beginner’s success is the driving.

Wakeboard gear can be inexpensive part of getting started. In general, the goal is to find a board, boots, and vest that “will work for everyone.” And when I say “everyone” I mean little sister, brother, mom and dad. This is not only uncomfortable but is not safe for all riders to share gear. Three things to think about are board size, boot size, and life jacket size. more>>

On our cover: The Trophy 2206 Dual Console is a versatile boat that lets you take a buddy fishing offshore one day and the family tubing on an inland lake the next. These Trophys come equipped with aerated livewells, insulated fishboxes with overboard drains, gunnel-mounted rod holders, storage lockers for fishing and watersports gear, and a layout that accommodates both the hardcore angler and the rest of the crew. Mercury power options get you to the fish quickly and confidently and provide the pull for watersports. Trophy Center Consoles are available thru Duncan's Boats in North Charleston, 843-744-2628.

Welcome aboard!

There are so many good reasons to be a Grand Strand boater this time of year. The fishing is great, of course, confirmed by our guides in the Grand Strand Fishing Report (see page 60), and the catch of those tasty Spade fish highlighted in the Fishing Guide (page 56) this issue. But those are just a few of the reasons to be here and to be out on your boat.

The fact that the heat is gone (for now), along with summer crowds and humidity, make Fall “a fantastic time of year for boating from South Santee to Little River,” according to Capt. Brad Prescott from Belle Isle Marina. Suzi DuRant talks with Capt. Prescott and Capt. Doug Ford of Intracoastal Yacht Sales in Little River for their perspective on boating and this sweet spot on the calendar. See the “Wait!” feature beginning on page 7.

Also in this new issue we begin a new series on what has become a very popular sport along the Grand Strand: Wakeboarding. Chris Eller authors these features from his perspective as a US National Medalist and MasterCraft Pro Tour driver. Chris, with his wife, April Coble Eller – US Masters Champion and current Malibu Open slalom champion, owns and operates the Coble Ski School in Lillington NC. This issue Chris shares some insights on how to get started in this demanding sport.

Of course, if you want to participate in something as demanding as wakeboarding (my back can attest to those demands!), you’ve got to stoke the furnace. What better place for good food than the Belle Isle Marina Bar & Grill at, where else, Belle Isle Marina. This Pilot’s Galley feature will whet your appetite on page 51.

And speaking of fishing ... Capt. Butch Foster waxes eloquent on Spade fish, as I mentioned above, and reinforces that drive to get out on the water. (page 57) I’m ready ... and look forward to seeing you out there!

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-Van Hendrix

Van Hendrix