St. Augustine, Florida Local Boating Knowledge
What types of information should you acquire before operating your vessel in a new area? It’s all lumped under “Local Knowledge.” This is a checklist I used recently for a boater new to the area.

- ICW
- Marking System
- Inlet
- Marking System
- Bearings
- Inlet Action
- Wind and Tide Opposed – East / West
- Wind and Tide Combined – East / West
- Return on own bearings/course is best
- Landmarks
- Lighthouse, Cross, Presbyterian Church Dome, Vilano Bridge, Airport, Fishing Pier, Amphitheater,
- Channels
- ICW East then North and West then South
- Inlet East
- Salt Run South
- Marking System Channel Junctions
- LEO
- Homeland Security Training
- St. Johns County Fire Rescue
- St. Johns County Sheriff’s Department
- Passenger Trade
- Victory, Sabrage, Water Taxis, Tiki Huts, Eco Tours, Freedom, ROW
- Sunken Boats
- Look on chartplotter
- Opposite Camachee – boils
- Docks for Lunch
- Caps, Kate’s, Kingfish Grill, Beaches (Publix), Conch House, Municipal
- Sandbars
- Inlet
- Airport
- Kate’s / Robinson Creek
- Salt Run
- Bridges
- Channels, Schedules, Dolphins use
- Vilano / Usina
- Bridge of Lions
- 312
- Mooring Fields
- Wind Prevailing
- Tide Range
- Currents Speed
- Clouds Typical / Worrisome
- Storms Direction, Intensity
- Anchorages
- Right of Way – Likely here
- NUC – anyone
- RAM – dredges, barges
- CBD – sail
- FISH – shrimpers
- SAIL – no day shapes visible
- PWR – speeds, bui, no wake zones
- PED – opp fort, Salt Run, Vilano, jet paks, waydoos foils, jet skis, kayaks, craigcats, tubing, – who likely where
- Depths – cloud vice color
- Cruiser’s Net / Sea Tow
- St. Augustine Sailing Sisters – join, race, donate!

I Don’t Go Anywhere Without:
- Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code “KimW” for 10% off.
- MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits, this link and my code “KimW” will save you 10% on your purchase. We take ours everywhere.
- North American Rescue CAT tourniquets.
- Travelex is our trip insurer – click for a free quote.
- Girls That Scuba – members discount card for all things diving.
- Sailo for $100 off your next boat rental! Discount Code: “KimWa1”
- PierShare to rent your dock out or rent a dock.
- RoadId for $5 off your cycling/running/kayaking/travel id.
- Thank you for using my links – your price does not change, but they may gift me a small percentage of your sale in return for my mention, which allows me to continue to bring to you fun content.
- AD: affiliate links used.
- Thank you Bill for being the Best Sailing Partner EVER!