So for those of us that live by Stono Inlet, anyone know of a tow service that will transit this inlet? My friend needed a tow from off northeast Kiawah to the Folly River-perhaps 6 miles. Sea Tow won’t use Stono so the tow was: ocean past Kiawah, past Stono Inlet, past Folly to the shipping channel, jetties, harbor, Wappoo cut, Stono, Folly- about 30+ miles and 7 or so hours.
Any service allowed to transit Stono inlet?
It is a tricky inlet under power, much less being towed. There are many variables at Stono such as tide, current, wind, etc and the tow captain has the ultimate call for safety reasons. I have hit bottom there before and I was in the channel so I am not surprised they wouldn’t. Call the two companies yourself to obtain an official answer. Your friend could have certainly stopped at any of the closer landings and then retrieved the tow vehicle via a cab or friend to speed the process as they certainly knew the rate of travel.
Is your friend the one who ran out of fuel?
LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS:
SOUTH CAROLINA-SEACOAST-STONO INLET: The following change has been proposed for the aids to navigation system at Stono Inlet: Permanently discontinue STONO INLET LIGHTED GONG BUOY 1S (LLNR 240/3705).
Chart 11521 LNM 02/11
All comments should be addressed to Commander (DPW), Seventh Coast Guard District 909 S.E. 1st Ave (STE 406) Brickell Plaza Federal Bldg
Miami, Fl 33131.
Our tradition is that of the first man who sneaked away to the creek when the tribe did not really need fish.
No indication the Captain at the scene made the call due to local conditions. Reference was made to the tow service can only transit coast guard maintained waterways. Those of us at Mariner’s, Sunset Marina, and the Folly ramp know the vagrancies of the inlet. Nonetheless it’s the inlet that we have- so was wondering if there was a service that would bring us back the way we came.
I have in the past successfully towed in boats through Stono Inlet. While it can get hairy, if you pick your days, it WAS done safely. However, the Stono Inlet has been deemed un-navigable by the Coast Guard and the buoys removed. So lets say I decide to tow you back in through Stono cause that’s where you left from and all heck breaks loose and something really bad happens. Now I don’t have a leg to stand on cause ya see the Coast Guard has deemed the Inlet un-navigable and I don’t really want to loose my license. So we’re gonna go the long way and yeah I know its a pain in the azz. So while you can still go in and out the Inlet, maybe you should check on your insurance cause I’m fairly certain in federal maritime court, if you have an incident in the inlet, your insurance company is gonna make a case that the inlet is un-navigable and thus your insurance is null and void. I know if I tow you in through Stono now, our insurance becomes null and void.
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
843-881-8949
Sea School Charleston
843-747-1000
www.seatow.com
www.seaschool.com
Thanks for the answer! That sums it up.
Btw, there are still cans marking the channel- at least as of last weekend.
Stickman, i go in and out of Stone often. I saw Towboat US towing a 20 foot boat in 2 weeks on way back from offshore. Not sure how far out they were or any details b/c they were just inside of the questionable/shoaly area that people worry about