Canals of Pine Knoll Shores plus Livin’ the Dream on Spooners and Pelletier Creeks

Start Times

General departure time is 11am. That said, we will accommodate your schedule should you need to depart at a different time.

We offer a military discount to those who qualify (ID required at check-in).

Duration

2.5 Hours

About

We start our trip in the quiet waters of Pelletier Creek at Coral Bay Marina, then head over to the Canals of PKS. In the 1960’s building a canal system as part of a real estate development was a common practice up and down the east coast. From a governmental regulatory perspective, constructing a canal system in the late 1960s and even the marinas at Beacon’s Reach and Sea Isle in the 1980s was significantly easier than it is today. What with environmental sensitivity, wetland designations, wildlife and endangered species concerns, plant and habitat issues, water table and wastewater disposal and groundwater contamination considerations, the requirement for Environmental Impact Statements, and other county, state, and federal regulations it would be a hard slog to develop a community today with similar amenities to what we have.

In addition to providing many recreational benefits, the canal system lowers the water table, which improves the operation of everyone’s septic system, helps drain the land, enhances the dispersal of stormwater, and eliminates the need for roadside drainage ditches. All of which contribute to keeping the mosquito population at a tolerable level. The ownership and responsibility for maintaining the waterway is spread among several groups. The contents of the canal are federal/state waters, the bottom of the canal was deeded to Pine Knoll Association by the Roosevelt family, and the bulkheads are the responsibility of adjacent landowners as specified by town ordinance. Maintaining navigable depth is the responsibility of PKA.

Afterward, we set a course to Spooners Creek on the other side of Bogue Sound. It will be an interesting contrast to what we have already seen, before heading back on the ICW and Pelletier Creek. From $549 for up to 4 passengers. Please add $30 for passengers #5 and #6.