I’m with the “go!” statement. I’ve done the ICW both ways, Georgetown, SC being the southernmost exit point, on everything from 28’ sailboats to a 100’ private motor yacht which had a draft a good bit deeper that 8’ and it’s the expensive bits that hit first and had no difficulties. Dumb luck probably. It has been ten years since the last trip and although things seem to be getting shallower in the areas that Rick mentioned I would take my boat.
That is of course IF I finish my refit and IF I do get it to the Bahamas. I’ll use the ICW to Beaufort, NC if not further South. The loaded draft on my boat is easily 6’ 8”, if not more. Of course, prudence never hurts; my brother’s father-in-law, an ex-destroyer captain and ex-sailboat racer cruised to Florida and the Bahamas from the Chesapeake almost every other winter in retirement. He would tow is his dinghy with a kedging anchor and line stowed in it. Best, Dave 1982 C&C 37 - Ronin On Nov 26, 2013, at 7:00 AM, Andrew Burton <a.burton.sai...@gmail.com> wrote: > We're in the Alligator -Pungo Canal at the moment and we've had not problems > (so far). The trick seems to be to stay on the "magenta line" except at the > entrance to the Alligator River. I think 7' would be OK, you tend to be more > watchful than someone who draws only 4'. I took 9' down in 1984 and didn't > touch. I've been thinking about whether I could take Peregrine with 7'3" > draft and I've no doubt we could. > If you do touch--and it's mostly mud--the trick is to figure out which way > is the deep water and motor forward to get there. Wiggle the keel around in > the mud with the engine going full blast, while waggling the rudder, and just > work your way through the mud. Reversing off rarely works and gets silt in > the engine intake; not so good for impellers. > Slocum said, "to any young man contemplating a voyage, I would say "go!"" > > Andy > C&C 40 > Peregrine > > Andrew Burton > 61 W Narragansett > Newport, RI > USA 02840 > > http://sites.google.com/site/andrewburtonyachtservices/ > +401 965-5260 > > On Nov 26, 2013, at 5:54, "Jake Brodersen" <captain_j...@cox.net> wrote: > >> Andy, >> >> No trouble with 6.5’ draft in the ditch? I’ve often thought of making a run >> south, but the thought of dodging shallow water the whole way puts me off. >> I haven’t made it past milepost zero yet. >> >> Jake >> >> >> Jake Brodersen >> “Midnight Mistress” >> C&C 35 Mk-III >> Hampton Va >> >> <image001.png> >> >> >> >> From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf OfAndrew >> Burton >> Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 10:05 PM >> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com >> Subject: Re: Stus-List Andrew running the ditch south >> >> The Valiant draws 6.5'. It's now a bad boat for it, though the prop seems >> under-pitched so we're only getting 6.7 knots. >> Right now the ditch is dark, but well marked. Just have to get through >> Coinjock and we're in open water so life gets simpler and I can take a nap! >> Andy >> >> Andrew Burton >> 61 W Narragansett >> Newport, RI >> USA 02840 >> >> http://sites.google.com/site/andrewburtonyachtservices/ >> +401 965-5260 >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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