Is the Mendenhall Bar crossable in a small trawler?

[DDW]

Looks tidal, chart suggests high tide and local knowledge, buoyed. But it would cut a bit ot travel heading north/west out of Juneau. Is this done? Routinely? We draw 3.5', good sonar, but not anxious to test the bottom structure....

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Jetboat maybe at high. Heard folks get stuck on it a lot. Play it safe and go around. Better yet, we skip Juneau and go to Auke Bay or stay in Taku Harbor unless you need ship stores.

 

[Ventana]

Short answer, no.

 

[DDW]

Thanks, good to know.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Haven’t been there for 18yrs or so (when I lived there) and I ran the flats many times w about a 2’ draft 28’ light OB boat. Probably a 2’6” draft. Never had a problem. Don’t think I even polished a prop.
Inquire locally though. Perhaps the Juneau Harbormaster. It has been well marked in the past.

 

[AKDoug]

I have been in Juneau transiting North twice, heading for Elfin Cove to jump the Gulf. It seems to me I went back the way I came in (out to the South) since it was a shorter and more direct transit through the islands anyway...

Unless I had a good reason to go North from Juneau, I wouldn't run it. If I did have a good reason, it's a long way around, and I would plan on a high tide transit. My bet is that there is plenty of water at high tide if you have a good reason to want to run that way.

 

[Ken E.]

Based on dock talk in SE including local fish boats, I wouldn't do it. Significant risk even at high water.

 

[RCook]

We did it in our C-Dory 22 in 1996. In more recent years, the harbormaster recommended against in our 26-footer - too much silting, with unknown shallows.

 

[ak-guy]

There is a wide range of tides. It could be a 10' high tide or a 21' tide.