Moonstruck wrote:
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JD wrote:* Maybe we need to take our heads out and keep a better watch.* Well at least if we have Pods.JD, I think that you are in NC.* Watch it at the Alligator River entrance,*in Bogue Sound, both channels going into Beaufort, behind Bogue Inlet, at the White Oak River junction at Swansboro, behind Bear Inlet, New River crossing,*behind Carolina Beach, and Snow's Cut just to name a few.* You don't have to be out of the marked channel to run aground.* That is just one section of the ICW.* Those Tow Boat/US and Seatow boats don't hang around for nothing.
I subscribe to the theory that those that cruise the ICW and haven't run aground probably will.* I operate my boat accordingly.* My charts are full of notes.* The above was from memory.* The charts are on the boat.
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Moonstruck,
I have been through almost all of those places and a few more here in NC with two different sailboats of over 5' 6"*draft.* For the most part if you stay in the channel you will be just fine.* Now I'm not talking about the channel on your chart plotter, I'm talking about looking forward and aft at the markers.* The channel does change and here in NC you must look out for the cans and nuns, not to mention the occasional green floater*or red ball.* I have run aground several times with the sailboat but one time was my fault (didn't pick up the markers switching sides at Oregon Inlet and Old House Channel*due to a dredge in operation) and one time two years ago in Adams Creek when a 60' Sportfish rolled me out of the channel with his wake.***Ocracoke Inlet is a tough one but all you have to do is ask for help from any*one of the Ferry Captains or the USCG station*and they will advise you as to where the problems are.* It is usually at G11 that the shoaling happens and there usually are a couple of cans out.* If you line up the Day Marks and don't see the cans you are going to bump.*
I think if you use common sense and are careful there won't be much of a problem.* BTW common sense includes looking out side at the*Day Marks, looking at the chart plotter and also looking at the depth finder.* The Ocracoke Inlet is 12' for the most part and when the depth finder starts reading 6' you are headed the wrong way.*