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08-24-2018, 04:58 PM
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#1
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Member
City: Palos Verdes, CA
Vessel Name: QiQi
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 54
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 11
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Are we too big for the Chesapeake?
Hi everyone. We have a 54 foot Nordic Tug which we have cruised on from Ensenada to Glacier Bay and now have in Southern California. We have been thinking of possibly moving to the Annapolis area or some where similar in Virginia. Our question for you all is whether our tug is too big/draws too much (just under 6 feet) to enjoy boating in the Chesapeake. Or perhaps it would be just fine?
Thoughts appreciated!
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08-24-2018, 05:04 PM
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#2
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Scraping Paint
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,509
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Just spent two months there in our 53, draws five. You will have zero issues.
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08-24-2018, 05:13 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
City: Florida
Vessel Name: Mersea
Vessel Model: Marquis 59
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 202
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Our boat is currently in the Chesapeake.
60 LOA, almost 6ft draft.
Not even close to the biggest boat. Great place, you will love it.
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08-24-2018, 07:38 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Miami River
Vessel Name: Gotcha
Vessel Model: Grand Banks. Heritage. 54
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,863
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Menzies
Do you have any problem with your draft on the ICW?
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08-24-2018, 07:45 PM
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#5
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Scraping Paint
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,509
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigsfish
Menzies
Do you have any problem with your draft on the ICW?
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Normally no, but two weeks of a Southwest blow has blown a lot of water out and made lots of places really skinny, mostly south North Carolina And north South Carolina.
Just pay attention, especially in intersections with inlets, pull her back when depths drop and remember that we are in areas with mud or soft sand in the most part, and protected gear.
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08-24-2018, 08:13 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Miami River
Vessel Name: Gotcha
Vessel Model: Grand Banks. Heritage. 54
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,863
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Thanks.
Never had a problem with a 4.5 draft, this new boat is a 5.0 draft and I found I was at a slight disadvantage in the Bahamas but not real bad. Good to know about those mud and sand, having a keel we should bounce over.
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08-25-2018, 06:17 AM
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#7
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Curmudgeon
City: Stoney Creek, MD
Vessel Name: Moon Dance
Vessel Model: 1974 34' Marine Trader Sedan
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,777
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I've managed to run aground in a boat with 2.5' draft! Up at my end of the Chesapeake you need to pay close attention to your charts and depth sounder, but you'll be OK. Even if you do run aground, it's all sand and mud up here. I've always been able to back off and get on my way.
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08-25-2018, 06:41 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Freedom
Vessel Model: Albin 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 22,975
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600 foot containerships travel the length of the Chesapeake.
While not all creeks may be advisible to run, most of the major rivers can be cruised.
Like the Potomac where warships cruise to Washington, and Annapolis where patrol boats used for training frequent as well as many other destinations.
Sure there are shallow spots, but most of thd bay is accessible to large vessels.
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08-25-2018, 07:33 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
City: Baltimore, MD
Vessel Name: Starshine
Vessel Model: 1989 Bayliner 3288
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 288
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You’ll be fine. Lots of boats your size and larger spend their entire lives on the Chesapeake.
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08-25-2018, 08:20 AM
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#10
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Valued Technical Contributor
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 5,724
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I cruised the Chesapeake on a 43' sailboat with a 6' draft and I had no problem. Virtually every anchorage shown on Active Captain is accessible with that draft.
The real question is how are you going to move it from SoCal to the east coast? Either a long cruise through the Panama Canal or shipping it from Ensenada. Trucking would require removing a lot of stuff from that boat.
David
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08-25-2018, 07:27 PM
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#11
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Member
City: Palos Verdes, CA
Vessel Name: QiQi
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 54
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 11
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Thanks for all the comments. We would ship it from Ensenada to Florida and then take it up the ICW.
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08-25-2018, 07:59 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Miami River
Vessel Name: Gotcha
Vessel Model: Grand Banks. Heritage. 54
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,863
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If I had the time and that option I would love to make that trip through the Panama Canal.
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