Earlier reports have indicated depths of 5.8 feet at dead low in this perennial “AICW Problem Stretch” north of Beaufort, SC. Capt. Cordello confirms our recommendation to take this passage at mid to high tide.
Please make special note of the confirming article from Captain Horowitz below, recorded on 11/3/12!
And now, this report from Capt. Holmes which indicates an increase in shoaling:

April 20, 2013
We just came thru Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff on 4/20/2013 and the reported shoaling has gotten worse. We consistently saw 4.5 feet at MLW and one 3.9 foot at MLW. There appears to be an easy by pass by going down the Coosaw River toward St Helena Sound and up the Ashepoo Rv. We have not tried this route but will on the trip south next fall.
John Holmes

Oct 12 we also transit the Ashepoo/Coosaw Cut on a falling tide, just 2.5 feet above mlw, what we saw was exactly what was reported between markers 184 and 185 there would have been only 4.5 feet of water, strongly suggest going at mid to high tide.
Doug Cordello

Southbound, 3 November 2012. Exited the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff (“185″) at 1735. Low tide at 1818, +1.27′. Saw depths as low as 6 1/2′, so when you do the math there is not a lot of water at MLLW +0.0. At 1600 +2.8′, 1700 +1.8′, 1800 +1.2′, so check the daily tables and plan your passage accordingly.
Mike Horowitz
ALTAIR

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff

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Earlier reports have indicated depths of 5.8 feet at dead low in this perennial “AICW Problem Stretch” south of Charleston, SC.

Abeam of “186″ at 1137 and followed the magenta line around to abeam “185″, entrance to the Ashepoo-Coosaw cutoff, and depth dropped to as low as 8.1′, then bounced between 8.1′ to 8.5′ abeam of “184″. Low tide prediction: 1339, +0.14′-probably have at least 6′, + or -, at LT. Dredging would help.
Michael J. Horowitz aboard ALTAIR

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With his 6.25 ft draft, Capt. Pascal keeps a very sharp eye on the Waterway’s trouble spots and we can rely on the accuracy of his reports and the depths recorded here coincide with earlier reports of 5.8 feet at dead low in this perennial “AICW Problem Stretch” south of Charleston, SC. Penny’s report of Jan 23 suggests that the channel is shifting with the renewed shoaling.

I found shoaling to have worsened significantly over the summer in the southern section between the Coosaw and Rock creek. I follow the exact same path and found depths to be almost 2 ft shallower than back in May. I had planned to arrive with 3′ of tides remaining and ended up squeaking by with just a ft under the wheels (6.25 draft). This is definitely a play-the-tide stretch for most and close to Lil Mud River level.
Everything else so far is pretty much unchanged since spring.
Here are my notes:
MM516 Ashepoo Coosaw Southern section, 6′ to 7′ MLW most of the way but some 4.5 to 5′ MLW spots just north of R184. This is down almost 2′ from this spring on the same line. Make sure you come in or exit the southern end of the cut at an angle as shown on the charts (by R184/G195).
A new can G177 has been added by the FL G 177 to mark the shoal.
Note that the northern section of the cut off bet R166 and R172 is no problem, over 12′ MLW.
Capt. Pascal Gademer

Cruising News:
Claiborne
Just came through the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff roughly two hours after high tide, +5.8’, and the lowest depth readings were 10.8’, suggesting there would be only 5’ at low. Looks like severe shoaling; suggest transiting with this in mind.
So far, in our transit south this year from Sandy Hook to Delray Beach, this is the first serious shoaling we encountered.
Mike Horowitz aboard ALTAIR

Just came through the Ashepoo Coosaw cutoff 3 times in the last 6 weeks. At the southern end near the Coosaw river, I saw 6 ft. at dead low tide. Favour the red side going south.
The other two times I came through at mid tide rising and had no trouble. My vessel draws 5 ft. Hope this helps.
Phil Mullins

Just cleared the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff 1 hour after high tide with a 5 ft draft. Lowest water reported was 12 ft. near red 184. The new green can 177A is off station. Currently in the grass about 100 feet south of green day marker 177.
Dick White aboard M/V Emerald Lady

These updated reports are pretty accurate except showing even more shoaling as green markers 169 and 177 are standing in grass with 20-30 feet of sand/mud on the bank at just before low tide. Depth sounder went off more times than I care to count. stay exactly between R 184 and G 185 then hug south bank to avoid extending shoal just after before heading to R 186. Favoring red as mentioned in another report put us in the mud for a quick thrill.
Penny aboard Penelope

Click Here To View Another Recent Report from This Trouble Spot.

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Capt. Miller gives us good news about depths in two problem stretches in this leg of the Waterway and I’ve added charts below for the sections he mentions.
Captain Miller is probably lucky that he did not come near the marker #185 and the southeastern shores, of the southwesterly mouth of the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff. If he had, depths would have been CONSIDERABLY less that what he encountered. Click the link to the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff’s listing in our “AICW Problem Stretch” Directory below to learn more!

Today we left St John Harbor Marina @ 7:13 AM and had no trouble all the way to Beaufort. This included the cut by markers 184 & 185 [Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff] which we hit at 12:30 AND LOWEST DEPTH RECORDED was 11.4’ just north of those marks center channel. There was no shoal from there to the next red on direct course line.
Also we carried 14’ plus through the cut that ends with markers 164 & 165 [Fenwick Cut].
Regards, Harry Miller

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3-Ashepoo Coosaw cutoff 2 hours after low tide (MM-513.6 to MM-515 East or North section)
We saw 10 -13 feet the whole way, center of channel
Ashepoo Coosaw cutoff (MM-516.4 to MM-517.7 West or South section)
Still approx. 2 hours after low tide
From G-177 to G-181 we saw 6 feet under us, center of channel
At the south end, approx. 200 yards North of R-184 to G-185 We saw 3.5 to 4.1 feet, center of channel.
This info is what we experienced in our travels. As always you are the captain of your vessel and should use this as info only. Safe travels.
Palmetto Moon

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff

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This report coincides with earlier reports of 5.8 feet at dead low in this perennial “AICW Problem Stretch” south of Charleston, SC. These reports might also indicate a renewal of shoaling at the cut’s southwestern tip. In a few months this stretch might once again become a serious problem for AICW cruisers.
Capt. Roney chose to turn south out of Fenwick Cut (statute mile 511) down the Ashepoo River, then northwest up the Combahee River to the Coosaw River just south of the Ashpoo/Coosaw Cutoff. And as Capt. Roney advises, give a wide berth to the flashing 4s marker at the southern end of Combahee Bank.

September 26, 2011
There is shoaling in this area [Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff] around Green Marker “185″. We happened to be traveling with another motor yacht this same day. The tide was 1.5 hours before low on a 6.4 foot tide range. Around Green Marker “185″ He reported 7 feet of water. I opted to take the southern route after Fenwick Cut and head for St. Helena Sound and return to the ICW after the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff. This put us in deep water between Hutchinson Ilsand and Fenwick Island. All navigational aids where present. This put on an extra 4.5 nm on the trip however being a motor yacht this did not affect us too severely. You will want to watch your currents in the area for slower moving vessels.
If you take this route please watch out for the Combahee Bank. It extends much further then the chart shows. Give it a wide berth. Safe Travels,
Brendan Roney

Oct 24/11
We saw only 4 ft at marker 184 near low tide. There are several 6 ft deep places near marker 181.
Richard Ross
MV Chez Nous

AICW Problem Stretch Link:
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This report of good depths in this perennial “AICW Problem Stretch” south of Charleston, SC is good news for cruisers. However, earlier reports of 5.8 feet at the cut’s southwestern tip shows the channel is indeed shoaling once again. By fall of 2011, this stretch might once again become a serious problem for AICW cruisers.

Passed #184 – #185 yesterday, June 28,2011 one hour after low tide heading north on AICW. Depth was recorded as 6.4 ft mid channel between markers (slight favor to red). We draw 5’5″ no problems.
Doug and Michelle Jacoby

AICW Problem Stretch Link:
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The dredging of two years ago has held until recently and, as Captain Healy reports, shallow spots are beginning to reappear. Mid-high tide is still our best advice for this stretch. We have placed a Navigation Alert between markers #185 and #184 at the south end of the cut.

4/23/2011, Sanctuary and crew travelled from Beaufort, SC, to Dewees Creek, North of Charleston; NORTHBOUND. As you know, the Ashpoo-Coosaw Cutoff has two parts, separated by Rock Creek, in the vicinity of StM 516 – StM 515. Approaching the southern cut from the Coosaw River, we made our approach by staying off in deep water until we lined up with the cut, and then turning into the cut along it’s centerline between the red and the green. With that approach, we saw 5.7′. The tide was near low. I don’t know if a more oblique approach there would have provided more water. That area needs monitoring for shoaling. The entire southern cut (below Rock Creek) is filling in. The northern cut (above Rock Creek) was dredged a couple of years ago and remains fine.
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary

Went through on rising tide, about 1 hour before high tide. Saw 8.5 feet below transducer at the start of the channel going north. After that depths were anywhere from 12 to to 15 feet. Go through on a rising tide. Since the tide change was around 7 feet, could be scrapping bottom at low tide.
Capt. David

We transisted this area northbound on May 10, 2011 at 1.4′ above datum. Two boats in front of us favored the red at 184, and reported 7.3′ or just under 6′ at MLW. We stayed directly in the center, and saw no less than 8.4′, or 7′ at MLW. The rest of the cut had even more water.
James Forsyth aboard S/V Solution Allied Seawind II

May 10, 2011. waited to get 3′ of tide to come thru. At the south end, the key is NOT to line up with the cut when coming in northbound but follow the ICW line, at an angle. this will give you 8′ MLW. Once in the cut, depth are adequate with at least 8 to 9′ MLW. At the junction with Rock Creek, stay clear of G177 by about 150′ for at least 12′ MLW.
The northern section, north of Rock Creek is no problem, just stay on centerline and don’t cut corners at the entrances.
Pascal aboard MY Charmer, 70′ 6+ draft

Claiborne, We came through the Ashapoo Cut today, 5/14/2011 and you guessed it, right at low tide. We followed the magenta line on our plotter and came out into the Coosaw with plenty of Depths EXCEPT immediately past red “184″ on the magenta line we had 6.9 feet for a very short distance, then 8.5 feet and then deeper as we entered the River. The trick is to follow the line exactly, if you have a current chart in your plotter. Chuck and Susan

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff

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This report of good depths in this perennial “AICW Problem Stretch” south of Charleston, SC is good news for the upcoming spring migration. However, that sounding of 5.8 feet at the cut’s southwestern tip (see below) shows the channel is indeed shoaling once again. By fall of 2011, this stretch might once again become a serious problem for AICW cruisers.

Cruising News:
We passed through the cutoff at DEAD LOW TIDE on March 13, 2011. Skinniest water was at the southern end of the cut, between markers 184 and 185, where we saw 5’8″. Most of the rest of the cut showed 7′-9′. March 13 was not a particularly low tide, so you might encounter shallower water on low low tide days.
Skipper Larry Thackston on M/V PEACH

Transited this area on 3/26/11 and stayed in the middle to tending towards the green side of the middle. Tide was at 3.2-3.5 feet above mlw. Between the two entry markers at the south end saw 9.8′. Least we saw in the southern third of the cut was 9.1′. the rest of the cut was at or above 10′ with most readings above 12′. Estimated minimum depth at mlw through the southern third is 5.5′.
Skipper Ed Grygent

At the Ashapoo – Coosaw Cutoff (about mm 516 – North of Beaufort, NC), there was 6′ at the entrance near R184 just after low water. Also in the cutoff stay well clear of G177. When we went through there was 10 of dry ground between the waterway and the marker. The Waterway Cruising Guide details this cut well.
Mitch & Carole Brodkin

AICW Problem Stretch Link:
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Captain Shick has proposed an alternate route to the Ashepoo Cutoff into the Coosaw River to avoid the shoaling at that intersection. We invite your experience and opinions on this alternate route.
Please note that the SSECN does NOT advocate this alternate route, as we have yet had the opportunity to sound it for ourselves.

Why not take the Ashepoo River instead of the cutoff? Yes, it takes an additional 4-5 miles, but if it avoids all this…?
Captain Larry Shick

Yes, you can do the Alternate route at Marker 184 you are talking about, but the shoals do shift some, so just be careful. I can not see why you would want to avoid the Cutoff unless it is dead low tide and you are a deep draft boat or want to anchor. We went thru there this summer with no problem.
Name Not Provided

Further on this: We went through the Ashepoo River – St Helena Sound – Coosaw River route this morning. The one surprise was that Combahee Bank (32-28N/80-26W) is rather larger than charted in my 11/2009 S57 chart. We saw 8′ (at +3′ tide, so 5′ MLW) in an area charted for 15′-20′. So swing a little wide, and watch your depth sounder if you choose to go this way. Otherwise, no problems.
Captain Larry Shick

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff