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Please Note That Postings Below From Fellow Cruisers Are Listed in Chronological Order, Based on Publication Date
Earlier reports have indicated depths of 5.8 feet at dead low in this perennial “AICW Problem Stretch” south of Charleston, SC. Earlier reports also suggest that the channel is shifting with the renewed shoaling.
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
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Captain Bob, friend and author of the note below (copied from the AGLCA Forum), is one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to the “Holy City” of Charleston and its intricate waters. Thanks Captain Bob for a snapshot of Charleston Maritime Center.
Charleston Maritime Center Downtown. Biggest thing it has going for it is the local super market. Pretty reasonable, Small not many slips. Wide open to tourist and the local tour boats operate out of there as well. If you stay six months put out every fender you have because it can get really rocky rolley in there with wakes coming into that small basin from the harbor and a wind from the wrong direction sends waves rolling in bouncing off the walls inside.
Capt Bob
M/Y ALLEZ! MT50 WB
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Charleston Maritime Center
Well, of course Captain Phil was impressed. After all, these good people are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
My wife and I were recently visiting in Charleston and came across the Charleston Harbor Marina and Resort.
http://www.charlestonharbormarina.com/
I was impressed with the manager Kelly Poe ( 843-284-7065) and his efforts to welcome new boaters. They are considering offering an AGLC discount and being sponsors. Although the marina is across the bridge from Charleston they offer shuttle rides every 30 minutes or so to and from Charleston. I plan on staying there this fall.
Phil
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Charleston Harbor Marina
Captain Bob isn’t kidding below when he says that Cooper River Marina is “remote.” In fact, it’s located in what was a backwater section of the old Charleston US Navy Base, and it’s quite a drive to get pretty much anywhere from its docks. Still, the rates are reasonable, and if you have readily available shoreside, auto transportation, this facility is a possibility in the greater Charleston area!
The Cooper River Marina is run by Charleston, County bit more reasonable but remote in a North Charleston Industrial area. Need a car and I d believe they are still unloading concrete ships up there and lots of nice concrete dust to wash off your boat from time to time.
Capt Bob
Onboard ALLEZ! MT50
We stayed at Cooper River for a month in November and would go back again. Didn’t see any dust from loading ships. Staff there was most accommodating and offered us rides if we needed, including all the way to the airport. Like the fact that it’s next to a Navy base. Felt very secure leaving the boat there. Also, nice docks and good facilities.
Dennis Jay
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of
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.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Bridge opening schedules can be confusing even with the best wording and with the frequent changes that seem always to occur during the busiest seasons; Chris experienced two of such changes. We have confirmed and listed below the most up-to-date schedules of openings for three of the busiest bridges in SC.
We are very late this year in our trip south. One thing we have encountered is “on signal” bridges which are no longer such. Socastee and Ben Sawyer have new restrictions. Socastee was on the half hour and BS was on the hour on a non-holiday Friday.
Chris aboard Brilliant Star
Socastee Swing Bridge
Opens on Demand with closures required every 15 minutes when vessel traffic is heavy.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Socastee Bridge
Ben Sawyer Bridge:
Opens on request Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Does not open at all Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, the span opens on the hour from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Opens on demand after 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and after 7:00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Ben Sawyer Bridge
Wappoo Creek Hwy 171 Bridge:
From April 1 to November 30, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (last opening at 3:30), and on Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, the bridge opens on the hour and half-hour. From December 1 to March 30, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, the bridge opens on demand (last opening 3:50). From April 1 to May 31, and from October 1 to November 30, Monday through Friday, the bridge does not open at all between the hours of 6:00 am to 9:00am, and from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. From June 1 to September 30, and from December 1 to March 30, the bridge does not open at all between the hours of 6:30 am to 9:00 am, and from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Wappoo Creek Bridge
Dolphin Cove Marina overlooks the Ashley River’s eastern shores north of unlighted daybeacon #16, northwest of the charted “R TR”.
Reggie: I hauled my sailboat our summer before last. My Marina is Ashley in Charleston Harbor. Took the boat up the Ashley River to Dolphin Cove marina for the haul out. they have a big lift and very reasonable rates. very nice and easy to deal with. their cheap rates are reflected in the deferred maintenance of the facilities but the nicer places are more expensive.
Skip Hardin
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dolphin Cove Marina
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
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fenwick Cut
Palmetto Moon with Jim, Su and Lazy Cat Alex have just traveled from Georgetown, SC To Brunswick, Ga. Palmetto Moon cruises at 8.5 MPH and draws 4.5 ft. Here are the issues and observations of their travels:
2-Isle of Palms (MM-456.9) to Port Royal Landing (MM-539.5) We left 2.5 hours before low tide.
In the White Point area (MM-495-500) at low tide
Between R-110 and G-121 center of channel;
At G-111 – G-113 we saw 4 feet under us
At G-115 – G-117 we saw 3.5 feet under us
Running at just above Idle Speed stirred up a lot of mud/sand through most of the area from G-111 G-119
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
Palmetto Moon with Jim, Su and Lazy Cat Alex have just traveled from Georgetown, SC To Brunswick, Ga. Palmetto Moon cruises at 8.5 MPH and draws 4.5 ft. Here are the issues and observations of their travels:
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
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Beautiful St. Johns Harbor, just off the Waterway, on Stono River, south of Charleston, SC, is A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Tried to make reservations in Charleston but the marinas there were fully booked. Came across Saint Johns Yacht Harbor. I am now glad we couldn’t stay in Charleston. Beautiful Marina. Great Bathrooms and laundry room. The Restaurant is under renovation. Boat US discount. Will return.
Claudia Young
Click Here To View This Facility’s Full Listing of Services on the South Carolina Marina Directory
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Johns Harbor
Always a pleasure to hear such good words about A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! Charleston Harbor Marina is located on the eastern banks of the Cooper River downstream of Patriots Point between Horse Reach’s flashing buoys #34 and #36.
My husband and I made Charleston Harbor Marina our 1st stop in a month long cruise out of Southport. Capt. Stan, the Harbormaster, and his crew made our stay carefree and he even offered to make reservations for our destinations along our route. The breakwater out front does its job to deaden the wakes of boat/ship traffic and lessens any current, which makes the boat happy. The showers and bathrooms were clean, laundry on site and the hotel amenities and a shuttle to Charleston are available. We enjoyed our stay and look forward to stopping again on our return.
The Callemyn’s aboard
M/V Turning Point,
320EC World Cat
Cruising News:
We are staying at Charleston Harbor Marina and find it an excellent facility. It’s really windy (20-30knots) but we are comfortable in a slip. Shuttle serve to Charleston was convenient. Enjoyed a nice light supper at the Reel Bar. Definitely recommend this marina if you can’t get in to the City Marina.
Eve-Marie Lacroix
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Charleston Harbor Marina
We confirmed David’s prices: $2.30/ft under 50ft, $2.50 for 50ft and over, $6.00/night for 30amp, $12.00/night for 50amp. There is a $.10 per foot discount for seven days or longer. The transient rates at Charleston’s City Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, are $2.00/ft up to 69 ft and their monthly rates vary with the season. In September, the monthly rate is $20/ft. Comparing this to Harbor Town Yacht Basin, also A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, on Hilton Head where the rates are $2.00 up to 49ft, $2.50 50ft to 79ft with weekly discounts of $.25 /foot up to 49ft and $.50 /foot 50ft to 79ft. $12 for 30amp and $15 for 50amp, makes Beaufort Municipal Docks slightly more expensive than both City Marina and Harbor Town. With these prices along the AICW, one can easily understand why anchoring rights are so much in the news now.
We loved old town Beaufort – great food, shops and friendly people. The marina is expensive (2.30/ft with a whopping 0.10 discount for > 7 days) — 2 weeks there cost almost twice what a month costs at Charleston City Marina which is much nicer. Lots of current, rude staff (except the head dockmaster who was very helpful and friendly), and old equipment. We’ll not return.
David Fry
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Beaufort Municipal Docks
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Charleston City Marina
Click Here To View This Facility’s Full Listing of Services on the South Carolina Marina Directory
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Harbor Town Yacht Basin
This dredging operation is centered well north of the Waterway as it passes through Charleston Harbor, but it might affect cruisers wanting to navigate upriver to explore the Cooper River. Marker #48 lies north of the Ravenel Bridge.
LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 38/11
Southern Dredging Co. Inc., will be working in Daniel Island Reach of the Cooper River in the vicinity of channel marker 48 and Shipyard River commencing on or about September 26, 2011 and ending approximately October 6, 2011. The dredge CHEROKEE will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will monitor VHF channels 13 and 16 for on-scene coordination. The pipeline will be not block the channel. For further information please contact the project manager Mr. Neil Rodgers 843-729-1269 or Mr. Michael Kitchell 843-830-1015. For Coast Guard related issues, please contact Sector Charleston Waterways Management Office at (843) 740-3188 or the 24 Hour Command Center Line at (843) 740-7050. Chart 11524
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Cooper River Marker #48
This is certainly good news for area boaters. We’d like to hear from others about boating conditions in your waters.
This morning took icw Charleston to Georgetown. No damage visible. No significant floating debris. Marinas at both ends doing well.
Skipper Tom Divers, aboard m/v Tanqueray
Charleston Harbor Marina is located on the eastern banks of the Cooper River downstream of Patriots Point between Horse Reach’s flashing buoys #34 and #36.
Just stayed at Charleston Harbor Marina – can’t say enough about it. Clean, modern facilities, resort amenities, friendly staff (especially Stan, the Harbormaster), and a great location. Will definitely be back!
Harold
On a trip from SC to New England my wife and I stayed at this first class marina both coming and going. It is under new management and it certainly shows it. We were treated very nicely by the dock hands and the use of the hotel amenities are phenomenal.
Lee Barber
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Charleston Harbor Marina
Charleston Harbor Marina is located on the eastern banks of the Cooper River downstream of Patriots Point between Horse Reach’s flashing buoys #34 and #36.
We are doing the loop and arrived here at Charleston Harbor Marina and Resort June 1, 2011, departing July 6, 2011.
This is a great marina for many reasons. The marina staff is responsive, friendly and knowledgeable. The docks are well maintained and easy to dock plus they are floating. The marina is associated with the resort where you can enjoy the pool and restaurant. Shuttle service is available that takes you to the city of Charleston, Sullivans Island, Shems Creek (great places to eat) or the major shopping center. The marina is close to many marina services for any type repairs.
We plan to return and winter here.
Rudy Rundlett aboard Miss Ellen 48 Sea-Ray
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Charleston Harbor Marina
What a great story about a lesser known part of Charleston’s Spoileto festival which took place in 2011 from May 27 to June 12. Wish we could have been there!
We had a leisurely trip up the coast from Miami. It was a later start this year since we went to China and Thailand in April, our normal departure time. A week long stop in Charleston, SC, one of our favorite cities let us enjoy the Picolo Spoleto Festival. This “fringe” has several plays and musical events each day, sprinkled in offbeat venues around town. It complements the much grander Spoleto music festival with big ticket music events that is world renowned. The picolo events are often free but usually not more than $20. We most enjoyed a performance – Camp Meeting – in a local church. It portrayed a black congregation attending a church service in the 1920′s. The a capella hymns were accompanied by vigous hand clapping and foot stomping of the singers playing the part of poor, illiterate but devote people of the time. The performers who introduced themselves afterwards turned out to be mostly retired school teachers and professionals.
Greg and Susan Han
USCG 100GT Master, Near Coastal
Key Biscayne, FL
Allegria — Krogen Whaleback #16
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Charleston Harbor
"Ladys Island Swing Bridge Opening for Sailboat (Beaufort, SC)"
by: Bob Schwerzel
