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Please Note That Postings Below From Fellow Cruisers Are Listed in Chronological Order, Based on Publication Date
Fields Cut lies just north of the intersection of the Waterway and the Savannah River. Shoaling there has always been an issue and even with last year’s dredging, shallow depths can be expected. Fortunately, most of us do not have a 7ft draft with which to contend.
If Captain Dennis had favored the northern and northwestern banks as he cruised south, round the last turn to the south, north of Savannah River, he might have made it without imitating a plow. Follow the link below for the detailed specs on this AICW problem stretch to learn more!
Came thru Fields Cut today with our 7ft draft Catalina 42 and had to plow our way thru the last 100 ft before the Savannah River with tide at +1 ft. This was center of channel.
Dennis Lawrence
S/V Thate Wata
Catalina 42 #758
Center and green is indeed shallow, you must favor the red side there (see my notes posted in October) and you ll have plenty of water!
Pascal
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Fields Cut
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fields Cut
These two anchorages, southern and northern upstream, are on the waters of Bull Creek, south of Calibogue Sound and Hilton Head Island, east of the Waterway’s flashing daybeacon #34.
Spent a wonderful evening here August 21, 2011. 20 feet of depth. Payed out 150 feet of rode and spent a nice evening. Plenty of room for me and any passing boating traffic. Much more reasonable than Hilton Head.
Skipper Carl
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bull Creek
Severe shoaling has shelved out from the southern and southeastern banks, just north of the Fields Cut/ICW’s intersection with Savannah River
Came thru this morning (April 8, 2011) and stayed closer to the green side, never saw less than 11 MLW. While this seems like great news, since the 7′ MLW hump at the north side is still there, you still have to play the tide if you draw 6′ +!
I came through Fields Cut today at dead low tide. Called TowBoatUS for advice which was spot on. When entering Fields from the south, hug the red side. Lots of water.
When in the cut, stay center. The lowest I saw was 7-8′. When exiting the north end favor just to the green side of center. Again 6-7′ of water.
Skipper BobK
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Fields Cut
Even with last year’s dredging, the northern intersection of the AICW/Fields Cut and Wright River is still subject to shoaling. Fortunately, Captain Pascal, as you will see below, found 8 to 12 feet in this AICW Problem Stretch.
I’m a little puzzled about dredging having taken place in 2010 since both in the October 2010 and then in April 2011, I had found the usual 8′ MLW hump about 100′ south of the land point on the red side. That was on centerline and on the red side.
Yesterday (May 9 2011) I favored the green side and found no less than 12′ MLW. approaching the point, I came back towards centerline to split both markers. So right now, it seems like the entire Fields Cut is deep enough but still a good idea to take it slow.
May, 9th, 2011
Came thru and for the second time, [and] I favored the green side again finding no less than 12′ MLW. I passed about 100′ off R50 as well as the range tower, then about 200′ off the dock on the east shore. I dont’ know if it’s been dredged or if it’s just the green side.
Pascal aboard MY Charmer, 70′ 6+ draft
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fields Cut
Even with last year’s dredging, Fields Cut is still subject to shoaling. This AICW trouble spot begins just north of crossing the Savannah River at mile 575 and extends northward to mile 574.
Passed though Fields Cut at 1400 on 3/25/11. We were just after the top of the tide. Saw no less than 19′ staying center of the Cut until we reached the north end when we momentarily saw 11.2′. with 6.5′ above mlw that would be a mlw depth of less than 5′.
Skipper Ed Grygent
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Fields Cut
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fields Cut
The area Captain Monsein describes is the infamous Fields Cut which is the very last stretch of the AICW in South Carolina and, despite dredging last Spring, continues to shoal in spots. It is gratifying that the USCG has recognized the shoaling and added a temporary marker.
In vicinity of Dafuskie Island, South Carolina: while southbound on ICW at buoy 49- there is a ” local temporary” red marker marking a sand bar. Be sure to honor this unusual marker.
Also- while southbound, just north of the Savannah River crossing after passing Dafuskie Island, there is significant shoaling with depths as low as 6 feet at low tide. Use caution in this area!
Captain Skip Monsein
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For (Southern) Fields Cut
Click Here To Open A Chart View Windows Zoomed to the Location of Fields Cut”
Until it was dredged this past spring, the Fields Cut stretch of the AICW, between Wright River and Savannah River, was the source of numerous groundings. Despite the dredging these comments support the contention that there is sto;; shoaling on the southeast side of southern Fields Cut, beneath the magenta line, just as the canal takes its last swing before entering the Savannah River. The advice given by Capt. Jamie and by others has been heeded successfully this fall.
Came through Fields Cut just above the Savannah River yesterday on our way south at absolute low tide with a 5 ft draft. If you stay in the middle and then closer to NW side at the southern end of the cut, depths were no less than 11 feet all the way. Do not follow the magenta line on your electronic charts.
Captain Jamie McLane aboard Wanderer’s Rest
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Fields Cut
Captain Bob gives us a detailed depth report on the Fields Cut portion of the AICW, a perennial “AICW Problem Stretch.
10/27/10- Fields Cut: Nice Cruise.
Allez, draft 5 ft Entered Fields Cut 0938 at Wright River 2 hours before high hide which was 1140 depth was 17ft At north entrance. Mid way down cut depth was 13 ft. Depth at south end of Fields Cut 9.5 ft. Met a Tug and Barge at south end as we were ready to enter Savannah River. He took the Red Side all the way as he had to get on the range. We had to move toward the dock at the Green side saw 9.4 ft. The tug talked us over to his starboard side and no problem getting across Savannah River. At 1000 Entered Elba Cut on south side of Savannah River. R2 (19.8 Ff) R4 (15 Ft) R6 (27 ft)
Captains Bob and Helen aboard M/Y ALLEZ
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Fields Cut
ALLEZ is a 50ft trawler with a draft of 4.5 ft and had no problems with the dredged Fields Cut which is the final leg of the SC AICW before crossing the Savannah River.
Larry,
Fields Cut whole length was a piece of cake. Then we met a tug and barge coming into the southern entrance of the cut and we had to move to the Green and near the end of the dock on the left. This Captain was cool as he had to get the barge on the range and was right on the Red side close but talked us over to his starboard side, as he was port to the Red side and we made it.
The other side was also a piece of cake once we crossed the Savannah River. Trick: do this passage from two hours before high tide.
Captains Bob and Helen aboard M/Y ALLEZ
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Fields Cut
No Problems are Good Problems. We’re always glad to hear of uneventful anchorings along the AICW. This anchorage lies just to the west of the Waterway at the northern entrance into Fields Cut.
We spent the night here recently and had no problems. You can see the lights of the Savannah River industries from here. A boat pulled in farther upstream from us and anchored. It did not show an anchor light. We did.
Captain Ron
Fields Cut remains a problem for anyone with a draft in excess of 5 feet, even at mid-tide. If you carry that draft, waiting until high tide to enter from the Savannah River is your best bet. Click on the three links below for more observations re Fields Cut
Submitted June 13, 2010
Fields Cut SC.
We are traveling north with another trawler, we draw 4’8”, the buddy boat 5’5”. I was following as we entered Fields Cut mid channel two hours prior to low tide. The buddy boat was aground 100 yard in, and as we followed I saw rapid decreasing depth(Down to 1.5’ below keel). Made another try 20 -30 feet from the north shore, saw 20 feet of water. The rest of cut was not a problem.
Adrew Stepniewski
Click Here To View a Previous Posting on Fields Cut
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Fields Cut
Check out the link below to see the two suggested anchorages in Bull Creek with swinging for up to 48 feet length. Careful, there are any number of “Bull Creek”s on the South Carolina coastline. The one referred to below lies just off the AICW, south of Hilton Head Island and Calibogue Sound.
Submitted on 2010/06/06 at 10:56am
We have anchored here several times. Other than the occasional wake, it is a wonderfully calm spot. A big thrill we experienced here was when a large sea turtle, with a head as big as a basketball, swam between my wife’s float & our boat! What a magnificent sight he was! Nice depth & good protection. Highly recommended!
Michael Seguin aboard SOUL MATE
Captain Arnold offers suggestions on tying up free of charge on Daufuskie. The AICW runs past this isle, south of Calibogue Sound and Hilton Head Island, as the Waterway scampers south towards the Savannah River.
Several drop-by free docks on Daufuskie Island. First, at Mama’s Marshside restaurant – buy a meal there and they’ll let you stay overnight at the dock FOC. Second, just a little further north is a small failed marina where you can dock as long as you wish and nobody will question it. Walk about a half mile and you’ll come to Freeport Landing (Freeport Marina) with a great restaurant and ships store – very nice people rushing around on golf carts.
Captain Arnold
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Daufuskie Island
When I read the message below from Captains Todd and Brenda Lanning, it occurred to me that I misspoke last week when, in an SSECN Alert, I stated that the only AICW problem stretch left in the two Carolinas was found at the intersection of northern Alligator River/AICW and Albemarle Sound (in North Carolina). As Todd and Brenda learned, depths along the southern portion of Fields Cut (just a short hop north of this passage’s intersection with the Savannah River), can still run much too shallow at low tide.
So, you may be asking, why hasn’t this section of the Waterway enjoyed the “stimulus” dredging that has so enhanced the AICW along the rest of it’s run through both Carolinas. I asked the Army Corps of Engineers that very question not too long ago, and was told that their survey missed the shoaling on southern Fields Cut.
Dredging was performed, however, on northern Fields Cut, where this passage leaves the Wright River. If you follow the links below, you will see we have separate “AICW Problems” listings for both these waters.
So, do take care when cruising from Savannah River through the southern 1/3 of Fields Cut, and time your passage for mid to high tide if possible. Follow the links below for more specific advice.
Greetings again,
We just transited Fields Cut at low tide and registered water less than 4.5 feet. Fields Cut is located just after you cross the Savannah River going north. The shallow area is between the range marker at the south end of the cut and the cement pilings on the east shore, roughly 100 yards of shallow water.
Be careful out there!
Todd & Brenda Lanning
Life’s2Short
1985 40′ Oceania Trawler
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Section” Listing For Southern Fields Cut
Harbourtown Yacht Basin on Hilton Head Island is one of the most famous marinas in the world, with its candy cane striped lighthouse, ring of chic shops and adjacent, world class golf course and tennis courts. And, of course, they are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Stay here often. Great resturants, great bars, great shopping, great service and fairly pricey. This marina is at the top of my list. They just do it right!
Marsha and Bob
M/V “Threadbare”
On 9/1/09, as part of a “South Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:
51. Has anyone tried anchoring on the waters of (yet another) Bull Creek, the one which cuts north off the Waterway, a short hop south of the ICW’s exodus from Caliboge Sound (near Statute Mile 565.5.). Did you discover, like this writer, that depths suddenly drop off to nil (contrary to the chart) just upstream of the stream’s first sharp turn to the west.
Responses follow:
Yes, two years ago we weathered a storm anchored about 1.6 miles up where the creek turns west. Another half mil up or so you can land the dinghy on an abandoned road for a walk ashore.
James Lea
S/V Estelle
Bristol 41.1
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Bull Creek
Fields Cut is located in extreme southern South Carolina. The Wateway uses this man-made stream to connect between the Wright and Savannah Rivers.
Fields Cut is currently the worst stretch on the South Carolina portion of the AICW. That's why Captain Chris's report below is so very important.
Notice also Chris' reports on Ramshorn Creek and Walls Cut.
Claiborne,
Transited Field's Cut today. We entered the cut at 1 hour before high tide. At the south entrance, 50 feet west of the magenta line we had 12 feet — 3-4 feet at MLLW. When we reached the floater #48 we had 12 feet on the magenta line.
At Walls Cut we had 13.8 feet at high tide on the magenta line where it crosses the "9 foot" MLLW contour line.
At the entrance to Ramshorn Creek our C-MAP NT chip shows the marks in incorrect positions. Obeying the marks provided us 13.8 feet at High. We would have hit the silt if we had obeyed the chartplotter. Right before the powerlines in Ramshorn (going north) there is a small creek to the east. It has dumped enough mud into Ramshorn that the depth rises to 12.5 feet before falling away to the Ahhhh of Cooper River.
Also something very large has clobbered the bulkheads of the Hilton Head Bridge. There is a work barge in the area so going through here slowly is a good idea.
CHRIS WALN
S/V Brilliant Star
"Sunset After The Storms"
by: Susan Leaf
