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    • Jan 23, 2012by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      More on Shoaling in AICW – Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff Problem Stretch (Statute Mile 515)

      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

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    • Oct 27, 2011by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Log of the Palmetto Moon: Isle of Palms to Port Royal

      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

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    • Apr 23, 2010by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      Bass Creek Anchorage (Statute Mile 521)

      15 miles north of Beaufort and just to the east off the AICW via well-marked Parrot Creek, Bass Creek offers 8-13 feet depths for secure holding and the peace and quiet of South Carolina’s many marsh anchorages.

      Currently anchored here with one other boat and it’s delightful. Being Chesapeake sailors, we initially found these open marsh anchorages less than desirable and then they began to grow on us. Not for nasty weather, but usually a nice breeze and the sounds of the marsh birds make for wonderful relaxation.
      s/v MicMac

      Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For Bass Creek Anchorage

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    • Nov 14, 2009by:   Claiborne Young No Comments

      Factory Creek Anchorage (Statute Mile 536.5)

      The entrance to Factory Creek lies immediately north of the Ladys Island Swing Bridge in Beaufort, SC. This stream is also home to Ladys Island Marina. The anchorage is located upstream of this facility.
      Be careful as you cruise from the AICW/Beaufort River into Factory Creek. Captain Emerson’s comments below and earlier reports here on the Cruisers’ Net indicate the channel is narrowing.

      We got in on half tide without a problem but didn’t do quite so well leaving close to low tide. We draw 6′ and dragged a bit coming out, although it’s likely we were closer to G `1’³ than we should have been. Once past this area, however, there’s plenty of depth. The anchorage area is strung out along a moderately narrow channel that curves around over 90 deg. along its length. The current in the creek is significant but manageable. The real challenge the creek’s width. On one side are docks (private or marina) and on the other side is marsh. With roughly 15′ depths, a short scope isn’t likely, but over-doing can be a problem, too. We saw some boats riding to a Bahamian mooring (to limit swinging in current) and some (ourselves included) riding to one anchor. The bottom held well enough to allow riding on chain and a CQR in breezy conditions; the hook was hard to break out when it came time to leave. The trip from Factory Creek to the `day dock’ ramp area is long enough to make part of the trip on plane (but NOT in the No Wake areas!).
      As mentioned, there are some derelict boats in the creek. We saw one, a motor boat, clearly on its way down. We called Ladys Island Marina to see if they knew about it. `Oh, that happens about twice a month. We worry if we don’t get called twice a month!’
      Rick Emerson

      Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For Factory Creek

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    • Aug 7, 2009by:   Claiborne Young No Comments

      St. Helena Sound Inlet Channel (north of Beaufort, SC)

      I must confess that after more than 30 years of cruising the South Carolina coastline, I’ve actually only traversed St. Helena Sound’s inlet on two occasions. And, my most recent passage is at least five years old. So, I’m glad Captains Bob and Janet chimed in with the very newsy and useful message below.
      St. Helena Sound stretaches seaward from the AICW’s run through the Coosaw River. Often, I’ve seen shrimping trawlers working these waters, and they can be a very angelic sight while cruising along! Clearly, these commecial craft make use of the sound’s inlet, so, with the info below, perhaps cruisers can run this channel as well.

      Hi, Claiborne
      We never received a reply to our inquiry about the inlet channel through St. Helena Sound (just north of Beaufort, SC, at the mouth of the Coosaw River), but we’re happy to report that we had a very successful cruise through there last month on a several-day excursion from our home port in Beaufort to Charleston. The channel is well marked and was charted accurately on both our ICW chart book and our C-Map NT+ electronic chart of the area, with good water throughout — anywhere from around 12 to 25 feet at more or less mid-tide. The channel does have some tight bends in a couple of spots, so you have to pay attention, or you could find the bottom quickly, even a couple of miles offshore. The only downside to taking this route instead of the ICW route up to Charleston is that, surprisingly to us, running “outside” was longer for us in both distance and time than staying “inside” on the ICW (which we did on our return trip back to Beaufort). This is because you have to go at least 5 or 6 miles offshore to stay clear of shoals, whereas in the ICW, with the dredging that’s been done recently, you can now make very good time without the fear of going aground in mid-channel. We found the recent posts about shoaling to the south side of the intersection of the Dawho and North Edisto Rivers very helpful, and had no problems either there or at the junction of the Coosaw River and Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff, which had been a real problem as recently as last year. Hope this helps! Happy cruising.
      Bob and Janet S.
      M/V Harmony
      Beaufort, SC

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