Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

Nov 4, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
How to Avoid the AICW Shoal at the Northeastern Tip of the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff AICW Problem Stretch (Statute Mile 516.5)
The Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff section of the AICW consists of a man-made canal which connects the Waterway between Rock Creek and the Coosaw River. Some two weeks ago, the SSECN posted an IMPORTANT “Navigation Alert” about severe shoaling at the northeastern end of the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff, near marker #177. (see /?p=119918). Now, our good friends, and frequent SSECN contributors, Captains Jim and Peag Healy give some very useful advice below as to how this hazard can be avoided.
There is advice in many places to take G’177′ very wide. That correct advice is not new; it has been the case for years. That particular post drys at low tide, and always has. That danger is very easy to see at low tide, but it would be easy to ground near that post at high tide, so as is the case with all daymark posts in the southeast, stay away from them. They mark shoals, not channels.
That G’177′ problem is very easy to see at low tide. The post is dry! It jumps out at you! But at high tide, it would be very deceptive. That’s what the problem is at that particular daymark. I “take my half out of the middle.” 🙂
Be well, my friend
Peg and Jim Healy
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff
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Nov 3, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Depth Report from Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 517
Our good friends and frequent SSECN contributors, Captains Peg and Jim Healey, have sent us up-to-the-minute depth findings on the southwesterly section of the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff AICW Problem Stretch. This man-made canal connects the AICW between Rock Creek and the Coosaw River.
On 7/31/13, we published one of many reports by fellow cruisers that soundings had deteriorated at the southwestern tip of the Cutoff (see /?p=120036).
Sanctuary draws 4-1/4 feet. We transited the Ashpoo-Coosaw cut on Novenber 2, 2013, at 13h15, which was 1h20 before low tide, +0.9′ datum on the tide almanac. This was not a period of celestial high/low tides.
The Ashpoo-Coosaw cut consists of two parts. The problem part is the southern cut, located between Rock Creek and the Coosaw River. The very worst part is at the point where the cut joins/enters the Coosaw River.
In the southern Ashpoo-Coosaw cut, however, we saw actual depths of 4.9′ mid-channel at G’179.’ Then again, maybe 4.7′ just south of R’184′ G’185.’ The most current advice we found was to favor the red center-quarter of the channel at R’184′ G’185.’ We took that advice, and we got through. Very skinny water.
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff
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Oct 8, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Successful Passage through Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff Problem Stretch, AICW Statute Mile 517
Captain Poovey is responding to a Navigation Alert we posted in August of this year ( /?p=121335 ) concerning shallow depths in the Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff in which the ACOE mentioned marker #185 in the southwestern portion of the Cutoff as an area to watch.
Passed through here this afternoon [10/7/13] from the north. Abreast of Marker G-185 at 12:42 PM I measured 10.6′.
Bob Poovey m/v Threadbare
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ashepoo/Coosaw Cutoff
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Sep 2, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Shoaling at Southwestern Tip of Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff AICW Problem Stretch Confirmed AGAIN (Statute Mile 517) – Captains Mark and Diana Report
For the last eight weeks or so, the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff (canal) section of the South Carolina AICW (north of Beaufort, SC) has been the subject of an ACOE survey (FIRST seen here on the SSECN), multiple SSECN postings, and a joint call from the SSECN, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association, and the South Carolina Marine Association, suggesting members of the cruising community contact the SC US Congressional delegation, and ask them to support a special appropriation to dredge these waters. (see /?p=119918, /?p=120036 and /?p=121335).
Now, our good friends, and SSECN strategic partners, Captains Mark and Diana Doyle, founders and owners of “On The Water ChartGuides” (http://www.onthewaterchartguides.com/), give us an updated, graphic report relaying what they discovered as they navigated through the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff’s southwesterly mouth on 8/26/13.
NOTE THAT THE DOYLE’S SOUNDINGS WERE TAKEN AT MID-TIDE, MEANING THAT YOU MUST SUBTRACT 4.4 FEET FROM THEIR SOUNDINGS TO DISCOVER WHAT MLW DEPTHS WOULD BE. As you will discover, there is at least one spot along the southeastern flank of the Waterway, a short hop northeast of marker #185, that would be less than 3 feet at low water!
YIKES!!!!!! We need to get these waters dredged NOW!!!!!
Incidentally, Diana and Mark are just about to publish a new edition of their immensely popular “ICW CruiseGuide.” Click on the book graphic to the above right for more details, and to place a pre-order!
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff
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Aug 12, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 32.5325,-80.41289999
Important – Alternative to AICW/Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 517

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Captain Constant’s (dockmaster at SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Port Royal Landing Marina) report below is yet another confirmation of the many reports we have posted on the SSECN about AICW shoaling in the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff Problem Stretch (see /?p=120036). And, just last Friday we appealed to the Cruising Community, for help in lobbying the South Carolina US Congressional delegation for a “supplemental appropriation” that would allow the US Army Corps of Enginners to dredge the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff, and the AICW, north of Charleston, where it passes behind shallow Breach Inlet (see /?p=120893).
Captain Constant’s suggested alternate route to avoid the Cutoff seems valid, and his is Local Knowledge – always good to have! Cruising south, the “bypass” would begin by turning southeast on the Ashepoo River (downstream), at the southern end of Fenwick Cut, then continuing downstream to Combahee Bank in St. Helena Sound. After CAREFULLY bypassing the “Combahee Bank” shoals, this route then turns northwest and heads for the Coosaw River, rejoining the Waterway near statute mile 519.5, west of marker #186.
Unfortunately, both the route around the “Combahee Bank” shoals, and the AICW route near the point of rejoining the Waterway west of #186, are very sparsely marked, and the open waters from St. Helena Sound could kickup with an outgoing tide and easterly wind. THE USE OF A WELL FUNCTIONING GPS CHARTPLOTTER IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED WHILE TRAVERSING THIS ALTERNATE ASHEPOO-COOSAW CUTOFF BYPASS ROUTE!
In spite to these challenges, until and if dredging is accomplished in the Ashepoo – Coosaaw Cutoff, this alternate passage may be preferable to the shallow depths in the Cutoff, particularly at low water.
SSECN would like to hear from ANY other cruisers who have made use of this Ashepoo – St. Helena Sound – Coosaw River alternate route. PLEASE share your experiences with our fellow cruisers. You can use the “Comment” function below, or send e-mail directly to EditorialDirector@CruisersNet.net. Thanks in advance!
I’m the dock master at Port Royal Landing Marina in Port Royal, SC. The shoaling going on just north of Beaufort at the Ashepoo-Coosaw cutoff is too low to navigate at low tide now with most trawlers and virtually all sailboats. How the dredges get through I don’t know.
One alternative to dredging this area is to move the ICW one inlet closer to the ocean. If you go east out the Coosaw River to the Ashepoo River you will see its inlet at Otter Island. This inlet is a natural river with fresh water influx and is about 20′ in depth at the mouth at one point is about 15′ then back to 20′ at the Fenwick Cut. If traveling south you would take a left when clearing the Fenwick Cut and travel close to Otter Island into the Coosaw River.
I live across the sound from this water and it is the way us locals travel now.
Tony Constant
Captain Constant offers further advice on the Ashepoo/Coosaw Rivers junction at Combahee Bank.
When entering the Ashepoo River From the Coosaw River you should be closer to the beach at Otter Island than to the port channel marker. The shoal is shoaling there as well but not near as hard. As a rule I use, when north bound, if I see 12′-15′ of depth I will steer to starboard until I see about 20′.
The Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff’s bottom is V shaped, meaning the channel is in the middle of the cut. 6-8 months ago it was much deeper with 9′-10′ of depth last year. Capt Ted took a 45′ trawler through about a month ago and only found 3′ of depth.
Tony Constant
Well this is a bad thing with the cut off! But, it would be nice if reporting vessels would post the state of the tide in their reports. If Capt. Ted had 3′ at low water very bad, but if there is 5′ at high water, not so bad. Cygnus ll draws 3’4’³
Capt. Mike Wright
We did take this alternate route a couple of years ago when heading north at low tide. We decided to avoid the cutoff and go the long way around. It worked well with our 6′ 3’³ draft. The only advice I would give is to give the Combahee Bank plenty of respect. It would appear to be shoaling further southeast.
Captain Richard
Does this alternate route turn up the coosaw river north of combahee bank or do yu have to go around the bank on the southeast end?
Jake Smith
In answer to Captain Smith’s question above, we recommend rounding Combahee Bank, by carefully passing to the east and south of this shoal, staying well south of the one unnumbered, but lighted marker which denotes its position. Then, set a course to the northwest, passing southwest of marker #12. Use your chartplotter to keep to the wide channel while continuing northwest to rejoin the AICW, west of marker #186. Hope that helps to answer your question!
Fenwick Cut - Click for Chartview
Combahee Bank - Click for Chartview
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Jul 31, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Important – Shoaling WORSENS on Southwestern End of the AICW/Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff Prolem Stretch (Statute Mile 517)
On 7/28/13 (a weekend no less), the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net received a telephone call from Captain Mike Verdolini, (Civil Engineering Technician, Navigation Branch, South Atlantic Charleston), at the Charleston, SC branch of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Captain Mike informed us that the Corps had just finished an official survey of the AICW from Charleston, SC to Beaufort. Two patches of severe shoaling had turned up, which he thought (quite rightly) should be brought to the IMMEDIATE ATTENTION of the cruising community.
By the way, before going further, let me just say how honored we are that the US Army Corps of Engineers turned to the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net as their FIRST MEANS to get this important information into the hands of cruising captains.
One patch of NEW shoaling appeared at the NORTHEASTERN tip of the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff, near marker #177. We have put up a separate posting/Navigational Alert, about these shallows at /?p=119918.
The other area of concern appeared on our old friend, the “AICW Problem Stretch,” at the southwestern tip of the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff (Statute Mile 517), between markers #180 and #185.
As you will see in the below graphic, supplied to the SSECN by the USACOE, low water depths on the southern-southeastern side of the channel, from the interior reaches of the Ashepoo – Coosaw Cutoff, to a point southwest of marker #185, run from 5.6 to as little as 2.6 feet. SOMEWHAT BETTER DEPTHS CAN BE MAINTAINED BY FAVORING THE NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN SIDES OF THE CHANNEL, but even with this plan of action, low water depths of as little as 4.7 feet are quite possible.
WE NOW STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT ALL CRUISERS WHO PILOT VESSELS DRAWING MORE THAN 3 FEET, TIME THEIR PASSAGE OF THE AICW/ASHEPOO COOSAW CUTOFF STRICTLY FOR TIMES OF MID TO (PREFERABLY) HIGH TIDE!
WE ASK THE HELP OF THE CRUISING COMMUNITY TO HELP US DISTRIBUTE THIS VITAL INFORMATION TO OUR FELLOW CRUISERS. If you belong to other nautical lists or forums, please direct members of such associations to this posting at /?p=120036. Both year round Palmetto State cruisers, and those cruising south on the AICW this fall, need to be well aware of this new hazard long before they actually arrive on these waters.
The entire Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net team promises to keep a very CLOSE EYE on this developing situation as we move into the fall, 2013 transient season. We will bring you fresh info just as soon as it is available. In the meantime, everyone take care on these waters, and, again, please let us hear about your experiences at #177!!!!
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Sir,
In response to your call for feedback from cruisers who recently traversed the Ashepoo Coosaw cutoff:On Monday, 24 June 2013, I traversed this area southbound at dead low tide. I encountered very shallow water, around 3.5 feet, all the way from marker 180 to 185. My sailboat with a wing keel is aground when my sounder reads 4.3 feet, but the bottom seemed to be soft mud and I was able to plow through it, although at severely reduced speed because of the viscosity. (I had increased the engine speed to maximum rpm.) My position was the “magenta line” which travels down the middle of the cut in this area. Having passed marker 185 and into the Coosaw River, the water deepened and I was out of trouble. The tide tables predicted water depths to be 1 foot below mean low tide on this day.
Peter Denoncourt
S/V Kite
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May 2, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Mosquito Creek – Ashepoo River Anchorage (Statute Mile 513)
On 4/30/13 as part of a South Carolina Wish List, we posed the following question:
Statute Mile 513 ‘“ anyone leave the ICW, cruise north on the Ashepoo River, and anchor or just visit Mosquito Creek? If you anchored, what were your impressions here? Did you dinghy ashore and purchase some fresh seafood at the commercial establishment?
Responses follow:
We have visited Mosquito Creek three times in the last six months, and enjoyed our time there. There is room to anchor by the last of the private docks on the creek and around the bend. Holding was good with great protection from fetch. We also spent one night at the B&B Seafood docks. They charge $25/night, for which you get a dock and access to shore. Just down the street, the SC Department of Natural Resources has a large grassy area where your dog can exercise. If you have bicycles, there is a long road though wildlife refuge areas to explore. The next road and intersection is 16 miles away. While the road has no bike lane, the traffic is so light that there are no safety issues. The only business in Bennetts Point is the B&B, which has fresh shrimp, if the shrimp boat has been out, and a few convenience store items.
Glen and Jill Moore
DeFever 40 Last Dance
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Mosquito Creek – Ashepoo River Anchorage
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Nov 19, 2012by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Depth Report from Rock Creek Anchorage, AICW Statute Mile 516
Rock Creek Anchorage - Click for Chartview
Rock Creek has shoaled badly, south of the stream’s first turn to the northeast, north of the it’s intersection with the AICW. Favor the eastern banks in order to stay clear of the correctly charted shoal making out from lower Rock Creek’s westerly banks.
We anchored after the northeast turn. There is a shallow section on the starboard side the channel right where you approach the first trees along the bank. The port side has 15 to 18 feet of water with 7 to 8 feet at 1 hour before low tide past the turn getting shallow on the starboard tide of the creek past the turn. We anchored in 6.5 feet of water 250 meters past the turn. We were having 20 to 22 kt of wind from the north which calmed down to 12 to 15 behind the trees.
John Pholeric
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For the Rock Creek Anchorage
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Sep 26, 2012by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Uncharted Markers/Shoals on AICW/Ashepoo River, Statute Mile 512
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Even the latest chartplotters cannot keep up with aids to navigation added to mark shoaling, and it can be confusing to approach a marker that often just does not make sense when looking at the chart. Thanks to Capt. Butler for bringing these uncharted markers to our attention!
New red nun 166 in Ashepoo River to mark shoal and the QR168 where you make the hard turn to port for the cutoff. Also noticed a new G175 in place of the range in Rock Creek.
Karen Butler
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Ashepoo River
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Marker #175
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Aug 15, 2012by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Don’t Even Think About Anchoring In The Charted “Oxbow” Off the AICW/Dawho River (Statute Mile 500) – Captains Mark and Diana Report
I well remember one delightful October afternoon in 1983 when we came cruising along the AICW’s run through South Carolina’s Dawho River. This stream, along with a man-made canal, serves to connect the AICW between the North and South Edisto Rivers.
Anyway, we were on our initial research trip, seeking out anchorages for the first edition of my “Cruising Guide to Coastal South Carolina and Georgia.” As I always still do to this day before beginning on-site research of new waters, I had poured over (in this case) chart 11518, looking for good anchorage possibilities. And here, hard by marker #128, were several charted oxbows which NOAA reported as having 6 to 12 foot depths.
Well, like Diana and Mark, we arrived, THANK GOODNESS, at MLW. Imagine my astonishment when our first look inside all three oxbows revealed nothing but MUD!!!! To say the least, we warned everyone away from these potential traps and cheats in the pages of “CGSC-GA!”
A check of the very latest version of chart 11518 on the Cruisers’ Net’s “Chart View” module, shows that NOAA is FINALLY showing no depth on the northeastern oxbow at MLW, but is still erroneously promising some MLW depths in the south side oxbow, which is the subject of Mark and Diana’s article below (see chartlet at right – click to open a Chart View page centered on the oxbow in question). It only took NOAA 29 years to correct 1/3 of their error. Need I say more about my opinion of the NOAA charting folks.
So, if you seek to safely drop the hook on the Dawho River section of the South Carolina AICW, please continue cruising west, pass under the Dawho – Edisto Island Bridge, and give Fishing Creek along the northerly banks a try. Even this body of water has a TRICKY entrance. Follow the link below to learn how safe entry can be achieved!
Check Out the MUD!
Hi Claiborne,
No names mentioned here … but someone asked us about anchoring in the oxbow off Dawho River R128.
We told them: In a word, DON’T !!!
As you well know, the closest tide station, Dawho Bridge, has an STR (Spring Tidal Range) of 7.2 feet, which can make a lot of South Carolina and Georgia bad ideas seem like good ones … especially when NOAA charts the oxbow at 7 feet low water.
[See depth-annotated track and NOAA chart screenshot below.]
We’ve heard people chatting about this possibility before, so on our last pass northbound (two months ago), we just happened to be passing R128 near low tide.
As you can see in the chart screenshot and accompanying photo, there is plenty of water in the ICW channel but EVERYTHING dries out in the oxbow.
Again, no recommendation being made here. Just sharing data. Captains are responsible for their own decisions and outcome.
Best and see you On the Water,
Captains Mark & Diana Doyle
http://www.OnTheWaterChartGuides.com
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Oxbow Off the AICW/Dawho River
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Fishing Creek
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Apr 14, 2012by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report on South Edisto/AICW Anchorage, AICW Statute Mile 504.5
South Edisto/AICW Anchorage is south of Charleston on the waters of the South Edisto just above Watts Cut, in the body of the hairpin turn that swerves back to the west.
We anchored here over the 11 ft mark on the chart and found the charted depths to be accurate. The anchor grabbed quickly and held through the night despite a 30 mph blow at 2:00 am.
Max Miller
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For South Edisto Anchorage
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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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Aug 26, 2011by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Good Report from the AICW’s Run Through Dawho River, Statute Mile 497
We have had reports of shallow water encountered near the eastern end of the AICW’s traversal of South Carolina’s Dawho River, between the North and South Edisto Rivers, and we established a “Navigation Alert” for the waters just east of this position this past spring. We’re glad to hear that Carl had no problems here.
I came through here 8/24/11 at dead low tide and had 7.5 feet of water off Marker 115.
Skipper Carl
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on the AICW/Dawho River
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Jun 11, 2011by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report on Depths in Watts Cut, AICW Statute Mile 503
Watts Cut is a straight, narrow AICW channel that connects the South Edisto River with the Dawho River south of Charleston.
On the way back, we came thru this area at dead low tide. I draw 5 ft. in a 42 ft. sail, we took it very slow through Watts Cut, just south of the Dawho R. Bridge. We favored the red side and found 8 ft. of water. After the bridge, we had plenty of water until we hit the last turn and it went to 7 ft. Again, dead low water.
Philip W. Mullins aboard S/V Katash, Isle of Palms, SC
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Watts Cut
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Jun 11, 2011by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Updates on N. Edisto/Dawho/AICW Intersection, Statute Mile 497
This area of AICW shoaling and navigation alerts occurs southwest of marker #108 where the Waterway exits the Wadmalaw River into the Dawho River.
The USCG was spotting several new, green buoys in the area of markers 111-113 this morning as we transited the area. We never saw less than 10′ (at MLW datum).
Capt. Larry Shick
Just had a short voyage to Beaufort, SC with my yacht club, the Wild Dunes Yacht Club. Went offshore from Charleston and came in the N. Edisto River and traveled up it to Steamboat Creek. We left the next morning and entered the ICW where the N. Edisto and Dawho Rivers meet. As usual, very thin water at the first two green markers, but after you make the turn, the water gets deeper and no problem from there on through the bridge. The tide was mid tide rising.
Philip W. Mullins aboard S/V Katash, Isle of Palms, SC
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the AICW/N. Edisto/Dawho Intersection
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Feb 2, 2011by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Rock Creek Anchorage (Statute Mile 516)
We have finally been able to confirm the Rock Creek soundings reported by Captain Ted Jones below, and many earlier contributors to the Cruisers’ Net. Once deep Rock Creek has shoaled badly, south of the stream’s first turn to the northeast, north of the it’s intersection with the AICW. Favor the eastern banks in order to stay clear of the correctly charted shoal making out from lower Rock Creek’s westerly banks.
ICW mile 515 ~ Rock Creek. The chart shows a narrow creek well protected from the NW by tall trees and deep water (except on the west side at the entrance) for much further than we wanted to go. However, the depth sounder indicated otherwise, and as we were turning around we grounded. It was near low tide, and we were able to back off easily and find deeper water (but nothing like the soundings of 22 feet) closer to the entrance, where we dropped anchor for the night.
Buttoned up to conserve what heat we had left, we heard the sound of an engine nearby, and I stuck my head out of the hatch in time to see a Pearson yawl go steaming by headed for the spot where we grounded. I yelled, but he didn’t hear me. I watched unable to affect the inevitable outcome as I Gotta Go ground to a halt 50 yards astern of us. We talked on VHF, and I told him where the deeper water was. The skipper, who appeared to be along, said he was not concerned as the tide was flooding. Later, we could see that he had gotten off and anchored south of us closer to the ICW where the chart indicated — and we had confirmed — 7.5 feet.
Ted Jones
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For the Rock Creek Anchorage
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Rock Creek Anchorage
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Oct 28, 2010by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Dawho River Shoaling (near Statute Mile 497)
Captain Bob Poovey has thoughtfully provided us with reports on several AICW problem stretches along the South Carolina and Georgia portion of the Waterway. This particular segment deals with the AICW’s run through the eastern end of Dawho River. This stream connects the Waterway between the North Edisto and South Edisto Rivers.
While Captain Poovey found no shoaling along this stretch, others most certainly have, and we actually have two navigation alerts in place for this stretch of the AICW. We, as well as your fellow cruisers, would love to hear what soundings you observed while cruising through these waters. Please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.
Came through this area heading south on Saturday, Oct 23 at 10:30 AM (45 minutes prior to high tide), We had received a report from the Coast Guard earlier in the day concerning “heavy shoaling” at this location near marker Red “110”. Did not observe this and found 22 ft. adjacent to this marker. Further south depths varied from 13 ft. to 17 ft. ending at Green “117.” Lowest reading came adjacent to Green “111” at 12.8 ft. This is no significant change from my last three trips through this area.
Captain Bob Poovey
I went north through there from Beaufort, SC to Charleston in mid September and back through there obout Oct.1. You will have more trouble at MM 497, between R110 and G111, as you enter Dahoo River. You want to stay north of the charted deep water, it isn’t there now. We had trouble finding any deep water going north. As we came south, at dead low water, there was a tug boat ahead of us, figured he knew his way through there, and watched him go aground in the charted deep water, found out he drew about 5′. WONDERLAND was following us, they draw 4′ 6″. We went through that area further to the right in about 8′ of water. Turned out the tug was from Norfolk, VA and had never been through this part of the ICW, he followed us the rest of the way!
Captain Chuck Gorgan aboard Odyssee
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the “Navigation Alert” Section of AICW/Dawho River
Click Here To Read An Earlier Posting about AICW/Dawho River
Click Here To Read Another Earlier Posting about AICW/Dawho River
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Jun 19, 2010by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Another AICW Grounding at the Intersection of N. Edisto/Dawho Rivers (Statute Mile 497)
Another cruiser shares his experience, and the advice of TowBoat US, concerning a troublesome stretch of shoaling waters.
I came through that area (Day Mark 110 at White Point) going south in April and hit there at low tide. I grounded where it says there should be 12 feet. I called Tow Boat US to see if they had and tricks about how to get through there. Their advice was to anchor, eat lunch, and wait until the tide came up!! Turned out to be excellent advice. When returning north in May, I made sure to pass through there at high tide and no problem.
Capt. Sykes DeHart
Click Here To View an Earlier Posting on a Grounding at the Intersection of N Edisto and Dawho Rivers
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Intersection of N Edisto and Dawho Rivers
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Jun 8, 2010by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
More Details on a Recent Shoaling at AICW/North Edisto River/Dawho River Intersection (Statute Mile 497)
Captain Larry Shick shares more details of his recent grounding at the intersection of N. Edisto and Dawho Rivers:
Further on my earlier experience:
I think we hit the shoal amidships at the Lat/Lon given. It was difficult to tell in the muddy water, but it appeared that one could transit the intersection either (a) *VERY* close to (within 200′ of) marker 110 or (b) as we eventually did traveling due East at 32-37.5N. By then we were at +2′ tide and after getting unstuck we saw no less than 7′.
Larry Shick aboard S/V Moira
Click Here To View the Original Posting on a Grounding at the Intersection of N Edisto and Dawho Rivers
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