Crystal River Depth Problems (Western Florida’s Big Bend Region)
Sounds like Captains Barbara and Jim, plus Golden Retriever Lily, may have run into some lower than usual tides. I don’t ever recall finding such shallow depths in Crystal River. Have you had a similar or dissimilar experience on these waters? Please click the “Click Here to Submit Cruising News” link on the upper right side of this page, and share your information!
Our draft is 4.7 and had no problems in Steinhatchee. However, when we reached Crystal River, we had to wait 1 1/2 hours at the entrance to the channel to wait for the tide to come in for enough water for our draft. Boat US heard us talking on the radio to our buddy boats and told us to wait. We docked at Twin Rivers since it was getting dark and did not want to proceed further. The next day we were sitting in the mud. We were told there would be enough water at the docks there, but not so! By the time the tide rose the next day, it was too late to leave. SO, the next day, we headed up to Pete’s Pier. There we had .6 under our keel at low tide. We were lucky to have a good weather window and by leaving at 0900, were able to make it down the river and to the Gulf during high tide. If we didn’t leave that day, we would have had to wait 2 weeks for the tide to roll around with enough daylight to get to Tarpon Springs.
Both towns were nice and worth the stop, however, the tides would make the deciding factor. It was a bit tricky with the timing.
Barbara and Jim Benjamin and Golden Retriever, Lily
Golden Lily, Nordic Tug 42
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To Crystal River’s Entrance Channel
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Twin Rivers Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pete’s Pier/Kings Bay Marine
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