AICW Anchorages – Beaufort, SC (Statute Mile 537)
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Please Note That Anchorages Below are Listed in A Rough Geographic Format , Moving North to South
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR DISCLAIMER!
Please Note That Anchorages Below are Listed in A Rough Geographic Format , Moving North to South
Statute Mile: 536.5
Lat/Lon: 32 25.254 North/080 39.133 West
Location: on the waters of Factory Creek, northeast of Lady’s Island Marina, in the body of the stream’s sharp bend to the north
Minimum Depth: 10 feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 42 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Very good
Rating:
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Statute Mile: 536.5
Lat/Lon: 32 25.804 North/080 40.592 West
Location: lies on the waters west of Downtown Beaufort Marina, east of flashing daybeacon #240
Minimum Depth: 12+ feet
Special Comment: After 72 hours vessels in this anchorage must register at the Downtown Marina
Swing Room: sufficient room for virtually any size of pleasurecraft
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair to Good; open to strong southwesterly blows
Rating:
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We’ve anchored at Beaufort SC several times…. and each time I swear we’ll never do that again…. Love the town, but the currents are swift, and the bottom, at least where we’ve anchored in the past is HARD…. With a lot of scope out, you do PULL IN… but you spend all you time wondering if just the tip of the anchor (Manson supreme) is all that’s “IN”…. Two days ago, with high winds, and lots of fetch (waves)… We watched the two boats in front of us… (toward the town) drag anchor, tangle and go ashore… WE decided to pull anchor and leave…. or possibly suffer the same fate…
Recommendation… TAKE a mooring ball or slip if going to Beaufort… or leaving the boat…. We understand from the dockmaster that Beaufort WILL be putting in more moorings…. with better (as in larger) spacing…
Tricky mooring field and you have to go to the parking space at the City Marina for going ashore ! GREAT town !!!!
Barbara and Ernie Roberts
I have anchored there several times in the last 20 years. Although the current runs very swift, the bottom is good holding, but you need to leave plenty of room to swing. Depths usually are around 12 to 15 ft.
The dingy dock is long and easy to get to. Tie up on the back side as the outside is for day boats. Then, you are right down town Beaufort. There are several good restaurants along Bay St. with entrances on the front or the back overlooking the water. Panninis , Luther’s , Plums are all good.
Philip W. Mullins (Phil)
s/v Katash
Statute Mile: 538
Lat/Lon: near 32 25.091 North/080 40.628 West
Location: lies on the waters east of the charted marsh island, which is itself, east of flashing daybeacon #214
Minimum Depth: 10-feet, if and only if you enter from the south
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair; open to southern and southeastern winds
Rating:
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Looked a little narrow so instead i anchored to the south of the island, jsut south of the 9 and 10′ marks on the edge of the charlet. it’s way on the outside of the bend, no wake or traffic issues, more water and swinging room
Pascal
MY Charmer, Johnson 70
Comments from Cruisers (3)
Tried this anchorage in 35 kt of winds with a 30 kg mason supreme anchorage on a 40 ft cat and pull through mud till close to docks. Eventually stayed at a dock.
John Pholeric
We anchored between R14 & G15 along with 2 other boats on Monday 12/14/09, just across from the Snook Restaurant. Lots of water and had entertainment for the evening. Just follow the markers into Capri Pass…lots of water here. Will definitely come back.
Capt. RL & Karen
s/v Last Call
45′ Island Trader, ketch
Subject: Mile 535.9 Factory Creek, Beaufort, SC
Cruising News: As we left our Factory Creek anchorage this morning we were surprised to find depth of 4.5′ MLW at the entrance off G’1′. Fairly shallow depths continued to the ICW. Fortunately the bottom appeared soft. Molly Blossom draws 5′.
Martin & Betsy Basch,
mv Molly Blossom
I e-mailed Captains Betsy & Martin, and asked if they might have accidentally eased out of the channel as they cruised from Factory Creek back to the Waterway. They sent the response below:
Hi Claiborne,
We were about halfway between the G’1′ and the road bed leading to Ladies Island Bridge. I would just advise people to proceed cautiously through the entrance to Factory Creek at MLW. We got through OK, but were just surprised by depths shallower than we remembered in the past. Trick o’ the tide perhaps. Plenty of water inside for anchoring.
Betsy Basch
Having seen the above two postings, Captain Chuck chimes in with his message below. Looks like he has the answer on how to find the best depths when entering Factory Creek.
Cruising News: As a follow up to Molly Blossoms post regarding Factory Creek, If you enter close to Green Marker #1 you will certainly find shallow water since the shoal is moving out from the marsh. However, if you stay close in to the bridge and the highway as you enter and pass the deserted boats anchored at the mouth, then stay close on the side of the Creek where the marina and private docks are you will find plenty of water, at least 6’+ at low, low tide at the entrance. Once past the public ramp the water is fairly deep close to both sides of the shore. We are currently at Lady’s Island Marina, so holler when you come by.
Capt. Chuck