Grounding on Cedar Keys’ Northwest Channel (Big Bend Region)
Northwest Channel is one of two passages that serve touristy Cedar Key, located in Florida's Big Bend region. There has always been a shallow section of this cut, but it looks as if more shoaling has occurred since I was last there.
We went hard aground trying to exit this channel last week just after markers 19 and 20.
Tide was about 1 foot and 3 inches above datum and falling to a low of 1 foot above datum. All the information we had was that the hump in the channel carried 5-6 feet. One assumes that is relative to datum.
We draw 4.5 feet. Using a lead line to sound around the boat, I found 4.0 feet all around us, as we sat and waited for higher water to drift us clear. I also used a castable depth sounder, you know the little green float that you cast out with a spinning rig and which transmits depth to a "wrist watch," and I got 4 feet way on down the channel from us.
Once free, we took the long way out around Seahorse Reef to get back to the panhandle, losing 2.5 hours in the process.
My advice, is do not transit NW channel unless at a goodly high tide.
Rich Gano
CALYPSO (GB-42 #295)
Southport, FL (near Panama City)
CALYPSO (GB-42 #295)
Southport, FL (near Panama City)
Comments from Cruisers (1)
We came into Cedar Key, yesterday, July 29, 2009 from the south and anchored. We plan on going out the NW channel when leaving, so we put the dink in and along with our hand sounder went looking for the shallow spot mentioned. We were at 0.9′ above datum low tide when we took these soundings and did so crossing back and forth the channel several times between the markers. The shoaling is taking place from the north between the green markers 19 and 21 to about two thirds of the the width of the channel. We found 3.2 feet to be the shallowest in this area. However, between red 20 and 22 out to about 1/3 of the channel, we never found any depths less than 5 feet. It even held 5+ feet to about 25 feet south of 20 to 22. So, it appears that if you hold tight to the red side, and go during mid to high tide you should have good water. We draw 4’7″ and plan on going out this way at high tide, which is currently 3.9′ above datum. If we have any trouble going out I’ll come back and post it.
Bill/Patty Dickerson
CONCHED OUT TOO (DeFever 44)
Ocean Springs, MS