CAUTION: Groundings at Marker #19 in Jekyll Creek, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 683, 10/15/2014
We are receiving regular reports of shallow water and groundings in Jekyll Creek, a perennial trouble spot. SSECN recommends extra care and rmid to high tide only for this passage. See /?p=144835. Markers 19 and 20A are on the north side of the Hwy 520 fixed bridge. Ours thanks to Skipper Reeves who keeps us posted on all things Jekyll!
October 15, 2014
Sonny Reeves reports that another cruiser has run aground today at Marker #19.
Hi Larry, I have an update on the infamous Green 19 of Jekyll Creek. [See link above for photos.]
We went to the markers and slowly went back and forth. Sadly we found 4 ft at low tide where last year was 6 ft at low tide. The channel is very narrow. Tow Boat US advises to stay 40 ft from marker. Sailboat in picture was about 80-90 ft off the marker and turned wide running aground. This was at 2.5 hours until low tide. Here is a suggestion going South stay centered on Red 16 and Green 17 then as you turn to South West line up 40 ft off of Green 19, put Green 19 to port going South. Call the Marina or Tow Boat US for local knowledge. Wait for rising tide that may run 7-9 ft in this part of the ICW near MM 685. Hope this helps.
Sonny Reeves
And this report from Skipper Poovey:
Hey, Larry.
Came through here this morning at 10:15 AM ( 1 Hr., 45 Min. past High tide) from the North. Stayed within 25 ft. to the west of marker G-19 and read 5.8 feet on both sounders.
Bob Poovey
m/v Threadbare
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Marker #19
Comments from Cruisers (4)
By now everyone cruising the ICW should know that Jekyll Creek is being dredged.
We came thru there today (May 2/19) near high tide and saw 2 ft MLW near the infamous marker 19. The dredge is at the north end and will be working its way south. Completion is scheduled for June 15. So don't strike this off your list of Georgia problem stretches yet.
Passed through this area on 10/25/15 an hour past low tide and saw no less than 7-1/2′. Assuming there is at least 1′ more water an hour into the flood, this means there was at least 6′ to 6-1/2′ of water at low tide. And there was a negative .2′ tide yesterday that I’m not taking into consideration. A dock hand at Jekyll Island marina told us prior to passing through that there is at least 6′ of water in Jekyll Creek. We confirmed this with our readings.
The key to passing through here near low tide is “finding” the water. Skippers reporting less than 6′ of water obviously aren’t in the deepest area of the channel. I draw 5’8″ and still wouldn’t pass through here at dead low, but I feel pretty confident making the run through here an hour past low, assuming there’s not a huge negative low tide.
“Came through Jekyll Creek this past Sunday October 19 with a group of 6 boats. A couple boats at the head of the pack decided to go through close to low tide. One boat was a Catalina 36 fin keel drawing 5.83′. I spoke with the skipper afterwards and he said they had no problem. There as a positive low tide of 1.4′ which I’m sure helped his transit.
I was part of the group that decided to stop at Jekyll Harbor Marina and have lunch before going through the creek a couple hours past low tide. There is 5-6′ of water in Jekyll Creek even at low tide, but the key is finding it. Best advice I can give is to travel this area at mid-tide rising or falling unless you want to risk grounding.”
Yep! Have great photos of being stuck in the mud there!
Dixie Sansom