Shallow Water South of McClellanville Documented, AICW Statute Miles 430-433
The waterway south of McClellanville all the way to the Ben Sawyer Bridge has been shoaling for years and SSECN still recommends mid to high tide for passage through this section. [As Tom Hale points out below, this should read “at risk of shoaling” for this section. Dredging often lasts only weeks. SSECN is delighted to get reports of good depths from Tom and from Raymond Smith.] See /162153. Our thanks to Capt. John Wampler for this photo from his GPS which displays 3.5ft between markers 38 and 37 just south of McClellanville. Another picture worth many words!
This was at high tide!!
John Wampler
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For McClellanville
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To The Northern Portion of This AICW Problem Stretch
Comments from Cruisers (3)
Was back and forth this winter, no problem. Just check your tides and follow the MARKS and get off the throttle!!!!
You reference that there is shoaling all the way to Ben Sawyer Bridge is out of date. The Isle of Palms stretch near 117 A was dredged in 2015 and that problem area seems to be resolved. I’ve been through 3 times in the last 10 months, and twice since Hurricane Matthew. I do not see any problems in that stretch, and that is over 10 miles south of the McClellanville trouble area.
Tuesday 7 March 17 McLellanville R42 to G35 about 15min before mlw. Made it through by zig-zagging at 2-3kts searching for water. We draw 4ft but we have a 24ft beam so we need a very wide path.
Mike Cam