Healy Report: Socastee to Isle of Palms, SC, AICW Statute Miles 410-457
Sanctuary and crew traveled south from Socastee, SC, on the Waccamaw, to Mt. Pleasant, SC, on Tuesday, 10/17/2017. Low tide in the region was early afternoon (13h30). The entrance to the Estherville-Minim Canal at Winyah Bay is very shoal for at least the first 1/2 mile. The Esterville-Minim Creek Canal and the Fourmile Creek Canal have both continued to shoal. We saw spots at 6-1/2 ft at 1/3 tide.
We managed – poor planning – to arrive at McClellanville at dead low tide (10/17/2017, 13h51, +0.1 ft above MLLW). Our depth sounder transducer is 30” below the waterline, and it quits when it get’s to 2 to 2-1/2 ft above a soft bottom or weeds. Today, it quit. So, I don’t know how deep the water really is. What I do know is, Sanctuary draws 4-1/4 ft. What I learned for certain is, the bottom of the ICW around McClellanville is soft mud. I had slowed to just above idle, (never approach anything faster than you’d want to hit it). We never got stopped making way, but there were spots where I could feel the soft mud throwing the boat around. One of many times I really, really liked having a single engine boat with a prop and rudder protected by a beefy full keel. We never encountered anything hard; nothing that went “bump” along the hull. The stretch between G”35″ and R “48” is definitely the worst long stretch (4 miles) on the ICW at this point. Not bad when the tide is in, but 4 ft or less at low tide, and worse yet if celestial low tide. Southbound, check the tide station called “McClellanville, Jeremy Creek” before departing (or passing by) Georgetown. To stay clear of the McClellanville mud at MLLW, ditch out up above McClellanville and wait for a better tide if you’ll arrive at low and your boat draws more than 3 ft.
Those who have done this stretch of South Carolina ICW in the past know there are some very impressive, long docks extending from shore. Many show signs of very significant storm damage. Several that had nice multi-deck sun shelters top were tipped over and lying in the water (well, lying in the mud at low tide). Many of the docks and access-ways had decking missing, we assume from waves and high water lapping at them from beneath. We saw sunken floats and many pilings askew. We did not see any flotsam, but I would definitely keep a sharp lookout throughout the region. Crab pot floats are everywhere. In fast currents, floats bob underwater. Be on the lookout…
There has been generally more transient boat traffic than I expected this early in the season. Don’t know if that predicts more traffic later, or maybe they’ve all already come through, so slower later??? The big go-fast boats we’ve encountered have generally been gentlemen about passing, but it’s on you if you’re a slow boat to keep a sharp eye out astern for approaching, overtaking traffic.
Jim
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Rock Creek, Pasadena, MD
http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Palms Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Isle of Palms Marina
Comments from Cruisers (3)
New River Inlet Crossing – Heading south, probably the first navigational challenge you will meet is at New River. There is a shoal which has grown into the ICW at R72A. Two days ago (October,26), we were the tail end of a long line of boats who cleared Onslow Bridge at the 1:00 opening and headed NW after rounding Craig Point. In the leading pack of boats were a few motor yachts and trawlers. I mention this as a warning. This whole pack headed straight down the ICW as shown on the charts, passing to the east of a 38-foot sailboat hard aground in the ICW near R72A. This shoal is not new, having been a real headache for many boats on the northbound trip last spring. At half tide or more you can pass through here on the old channel. The preferred channel is a dip to the southwest as you get to R72. See attached picture. As luck would have it we were all passing through here at about high tide. At low tide this could have been a problem. There are several Active Captain commenters who have described this transit and provided waypoints.
We led two sailboats who did not know about this problem area in advance.
Also, I’m told that New River Inlet is a mess with shoaling and should not pass less than mid tide.
Vicki
Let me clarify, the first half of the dip route when heading south is fine. It’s the last waypoint that had a problem where it ended in an area now shoaled to 5 ft MLW. The referenced GPX route just follows the ACOE waypoints from the new survey.