As Keith attests, Nine Foot Shoal Channel has been slowly losing its depth for the last year or so. As you consider using this route into Ocracoke, keep in mind that this channel is named a “shoal channel”! Note too, that the primary entrance from Pamlico Sound to Ocracoke and Silver Lake Harbor is the Big Foot Slough Channel, which the vast majority of cruising craft and both Ocracoke car ferries use! However, this channel can shoal from time to time as well, as you can see in earlier comments we’ve received, BUT, due to the car ferries, the state will usually dredge the Big Foot Slough Channel fairly regularly.

Cruising News:
I have been sailing out to Ocracoke for almost 20 years and almost always enter via Nine Foot Shoal Channel.
I chuckled last year when I read a review on this site where somebody correctly stated that it should be referred to as Seven Foot Shoal Channel. I want to say that as of this summer, it should now be known as 5 1/2 Foot Shoal Channel. I used the channel about a week ago and found 5 1/2 feet of water between markers 8 and 6 at low water.
The rest of the channel held depths of at least 10 feet, but what does that matter if you can’t get over the hump?
I draw less than 4 1/2 feet, so for now, I’ll continue using this shortcut and keep y’all posted.
Keith s/v SAGA

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To Nine Foot Shoal Channel, Big Foot Slough Channel, Silver Lake and Ocracoke