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Carolina waters
- Thread starter ericciar
- Start date
Captains Cat
New member
Ed, lots of folks down your way on the ICW. I'll let them respond. As for me, If I were going into water that skinny and absolutely HAD to go, I'd go in fast and then walk awhile :shock: . That's shallow, even for a CD.
good luck
Charlie
good luck
Charlie
marvin4239
New member
No way you'll get a CD in that shallow of water under power. That shallow would be a challenge even for flats boats. I'd put a kayak on the roof or buy a Go Devil and a john boat. Or better yet wait for high tide!
pcator":3ugtyrto said:I like going where I couldn't on another boat. I will probably never own a S/S prop. I am going to measure the depth one of these times.
I'm really curious about this because this coming winter I'm planning to take the Tom Cat down to the Texas ICW -- mostly the Corpus Christi/Rockport/Padre Island area -- and am wondering where I can and can't go to find my finny friends.
Warren
Warren
I do this a lot. You can run out of water pretty easy on the ICW and you have to remember that the bottom is changing all the time. I set the depth alarm to a minimum for the big motor. Go slow and when the alarm tells you , start raising the big motor. When you can't take it further out of the water go to the kicker. I have a small kicker with a big foot prop. That one will darn near come to the bottom of the boat.
I was on Lake Hartwell last year with my wife and Granddaughter, age 10. She wanted to pick the camping site. The perfect site. We looked for a long time. She picked one out and in we went. The water got really skinny and I asked her is this it and she replied no, go around the corner. We found her perfect spot but when I turned the boat to back in, I tore the transducer off the boat. Transducer cost $100 +. Finding the perfect camping site for my granddaughter. Priceless.
Just remember to go slow. Pick and feel your way. Know there are probably going to be a few new dings on the bottom when you pull the boat out. But the memories are wonderful
Patrick
I do this a lot. You can run out of water pretty easy on the ICW and you have to remember that the bottom is changing all the time. I set the depth alarm to a minimum for the big motor. Go slow and when the alarm tells you , start raising the big motor. When you can't take it further out of the water go to the kicker. I have a small kicker with a big foot prop. That one will darn near come to the bottom of the boat.
I was on Lake Hartwell last year with my wife and Granddaughter, age 10. She wanted to pick the camping site. The perfect site. We looked for a long time. She picked one out and in we went. The water got really skinny and I asked her is this it and she replied no, go around the corner. We found her perfect spot but when I turned the boat to back in, I tore the transducer off the boat. Transducer cost $100 +. Finding the perfect camping site for my granddaughter. Priceless.
Just remember to go slow. Pick and feel your way. Know there are probably going to be a few new dings on the bottom when you pull the boat out. But the memories are wonderful
Patrick
Doryman":2ypx55h5 said:I'm really curious about this because this coming winter I'm planning to take the Tom Cat down to the Texas ICW -- mostly the Corpus Christi/Rockport/Padre Island area -- and am wondering where I can and can't go to find my finny friends.
Warren
There is a lot of skinny water along the Texas ICW. Fortunately, except for the Baffin Bay area, most of the bottom is soft (mud or sand). There are flats boats around here that are designed to run in 6" of water... they're not fishing in anything that shallow, but need that shallow draft to get over the skinny stuff to get to a good hole. You will also see plenty of people who use push poles to move their boats in the really skinny stuff.
The charts are good and the channels well marked. Know where you are, take your time, time the tides, and you should have no problem.
Now, that 9-12" stuff? Not gonna happen with your TomCat... when it's that skinny, hop off the boat and walk to the hole. We see plenty of that around here, too.
patrick and linda
New member
DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS LINDA AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BOATING ON THE ICW IN AND AROUND VENICE FLORIDA.
had a great time! was at full moon so the high and low tide where greater than normal. noticed increase eb and flooding currents as well. i measured the boats water depth, (while on the trailer) hull was approx 8" and with the engines trimmed down, total was approx 20". my concerned regarding low water would be scraping the hull on unseen items and sucking up matter into the engine pumps while underway/makingway. our next trip is the june 6 chesapeake bay outing and we are really looking forward to that.
best regards to all and have a productive day!
pat
had a great time! was at full moon so the high and low tide where greater than normal. noticed increase eb and flooding currents as well. i measured the boats water depth, (while on the trailer) hull was approx 8" and with the engines trimmed down, total was approx 20". my concerned regarding low water would be scraping the hull on unseen items and sucking up matter into the engine pumps while underway/makingway. our next trip is the june 6 chesapeake bay outing and we are really looking forward to that.
best regards to all and have a productive day!
pat
marvin4239
New member
I've been boating in the type waters you are in all my life. Around Wilmington you will encounter 4 different types of bottom hard packed sand, mud, oyster bars and rocks (around Fort Fisher). My 22 will operate under power in about 18" minimum of water under power (with the main motor). If you don't have a lot of current or wind it's pretty easy to get out and walk the boat depending on bottom type. The mud can be a real challenge and you can easily sink up to your knees. I've learned to do all my boating with the tides in mind. My boat slip only has a foot or less water on low tide. I can float the boat out in about 8 inches of water. You won't find a better shallow water boat than the C-Dory with equal accomidations.
Wow, I never thought I'd get such a response. Obviously some great recs there, so thanks. My dock has the same, about 8"at low tide. I can't get in my skiff then, so I know that I have to time the tides. The Cdory sure looks like a great boat, rides well(we took a 22 onto Pamlico sound at the the 3 river convergence in 30 knot winds and she sat really nicely. Also, the support from owners seems to be pretty darn good. Thanks
Ed
Ed
I have been boating in Southeast NC for many years in a variety of boats/hull types. While we haven't owned our C-22 that long I am finding that I can get to many of the shallow water spots I want to. In fact the channel we live on gets very shallow in winter time (18" or less) and have yet to hit the bottom. The suggestions people have made are right on. Go slow if your not sure, the ICW in NC is in need of significant dredging and you can't always trust the markers. But I think a 22 or 25 is ideally suited to use in these shallow waters.