I don't know about Ft Myers area, but in the Pan Handle we can run as much as 2 1/2 feet lower during winter with the Northers blowing the water out of the bays and bayous.
One thing which puzzled me about the photo and comment on the link is that it identifies the vessel as a Mine sweeper--it certainly looks like one. As I looked it up--it seems that there were steel hulled mine sweepers, but they were later replaced by wooden with bronze fastenings, SS non magnetic fittings and aluminum engines.
