GL: ICW conditions in Georgia

[Jim Healy]

Izzy & Jeff,

Take a look at  <http://www.cruisersnet.net> www.cruisersnet.net, scan for
the Georgia tab, and see what people are saying.  It's your best source for
up to date information.  You can also use www.waterwayguide.com for
excellent information, but that web site's usability isn't as intuitive, and
I find it can be slow to load on a dial-up connection.  When Sanctuary went
through Hell Gate in early November, we observed a tow with a Benzene barge
going through northbound.  We waited for it (of course!) and saw that the
barge drew 9 ft.  Of course, the tow can plow through the area, where you
wouldn't want to.  We went through at 1/2 tide, and basically followed the
tow's path.  We saw no less than 7 ft.  If you favor the red side, there's
slightly more water.  Hell Gate is not the shallowest part of the trip
through GA and SC.  The best advice I can offer is start northbound from the
Florida line when the tide is high at mid-morning.  If you keep moving north
day-to-day, you will have high tides from day 1 to day 5 progressing from
10h00 to about 14h00, which should get you to the Charleston area.  That
strategy will cover your depth requirements through the shallowest 300 miles
of the east coast ICW.  Obviously, there's skinny water in the Isle of Palms
area, but you're already south of there.  Dave Russo is right about the cut
at Jekyll Creek, but there is equally poor depth in several other places.
All of this area is well documented on the two web sites I mentioned above!

Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary,
currently at Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda, FL
AGLCA # 3767
MTOA # 3436