Mark R. wrote:
My experience was that Clear Lake (really just a backed up creek that
did not exist too many years ago) was too shalow to do any sailing.
They dredge very defined channels for the boats to navigate through.
When there is a strong North wind for several days, it literally blows
most of the water out of Clear Lake.

I think you will spend most of your sailing time in Galveston Bay.
Buy a navigation chart of the Bay and I think you will be shocked to
see so much water, and almost all of it is 8 feet deep or less. They
dredge a hugh channel down the middle of it for very large cargo
ships, and yet on either side of the channel, 8 feet. The tide is
about 1 1/2 feet.

We had a lot of work done in a boat yard called South Texas Yacht
Services. You can do as much work their on your own as you want.
Friendly, knowledgeable, and fair in respect to price.

Click here for a posting on our site about our experience there
http://goreads.com/blog/2005/03/hot_...n_houston.html


I was born and raised in Houston.
Already knew about the depth of the water in the bay.

With our shoal draft we will have a lot of sailing area -
where the big ships won't be able to chase us.

I was looking at the chart - at that channel between Clear Lake
and the bay. That ought to make for some interesting navigation!

We don't see much tide on the lakes, so I'm just guessing here...
It seems like that tiny restriction would cause the tides in the
lake to follow the tides in the bay - maybe by a couple of hours
or so? (but that's just a wild guess...)


BTW, Georgous boat, Mark.
You and your family have been lucky to have such adventures.
Most people dream of something like that - few get to go.

Thanks again.

Richard