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Paul Cassel

wrote:
I like to tell people I'm spoiled, my last few boats have been pretty
close to perfect. Right now we have two, both are relatively shoal
draft. The "big boat" is a 36' trawler that draws about 3' 6" (1.1m)
and the other is a sailboat with a ballasted daggerboard that draws
10" to 5'.

I agree. When I sailed in the North Pacific, the draft of my full keel
boat didn't matter as the shore seemed to drop right off wherever I was.

However, my next boat was in the Atlantic and drew 6' (mod fin keel). I
spent time in the Intercoastal and tried getting to certain places close
inshore. Time after time I was frustrated at how often interesting
places were closed to me.

That got much worse when I got to FL / Caribbean. I never even tried the
Keys or the west coast of FL either which I suppose would be just that
much more annoying.

While I"m at it, the mast height was almost 65' w/o antenna. Several
times I went under Intercoastal bridges hearing that ping ping ping of
the antenna hitting something on a bridge. That was a truly nauseating
feeling knowing the cost if I was a few feet wrong in my estimate of
where the tide was. I was several times delayed waiting the tide in
certain areas both for draft and total height.

BTW, my initial plan to FL was to go from Newport, RI to Bermuda and
then to FL but constant storms, a new for me boat and my being alone
dissuaded me from that idea. So I hit the coast. I wanted to go inshore
for some of the trip to see the sights. Great trip but also worrisome in
a lot of ways.

-paul