"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:32:48 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

There is no need to do the Moser Channel thing. Anchoring in the Little
Shark River mouth allows you easy access to the Yacht Channel through the
Sprigger and Arsenic Banks into the Intracoastal Waterway well north of
Marathon. There is enough depth, plenty enough at high tide. Last time
though the Yacht Channel (Hurricane Wilma) there was close to eight feet
there. Using the Yacht Channel makes for an easy and safe run to Channel
#5
bridge which has 65 feet clearance MLW.

At low tide in the winter, the approach to Little Shark River has
barely 5 feet of water, same with the Yacht Channel north of the
Channel Five bridge. We were through there 6 months ago in the summer
and dragged our 5 1/2 ft draft through the mud a couple of times.
That is why I recommend Moser Channel east of Marathon where I've
never seen less than 6 1/2 ft.


Duh, navigate shallow areas on a rising tide. Those who don't are no
sailors. Preferably at about the top half of a rising tide. That way any
little grounding and all you have to do is wait a little while and float
right off. A little soft mud on the bottom of your keel doesn't harm
anything.

Oh, I've seen more than a few 45-footers in the Shark River hiding from
hurricanes. Some of them draw six feet and more. You get them over the bar
at high tide. It's that simple.

Wilbur Hubbard