On 2007-06-26 19:39:48 -0400, Lew Hodgett said:

wrote:

I agreed with the fact that what counts is how much water is under the keel

However, I have been, for years, using the depth to validate my
position on the chart. Conversely, with today's electronics I could say
100 feet + 6 (draft) should read 106 feet on the chart.

This way I could validate my position with the radar and GPS.

Trying to use chart data, some of it at least 100 years old, to
validate depth, to validate position?

You have got to be kidding.

If you find yourself in less than 20 ft of water, time for a lead line, IMHO.

At that point, screw the instruments.

Lew

Obviously, you don't sail the Chesapeake. We spend most of our time in
less than 20 feet; sometimes our speed reads greater than the depth. We
often raft up with others, so knowing the actual depth is even handier.

We originally calibrated by anchoring where we had a fairly flat
bottom, measured the depth, then adjusted the gauge to match. If it
reads 4.3, we're floating; 4.2 means we just bumped.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's new pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI pages: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Jere Lull wrote:

Obviously, you don't sail the Chesapeake. We spend most of our time in
less than 20 feet; sometimes our speed reads greater than the
depth. We
often raft up with others, so knowing the actual depth is even handier.

Actually, waters that are very similar to C/B, mostly the western 1/3
of Lake Erie; however, Detroit and St Clair Rivers as well as Lake St
Clair can make things very interesting on your way to Lake Huron.

You learn to stay at least a mile off shore, and then head straight in
when it is time to go to port.

The shore line is definitely not your friend.

If you don't touch bottom at least once over the weekend, , you stayed
in your slipG.

Lew

Lew Hodgett wrote:
however, Detroit and St Clair Rivers as well as Lake St Clair
can make things very interesting on your way to Lake Huron.

You learn to stay at least a mile off shore, and then head straight in
when it is time to go to port.

I learned to waterski and jump freighter wakes in the Detroit River. First time I fell I was shocked
to be able to stand in neck deep water 1000' from shore...you see in 1968, you couldn't see the bottom
in 5' of water in the Detroit River!!!

the_bmac wrote in :

I learned to waterski and jump freighter wakes in the Detroit River.
First time I fell I was shocked to be able to stand in neck deep water
1000' from shore...you see in 1968, you couldn't see the bottom in 5'
of water in the Detroit River!!!



My father actually DROVE US through Sarnia, Ontario Chemical Sewage City on
our way to Michigan. I'm amazed when you let go of the rope the skis
actually sunk in the Detroit River in the 60's!

Larry
--
http://www.spp.gov/
The end of the USA and its Constitution....RIP