On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:02:45 -0500, wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:24:10 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

How do you "localize" tides when cruising?

Read the mangroves and barnacles on poles to get current stage and
analyse flow to decide trend.
The tides are really strange back in the mangroves when wind and water
flowing in from upland will make a foot of difference and the
astronomical prediction is only a guideline.

That's what I do when fishing a canal back a couple miles from
Charlotte Harbor. The tide table for the harbor can be off at least
an hour from there.
I was thinking about open water in the Keys and Florida bay.
As Wayne said a rising/high tide can be useful to keep you off grass
beds/sandbars.
Didn't know that chart plotters had a local tide reading.
Probably want a forward looking sounder too, if there is such a thing.
And a go-slow attitude where appropriate.

--Vic

On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:09:59 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Probably want a forward looking sounder too, if there is such a thing.

Forward looking sounders exist but mostly for big boats, and the
reviews are mixed even there.

And a go-slow attitude where appropriate.

That's the real answer. When you go agound at speed you can end up
high and dry.

For an inexpensive chartplotter with tide information, check out a
used Garmin 182 or 182C on EBAY. I have a 182 at the lower helm that
came with the boat and it's a decent unit. One of my neighbors bought
a 182C (color) and he likes it. For a small boat try to get one
with the built in antenna.

On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:30:16 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:09:59 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Probably want a forward looking sounder too, if there is such a thing.

Forward looking sounders exist but mostly for big boats, and the
reviews are mixed even there.

And a go-slow attitude where appropriate.

That's the real answer. When you go agound at speed you can end up
high and dry.

For an inexpensive chartplotter with tide information, check out a
used Garmin 182 or 182C on EBAY. I have a 182 at the lower helm that
came with the boat and it's a decent unit. One of my neighbors bought
a 182C (color) and he likes it. For a small boat try to get one
with the built in antenna.

Thanks for that advice.
Used units are pretty high on ebay, but new low-end models aren't too
bad retail on the net.
Used electronics scares me.
Probably get a new unit when I get my boat.

--Vic

On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:30:16 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

That's the real answer. When you go agound at speed you can end up
high and dry.

I ran a duckboat high and dry a thousand times. Transom a yard past
the water's edge. Wasn't about to muscle it up the beach, if the
engine cou;ld be made to do the work.

Casady

On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:12:20 GMT, (Richard
Casady) wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:30:16 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

That's the real answer. When you go agound at speed you can end up
high and dry.

I ran a duckboat high and dry a thousand times. Transom a yard past
the water's edge. Wasn't about to muscle it up the beach, if the
engine cou;ld be made to do the work.


That's OK with a light weight boat that you can muscle around, not so
much with a heavier boat.