Creative way to dredge to icw

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Cadence

That or do it at night with prop wash, in jest. Since it was considering buying you have the right advise. I'm guessing the OP will find the laws are restrictive.


May even involve Wildlife, EPA, and tree huggers, etc. etc.

The prop wash trick does work. I know people that were doing it years ago in south Florida but that was when the rules weren't as strict or at least not as strictly enforced.

In south FL or the Keys I would say DIY dredging would be a very bad move as the silt is damaging to the coral reefs which are already in poor condition.

[Enchantress]

In Florida the DEP controls all facets of the coastal waterways -- in fact most coastal waters are considered property of the State not the landowner.

You will be in huge legal problems if you try to circumvent them.

Even having the dock requires a permit from DEP, so I would check with them prior to buying to ensure that even the dock is there legally.

[psneeld]

I used to work for a company that blew out slips using propwash....not all that easy to do without strong currents in the area...and just pushing it to a neighbors slip that would now have to be done which is worse from your slip. Its dangerous as the forces exerted to the pilings or docks was enough to snap lines...even old pilings and you had to be ready to react in a second. If it did happen...if you weren't using a well fendered workboat to dredge...you wish you were at that point.

Pretty much all the outfits I know doing it stopped maybe 10 years ago when the EPA went after a USCG crew for doing it down in North Carolina when they couldn't get the ready boat in and out of it's slip at low tide.

Yep ....permits and money are the answer...mainly because those choosing not to do it will generally rat you out for destroying the environment or pushing sand/silt where they don't want it.

[hpeer]

We have the occasional dredge crew boat hauled in our marina. Those props are something to behold. They have been chopping through a lot of stuff a LOT harder than water. One Capt. Told me they regularly run 4' draft in 2' of water, they just chew through and blow it out.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by hpeer

We have the occasional dredge crew boat hauled in our marina. Those props are something to behold. They have been chopping through a lot of stuff a LOT harder than water. One Capt. Told me they regularly run 4' draft in 2' of water, they just chew through and blow it out.

Are they dredging or just going to the travel lift?

Moving through mud/soft sand is way different than moving it far enough to have a slip and channel for your personal boat like the OP is thinking.

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by skipmac

The prop wash trick does work. I know people that were doing it years ago in south Florida but that was when the rules weren't as strict or at least not as strictly enforced.

In south FL or the Keys I would say DIY dredging would be a very bad move as the silt is damaging to the coral reefs which are already in poor condition.

For the mechanical requirements, cheapest would be to hire a backhoe on a barge with a sluice box.

Call a local excavation contractor.

They will require you to get all the permits in advance, and can tell you where to get them.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Are they dredging or just going to the travel lift?

Moving through mud/soft sand is way different than moving it far enough to have a slip and channel for your personal boat like the OP is thinking.

Just using the lift.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by skipmac

The prop wash trick does work. I know people that were doing it years ago in south Florida but that was when the rules weren't as strict or at least not as strictly enforced.

In south FL or the Keys I would say DIY dredging would be a very bad move as the silt is damaging to the coral reefs which are already in poor condition.

Yep, in fact I dredged much of the ICW with my 6-5 draft one time! The OP needs to get a Centerboard boat.... once dredged it's just going to fill back in anyway.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Before going forward with this I highly recommend you check with appropriate authorities to see if dredging will be allowed in the area and if so, what if any restrictions like control of silt and sediment, discharge of the spoil, etc.

I think the Army Corp of Engineers has say so on navigable waterways but local regulations may also apply.

This should be your first step.

The other assumption is that you can dredge by sucking silt, sand & sediments. It is also possible that the silts are a thin covering over coral.

[Cadence]

If I sound crass, sorry. He did say considering buying. He needs to do his own research, not depend on us. Hopefully he has gotten some starting points.