Eight-Foot Draft

[GordMay]

Chuch pretty much said it. We carried about 6' throughout the Exumas; and only touched due my arrogance of familiarity (3 times in total 38 months).
Eight foot draft IS a whole other world in the Bahamas; which will cause you to play some tides, and choose your 'cuts' etc.
You & your mate will need some good polaroid sunglasses, to 'read' water depth (don't worry, it's a quick learn); and will always excercise caution - but you CAN do it.
That said - assume that you WILL hit bottom at some time.
The "Yachtsman's Guide to The Bahamas" (Tropic Isle Publishers) has an excellent section on reading water depth from it's colour.
My depth transducer failed within an hour of first entering the Bamamas, but I never felt compelled to replace it (I think it took my 3 years to get around to it). I came from the deep dark waters of Lake Superior, where we would often, in fog, use "kerb feelers" on the cliffs (very steep shorelines) - so trust me, anyone can learn to read the Bahamian Banks.
I don't want to make it seem too easy; but the perils will be (mostly) known; so prudence should suffice.
Everyone wants a good dinghy in the Bahamas. There is so much to do, day-tripping from the anchorage!

Regards and good luck,
Gord

[GordMay]

Some Abacos "deep draft" (6' only) info'. See the link.
Gord

http://abacotoday.com/boats/news.html#deep
Abaco Bahamas Cruising Information

[mrohr]

Hi all: YES with deep draft much is possible,but you had better become an expert in kedging off because you will go aground with some regularity on the ICW and in those skinny water areas. Some of those times the tide will be falling and some of those times the weather will be deteriorating. your boat weighs how much? Have you ever pounded on a shoal while waiting for the tide? Don't ask how I know this stuff.

[speciald@ocens.]

Forget the ICW. A lot of places will be off limits in the Bahamas. I have a seven foot draft and could not get into many places for fuel. In the Virgins, draft will not be aproblem.

[GordMay]

Wow, a thread last addressed in 2003 (our first year online), is reborn!

[denverd0n]

Yep, seven years later the thread comes back to life. I wonder how Irwinsailor did on that trip through FL and the Bahamas?

[Pblais]

It's a long and you might want to hunt down the rest of the story in the various corners here on CF. It's all here. Consider it an adventure without leaving home. It has very happy and very sad moments. It's worth reading. As with all stories here it's not about the ending but how it gets there. Clearly some of the "best of" CF reading.