Water depth in the south pacific

[pjandart]

I am buying a boat to sail in the south pacific. Do I need to worry about the draft? I know in the Bahamas I had to have a shallow draft boat.
Thanks
PJ

[tropicalescape]

Only around reefs!..DVC

[savoir]

Draft worries ? Hell no !

You do need to be OK with not getting into some of the atolls at all and waiting for high tide with others. Even so you can always sail on to the next one. There are plenty to pick from.

Be careful in the Tuamotus.

[pjandart]

Originally Posted by pjandart

I am buying a boat to sail in the south pacific. Do I need to worry about the draft? I know in the Bahamas I had to have a shallow draft boat.
Thanks
PJ

I am looking at a 7 foot draft boat is that too deep a draft?

Thanks PJ

[delmarrey]

The S. Pac has some of the deepest waters in the world. But with that said, anytime you get close to shore you need to check your charts. Those sandy beach areas are going to be the ones to watch for. The reefs are just below the waterline. Pay attention to the color of the water, that's the first indicator.

[bobconnie]

We had 6ft and and anchored in most every place ya can anchor at in the Pacific!! Ive also had 7 and 1/2 ft draft, in a schooner I had and had to be a lot more choosy where I put her !! just sayin, less can be better sometimes, if ya want to get onto the really good places to stay awhile!!

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by pjandart

I am looking at a 7 foot draft boat is that too deep a draft?

Thanks PJ

Well, we have been cruising in the South Pacific/Mexico for 25 years now. Both of our boats have had 7'2" (2.2 metres) draft (draught). This has had few negative effects for us... we just run aground a bit further from shore than the shallower draft boats do.

And we sure like the sailing performance afforded by that deep fin!

Cheers,

Jim

[SimonV]

Not an issue as long as You know where your keel is going. Most of the coral is just below the surface but the water between is normally deep and clear.

[gjordan]

I cruised the Marquesas where draft made no differance and the Societies where with 4 foot draft I could go to many nice anchorages that the bigger(deeper draft) boats could not get into. I am boat hunting again and will look for a suitable centerboarder, but I am not stuck on that criteria. It is nice to be able to get away from the crowds and the charter boats.____Just my opinion.____Grant.

[savoir]

I can remember being 1/2 mile off some of those islands and all my depth sounder would say was " H ". I figured that meant " heaps ".

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by savoir

I can remember being 1/2 mile off some of those islands and all my depth sounder would say was " H ". I figured that meant " heaps ".

Inside an atoll I was 100 foot from the island with the anchor in 12 foot of water by the time I had 5 to 1 out there was over 200 foot under the keel.

[matauwhi]

G'day, mate. 7 feet here. Never really ever been an issue. What are you looking at, if you don't mind? Cheers