Little Help reading a chart - please

[Laughing Buddha]

OK, so we've been away from the USA for a few years. Left in 96, and haven't sailed here since. We are shipping "Laughing Buddha" into Morehead City, NC and the local NOAA chart is a bit confusing.

Channels are shown(as white), but include the symbols "FT." From NOAA Chart 1 Feet is represented as "ft", Fathoms as "fm", Flashing as "F",and no reference to FT in Chart 1- or the ICW "notes."

Just to make the description easier - I've added a picture of the area of confusion.

Any clues? I always learned - stay in the WHITE! But, those numbers make me shudder with a 6.5" draft!

Because of our draft, once we get squared away after off-load, we'll probably go offshore to FL, rather than plow the ditch!

Cheers - Jim

[Teknishn]

I was just there 5 days ago. Anchored outside of channel behind "R8" (where the chart shows "6" ...as in 6 FEET of water at MLW). Fair weather anchorage only. The chart you have shown is in FEET, as are all charts for the ICW.

[hpeer]

Jim,

I looked at this area on my charts. FT clearly means feet.

I also looked ou the area in Active Captain and there is a “Shoaling” caution for the channel heading South or West from behind Sugar Loaf Island. The note says the channel is 4-1/2’ at mid tide. Dated April 10, 2017.

Most recent comment (3/20/17) says:
“Could not make it through channel. Shoals out to 4'. My boat requires 6.5'. Asked Tow boat US and all locals agree not to attempt this unless you shallow draft. Best to go around Sugarloaf Island.”

[billknny]

If you go to Chart #1 and look in the Index to Abbreviations (in my edition it is on page 107) you will see the following:

FT, ft . . . . .Foot, Feet . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B 47, D 20

If you go to either section B 47 or D 20 you will find that echoed.

Does not look like a channel YOUR boat will be using...

[mikeod]

Check army Corp of engineers. They have current surveys. I checked before I went through that stretch 2 months ago because the chart scared me with a section that said 1 ft.

[Nicholson58]

You can’t even leave the main channel with your draft. The side channel starts at 4.5 feet and decreases as noted to one foot. This channel is suitable for canoes and Jon Boats.

[Laughing Buddha]

Thanks all.

I'm here (Morehead CIty) just now, and was surprised when I looked at the chart. The "FT" @ 1 foot for the width given was very confusing. I get it that there is much of the ICW we won't be using, but I'll need to "reassemble" the boat after transport. Also like to haul and do the bottom etc. May go up river to Beaufort, as the channel there is deeper - at least according to the charts!

Thanks for the Chart 1 lead on section - silly me I was in the "Abbreviations Section -- I."

Active Captain was not much use overseas. Looks like something we'll get VERY Familiar with soonest.


Cheers - Jim

[Nicholson58]

We. Abandoned the east coast south of Hampton, Va. due to our draft and air draft. We noted only five places we could use even a tiny part of the ICW. Roxy is now in Trinidad and we cruise the Caribbean. The Great Lakes is fun, easy, but the ICW is decidedly unfriendly to today’s sailboats.

[waterman46]

FT on US charts means feet (12 inches) but the note showing depth in that channel is screwed. Yes, do stay in the white and you'll be all right. Looks to me like we are seeing two typos and suspect the channel is 20 ft everywhere.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by Laughing Buddha

Thanks all.

Active Captain was not much use overseas. Looks like something we'll get VERY Familiar with soonest.


Cheers - Jim

For overseas information you may wish to try Zulu Waterways. They are very similar in concept to Active Captain, but their user base seems to be more overseas based.


https://www.zuluwaterways.com/

[Laughing Buddha]

Originally Posted by waterman46

FT on US charts means feet (12 inches) but the note showing depth in that channel is screwed. Yes, do stay in the white and you'll be all right. Looks to me like we are seeing two typos and suspect the channel is 20 ft everywhere.

waterman46 -- Yeah, that seems to be the case. The chart going upriver to Beaufort is much more "inviting" wrt depths!

ArmyDaveNY - Wow - The zuluwaterways is a great tip. I'llpass it along to fellow cruisers still in SEA !!

Cheers Jim

[roland stockham]

The other thing to note is the date, how useful and not seen that before. I presume it means the depth was checked at low water on that date. I do remember checking the survey dates on an area in the UK to illustrate why it matters to a student and found it was a leadline survey done in the 1850's. It was within 10 miles of a major oil and gas terminal!!

[Suijin]

Definitely consult Active Captain for all stretches of the ICW. There is so much active and changing shoaling that NOAA charts can occasionally be useless.

That channel in Morehead has always been for small skiffs. It really shouldn’t even be on the chart.