found a boat I like, problem with draft

[altimesone]

I now have an 24 foot boat with 30 inch draft.Now looking at new boat
32 to 35 foot range. the one's I like all have draft 5.5 feet or more. Cruiseing range now N.C. What problem will I have. Is it a wise desision.

[sailingdog]

If you've got the water for a boat with that kind of draft, you should be fine. You will have to be far more careful about tides and water depths, since you'll be drawing more than twice what you're used to, and some of the routes that you have learned may not be navigable in the new boat.

[hellosailor]

Al, you need to buy or borrow marine charts for your area, and check out the water depths. There's no other way to tell if you can still get to where YOU want to go, with the deeper draft.

You can read them online free at the Maptech: Topo Maps Charts Navigation Software GPS and FREE Online Mapserver online map server--in small pieces with lots of scrolling. Or find them free in any local repository library. But I'd suggest buying them, one way or another, if you plan to sail in the area.

[camaraderie]

If you plan to stay cruising the sounds of NC then you do NOT want a boat with a 5.5 draft. Too much shoal stuff around here. Look for a boat with less draft or perhaps a keel/ centerboard boat.

[tenuki]

what SD?!?!!? no mention of buying a multi-hull?!?!?

[sailingdog]

Nah, takes a especially intelligent person to understand that a multihull is a naturally superior mode of transportation... Something most of you lead mine sailors haven't figured out...

[Quickstep192]

For me it would boil down to whether or not you could get in and out of the slip where you keep your boat at low tide. Waiting for high tide to leave or get home is a pain, especially if you need to be somewhere or are trying to get in ahead of a storm.

[USCGRET1990]

My Morgan 25 has a full keel with a draft of 2'9". A centerboard comes down out of it making the draft 6'6". A configuration you might want to consider.

[altimesone]

Thanks for the input.The marina where I keep my boat now has 6 feet or more water and I may have found the boat I,ve been looking for.So I wanted to know if I should just keep looking. Most places I go now are 7 to 10 feet and occasions I sometime my self creeping in on 4 feet of water.

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by altimesone

I now have an 24 foot boat with 30 inch draft.Now looking at new boat
32 to 35 foot range. the one's I like all have draft 5.5 feet or more. Cruiseing range now N.C. What problem will I have. Is it a wise desision.

I have 10 feet draft and have no problem......