Kent Narrows, chesapeake Bay

[capnjim02]

planning a trip to St Michaels this weekend and was wondering if anyone has been thru the narrows recently and is there enough water for 4'draft at low tide. i know they are constantly dredging it but whats its condition now?

[williamconnor]

We were through two weeks ago. No problem at all.

[DrB]

and you'll be fine. The channel is deep enough. Read your chart. Even a few feet out of the channel and your in only a few feet of water at low tide.

DrB

[capnjim02]

it seems that it is the same as it always has been, get out of the channel a few feet and you're aground if you draw more than a canoe.

[I33]

It seems strange to think about a 5' draft boat being constrained by her draft. When studying the regs, the phrase "Constrained by her draft" brings to mind mega tankers working their way up the Houston Ship Channel

[btrayfors]

"Constrained by her draft", under the COLREGS, applies ONLY to ships in International waters, not in U.S. waters.

So, technically, you can't be constrained by your draft in the Chesapeake, Kent Narrows, or wherever in Inland Waters.

Go figure :-)

Bill

[SailorMitch]

Sounds like they must have dredged the Kent Narrows approach this spring because last year they had temporary markers with a new channel outside the old one for a short stretch. Good to know there's not a depth problem this year.

FYI -- I was just through Knapps Narrows last weekend and had just about 8 feet all the way through. Last year I touched bottom on the bay side in the middle of the channel. I know they did dredge Knapps this spring.