Shoaling in NC ICW at N River??

[jswwrites]

On another site there has been a secondhand report of significant shoaling in the NC ICW North River, south of Coinjoick (see http://www.cruisersnet.net, click on North Carolina link). Anyone have any first hand experience with this in the last 6, or particularly 3, months?? With the "great spring migration" about to start up, not to mention our own first sailing season in NC, any info would be greatly appreciated!

[camaraderie]

Actually I did the trip a couple of months ago...found no real shoaling SOUTH of coinjock but it was quite shoaled in just north of Coinjock. Just barely made it through the narrow part when a tug forced me wide into a soft grounding.
The problem area is just before and as you enter back into the Currituck heading north from Coinjock. I carry 6 ft. so it may not be a problem for you...just go slow and favor the red half of the channel there.

Reading through that site I find a lot of reference to the magenta line found on chartplotters and some charts. There may indeed be shoaling along that line. I never follow it...just work from marker to marker using sweeping turns and staying to the middle of the "VISUAL" channel rather than the one on the charts which I have found most unreliable as it is so old.

[jswwrites]

I appreciate the info. We will probably not go much north this year, as we get used to the area (enough excitement where we are for now!), but some friends in the MD area were concerned as they contemplated a southern journey. I will copy and send your findings on to them. Thanks again!

[camaraderie]

jsw...fyi..On the BOATUS.com website forums there is a thread called EAST COAST ALERTS which is updated every 2 weeks or so and provides a LOT of good ICW update info from Tom and Mel Neale.