SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!
MD: Kent Island Narrows, northern approach, shoaling
The following is from the CG 5th District NTM 21/12.
Shoaling to a depth of less than 5.0 ft MLW has been reported in the center of the channel in the vicinity of Kent Island Narrows Northern Approach Lighted Buoy 3 (LLNR 26417). Chart: 12272.
Comment submitted by Margo Walker - Jan 31st
I would like to know if the dredging of the north channel in Kent Narrows has been scheduled yet.
Comment submitted by Pete Minott - Dec 24th
Latest NOAA chart depth for the channel is only 3'.
Comment submitted by Pete Minott - Dec 24th
Unfortunately funding of the dredging of the Kent Narrows Northern Approach has hit a snag. Date of dredging is uncertain at this time.
Comment submitted by Pete Minott - Jul 28th
The Kent Island Narrows Northern Approach will be dredged to a depth of 7' starting on November 1, 2012. Dredging should be complete by spring of 2013. Email me for further info.
Comment submitted by GrayCruiser - Jun 24th
This has been going on for years. Probably what is needed is a jetty along the North boundry of the channel to protect against the Chester tides and flow.
Comment submitted by John Tremel - May 24th
YOU WOULD THINK THAT SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE TO FIX THIS EVERY YEAR PROBLEM......WHY DON'T THEY DREDGE IT TO TEN FEET AND THEN THE SHOALING WOULD ONLY BE EIGHT FEET EACH YEAR.....
The channel to the north has changed. It is marked, but stay in the middle of the markers. There is a post on the east side as you enter the narrows be sure not to get to close. Then when you get between the fuel docks stay to the east side of the channel, it has shoaled in the middle as you approach the bridge. Be very aware of the current as you near the drawbridge, with the flow has right of way. It can be very fast. On the southside be sure to line up the green posts. the water is very thin on the west side. Have fun, fair winds.
The 20+ knot NNW winds forecast for all day Friday into Saturday AM will cause a blow out, not making going through the narrows any easier this weekend!
Monday was no better for tides. We couldn't get back in our slip in Rock Creek due to extreme low water. I didn't transit Kent Narrows but could only imagine the problems encountered. Too bad we don't have a report during normal conditions.
Tod,
Where in Rock Creek are you? We need to move our boat tomorrow from Oak Harbor to the other side of the Patapsco. But with the rain tomorrow, hope we will be OK!
I am in a private slip farther up the creek than Oak Harbor. The water depth should be good now, I was talking about after Memorial Weekend. Tomorrow should be fun (not) with the heavy rain! Good luck...
My home port is Piney Narrows Yacht Haven. I've gone out to the north twice, once on Memorial day and Wednesday evening, and once to the south. I draw 5.5 feet. I got through on a rising tide that was about 1 ft above datum but I did scrap the bottom. the shallowest section is between marker 3 and 1/2 way to marker 5, (going south).
the deepest water is on the east side of the channel, possibly even just outside the channel to the east halfway between marker 5 and marker 3. I've passed close to the east of marker 3.
I'll bet low tide and when the wind is hard from the N, its less than 3 feet.
There is also a shoal north of the draw bridge with a shoal marker buoy. Stay to the west here.
Any updates? I have a charter planned for the weekend of August 3, 2013 and I was planning on heading down the Kent Narrows from Rock Hall to St. Michael's. The boat i was originally going to take had a 5' 6" draft. I was going to switch to a boat with a 4' 8" draft and I'm wondering if that would be a problem.
I've considered going around the point instead, but we'll have two kids on board (3 and 5) and I'm trying to avoid the extra few hours.
Also, by way of update, I spoke to a woman at Piney Narrows Yacht Haven and she confirmed that the dredging that was supposed to occur in the spring didn't happen. She said by law they can't dredge before June 30, 2013 (not sure why). She said she wasn't aware of the State's plans after June 30, 2013, but she said her associate believed it would be dredged in late July.
While I haven't been through the narrows this year, I think you will be fine with the 4'8" draft as long as you don't transit during or shortly after conditions with strong northwest or northern winds that have prevailed for a couple of days. As others have said, keep to the eastern side of the channel between G3 and G5.
Thanks for the response. I think I'll just plan to go via the Kent Narrows and adjust if necessary when we depart. High tide is supposed to be at 2:30 p.m., so if we hit the 1:00 p.m. bridge opening we'll be on a rising tide and the current will be going opposite us.
Not sure what his draft is, but I left him a message and we'll see if he reports back. Searching google seems to indicate that this boat (Morgan 382) has either a 5' or 6' draft. He said his depth sounder read "0" a few times, but he has 6" of play before he actually hits the bottom.
Kevin
Edit: Here's a quote from his blog regarding the northern channel:
The channel on other side of bridge is shallow....I pass over few spots with depth sounder reading zero (depth sounder has 6 inches to spare before I am on the bottom).....a little bit more shallow and I would be aground! And the channel is narrow...fortunately not too long and then we are released into the deeper Chester River and heading north (~22 nm) to Rock Hall, MD . Relief! I can breathe again.
I heard back from the women from that blog I posted earlier... she said her drafit is 5' 5" and she didn't hit the bottom at all... stayed in the middle of the newly marked channel and hit it at high tide.
Well I'm happy to report that we made it through the Narrows without incident. Our draft was 4' 8". The depth gauge went down to 4.2' at the lowest point (that I noticed). I think the depth gauge was calibrated so there were a few inches to spare though because heading back into the marina in Rock Hall, I made a few circles just outside the fuel dock waiting for another boat to leave, and the depth gauge went to 3.9'. If that were accurate, we would have run aground and we didn't.
Anyway, we hit at about 1:30 p.m. on a 3:30 p.m. high-tide and didn't have any problems. They did move the channel so you go outside around Green 3. They basically make Green 3 Red 4 and put a green can, which is now Green 3, if that makes any sense.
Hmmm, came through about 5 days ago at half tide and never saw anything less than 6.9 for a brief moment at one stop near green 3. Plenty of water in the rest of the channel. Chuck
SUMMARY OF DREDGING/MARINE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS
MD – Chester River/Kent Island Narrows (chart 12270) – Dredging/shoreline recovery until 31 December, 2013. LNM 45/13.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
SailNet Community
1.7M posts
173.8K members
Since 1990
A forum community dedicated to Sailing, boating, cruising, racing & chartering. Come join the discussion about sailing, destinations, maintenance, repairs, navigation, electronics, classifieds and more