It's a good shortcut to the north Chesapeake Bay.

 

A big body of water edged by protected wetlands. Birds, fish, crabs, oysters, turtles and other wild life find it hospitable.

 

We spent years at Delaware City Marina. Best choice living in Philly.

 

Delaware Bay is even more shallow than the Chesapeake (personal observation, doesn't mean I'm right) plus who knows how much 200 years of mud and silt washing down from the farmlands and manufacturing waste and Lord knows what else have probably added feet not inches to the bottom, I know it smells baaaad

The Long gone era oyster schooners were shallow draft, and smaller craft like duck boats, cat boats sandbaggers, delaware tuckup, sneak boxes, sharpies, I don't know if the Chesapeake Bay boats crossed over in style and construction to Delaware Bay because boat building in general has always been local to the waters.

The Delmarva marshlands were duck hunter heaven also!

My guess, anyone wanting to really sail Delaware Bay would probably want a very shallow draft boat! And special boots to walk on the mud rather than sink in it

But if you get a chance check out the AJ Meerwald The AJ Meerwald | Bayshore Center

 

There is lots of reading material available it's a sad story what happened to the Bay

Historic Themes and Resources within the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route: Southern New Jersey and the Delaware Bay (Chapter 3)

 

The thing is you have 6+ feet of tide, and lots of current, so you can get around. But if you ground then you can lay right over. Did that once. We kept going over further and further, the water kept getting higher and higher on the topsides. Then it started going down again just before the gunnel. Was worried we might get down flooding. But she had laid over as far as she would go. That is good to know, although I don’t recommend the method.

Bombay Hook shoal, I was too far inside the channel and when it started to shoal the current swept me onto the hook. Lesson learned. Not pleasant but no damage, except to my ego.

So that is one significant difference to the Chesapeake.

 

It's a great place to kayak.

 

With a 4ft draft I have had a few touch and go situations on the Delaware Bay, mostly due to getting to close to oyster reefs and outside bends on inlets. The NJ side is mostly 10 to 20 ft at low water and close to 30 ft near the shipping channel, the DE side is mostly 5 to 15 ft, add 6 ft at high. Shoals are well charted.