I am working on possibly taking a yacht with a 6 foot draft into the sound. I don't have charts handy (although I will be getting some soon) and I was wondering if anyone could tell me which ocean entrances would have a suitable depth. Thanks
NONE, you have to take the ICW out Beaufort, NC inlet if going South or ICW through Norfolk if going North. Schoolhouse channel to Oregon Inlet and Oregon Inlet itself are too shallow or shoaled over.
Pimlico is where horses run in circles. I've never gone in or out from Pamlico. Run it and Albemarle through from one end to the other only.
You're cruising with a yacht with a 6' draft, so I'd think fairly big, and you have no charts, no plotter, nothing?
I don't have first-hand knowledge, but met some folks from Oregon Inlet this weekend. I happened to ask them about the inlet, and they told me it's deep these days, and that the bridge is new/wider.
Thank you for your replies. I was coming to the opinion that I would have to use the ICW. I am considering purchasing this yacht, I do not have it yet. I am just doing some preliminary groundwork in case I do get it, so hopefully if I do I will indeed have charts, plotters, radars etc. Forgive me for asking what to some of you may think of as basic or silly questions, but I am new to yachting. 47 years as a Merchant Marine officer should help my learning curve however. Thanks again.
The channel to get from Pimlico to Oregon inlet (schoolhouse channel) is narrow and has a reported depth of I think it is 6' and reported years ago.
Just brought a boat to Beaufort from Staten Island via Oregon inlet and the Pamlico sound last week. Shallowest I saw was 10' at the little zig in Schoolhouse and that was at dead low tide. Inlet was almost straight and well marked and the center span had plenty of water.
That is great news! I'm doing a quick delivery from Ft Lauderdale to Sag next week. Pull in to Beaufort for fuel and the night. Then if it is a bit snotty outside, cross Pamlico and out Oregon. The Prime Rib at Coinjock is not worth taking the "back roads" all the way to the Cheasapeake!
Now that they've raised all of the bridges North of Coinjock I can leave Beaufort and make it all of the way to Norfolk, VA running the inside in a 20 knot MY.