here are my notes from the run north... For most boats, drawing under 6 feet, the only spot where you really need some tide is Little Mud River. around 6' draft or more, then having some tide at Jekyll, Ashepo Coosaw, Dawhoo isnt' a bad idea... Shallow spots: (all depths are converted to LOW tide) MM80, Alligator River entrance. Not an issue yet many run aground there. Southbound dont' miss the G3 (missing on OLD charts) then after splitting R8/G7 aim straight for R10 to avoid the shoal on the red side, south of R8. Northbound after splitting G9, aim directly for R8/G7, do not follow the dogleg shown on the charts. MM224, Bogue Sound, favor center or green of centerline between R40 and R40A MM 233, Bear Inlet, 8' MLW shoal 100/150' North of G55 on green side. MM 239, Browns Inlet. No issues, 10' MLW splitting R60/G61 and then splitting G63 and shoreline MM245, New river Inlet. No issues except for brief 9'MLW hump on south side of inlet crossing MM288, Masonboro Inlet South, 7' MLW shoal 100' north of G135, favor red of centerline MM330, Shallotte Inlet, all good except a short 9' MLW hump 200' North of R82 MM430, McClelanville, 9' to 10' MLW thru the section just south of the village MM460, North of Ben Sawyer Bridge, numerous 7' MLW spots south a G117A all the way to G121. channel is very narrow and shoals rapidly off centerline. MM497, Dawhoo River. 7' MLW along the green floaties pat R110. 7' MLW between R116 and G117. 9' MLW off R132 just west of the bridge MM 503 Watts cut. 8' MLW mostly between G139 and G143 MM510 Fenwick Cut, 9' MLW between 162 and R162A passign about 100' off R162A, 12' between R162A and R164 MM516 Ashepoo Coosaw South, 6' to 7' MLW most of the way. Make sure you come in or exit the southern end of the cut at an angle as shown on the charts (by R184/G195). Note that the northern section of the cut off bet R166 and R172 is no problem, over 12' MLW MM570, Ramshorn Creek, deep except brief 9' MLW sounding at the south end, between R40/G39 MM575, Fields cut, 8' hump at the nothern end just south of point on east side. At the southern end, near the Savannah River, favor the red side around the bend stay away from the dock on the green side. found 12'MLW passing about 100' off R50 and the range tower, then about 200' off the dock MM602, Hell Gate, 8' to 9' MLW around R90. Northbound I passed about 40' from R90, then about 30' from G89 and turned towards G87 about 100' north of G89 MM625, Johnson Creek, 8' MLW between G127 and R128 MM655, Little mud River, numerous 5' to 6'MLW south of G193. Southbound at R194, aim for a point halfway between G195 and range marker, then turn precisely on range without cutting/overshooting. Northbound stay on the range until just before halfway between G195 and the range marker, then make a sharp turn into the creek. Shoals rapidly close to G195 MM683, Jekyll Creek, 7' MLW is as shallow as I saw mostly near G19 and along the range. I passed about 150' off G19 then turned on range (was northbound). Stayed on the range till past R16 ( passed about 75' away) then split R16 with the southernmost range marker MM704, Cumberland Dividings, favor the green side south of G59A for 12' MLW all the way thru. Stay away from the reds! Most charts show on a "ghost" round island, this is actually where the deep water is! some 9' MLW south of G63A but again favor the Green side all the way. MM718, Amelia River, favor the green side north of the bend and G1. pass between the 11' sounding (actual depth there 7MLW) and shore line. pass about 20/30' of G1 then stay mid channel. Note that I have seen reports of deep water way over on the red side. I have never tried that side but in any case, avoid the center of the channel! MM725 south Amelia River, favor the green side south of R34 (8' MLW on center and red of center). south of the bend, between G37 and G39, favor the red side before returning to center by G41 MM726 south Amelia River, favor the green side around the 11' sounding just south of R42 and after the shoal charted on red side. Favor the Red near R44 to G45 MM792 Matanzas Inlet, follow the temporary markers. Stay about 50' from the reds then favor the red side around the series of floating greens for 8' MLW MM843 Ponce Inlet, stay close to reds, about 20' away from R18 for 8' to 9' MLW. under 5' on the green side. MM1080 Bakers Haulover. I try to avoid that section as shoaling can be severe and unpredictable. Despite being dredged in the winter of 2011, there are reports of buoys being off station and shoaling once again encroaching in the channel.
