Tide Table & Boat Draft

[robert graham]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

Always good to know the High and Low tides, if your boat is big, heavy, deep-V, maybe check out other, deeper ramps in your area, especially for more freshwater(upriver) ramps so you flush saltwater out getting back to ramp. Even if you had to drive 5 or 10 miles upriver, it could save some saltwater corrosion on your boat/motor. Good Luck!

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

We were told to use the Trim "up" button to bring up the drive when going to shallow water. We've been using the Trailer "up" to bring it up. Well, we decided to find out how far up the drive would come when using the Trim "up" button. I pushed the Trim "down" button so the drive went almost to the ground, but didn't touch......my wife was watching it. Then, I pushed the Trim "up" button and the drive only came up 3 1/2 inches (ground to stop) which isn't enough to get us thru 3 feet of water! So, it appears that I DO have to use the Trailer "up" button in order to get the drive high enough to get thru shallow water. The Trim "up" works fine when I use the Trim "up" and "down" level out the boat.

Good luck with that. Better budget for outdrive expenses annually.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

We've been told on two other boat forums that the Mercruiser Drive Manual says it's ok to use the "trailer-up" switch to go thru shallow waters.....but only in Idle/low speed. So........we're not worried about it now.

Good luck with that. Better budget for outdrive expenses annually.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

Last week, wife and I talked about taking the boat out tomorrow because she has the day off (Friday). Unfortunately, after checking the Tide Table for our launch area and the channel we have to take to get out on the river, it will be getting close to low tide when we launch........don't like that at all! High tide is at 5AM and our temp won't be warm enough to go out until around 11AM. Low tide is at noon. The water in that launch area and channel would be pretty low if we "put-in" at 11AM! The next high tide is at 5:30PM and we are always off of the water by 3PM at the latest, NOT launching! The tide situation isn't much better for either Saturday or Sunday either.........plus rain will be coming in sometime during the weekend. We really want to get the boat on the water asap, but, at the same time, don't want to get stuck and possibly mess up the drive!

Haven't had it on the water since Memorial Day Weekend of last year (high wind, rain and wildfire smoke kept us off of the water). Have had a little work done on the carb since last May, a dual-battery system put in, new started/cables put in, greased the trailer wheel bearings and washed/cleaned the boat inside and out. Have started up the engine a number of times since last May and seems to run fine. Let the drive down (near the ground) and slipped the gear into forward and prop turned fine as well. We are really "biting at the bullet" to go, but..........

Gee, it can be a nice, bright sunny day w/low wind and no rain in the forecast, but if the dang tide isn't right.......cann't say what I'm thinking!

 

[Philster]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

Coastal boater my whole life -- Tide matters now and then. For the most part, it doesn't cancel anything.

You get used to it, and you should learn the local waters. Each has nuances that you must learn. Tide #'s are guidelines.

I used to use a tide clock until a few years ago. I hinted I wanted another for Christmas, but my wife didn't take the hint, which was me saying, "I wish I had a tide clock again."

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

so you haven't used your boat for a whole year, and you are restricted from using it if you have to come and go at low tide and when the weather is "warm."

First, I'd verify with other users that you are that restricted at low tide. It's more about how high the bottom is than how low the top is.

But if that's the case, you have two choices: get a smaller boat, or go boating somewhere else. And if you are getting a different boat, consider an outboard, b/c they can be run tilted way up no problem. Those who boat in shallow tidal water seldom use I/O.

actually there's a third choice: buy a sweatshirt. you're in Florida, fercryinoutloud.

 

[Philster]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

Last week, wife and I talked about taking the boat out tomorrow because she has the day off (Friday). Unfortunately, after checking the Tide Table for our launch area and the channel we have to take to get out on the river, it will be getting close to low tide when we launch........don't like that at all! High tide is at 5AM and our temp won't be warm enough to go out until around 11AM. Low tide is at noon. The water in that launch area and channel would be pretty low if we "put-in" at 11AM! The next high tide is at 5:30PM and we are always off of the water by 3PM at the latest, NOT launching! The tide situation isn't much better for either Saturday or Sunday either.........plus rain will be coming in sometime during the weekend. We really want to get the boat on the water asap, but, at the same time, don't want to get stuck and possibly mess up the drive!

Haven't had it on the water since Memorial Day Weekend of last year (high wind, rain and wildfire smoke kept us off of the water). Have had a little work done on the carb since last May, a dual-battery system put in, new started/cables put in, greased the trailer wheel bearings and washed/cleaned the boat inside and out. Have started up the engine a number of times since last May and seems to run fine. Let the drive down (near the ground) and slipped the gear into forward and prop turned fine as well. We are really "biting at the bullet" to go, but..........

Gee, it can be a nice, bright sunny day w/low wind and no rain in the forecast, but if the dang tide isn't right.......cann't say what I'm thinking!

Wait... if low tide is at Noon, why can't you return to the ramp at 3pm? You are gonna have plenty of water.

Tides are not exclusively high or low. High or low tide times are actually "Highest and Lowest" tide times. There are in-between stages.

Also, tides when the moon is not at extreme stages are sometimes not even all that bad.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

LuvBoating, you're getting info from some of the best of the forums. I am lucky to have at least a dozen ramps at various locations in my area and have learned to know which ones are best for our destination. I suspect you're going to need to investigate other opportunities. Your comment regarding it being such a nice, sunny day with a mild breeze and no water is going to become a real pita. Happy Hunting!

 

[nlain]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

I live on the water with a similar situation as LuvBoating has, I cannot get out of the creek I am on at low tide, so I time my coming and going to before and after, there is only a couple hours total that I may have trouble, I work around that time. I have dropped anchor in the river and waited for the water to rise enough for me to ease my way in, there is one spot that I raise the drive all the way up and idle through, about 20 feet, the rest of it I have the drive down and just ease my way in. You need to work with it and figure out when to come and go. I know the Jacksonville area has a lot of ramps around so you could even go to one of them and not use the one you are talking about here. I have the one out of my back yard or tow 12 miles to get in the water, so I just time it to be out when the water is out.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

If I were you, I'd walk over to Goodby's Creek Marina Service, and talk to the guys there. IMHO, I think you just don't know your waters well enough, and need some local guidance. As one of the guy's at the marina if he'd show you how to run the creek one day, and do it. Give him a few bucks or a 6-pack, and all is good with the world.

There is a Hooter's with a dock, and the marina, and there are lots of boats that traverse that creek/river that have the same or deeper drafts then your boat.

Yes, the NOAA chart (#11492) show's a 1.5 - 2ft low tide level, but if you look at Google maps, you can tell that the creek is navigable under most conditions, if not all.

On a side note, if you do feel that you have to run with your outdrive up, don't make any type of turns, that's a sure fire way of blowing out your u-joints, even at idle.

EDIT - Heck, if you're lucky, maybe you can even get a couple of Hooter's girls to show you.... Just don't take the wife on that outing! (j/k)

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

so this guy has a Hooters to tie off to while waiting for the tide to rise? I've only seen such a thing in mirages in my delerium while stuck on a mud flat. problem solved.

there are so many solutions to low water, including moving the boat when you can, so you can use it elsewhere.

Here's the boat basin at our hunt club @ low tide

 

[OutOfControl]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

Yeah the OP has it real tough, huh fellas. Nice double wide concrete ramp with lots of parking, a Hooters right across the creek, and a short run through a dredged channel to the St. Johns river.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

I used to use a tide clock until a few years ago. I hinted I wanted another for Christmas, but my wife didn't take the hint, which was me saying, "I wish I had a tide clock again."

Why not a tide watch?

Timex, Casio, Nixon, Rip Curl, Wenger all have decent tide watches.

If you deal with tides a lot, it is incredibly handy.

 

[Philster]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

I hear ya, but she is already of the opinion that I have too many watches, so I had no shot going there. So much for my strategy: No stinkin' tide clock either.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

I hear ya, but she is already of the opinion that I have too many watches, so I had no shot going there. So much for my strategy: No stinkin' tide clock either.

You can get one for the iPhone!

http://download.cnet.com/Tide-Clock/3000-2094_4-75105112.html

$.99...doesn't get much cheaper...the significant other may not even know! Hate to hijack thread, when you gonna put the CM on the water? That's a dream boat for me!

 

[jdlough]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

2 days of a stiff breeze from a certain direction can add or subtract 25% or more.

A few weeks ago I had the lowest tide ever on the Eastern Shore of MD. Two days of stiff breeze blew a chunk of the Chesapeake out to sea.

Here's the super low tide, compared to a normal low tide.

The tide charts did not predict anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Philster]

Re: Tide Table & Boat Draft

You can get one for the iPhone!

http://download.cnet.com/Tide-Clock/3000-2094_4-75105112.html

$.99...doesn't get much cheaper...the significant other may not even know! Hate to hijack thread, when you gonna put the CM on the water? That's a dream boat for me!

A tide clock is also a bit of maritime decoration for the home, which I would like. I'm waxing nostalgic over my youth, when I used to have one.

As for the Checkmate: Right now, it's all about timing between my schedule,the Merch tech's schedule and weather that has become a bit fickle on the days we both are ready. But the goal is sometime within the next eight days. We have a shakedown run and I will take her home. She's mine, but stored inside at the dealer's joint. She is sitting next to a Cherubini yacht and a Lamborghini convertible.