Peter, My reports from this October, 2017, transit south from the Chesapeake Bay so far... As of October 6, 2017... 1. Brown's Inlet is no problem. 2. Call the range office at Camp Lejeune to confirm the next day's firing schedule. Boat's are being allowed to transit on the ODD HOURS. Slow boats (I run 7.3 knots/8.5 mph through still water) can leave Swansboro around 06h15 to arrive at Onslow Beach Bridge for the 08h00 opening. At that point, you're through the live fire zone before the start of the day. 3. The information from Bob Sherer (Bob423) and the USACE is correct. The suggested route at New River Inlet drops south at the inlet. As of 2017-10-06, the markers have not been moved and do not reflect the correct route. Some charts show a shoal there, but in real life, it is very clear that you'll have plenty of visibility and room. Be careful of swift cross-currents; I was being timid, and operating at reduced speed/power. I got swept rapidly inland towards the New River by strong incoming cross-currents from the inlet. Ebbing currents could be hazardous too. This route was reliable, but check again in the spring, because it had several sand piles on the bottom and did not look like it would last long as the best route. 4. Sanctuary and crew transited Snow's Cut 2017-10-06 at 1-1/2 hour before low tide. We found R"162" relocated very dramatically to the south shoreline of the cut. So much so that it appears off-station. We verified it is an ICW marker, carrying a yellow triangle. Southbound, take R"162" to STBD. We found at least 10 ft of water between the marker and the shore, but estimate the marker is only about 40 feet from what would be expected to be the green side of the channel in that area. Update: R"162" has been relocated in Snow's Cut by the USCG ATON Maintenance Team. It was off station to the south. Posted this 10/10/2017 on Active Captain 5. Sanctuary and crew transited Lockwood's Folly this morning, 2017-10-10, 09h00, 1/2 tide rising, +3.0 feet. I followed a route that "split the difference" between Bob423's route and the 2017-07 waypoints from the USACE. The route takes you within about 100 feet of a large, prominent sand bar with people fishing. The incoming current was at max flood, at least 2 - 2.5 knots. We learned at New River that we'd need full power to manage that cross-current. Furthermore, the markers in the water still mark the old "north" route through the Folly. All in all, the transit is an act of faith. The standers-bye were AMAZED watching us just two boat lengths from them. Our faith was rewarded; the route works well. We saw one sand pile that was 10.5 feet, so the route would carry 7.5 feet at MLLW. This is probably a temporary alternative, as the currents will undoubtedly shift the route by spring. There are comments in the Lockwood Folly ActiveCaptain thread from a few days ago that suggest the marked north route is about the same depth as we saw on this alternate route. That being the case, I'd recommend to less experienced people that they go with the marked route. To follow the alternative route without markers as physical reference points, you really need a route programmed into a chart plotter and an autopilot accurate enough to closely follow the unmarked alternate in strong cross-currents. The only other choice would be to run at slack where less than full power is needed. Screen capture: Lime line is Bob423; fuscia line is USACE; black route is mine; blue highlighted line is our actual track. 6. Sanctuary and crew transited Shallotte Inlet this morning, 2017-10-10, 10h15, 2/3rds tide rising, +4.0 feet. The route has only one small change from last spring. G"81" has been relocated about 100 feet toward the north shore. This makes the course a slight slalom. We saw one sand pile at 10 feet, so about 6.0 feet at MLLW. Screen capture: the blue highlighted line is our actual track. From it, you can see where we diverted toward shore to pass G"81" at a distance of 10' - 12'. 7. USCG Sector Charleston is transmitting a "pan pan" for a storm-damaged dock with debris in the ICW at "Mile Marker 24," presumably in South Carolina. The North Carolina/South Carolina border is approximately StM 331, and the Rock Pile is StM 553 - 557. So, there is no "Mile Marker 24" in S. Carolina. We decided they must mean lateral marker R"24." There is a R"24" south of Myrtle Beach in the ICW, and it did have a board or two tied to the marker's piling. There was no evidence of a damaged dock in that area. There is no more than the normal amount of flotsam in the water so far this season. Sanctuary and crew traveled south from Socastee, SC, on the Waccamaw, to Mt. Pleasant, SC, on Tuesday, 10/17/2017. Low tide in the region was early afternoon (13h30). The entrance to the Estherville-Minim Canal at Winyah Bay is very shoal for at least the first 1/2 mile. The Esterville-Minim Creek Canal and the Fourmile Creek Canal have both continued to shoal. We saw spots at 6-1/2 ft at 1/3 tide. We managed - poor planning - to arrive at McClellanville at dead low tide (10/17/2017, 13h51, +0.1 ft above MLLW). Our depth sounder transducer is 30" below the waterline, and it quits when it get's to 2 to 2-1/2 ft above a soft bottom or weeds. Today, it quit. So, I don't know how deep the water really is. What I do know is, Sanctuary draws 4-1/4 ft. What I learned for certain is, the bottom of the ICW around McClellanville is soft mud. I had slowed to just above idle, (never approach anything faster than you'd want to hit it). We never got stopped making way, but there were spots where I could feel the soft mud throwing the boat around. One of many times I really, really liked having a single engine boat with a prop and rudder protected by a beefy full keel. We never encountered anything hard; nothing that went "bump" along the hull. The stretch between G"35" and R "48" is definitely the worst long stretch (4 miles) on the ICW at this point. Not bad when the tide is in, but 4 ft or less at low tide, and worse yet if celestial low tide. Southbound, check the tide station called "McClellanville, Jeremy Creek" before departing (or passing by) Georgetown. To stay clear of the McClellanville mud at MLLW, ditch out up above McClellanville and wait for a better tide if you'll arrive at low and your boat draws more than 3 ft. Those who have done this stretch of South Carolina ICW in the past know there are some very impressive, long docks extending from shore. Many show signs of very significant storm damage. Several that had nice multi-deck sun shelters top were tipped over and lying in the water (well, lying in the mud at low tide). Many of the docks and access-ways had decking missing, we assume from waves and high water lapping at them from beneath. We saw sunken floats and many pilings askew. We did not see any flotsam, but I would definitely keep a sharp lookout throughout the region. Crab pot floats are everywhere. In fast currents, floats bob underwater. Be on the lookout... Sanctuary and crew cruised from Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms, to Beaufort, Port Royal Landing, on 10/18/2017. Mt. Pleasant Range - The area from StM 460.0 to 460.5 is shoaling. We passed this area mid-channel at about 07h10, near high tide (+6.0), and saw 11.5 feet of water. The control depth would be 5-1/2 feet at low tide, less on a celestial low. Dawho River, North Creek, Watts Cut - We transited this area between 11h50 and 12h15 (+3.0 --> +2.7 ft) and saw areas at 8.5 ft. The control depth for this area is about 5.5 feet at low tide, less on a celestial low. Ashepoo-Coosaw Cut - This cut is in two parts; the north section that connects the Ashepoo River and Rock Creek and the South section that connects Rock Creek to the Coosaw River. The North cut is not a concern at this time. We transited the South section at 13h15, 1-1/4 hours before low tide (+0.5 ft). Favor "G181," the outside radius of the curve there, and then favor red at the entrance, floating R"184." Do not cut the corners here; follow the centerline of the cut out into the deeper water of the Coosaw River. There is a 5-1/2 ft sandpile at the entrance. We slowed for our passage, and never saw less than 5-1/2 ft. As of 10/24/2017 at 11h00, tide +6.0 ft, we saw 13.5 ft between the North entrance to Field's Cut and G"47," so about 7.5 ft at MLW. The entrance itself was 18 ft. R"48A" continues to appear offstation to the east, but HONOR FLOATONG RED R"48A." Pass east of R"48A." Except for these two sandpiles, the rest of the cut was not a problem. FOLLOW THE OUTSIDE RADIUS OF ALL BENDS! The south entrance of Fields Cut was 13.5 feet at +6.0 on the tide, so 7.5 feet at MLW. Southbound, watch for strong cross-currents at the mouth of the Savannah River. Sanctuary and crew transited Hell Gate (A-ICW, Georgia, MM 600) 10/28/2017, southbound, at 11h00, +3.4 ft on the tide (Ayetides app, Egg Islands Station). Passing G"89" at a distance of about 30 feet, we saw 5.5 feet of water. Passing R"90" at a distance of about 15 feet, we saw about 5 feet of water. Not good. The control depth of Hell Gate at MLLW is 5.0 - 3.4 = 1.6 feet. We may have been slightly too close to R"90," but in any case, no more than about 2 feet of water at low tide, less for celestial lows. Screen capture of our track... Sanctuary and crew transited southbound through the Little Mud River, GA, and the Altamaha River, GA, on 10/29/2017 between 08h00 and 08H50, about 2 to 1-1/2 hours before low (10h22, Ayetides app). 1. Little Mud River - We entered the Little Mud River at 08h02 with the tide station at Rockdedundy Creek reporting +3.2 feet. Our depth sounder reported not less than 8.0 ft, so the control depth for the Little Mud River would be 8.0-3.2=4.8 feet at MLLW, less on a celestial low. Favor the outside radius of the curves of the Little Mud River for best depths. 2. Altamaha River - There is a marsh island in the Altamaha River that extends from about R"202" through R"208." The ICW channel passes to the south of that island. The ICW channel-side of the island is shoaling. We transited mid-channel with the tide at Wolf Island, GA, reporting +2.6 ft. Southbound between R"206" and R"204," we saw one sandpile where our depth sounder reported 5.6'. So, 5.6-2.6=3,0 ft at MLLW. The remained of the run was 8.0 ft or more, about what we saw in the Little Mud River. Clearly, a developing hazard. 3. Altamaha River - At R"208," there is a shoal growing south from the south tip of the marsh island that extends well into the ICW channel. Jimmy was running a route mid-channel, not paying attention, and bumped. Bumped! Mid Channel! Dag nabit, I hate that! Tide for Wolf Island, GA, was +2.5 ft. We draw 4.3 ft, so that shoal is 4.3-2.5=1.8 ft at MLLW. Strongly favor green here (outside radius of a turn), but certainly, stay well clear of R"208." All of the above posted to ActiveCaptain, SSECN and WWG. We'll enter Florida on 11/1. Updates as we go. Hope this helps. Jim Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Brunswick, GA http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com Monk 36 Hull #132 MMSI #367042570 AGLCA #3767 MTOA #3436