Ahoy List, It has been several years since I last competed the Great Circle Loop. A friend of mine is looking for a vessel to indeed get his share of the fun. My 3 ft 2 in shallow draft trawler did not hinder my ability to compete the loop. His concern is with regard to the absolute minimum water depth available. A nice motor yacht he has selected has a 5 ft 6 in draft. I am familiar with the 19 ft 2 in air draft maximum. Excluding those tidal shoaling areas along the Atlantic, where might one obtain the information to assure a 5' 6" draft vessel can enjoy the same pleasures doing the Great Circle Loop. Thanks, Capt Joe Guarino M/V Aquaduck, KK3673

From experience with a 5' draft boat, I think that 5'6" is pushing it, especially if it has unprotected props. Lock sills alone are a problem. I touched 3 times on the rideau and Trent Severn always near or at a lock. Also a boat I fresh water sits deeper than in salt water. If the props are unprotected you may get grief in a place where repairs are difficult. When I touches it was a bump and a scrape not a grounding. I believe that the Rideau specs 5' and offers more info if the water is low that year. The locks provide a specified depth on their controlled section but that level may not be kept if it is a very dry year Gregory Han On May 14, 2012, at 8:06 PM, CaptJoe60@aol.com wrote: > Ahoy List, > > It has been several years since I last competed the Great Circle Loop. A > friend of mine is looking for a vessel to indeed get his share of the fun. > My 3 ft 2 in shallow draft trawler did not hinder my ability to compete > the loop. > > His concern is with regard to the absolute minimum water depth available. > A nice motor yacht he has selected has a 5 ft 6 in draft. > > I am familiar with the 19 ft 2 in air draft maximum. Excluding those > tidal shoaling areas along the Atlantic, where might one obtain the > information to assure a 5' 6" draft vessel can enjoy the same pleasures doing the > Great Circle Loop. > Thanks, > > Capt Joe Guarino > M/V Aquaduck, KK3673 > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com