Low Tides and the Inter Coastal Waterway

While returning from a routine USCG Auxiliary safety patrol on Saturday, August 13, we observed several boats that had run aground along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) between Cape May and Avalon (Townsend’s Inlet). Two were about fifty yards from the water’s edge.
Every year a number of vessels run aground or the tide leaves them aground in the back bays of Cape May County. This is often due to a lack of local knowledge of the waterways, the tides, the currents, and/or the winds. At high tide, it is easy to be lulled into a false sense of security because there is water all around you. But, as the tide falls, you quickly learn how shallow some of that water can be. When running, especially in waters unfamiliar to you, it is always wise to stay within the boundaries of marked channels.
Being aware of your surroundings can make the difference between a fun-filled day on your boat and a long stint aground waiting for the returning tide, not to mention possible serious and expensive damage to your hull and running gear, or even worse, serious injury.
Remember that all low tides are not the same and the water depth of the ICW is not a consistent depth. In many places, the bay may be very wide but the channel may be very narrow. Your lookout and helmsman (driver) should not just be looking for other vessels, but also for the edges of the channel.
There are several factors that can cause your vessel to stray from the safe confines of deeper water. These include the wakes of other vessels, the current, and the wind. If your vessel is not making adequate headway (forward motion) and your are on the leeward side of the channel, a wake and/or the wind can instantly push you out of the channel (or up against a sod bank) and make it difficult, if not impossible, to return to deeper water without assistance.
Have fun out there, but take the time to “know your waters” and the stage of tide! Remember to wear your life preserver – “You’ll only need it once. If you don’t have it then, you’ll never need it again.”
Low Tides and the Inter Coastal Waterway (ICW) submitted by Howard Friedman, USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 8-3 Wildwood.