Canal Water depth? (Midway, Spring Lake: how much, house, neighborhood)

[Harbor Hopper]

There is no monitored/maintained depth. If someone sees 4.7ft on their depth finder, nobody is going to rush out and start dredging. If you're looking for something online or in print that is going to tell you what the absolute minimum depths are, you aren't going to find it.

The absolute best advice I can give is to come down and rent a boat for a day and canal cruise. Look at all the other boats around (this time of year there are a lot of empty docks. Jan-April is generally snowbird season) If you see people in their yards, talk to them. If the boat is in great shape, chances are they use it frequently.

[mrs.cool]

Originally Posted by Harbor Hopper

55 degrees, with wind chills in the low 40s with a 20mph northerly wind IS cold! BITTER cold, lol

In Wisconsin, we call that "June".

[storm lady]

Manchester Waterway seems to have 5' plus for the most part a bit less up toward El Jobean.

[SgtRich]

Since it got buried further up, I'll ask again.

There aren't any tides in the canals, are there? Due to the lock...

[Harbor Hopper]

Originally Posted by SgtRich

Since it got buried further up, I'll ask again.

There aren't any tides in the canals, are there? Due to the lock...

That is true ONLY for South Gulf Cove. The Manchester lock was removed 10 or 12 yrs ago.

[SgtRich]

Originally Posted by Harbor Hopper

That is true ONLY for South Gulf Cove. The Manchester lock was removed 10 or 12 yrs ago.

Thanks, that's where we're building.

[armour787]

I was able to contact the owner of the website, Patrick, very nice guy. he confirmed manchester waterway is roughly 5', give or take. I found actually there are lots of information on line, the PC and PGI area seem to be a paradise for sailboat owners.

[HarborRat]

Originally Posted by armour787

I was able to contact the owner of the website, Patrick, very nice guy. he confirmed manchester waterway is roughly 5', give or take. I found actually there are lots of information on line, the PC and PGI area seem to be a paradise for sailboat owners.

There are no depth guarantees. Yes, the minimum depth that I have found in the center of the Manchester canal is about 5'. I shouldn't even say center because sometimes the deepest part is on one side or the other of the channel.

You will be passing many boats, and you will be turning at least 4 relatively tight corners from that area (and will take 45min+). You will be, at some points, in less than 5 feet of water when leaving the center of the channel. Sailboats have the "right of way", so you can try and stay centered, but you will be passing other sailboats too .

Anyone here who is honest, no matter what they draft, will tell you they can easily find themselves in less than 5 feet very quickly until really learning the area.

I'd recommend a shallower draft boat to start out with. If you are set on a sailboat, check out catamarans or swing-keel monohulls. But, me? I'd start out with a cheap skiff with a good depth finder, it may save you a lot of money in the long run. Learn the area first. Then get what you want.

[armour787]

Absolutely! Sailboat will be the last one to come by. Thanks all!

[Pau Hana Daz]

Originally Posted by HarborRat

Sailboats have the "right of way", so you can try and stay centered, but you will be passing other sailboats too .

Not to be a stickler, but sailboats only have "the right of way" when under sail. If the engine is on they're considered power driven vessels and the "rules of the road" determine stand on vs. give way status.

Daz
(USCG 50t Master)