Exumas Question

[Roniszoro]

All my Bahamas charts are on my boat, now on the hard 1500 miles from me, so I ask this question. What is the best, safest and easiest cut from the Exuma Sound to the west side of the Exuma island chain. A friend with a boat that draws 7'6" is asking.

Thank you in advance for your input.

[GordMay]

The Explorer Chartbook for the Exumas lists more than 30 different cuts, and in addition to very good, detailed charts, it provides waypoints and a short description for each.

I usually used “Norman’s Cay Cut, and “Big Rock Cut” [at Staniel Cay].
Both are deep enough, even at low tide.

I used the “Rule of Twelves”* of to make a prudent decision about when, or most importantly, when not to, run a cut.

* The Rule of Twelfths assumes that the rate of flow of a tide increases smoothly to a maximum halfway between high and low tide, before smoothly decreasing to zero again; and that the interval between low and high tides is approximately six hours. The rule states that in the first hour after low tide the water level will rise by one twelfth of the range, in the second hour two twelfths, and so on according to the sequence: 1:2:3:3:2:1
You want to transit the cuts as close to “slack” tide, as possible, to avoid fast currents, and ‘rips’.

IIRC:
In the northern Exumas [Norman's], the tides will be around 20 minutes later than Nassau
Further south, around Staniel Cay, you can expect the tides to be about 30 minutes later than Nassau.

[Roniszoro]

Thank you Gord. I'll pass it on. (My Explorer Chart Books and Explorer on my tablet are in Connecticut on my boat and I am in Miami.)

Looking at your charts, with 7'6" of draft, which of the two cuts you have flagged would you choose or would you chose either one?

Thank you for your response.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Roniszoro

... Looking at your charts, with 7'6" of draft, which of the two cuts you have flagged would you choose or would you chose either one? ...

I have no charts, but from OLD memories, Either One would be good, depending upon where you are, and where you're going.
There are others, but I hesitate to comment.
We've a lot of CF members, /w recent Exumas experience, so [hopefully] some will contribute more good options.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Roniszoro

All my Bahamas charts are on my boat, now on the hard 1500 miles from me, so I ask this question. What is the best, safest and easiest cut from the Exuma Sound to the west side of the Exuma island chain. A friend with a boat that draws 7'6" is asking.

Thank you in advance for your input.

Roniszoro - along with Gord’s advice, take a look at Highbourne Cut. The caution describes it as the best cut in the northern Exumas due to depth and short distance. We went through twice in the past 3 months, both at slack tide, without issue.

[Roniszoro]

Thank you Buster. What is your draft?

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Roniszoro

Thank you Buster. What is your draft?

We draw 5’4, but I remember seeing no less than 12’ of depth on the approach and 20‘ as we passed through the cut. The snippet I attached was from Aqua Maps which uses the Explorer Carts. The soundings are in meters.

[BusyBoater]

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

Roniszoro - along with Gord’s advice, take a look at Highbourne Cut. The caution describes it as the best cut in the northern Exumas due to depth and short distance. We went through twice in the past 3 months, both at slack tide, without issue.

Can confirm. There is a very steep dropoff about 100 yards South of Highbourne. Explorer Charts show no less than 10 feet in the channel. We anchored on the shelf and watched several deep draft vessels, including a ferry, cross here.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, BusyBoater.