Is avoiding Hatteras an option?

[NHPete]

Boat is an Alubat 445 which draws 4' (centerboard up). Air height 64" (not counting antenna). I would like the option of avoiding Hatteras if possible this fall. FWIW boat fit under the Usinia Bridge in St. Augustine a few years ago but I don't know about tides. I know this ? has been asked before but usually with deeper draft boats....

[SV Confianza]

Well, you have Oregon Inlet north of it, which is generally listed as top 3 most dangerous inlets in the USA .

We have done Hatteras and Oregon inlet a couple of times. Makes me nervous each time. We draw 4.5 in a 45ft cat. The inlet at Oregon moves around a lot, but it seems the coast guard is always out monitoring and moving markers to compensate. The charts are useless.

Last time out Oregon inlet, some weather came in way before expected, the current chart was wrong (common for this inlet), and we were reduced to 2kts of speed heading out. I was contemplating just turning back if we were slowed any further. That was the start of a long day beating into the wind in chop heading north.

If you go further south, you have Beaufort Inlet, but the first bridge you will hit heading south is not 65ft at high tide.

Active captain has lots of info on the bridges in the ICW, if you're not already using that. We are 65.5 with our antenna, and we have to constantly check the feedback on Active Captain and the tide stations on our phones. Sometimes we have had luck calling the bridges and asking.

[hpeer]

We have a 44’ steel cutter that is 6-1/2’ draft and 62’ air draft. We have dine this trio inside 3 times.

Your water draft is fine, air draft may be a bit tricky. Once in the sounds there is very little actual tide. Maybe a foot?

My sense is that with a little common sense you will be fine.

[donradcliffe]

Water draft will not be a problem, but air draft will be

https://www.soundingsonline.com/news...hts-on-the-icw

[chris mac]

You can go inside from Norfolk to Beaufort NC. Either dismal swamp or Virginia a cut. I would recommend the dismal swamp as it cuts out a bunch of bridges, which will are the stressful part
We are 4.5' draft and 63.5 plus antenna height. We have done this route 5 times now.

[SV Confianza]

My favorite part of the dismal swamp is saying that we went through the dismal swamp. Sounds like a place in the Princess Bride.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Water draft will not be a problem, but air draft will be

https://www.soundingsonline.com/news...hts-on-the-icw

Rereading that post reminds me of how DIScomforting such writing is. I think it is close to 100% accurate but not very confidence inspiring.

The point is there seems to be no rock solid source of actual measurements, probably for good reason. There are too many variables. For one I find it difficult to interpret exactly what the tide boards are trying to convey. Not is it clear exactly how sailors measure their mast height; top of mast, top of instruments, top of antennas?

And there is a lot at stake. Mast head instruments are expensive and difficult to replace. BTDT too many times, and I have steps.

I know I am clearing pretty well with 62’ to top of mast, maybe 62-1/2’ to top of lights.

But I still find the pucker factor high.

If you have time to wait for good conditions you can reduce some anxiety.

A kool thing to do would be to make a small, sacrificial, mast sticking above the top of you mast and afix a bright laser pointer, level about 6” over your lights. If you can’t see the red dot you are good.

Sorry for not being more definitive, join the worry wart club.