8,5 feet draft (2.5 meters)

[dolfin93se]

Do you think that 8.5 feet (2.5m) draft is too much for Caribbean, Mediterranean, and South Pacific? For sure you can not go to the Bahamas.

[Noname]

A Swan 68 that I had the pleasure of crewing on had a draft of around 11 feet. It did summer charters in New England and winter charters out of Tortola (or close by).

[benajah]

Depends on how good the skipper is, how nice the dingys are and how good the anchors are.
I can think of a lot of boats that draw 11 feet that I would love to be on and would be happy to row a leaking johnboat 3 miles to shore to get to spend time on those boats.

[NornaBiron]

Originally Posted by dolfin93se

Do you think that 8.5 feet (2.5m) draft is too much for Caribbean, Mediterranean, and South Pacific? For sure you can not go to the Bahamas.

Certainly no problem in the Med. We draw 2.8 metres and anchor everywhere out here. Interested in the responses about the other areas though as we do plan to move on from here one day!

[svBeBe]

We are at 2.2m and 3/4ths the way around the world on the most common circumnavigating yacht.

Bill

[Dockhead]

2.35 meters here. I wouldn't want to sail in Florida or the Bahamas with my present boat, and the draft does restrict sometimes where you can go, but you get used to it. Around the UK and Northern France, the restrictions mainly relate to creek crawling or really small harbors.

I wouldn't trade my boat for the shoal keel version and give up even 3 degrees of pointing ability, just to somewhat reduce those restrictions -- another way to answer your question.