Sorry about asking a rookie question.Most of my boating is done on Southeastern tailwaters.
My bride and I would like to go from Amelia Island to Cumberland Island, about ! mile distance to explore the island.I would check weather,wind and tides for safety.The tide swings are about 6 feet. There are 3 docks avaliable on a first come basis.How should I dock or beach the boat. Its a 1648 Xtreme Riverskiff.
much appreciated
super5
Your question is in no way dumb, dealing with Ga tides can be tricky at best. How long are you planning on being on Cumberland? Planning how high the tide will be when you get there vs how high when you leave will make a difference if you have to beach your boat.
IMO, use the dock. If you anchor too shallow, your boat could go high and dry. Probably wont hurt it unless w8nds kick up as the tide goes out or in. If you do this, definately raise your motor all the way up.
If you dock, leave plenty of slack in your lines for the tide swing, or you will be hanging the boat by the cleate or whatever you tie to. You can also swamp your boat if the dock line is too tight.
maybe 3 or 4 hours,just looking to check it out.Our first time visiting.
thanks
super5
Be careful running. I haven’t been there in 10 years, but I remember running from Crooked River State Park out to Cumberland and being on full plane in the marked channel and glancing over to see a sandbar about 10’ off the port side. Super cool area, saw a bunch of dolphins and the island is cool as well. Have fun!
Learn how to tie up with spring lines with that much tide swing.
This is my area,most docks in this area have a floating dock with a aluminum walk to the main dock, that’s what works best we just tie the boats up tight to the floating Dock no worries, but I haven’t been over there in awhile,but we love the horses on the beach running free👍 we see them all the time going in and out StMarys inlet..
@Silent-Drifter Thats good to know about the docks. I didn’t know if the docks were fixed or floating, floating docks make life much easier.
@super5 If you can get a spot to tie off to the dock, you’ll be good. If there is no room at the docks, beaching will be your only other alternative, and 3-4 hours will make a lot of difference in a 6-7ft tidal swing.
thanks,
I’ll post reports after
regards
super5
Docks are floating, and you can tie up safe and sound. Tie both forward and stern lines to the boat though a tide change falling to rising etc. will swing your boat around and if there are other boats around that could be bad. Not a lot of room at the docks since the ferries use most of real estate. But both docks are about a 1/2mile walk to the beach. Cool walks though through maritime forest or dunes. As well as some neat crosswalks. South side of the island has some good sharks teeth spots that don’t get picked over like Amelia island. On a calm day you could just pull the boat onto the beach.. throw an anchor out to be safe. But the tide will rise and fall a ton so best tide to do that would be for a 4 hour trip would be about 2 hours before low tide, boat will be safe and sound beached and out of the water after too not too long, and you will be ready to float about 4hours later at 2hours after low tide. You can time your arrival time based on how long you want to stay. Xhours before low tide + xhours after low tide=how long you want to stay.
Seth,
great advice
regards
super5
I live here. You’ll be fine if you launch downtown and run across the sound at slack tide or when wind is not opposing the tide. Once on Cumberland side, watch the shoal on the corner if running to Dungeoness dock on a low tide (you can tie up on the inside of that dock, the other docks further up are private). If you’re running straight across the sound to the beach, bring a good anchor and don’t leave the boat alone for hours on end and you’ll be fine.
I wouldn’t run across when the wind and tide are opposing - it can get dangerous very quickly if you don’t know how to navigate it.
salt,
thanks a bunch
regards
super5