7 Foot Draft

[spenceb]

The other weekend, when I was aground in Ayala Cove at Angel Island during a negative tide, I started to wonder what the depths would be during the Delta Doo Dah.

A look at the charts showed that the entrance to Owl Harbor to be 5 feet and sections of the channel leading up to Boyd's Harbor at 7 feet.

My boat draws 6' 8".

So my question is, has anyone with a deep draft done a previous Delta Doo Dah (or these harbors) and if so did you have any problem entering these harbors? Is entering on a high tide sufficient? Also, what about getting back to the main deep water channel from Boyd Harbor to head to Stockton...can you get to it by going around the southern end of Franks Tract (looks very shallow) or should you backtrack to the north to get into the deep water channel.

Thanks,
Solace Crew

[Tazman]

I highly recommend a depth finder with an alarm. There are many places in the delta where the charts are not accurate and yearly silting changes everything. I have run aground when skirting the edges of the shipping channels so I try to stay centered in the channels. I spoke to the new owners of Owl Harbor this week and she indicated that depth should not be a problem. I draw over 6' and I have been in Brunos Island (next to Owl Harbor) many times with few issues. Low tides create issues so it is important to proceed cautiously. Owl Harbor said they will mark the channel for the DDD to make it even easier. We have had many opportunities to practice our UN grounding techniques including, use of anchors, people on the boom while over the side, and just patience to wait for the tide change.

Tazman

[admin]

A depthfinder and good set of charts are indispensable in the Delta. Comparing them will help you figure out exactly where you are. Silting tends to occur off points of land and is often visible. An engine with reverse helps. Georgia has come with us twice before and she draws 8-ft, so when in doubt, follow her!

Christine Weaver, Doodette
Stink Eye, Laser 28

[Ardea]

Our friends with Liberte were on the Doo Dah last year with her 7' draft and no problems. We have gotten their boat up to Lost Slough a number of times. It means paying close attention to charts and tides as always. A lot of times we go ahead of them with our 4' draft and check the depth. You could do the same thing following shallower draft boats. Of course sometimes you go as far as you can and that's were the party is.  :)

Jim
Tartan 37 Ardea

[iliohale]

Hey Solace, we have been on the last two Doo Dah's and both years we ran aground, last year several times. We draw just under 6' but both times it was our own fault for doing so. Cutting corners and not looking at the charts or watching the depth sounder. Running aground in the delta is no big deal, soft mud, and there is always someone around willing to throw you a line and pull you off. The first time was off Hog island and we were able to just raise the main, heel the boat over and sail off. Last year both times was around Potato and we were pulled off by fellow Doo Dah'ers passing by.

Try to time your shallow water moves during a rising tide, watch your charts/depth sounder, follow another boat to get depth reports, go slow when in doubt and you will be fine. Just part of the delta experience.

[sailcoyote]

Hi Solace,

Running aground in the Delta is a rite of passage :-)

If you want to go down the southern route down  Piper Slough and around Franks Tract here are a couple of notes.

1. When leaving Boyds Harbor stay in the middle of the channel.
2. The concrete wall on your port side will have an opening about a mile down.
3. Past this opening stay closer to the left side of the channel than the right (left center).
4. As long as it's not a minus tide, you will collect some weed on the keel and rudder, but not run aground.
5. Take the first channel to port at the end of Piper Slough.
6. Stay in the middle of this channel(actually it's quite deep all the way to the sides).
7. When the levee ends on your starboard side, take the next channel to port.
8. Favor this channel to the left side.
9. At the end of the small island chain, sight on the tulee island a mile further up the east side of Franks Tract.
10. Do not cross between the small island chain and the tulee island - old levee lies beneath.
11. Favor the left side of this run keeping in mind #10.
12. When the levee on your starboard side turns east keep just left of the islands on your left and follow them all the way to the San Joacquin.

Peter

PS If any of you run aground in the vicinity of Bethel Island/Franks Tract, please feel free to contact me and I will bring one of my tugs out to assist.

[admin]

Thanks for the advice, Peter. And the offer of a tug in the vicinity of Bethel Island. How can our fleet members reach you if we need to?

[sailcoyote]

Whoopsie, probably should have included some contact info:

Cell: 707 373 8314
Home 925 684 9902

[Ardea]

I'll offer up some "general" advice we received before our first time in the Delta a number of years ago. Remeber this is general and not true all the time and worth exactly  what you are paying for it but it has saved us a number of times. The water is generally deepest next to a levee. It was explained to me that when the levees were originally built material was scaped up adjacent to the levee and deposited on top of the levees. This created a ditch next to the levee. It's not uncommon to see very shallow water in the center of a slough and 40' depth next to the levee. As I said this is absolutely not true everywhere but if you find the water getting thinner and you are in the center of the channel SLOW DOWN and start hunting for deeper water closer to the levees. Hope this helps and YMMV.

-Jim

[scwideman]

I am glad to hear that Owl Harbor is going to mark the channel.  The closest I can figure is that high tide on Sunday is late in the afternoon, I think @ 4:00, so will be very carefull going in because we draw 7.8 feet. 

I have not got into checking exact tides for going in and out of Owl.  Does anyone have the info for going in on Sunday and out on Monday.  I am just being lazy by not looking it up myself. 

We were advised last year to NOT take Fisherman's Cut at any time but high tide between Frank's Track and San Joaquin.  However, came through Frank's T. at low tide, huged the levee, and were fine.  So, when we leave Owl harbor on Monday, if the wind is pleasant we will head up River a bit, turn around and come through Frank's heading back to Boyd's.   However, would not mind taking the Cut.  Any advice. 

Thanks,

Rich and Shawn

Bumpy

[sailcoyote]

Hi Rich,

I think that you meant False River when you said Franks Tract. FT does not have a levee around it anywhere!

Fisherman's cut should be fine, just make sure that you take the south exit at the little island at the south end.

We wre in Owl Harbor with Coyote (6 ft draft) last weekend after the Islands race (1st place - woooohoooo). There were no issues in and out but we could not get into the slip at the yacht club so we parked at the end of the fingers.

Peter

[admin]

We have Delta Tidebooks, plus a map for the transit from Owl Harbor to Boyd's which Peter has kindly drawn up for us. These will be included in your swag bags, so you will have time to look those over and plan and discuss your strategy before Sunday. Here is a sneak peek at Peter's map: http://www.deltadoodah.com/pdf/Owl-Boyds.pdf

Christine Weaver, Doodette
Stink Eye, Laser 28

[scwideman]

thank's Peter, I did mean False River.

So, are you saying that at the low tides you were not able to get into the docks at the yacht club at owl Harbor?

thanks, Shawn

Bumpy

C&C 40 

[sailcoyote]

That is correct. However I am told that they will be docking the Doo Dah fleet at the main marina, not the yacht club.

[bemewesed]

Georgia is so happy to have deep draft company!

We've enjoyed transiting False River just fine...it's the little islands by the bedrooms in Potato Slough that get us every time!  Thanks to Neener3 (she's BAAAAK!) we escaped last year.

We've gotten into the Owl Harbor Slough (brain fade:  3 mile or 7 mile?) ok, but never gone farther up than Bruno's.  Guess we'll time our cruise for an earlier-than-4 arrival!

NOTE ON GETTING RAFTED/BERTHED AT BOYD'S:  Peter is amazing at weaving boats into a fleet at the harbor.  I suspect my "little ducklings" provided quite a challenge though:  7, 8 or 9 boats in VERY quick succession arrived almost at once as shallow draft yachts followed Georgia.  I plan to leave a bit more space between Georgia and the DooDaher we follow into Boyd's, and suggest others do too.  Securing our boat takes, time and now that I'm older, a little less maneuverable, etc etc etc, it's nice to have a couple of minutes to get the job done before turning to the next boat.

Mind you, if the young at heart can race from boat to boat, that'll really help me too!

Lucie