Driving in the Snow

     Previously I had discussed some of the challenges of anchoring on the ICW and its tributaries.  To get to those anchorages you must navigate through waters of varying depths, but more importantly through the currents caused by the tide.  There have been times we were cruising at 1700 RPM's on the engine tachometer which  typically translates into a boat speed of 6 knots, however we were doing 9 knots.  The operative word is "typically", but these are not typical times.  There is no way this boat could do 9 knots on her own.  There have also been times we have been taching 1700 and only doing 4.5 knots, again thanks to the currents.

      There are 2 incidents that stand out in my mind very boldly - Snow's Cut and Elliott Cut.  We transited both of these narrow high banked cuts against the tide.  Both times we felt as though we were going uphill! Snow's Cut was our first and we were fortunate to have another boat to follow.  Elliot Cut was much different.  We had just cleared Charleston SC harbor and headed up Wappo Creek towards Wappo Creek Bridge.  We did not require a bridge opening due to our air draft being low enough.  The 2 sailboats one mile ahead did require a bridge opening.  After the bridge is a 1-2 mile section before you get to Elliott Cut.  We maintained our distance behind the sailboats.  That distance was quickly reduced to feet after the sailboats hit the ripping current coming through the cut.  Before we knew it we were 100 feet to stern of the sailboat who was having great difficulty with the 4 knots + (read "plus")  of current coming through the cut onto his bow.  We actually had to throttle back to prevent colliding with the sailboat.

     Perhaps the most fun you can have with the currents is when the tide is going in or out and a river is dumping water onto your body of water.  First, the current hits the bow and tries to push it over, and you counter steer a little to correct the boat's attitude.  The fun really starts when that same current hits the stern.  The effect of that current on the stern causes a reaction unlike that of the bow.  You really have to be prepared to counter that effect with a drastic turn of the wheel.   You know, like when you have to counter steer while you're sliding around the corner while driving in the snow.