Grand Lucayan Waterway

[Full House]

I am headed to Abaco this summer and I was thinking of taking the the Grand Lucayan Waterway to cut off some miles, my first port is Lucaya. I draw a little under 6' ? the charts I have are old.... looks pretty skinny on the north side of Grand Bahama - anyone done this lately? I am hoping they have improved it...
Thanks

[DrRalph]

First of all, make sure you can clear the bridge (27.5' MHW, figure 1). MLW at the northern aspect of the channel is still about 3.5' (figures 2 & 3), you may need every bit of high tide to get through.

[Full House]

the height is ok, not sure of the depth.... looks like somewhere between 5.5 & 6' at high tide thats way close... I would not want to end my trip early with prop problems... thanks

[MotuIti]

Dr. Ralph said it all. Looks like you'll have to go around. Six feet is iffy at bank entrance and for the first half mile near west end . Stay in channel and Go at high tide. The Cruising Guide to the Abacos has some right-on waypoints.
-Sandy

[Full House]

yep wiser to go around and pay the fuel .... just too skinny for me
Thanks for the input

[Megalops]

WHen I came through there in April '07 the North entrance/exit was very well marked, the best marked channel we have ever run in the Bahamas. We joked that the guys who put out markers were given 50 of them, and told to distribute them as needed. They decided it was easiest to put them all in one place.

Still though, 6 feet would worry me through there. You would also need to be careful not to stray too far until you got to Mangrove.