New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

[Kayak092125]

Hi & thanks for the help...

I just bought a house on a river ~1/4 mile from Lake Erie. I want a boat that I can dock at my house and ride out to the lake on calm days (I've never owned a boat before). The river itself is >5ft deep, but it's only 3.5ft by my dock. I know it's a loaded question, but in general, is this too shallow to dock most ~25ft boats (like a Bayliner Bowrider)?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Bondo]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

Hi & thanks for the help...

I just bought a house on a river ~1/4 mile from Lake Erie. I want a boat that I can dock at my house and ride out to the lake on calm days (I've never owned a boat before). The river itself is >5ft deep, but it's only 3.5ft by my dock. I know it's a loaded question, but in general, is this too shallow to dock most ~25ft boats (like a Bayliner Bowrider)?

Thanks,
Chris

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Like ya say, every boat is different, but that said,....

My 22' Starcraft Islander/ Alpha drive will motor along in less than 2', 'n clears in 'bout 1' of water, drive trimmed up of course,....

A true Inboard would no doubt need more water, 'n an outboard, probably less...

 

[Geko45]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

If you were fully loaded with people, gear and fuel then that would probably only be a matter of inches between you and the bottom while at dock. However, how often do you expect to be fully loaded? How much does the river level vary (probably not much if that close to the lake)? Perhaps a deck boat might give you a bit more clearance while still addressing the same needs?

 

[Ned L]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

Typical power boats, ...... you're talking 30' - 40' before you are drawing 3.5'. (Sailboats are a different story). It is not unheard of for large commercial vessels (i.e. 500' + freighters & tankers) to run with less than 6" of water under the keel.

I would just make certain there are no obstructions (rocks etc.) that you may find.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

On a brighter note........... if you get stuck ........... everyone onboard will not drown while they are PUSHING with you steering

 

[agallant80]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

Look at the max draft

http://media.channelblade.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/company60191/312398_f.pdf

 

[airshot]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

I was going to chime in with my Islander draw but I see Bond-o has the same boat so he said it for me. I am also a boater on lake erie so one needs to watch the water level "very" closely in these parts. I have saw the water drop 2 ft just while out fishing for a few hours. If I had a permanent dock space on any lake erie tributary I would install a boat lift for just such problems, would be a bummer to go out and see your boat sittin in mud..............

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

What River are you on?
1/4 mile is awful close the the lake to be an issue on most rivers.
Lake Erie water levels also vary from day to day and season to season.
If your neighbors also have docks there is no reason that you can not do the same with a similar sized boat. Look around!

A 25 foot Bowrider is a BIG Boat for a first boat. Are you thinking more in the 17-20 foot range?

Hint:
To get better answers specific to your area...
At the top of this page, click on "MyProfile"
Then Click the little Yellow Pencil Next to "Location" and enter your general Location. City, State.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

Look at the max draft

http://media.channelblade.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/company60191/312398_f.pdf

That is at capacity, with the drive all the way down. (and probably in worst case scenario, full fuel, 'large' people in the back. It isn't the draft of the hull itself.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

Think Aluminum hulls - pontoons--and an outboard with power tilt n trim.

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

Right now Utah Lake is pretty empty. The depth finder on the SkipperLiner at the dock reads 3.6' deep. Of course, I have to add 10" to that. Point is, I'm used to shallow water...

Most of our lake bottom is gooey gray clay mud. But we found a spot about 2 miles from the harbor with a nice hard sand bottom. We take our 26' Chap out there often so the grandkids can play. I anchor in water where the depth finder says 2.5'. Actual water depth is about 40", about half way up my beer belly. With at least 400# worth of souls on the back seat, my full-down skeg is about 6" from the lake bottom. I just enter and exit the area slowly, I don't raise the drive even. Last time out there were 8 of us on board, we never hit bottom.

Being careful, it's no big deal to raise the drive half-way to add 6" or more clearance to enter & exit the area.

And there's no such thing as a first boat that's too big...

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

Hopefully you understand Lake Erie and will never consider a pontoon or deckboat. I had a dock on the Ashtabula River one season-- just one and moved to a marina in Geneva. The current of the river was not bad until there was rain upriver and not only was current a problem but the 'stuff' that came with it. The river level fluctuated nearly as much as the tides do here. I've seen trees coming down Walnut Creek (PA Fish Commission launch/basin) with just a little rain. Lake Erie is the worst of the Great Lakes. It deserves nothing less than an 18'er - preferably 20' or bigger. I'd use no tin boat there except a Lund Baron 2050. Although when I ran charters on Erie all my boats were I/Os in your situation an OB should be considered, one of sufficient power.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

3.5 feet is considered "deep water" here in real estate sales (and for boating). A lot depends on if you have a forgiving bottom of mud and sand, or rocks, and at that, whether flat or lumpy, if you are going to cut it close.

there's also a big difference between boating in unfamiliar water that is shallow for your boat, and driving in and out of familiar waters.

I also agree that sounds like a big starter boat but I don't know those waters to say.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

I moor my boat in an area that gets down to about 30" (2.5 feet) at low tide.

Most 25' +/- boats with I/O type of engine will draw about 20-24" with the outdrive up and 32-34" with the outdrive down. So, with 3.5 feet (42") you will be floating. and you can get out to deeper water with the outdrive trimmed up a bit.

If you go with an outboard engine, then you will be in even a better situation.

As, mentioned you may have issues if the water levels are low and you get more into the 2.5 foot range.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

Hopefully you understand Lake Erie and will never consider a pontoon or deckboat.

That has changed quite a bit. Most of the dealers in the Marblehead/Port Clinton area are offering pontoons. I've seen them at Kelleys and Put-in-Bay.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

3.5ft should be fine with an I/o. Erie is a shallow lake and can get very rough in a hurry. Something like a Boston Whaler would be great on that Lake.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

Those protected areas are unlike Cleveland, Ashtabula, Geneva, and many others. Also different if you want to play close to shore. Want to fish even 5 miles - 10 miles - 20 miles or more and forget pontoons and deck boats.

That has changed quite a bit. Most of the dealers in the Marblehead/Port Clinton area are offering pontoons. I've seen them at Kelleys and Put-in-Bay.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

I used to boat on lake eerie, Sandusky bay, and the Huron, and the Sandusky rivers in a 12 tinny with a 7.5 over 20 years ago... there were toons then too but they, like me, stayed CLOSE to sheltered water and only went out on days with calm weather.

To the O/P: 3.5 feet at your dock is FINE for most any I/O or outboard boat you would want.. My 28' (33' overall) cruiser can get into less than 2' of water with the drives trimmed up.... Keep trimmed way up while at dock in case the water level drops but otherwise you'll be FINE

 

[Taxus812]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

My assumption is that 3.5' is your actual water level. (Some depth finders measure the water level under the keel.)
I don't know how far you have to go to get to deeper water.

I have a 18' bow-rider with an outboard. My dock is on a dam controlled lake and my dock is in 3' of water. ( Some days it is dry, depending on power production). I have to go 200 yards down stream to get to 4' and another 400 yards to get to 10'

For me, 3.5' is more than sufficient to slowly power out trimmed up with passengers and gear. if it is lower you have to be prepared for the prop to bounce off things like a submerged log here (scares the hell of you). When it is less than 2' I use an electric trolling motor (I have even taken my boat for a walk using a bow line).

One thing to note. in 3.5' of water you are going to kick up a lot of silt, sand and weeds. This will pass through the motor.
It typically wont hurt anything once in a while. You will be doing it every departure and return like me. I just watch my temps to make sure there is no clogging (hasn't happened yet knock on wood) and I was told to change the water pump impeller more religiously.

 

[steven_p]

Re: New to boating - is 3.5ft too shallow?

I do a lot of shallow river boating. I would not hesitate for a second to run an I/O in 3 - 3.5' of water, esp if the substrate is typical river mud/sand substrate. Most of the mud you'll see being kicked up behind the boat is prop wash, thus occurring after the prop and intakes. Also, the skeg will protect your prop esp if you're trimmed up at all.

Just GO SLOW, take your time to learn where the deepest water is, and you should be fine.