Caution - areas of shallow water ahead

Date Reported: Jan 1, 2018
Reporter: Waterway Guide Staff
Source: Waterway Guide Staff
Description:
From Cotton Key at ICW red daybeacon 80 (Mile 1158) to Steamboat Channel, the ICW passes through what is perhaps the shallowest part of the entire route. Remember, touching a sandy bottom at slow speeds is rarely dangerous but, at high speeds, can do considerable damage to your props. There just isn't enough water here to take any chances. Care is recommended.
Lat / Lon: N 24° 58.078' / W 080° 37.761'

3 Boater Comments

These are observations from the boating community. Waterway Guide information is verified regularly and all efforts will be made to validate any new updates submitted here. Thank you for taking the time to share comments about your experience.

Waterway Guide reserves the option of editing reviews and comments for grammar, clarity and the removal of defamatory or potentially slanderous language. When appropriate, reviews are forwarded to businesses for response prior to being made public. We will make every effort to be objective and impartial when posting reviews, but do not publicize details of disputes between parties.

Thanks for your valuable feedback!

Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 20, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Steamboat Channel is still shallow. When we traversed the area at Hight Tide we found several areas where the recorded depth was 5.8 - 5.9 feet. The only positive is that all depth changes were incremental so you will know in advance as depths are changing. Red "90" through Green "73" is the shallowest that we saw transiting from Channel 7 Bridge through to Biscayne Bay.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Comment by: Paul Lawrance on Mar 22, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Just went through this stretch and it is still very shallow. Beginning immediately north west of Steamboat Channel and for about a half mile towards marker 80. At one stage we had only a half foot beneath the keel.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Comment by: Mark Baker on Aug 3, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 37'
Draft: 5.0'

Having passed through again in April 2020 - the depths here appear deeper - as confirmed on recent charts. I measured 6 feet MLW. I believe that Cotton Key Basin was scoured out by Hurricane Irma.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Caution - areas of shallow water ahead

3 Boater Comments

Comment on this Navigation Alert