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GA Inlet Caution: Wassaw Sound Entrance

• Date Reported: Jun 2, 2022
• Reporter: Jani Parker
• Source: Waterway Guide Staff
• Description:

  Overview: A fair amount of local traffic regularly uses this inlet but we do not recommend it except with up-to-date local knowledge, excellent visibility, calm seas and at mid-tide. This inlet is sometimes used by vessels bound for Thunderbolt Marine and unable to clear the 65-foot State Of Georgia Memorial (U.S. 80) Bridge over the Wilmington River at Mile 582.8.

  Approach: Wassaw Sound Lighted Buoy "2W" is at N 31° 51.555'/W 080° 53.030'.

  Navigation: The entrance to Wassaw Sound changes continually, so red buoys "4," "6" and "8" are not charted. Before beginning this inlet, mark a boundary line on your chart running due south from flashing red buoy "10." From flashing red buoy "2W," head west-northwest and curve to the north around the shoal to starboard until you reach the above noted line from flashing red buoy "10." Head due north to green can buoy "9" and turn northwest to follow the markers; depths will be 20 feet MLW or better. Stay to the center of Wilmington River until you turn to the north after flashing red "22" and then stay to the east side of the river for deep water. Wassaw Sound and the Wilmington River carry about 25-foot MLW depths between flashing red buoy "10" in the Atlantic Ocean to flashing green daybeacon "29" at Skidaway River (Mile 585.5).

  Cautions & Hazards: The 2 nm from the sea buoy to the first markers are tricky, with shoals on both sides, breakers and no markers. Just east of green can "9" and flashing red can "10" there is extensive shoaling. If you draw more than 5 feet, think twice before entering this inlet. This is not an inlet for dark and stormy arrivals, as it is poorly marked and surrounded by shoals nearly 5 nm out from the entrance.

  ICW Connection: Wilmington River meets the ICW at Skidaway Narrows (Mile 585.5), about 3.5 nm north of flashing red buoy "20" at the river's entrance.

• Lat / Lon: N 31° 55.014' / W 080° 55.888'

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• Comment by: Pete Pellack on Apr 3, 2017
  Vessel Type: Power
  LOA: 25'
  Draft: 1.5'

  Just moved here and heard abut this issue, article was so helpful.

  View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

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