Chart Navigation & Plotting · Tides — Under-Keel Clearance

Your vessel draws 18 feet. The charted depth is 16 feet and the height of tide is +5 feet. What is the under-keel clearance?

Explanation

Depth of water = 16 ft charted + 5 ft tide = 21 ft. Under-keel clearance = depth of water − draft = 21 ft − 18 ft = 3 ft.

Authority: Bowditch (Pub. No. 9), Piloting

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