Hi all. Does anyone have experience transiting through the channels to Gosford from Broken Bay? I draw 2.1 meter and I'm aware the shoals are constantly moving at the entrance. Navionics and my plotter show a few spots of dubious depth.

I went up there a few years ago in a Dufour 34 which probably draws 1.75 or so. We had no problems on a highish tide. A Bene 41 from memory was with us and he touched the bottom a couple of times and then his mast aerials hit the Rip bridge and tore them off.

2.1 will be tight so probably only on a high high tide.

The depths change a lot so up to date information will be necessary.

I went up there last year not long after it had been dredged. I draw 1.7 and had plenty water under the keel. Came back out the next day at 3/4 high tide and still had room.

Trickiest spot was the small headland between little box head and Lobster Beach. If you can nearly touch the rocks with your boat hook you should be ok. Go slow and preferably follow someone else. It is amazing how a yacht conga line forms from nowhere.

Another piece of (learnt the hard way) advice, don't give up your depth for right of way, especially the ferries. They will just blast in and out of there without a care.

And watch out for big swells coming through Broken Bay Heads. See note on chart.

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EC31 said..
I went up there last year not long after it had been dredged. I draw 1.7 and had plenty water under the keel. Came back out the next day at 3/4 high tide and still had room.

Trickiest spot was the small headland between little box head and Lobster Beach. If you can nearly touch the rocks with your boat hook you should be ok. Go slow and preferably follow someone else. It is amazing how a yacht conga line forms from nowhere.

Another piece of (learnt the hard way) advice, don't give up your depth for right of way, especially the ferries. They will just blast in and out of there without a care.

It might seem like overkill, but fly the shapes for 'constrained by draught'. I'm sure even the Sydney ferries won't be immune to that rule.

Hi Salti. I motored my 32ft Beneteau through the channel both ways two weeks ago. I draw 1.45m and went out at almost high tide and went back on a rising tide, at half tide. Both ways, no problems at that time in calm water. The sand does shift in high winds at the entry to Broken Bay as we just experienced since my trip and swell from a southerly, especially onto a falling tide can drop you down onto the sand.
I find the ferry skippers very careful around sailing boats, better than some private powerboats in regards to wake.
Personally I make a line within the channel, following the buoys, just off the rocks on the eastern side of the channel to Lobster Beach. There is more shallow water around the red buoy off Umina Beach before you head to Ettalong.

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lauriel said..
Hi Salti. I motored my 32ft Beneteau through the channel both ways two weeks ago. I draw 1.45m and went out at almost high tide and went back on a rising tide, at half tide. Both ways, no problems at that time in calm water. The sand does shift in high winds at the entry to Broken Bay as we just experienced since my trip and swell from a southerly, especially onto a falling tide can drop you down onto the sand.
I find the ferry skippers very careful around sailing boats, better than some private powerboats in regards to wake.
Personally I make a line within the channel, following the buoys, just off the rocks on the eastern side of the channel to Lobster Beach. There is more shallow water around the red buoy off Umina Beach before you head to Ettalong.

Thanks. would you by chance remember the depth below keel you had at shallowest point?

As best I can remember the minimum on that day was 0.8m. I'm sure it was at least 0.6m
The dredging last year improved the area around Lobster Beach. Even with my shallow draft I time my passages and don't attempt it if there is much swell. Hope this helps

Another thought. Take a return trip on the Palm Beach to Ettalong ferry to watch the course they take. I usually take a line within the channel but closer to to shoreline leaving the ferries closer to the sand bar.