To LMY
this is second hand info as i wasnt there
A mate used a 1600 bridge to leave the lake on Christmas day , he draws 1.8m and i think it was about a 1.4 m high at 1400 ,he had to have the boat pulled over by coastal patrol to get through near the end of the runway .
I would phone coastal patrol for the latest.
It looks like big highs early in the morning at the end of the month
Pilgrim

Came through channel at 8am yesterday and just touched, draw 1.5, there was one stuck, he drew 2.4 and was towed off. the problem area is right in line with the airport run way at Pelican and the Marine rescue will help out with a tow, they are stationed less than 2 minutes from this area.

The bloody authorities should be pistlol wipped for there procrastination and damn lack of ability to get off there lazy arses and have the channel dredged for Christmas as promised. I came in and out on high tides two weeks ago and had to put both sail up to get enough heel to motor off.

Im cranky...?

Yep it's a disgrace - a proper solution needs to be put in but no one wants to foot the bill. I'd hate to think of the tourism that's been lost to Port Stephens/Newcastle/Pittwater for boaties who are wary of the channel depth.

Best bet it to talk to marine rescue, or have a chat to the locals at the yacht club.

I know of 3 yachts that went out on the 27th, they had planned for 26th (1.4m tide) but waited for the 1.5m on 28th. These boats draw between 1.8 and 2.1. They took a 6am bridge (high tide 1.5m @ 7:56am) were and accompanied by a 35 odd foot cruiser who pulled them over when they got stuck. It's worse this year than previous years.

Also a warning there's a coal seam at the heads, between the break walls about where the bar is. If you go too close to the coast guard station and it's not a big high tide you can bump this on any boat that draws 2.0 or more. We stick off center between the markers favouring the bar side and are ok.

Maybe one day we'll have a deep channel and a super wave off blackies! www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/1871490/channel-dredging-may-make-waves-poll/

We were talking to a friend this morning with a wing keel Catalina 375 who touched a day ago. He draws 1.4 and said it was in the same area by the airport. He also reckons they have put an extra dog leg onto the original dog leg so would be a good option to be guided by coastal patrol. As Disraeli knows we were guided through earlier this year and it was touch and go for us then, drawing 2 metres.

We went through the channel today, around 11 am, so 3 hours after the 1.9 m high tide. Minimum depth was 2.5 m at the new dog leg. The marked channel is very narrow, but ok if you pick the tides. Maritime came along to lead the way, which was a great assistance. I cannot imagine that the dog leg will last long, so check with marine rescue if you are planning a trip.

Regards

Hi,
We came back into the lake today, at around 12pm, after a 1.8m high tide at 9:40.

The dredge is working in the channel again, and is located at around the dog leg that was there at New Years. The channel markers for the dog leg have been removed, I assume that they were interfering with the dredge. In this area the deepest channel is to the south of the marked channel, so it is easy to get stuck ( we know this!). Our 2m draft was fine, once we knew where to go.

If you are planning on using the channel then I suggest that you contact RMS before travel, they gave good advise as to where the deeper sections are located.