Running through the shallows will open up new and exciting waterways, whether you want to go saltwater fishing where no one else has thrown a line, discover secluded coves and bays, or simply explore some cool new coastline. Which boats, though, are better for the shallows? And what do you need to know about sailing in shallow waters? The most important thing for boating in shallow water is that when you’re not sure of the depth and think you may run aground, you have to slow down. In this article, I will give you information and tips about how shallow can a sailboat go so as to be certain and safe about your routes and your boat. Follow me!

First Things First: What is a Sailboat’s Draft?

For those unfamiliar with the phrase, draft (or draught) refers to the distance between the water’s surface and the boat’s deepest point underwater. In practice, the draft value is equal to the minimum water depth required for smooth floating. Because if you go any deeper, your boat’s bottom will scrape. And, that’s why you must be aware of the draft of any boat you are operating. Because in case your boat’s bottom (keel, rudder, hull, etc) touches the seabed this will cause severe damages to your vessel.

However, depending on whether the seabed is made up of sand, seaweed, or rocks, you may become beached and immobile. Or, your propellers may become tangled in whatever is below, or you may even create holes in your boat. Even if you got lucky and only skimmed the surface, these kinds of boat repairs are expensive. Having your sailboat hauled to a safe depth can be both costly and dangerous. As a result, you always have to be aware of the draft. You can check the number of your draft in the cockpit. If not, at the very least, check the boat’s manual or the internet. Furthermore, it’s advisable to double that figure and never enter areas where the plotter displays a lower figure. Especially if you don’t have a depth measuring gadget and rely solely on a map, you have to be even more cautious.

Engine and Draft Considerations

Note that the greatest shallow-water boats are ones that are specifically constructed for it. However, before you can comprehend why a certain boat might or might not be suitable in the shallows, there are a few details that everyone should be aware of.

As aforementioned, the draft of a boat refers to how much water it requires to float. And, in the case of boats with outboards or lower units that tilt up and down, the draft is frequently referred to as “engine up” or “engine down.” Most boats have a draft that ranges from six inches or so with the engine running to several feet for inboard boats. When it comes to tilting drives, add around nine inches to the engine-up draft. This will help you to get a sense of how much depth the boat needs with the engine tilted down far enough to safely put it in gear and get the boat moving forward. Keep in mind that in rare circumstances, totally tilting an engine down can increase draft by more than a foot.

But there’s something more. The draft measurements you’ll generally see mentioned for a boat are what’s known as “static draft,” which is calculated when the boat is stationary. Modern powerboats also include a feature known as “running draft“. This refers to the amount of draft required while the boat is traveling up on plane. When a boat gets onto plane, it rises significantly out of the water, which can minimize draft by several inches or even more. Even more running draft can be reduced by tilting the engine up a little. As a result, a boat with a two-foot static engine-down draft may be able to sail in just a foot or so of water without ever running aground.

Which Boats are the Best For Shallow Waters?

So, there are some specialized boats on the market that are solely designed to run as shallow as possible. The majority are tailored to certain fisheries. Some examples include “scooters” and related tunnel boats. These are flat-bottomed boats with a hull tunnel that feeds water upwards to the raised propeller. Scooters are generally built by semi-custom builders for anglers who wish to be able to run through just a few inches of water. Tunnel boats are becoming increasingly popular, and several manufacturers now produce models with tunnels.

Because so much of the boat comes up out of the water when on plane, bass boats have a shallow draft and especially shallow running draft. Aluminum fishing boats are small and light, so they don’t take up a lot of space and don’t displace a lot of water. Because of their flat bottoms, Jon boats have an incredibly small draft. Also, since jet boats do not have propellers that run lower than the hull, they require less draft. Jet boats, however, aren’t usually favored by those who frequently travel through the grassy seabed. This is because it’s possible to get tangled with it.

Sailboats with Draft from 4 to 7 Feet

If you go on a standard cruise, you will most certainly find yourself on a boat with this draft. This draft refers to standard sailboats measuring 30 to 50 feet in length. They will most likely have a draft of 4 to 7 feet. Because of the keel, this type of boat has a somewhat deep draft. The keel is an important part of a sailboat that makes your life easier and your boat more stable. But, it comes at the cost of a long piece of steel beneath the boat’s bottom. So, when you go close to the shore, be aware of this piece of steel.

For instance, the Beneteau Oceanis 281, which is 28.5 feet long and has a 4-foot draft, is a good example of this. The Beneteau Oceanis 45 is a larger version of the Oceanis 45, with a draft of 5.9 feet. Depending on the year’s model, you may reduce or increase few inches. And, of course, don’t be certain about these numbers. Use this as a suggestion only, and double-check the draft of the boat you’re on.

Powerboats and Catamarans

Because motorboats do not have keels, you will see an even lower figure here; 1 to 4 feet. So, you have to be extremely cautious with these when sailing in shallow waters. It’s safer to scrape paint off your keel than to pierce a hole in your hull. The Jeanneau Prestige 46, for example, is about 48 feet long and has a draft of slightly over 3 feet. A Beneteau Oceanis 45 of comparable dimensions has a draft of 5.9 feet.

As for catamarans, their draft ranges from 2 to 4 feet. Because cats are more stable by nature and have two keels, they can have a smaller draft than cruisers. They also tend to cut into the water less due to their two hulls thus resulting in higher buoyancy. This allows them to travel in shallower waters than a monohull of the same size. However, as previously stated, before untying the ropes that secure your boat to the pier, make sure you know the particular draft of your boat.

Weight of the Boat

To be honest, you’ll need to know a lot about your boat’s depth at its deepest point. This is normally in the middle. You must know the boat’s dimensions from the edge of the side of the boat straight down to where the bottom-most edge sits in the water. If the distance between the side edge of the boat and the very bottom is fourteen inches, about four inches of the boat will protrude out of and above the water. The rest will extend down into the water. Bear in mind that the amount of boat bottom you have until it grazes the mud or sand bars in shallow water is determined by how far it extends into the water.

When it comes to boat weight, it’s also a big issue in whether or not you’ll be able to make it through a shallow channel. A boat carrying a lesser cargo rises above the waterline. Also, it’s not as near to the muddy or sandy bottom as one carrying several hundred to several thousand pounds. To lighten the boat as much as possible, place heavy objects from the boat into a fishing net. Then tow the net behind the boat. You can travel across the lower water sections as long as the weight of the towed net of objects does not drag on the boat.

How to Measure the Depth

There are poles that are used to determine the depth of the shallow water. These also measure the boat’s capacity to pass through safely without getting stuck. You can use a pole to test the depths of the water before entering shallow waters. Immerse the pole in the water until it reaches the bottom. Pull it up to observe where the water has left its mark on the pole. If the pole is wet at two feet or less, you must rely on your knowledge of your boat. Like this, you will be able to determine whether it can go any further. Most boats and watercraft can get through here if the depth is four feet or less. But, you’ll need to keep monitoring depths as you go to avoid becoming stuck on mud or sandbar.

Tips for Shallow Water Sailing

• Trim the outdrive up as far as possible when idling through very shallow water. If you do so, you’ll be out of choices if you run aground. If you leave it a couple of inches down, however, you’ll be able to tilt it up that final little bit if you run aground. And, you will still be able to back off and seek a deeper way.
• One of the most enjoyable aspects of boating in the shallows is discovering places where few people go. It is also tempting to anchor your boat on a secluded beach. Just make sure you don’t do it when the tide is going out and you’re paying attention to the water level. More than one boater has been stuck for hours after discovering the shore while their boat was high and dry.
• When you don’t know the depths it’s advisable to slow down and change course. However, this will increase the quantity of water you need. This is because you’ll be limited to static draft rather than running draft once the boat gets off the plane. Running aground at fast speeds, on the other hand, is dangerous, can badly damage your boat, and can leave you stuck with no way to get it off the bottom. The danger is minor if you run aground slowly, and you have a far better chance of getting back off. And, it’s fine to sometimes keep the boat on plane to get across the shallows if you’re familiar with the waters and know you have enough depth to support your running draft—but not your static draft.
• Of course, you’ll want to know how the actual water depth compares to the charted depths. These are expressed as “mean lower low water,” which is an average of low tide levels. However, knowing tidal cycles is also vital so that you know what to do if you run aground and become stuck. You could be able to take a step back, or you might want to go out and push. However, if you are aware that the tide is rising, you can remain calm until the water level rises sufficiently to lift you free. If, on the other hand, you are aware that the tide is falling, you have to get off it quickly before the situation worsens. In addition, make sure you don’t go in marginal waters because you might not be able to get back out again in case the water level falls.
• Keep in mind that a high cargo on a smaller boat might increase the draft. Weight can alter the draft of any boat, but for boats under 20 feet, a few extra people can alter the draft by an inch or more. A full load of gasoline and gear can also increase draft.
• Sandy shoals are apparent in the sea, whereas channels and deeper waters appear dark. Color differences, on the other hand, might be deceiving; dark-looking weedbeds, for example, maybe shallower than the surrounding waters. So, it’s usually best to avoid any significant color changes, in order to stay in the same depth range. Keep a lookout for waves that consistently break in the same area, indicating bars that are shallower than their surroundings.
• Make sure you know your draft before you set sail, as previously advised. The value is normally written down somewhere in the cockpit where you can see it while driving. To provide some safety cushion, add a value that you are comfortable with, and then compare it to what your depth meter says. Remember that the depth is normally measured from the hull’s bottom, not the keel’s deepest point. If you’re aboard a sailboat, don’t forget to include the keel size. Consult your maps if you don’t have a depth meter. They will most likely be less thorough, but they will provide you with the information you require. And when you have done all these you should continue to be careful and check the depths and the ability of your boat to go there.

The Bottom Line

Some people have to learn the hard way in order to acquire better skills. But, that is not something you want to do in shallow water with boats. You could become extremely trapped, possibly destroying your boat and/or the motor if it has one. Instead, you should pay attention to all aforementioned when sailing in shallow waters. If you feel the water is really shallow, know your boat, know the water, test the depths, keep an eye on the weight in the boat, and consider removing the motor out of the water and paddling instead. It will not only improve the quality of your time on the water, but it will also save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in boat repairs in the long term. If you don’t need to go into shallow water, staying away from those locations is a better option.

I hope that this article has helped you understand how important draft is and has provided all necessary information about sailing in the shallows. Wish you all safe & pleasant voyages!