Does the stono river have a lot of sand bars and places to look out for while navigating at low tide etc? I’m used to getting on plane in the cooper and never worried about running aground. Is the stono a river that you gotta take it pretty slow until it is learned well?
yes, there are some sandbars in the stono, but the channel is marked. most are south of wappoo cut. the worst one is across from sol legare ramp. if you’re out at dead low, there’s no problem, you’ll see the bars.
Gene Morrison
Military Appreciation Day, Inc
Charleston Chapter Pres.
The only problem that I’ve ever had, as far as depth is concerned, in the Stono is running from Kiawah back to Wapoo cut. On the right side, a turn before the Maybank Highway bridge, there’s a creek that comes out from James Island County park. All along that side of the river is very shallow and there are only two markers I beleive, at each of the bends in the river but no markers along the straight portion. I’ve wandering off of the channel towards the right side a couple of times and found myself in very shallow water, and it’s pretty far off the grass as well. So just be careful on that side of the river.
Lots of sand bars from the cut to kiawah and a few downed sailboats around the bridge on maybank. The area in front of the airport has some shallow areas to. Go at low and cruise from that portion and you’ll find some new spots. Once you learn the channel its easy running. The sand bars in the stono don’t move that much so once you learn them your good to go.
Ran up on a sandbar for the first time a few weeks ago and it was in the Stono. Just south of the Sol Legare ramp heading towards Kiawah. I drifted to the right after I passed the green channel marker, 3A I believe, and came to a quick stop. I swear I wasn’t more than 50 feet outside of the marker. Luckily I was not wide open and was able to get it off the bar.
Check out Google Maps, satellite image. Shows the shoreline at low tides and channels very well.
Capt. Garry Coats
Folly Beach & CHS
@DolphinChartersSC