For boating and fishing enthusiasts, knowing the depth of the bordering body of water is crucial to understanding the value and capability of the property. While the depth of a body of water is subject to change (sometimes abruptly), the ability of owners to get their crafts in and out of the creeks and rivers that feed the Chesapeake Bay has remained fairly constant over time.
Generally speaking, the creeks and rivers that surround the Bay are classified in the three ways:
- Deep Water (6′ or deeper) that can handle most types of recreational motorized boating as well as most sailboats.
- Shallow Draft (2-6′) that can handle most motorized recreational boats up to roughly 25′ in length
- Kayak/Canoe Depth (2′ or less) that are not safe to expect consistent ingress/egress for any craft other than those that are flat-bottomed and/or self-propelled.