Introduction and a couple of skinny water questions

[Goatrope]

Good Day,

At the administrators urging, I'd like to introduce myself, name is Mike, currently live in landlocked Las Cruces, NM but have purchased a 21SE which I plan to use this season on the Middle Peninsula of Virginia (Hole in the Wall/Piankatank/Chesapeake Bay) area.

I'm thankful and grateful to have this forum, so let's start it off right with two questions
1 - . any 21SE owners have experience with 'skinny water' and effectively how shallow (how low) can you go?
2) any suggestion of a prop saver for their yamaha 150?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Classic P]

Welcome, and thanks for the intro! We're glad you joined us!

 

[Bodick93]

Outboards are tough. Trim it up and ease through the shallows. Don't blast through shallow areas. It is almost irrelevant how shallow it will go. It will go until you get stuck. By then you will be churning the bottom, (not good obviously, take it easy on the grass). A turn of the head, depth finder and seat of the pants will show you that. Plenty of grass in that area, and around the corner in Mobjack Bay.

In the shallows, if the tide is going out, even 15 minutes can get you stuck, so stay in enough water to float fully, and wade. You will only get stranded once. It's a long wait.
That is a FUN area, good luck.
Get a get chip of the area for you chartplotter, and you'll be fine!

Flush that motor for long life. Heck some people never flush and get a long life, but my eye starts twitching if I don't.

 

[Goatrope]

Outboards are tough. Trim it up and ease through the shallows. Don't blast through shallow areas. It is almost irrelevant how shallow it will go. It will go until you get stuck. By then you will be churning the bottom, (not good obviously, take it easy on the grass). A turn of the head, depth finder and seat of the pants will show you that. Plenty of grass in that area, and around the corner in Mobjack Bay.

In the shallows, if the tide is going out, even 15 minutes can get you stuck, so stay in enough water to float fully, and wade. You will only get stranded once. It's a long wait.
That is a FUN area, good luck.
Get a get chip of the area for you chartplotter, and you'll be fine!

Flush that motor for long life. Heck some people never flush and get a long life, but my eye starts twitching if I don't.

Bodick, very much appreciate your sentiments and advice....

 

[1801Steve]

Welcome the the Bay. You're gonna love it! That's a big move, both in distance and topography/geography. What brings you our way?

 

[Goatrope]

Welcome the the Bay. You're gonna love it! That's a big move, both in distance and topography/geography. What brings you our way?

Hi Steve, Lived at Lynnhaven Inlet for 25 years before starting a mid life adventure in 2000. First Colorado, then California, then Arizona. That was followed by 10 years in Kodiak, Ak and then retired to NM. I loved fishing all of these places (Alaska was amazing), but nothing calls me back like the Chesapeake. So I'm headed back and can't wait. Cheers!

 

[07vtgt]

I cant speak to the SE but I had a 2120 and now have a 2530. The creek I live on gets down to 1-1.5' depending on the moon cycle but with the 2120 which parkers site used to say was 15" draft and the 2530 which the parker site previously said drafted 18" I found that I could normally come and go with no issues 1.5-2 hours either side of low tide. After moving onto the creek I got stuck once with the 2120 and then again once I upgraded to the 2530 and its deeper draft. With the lower deadrise of the SE I would think you are good at slow speeds under 1.5' but probably need at least 1'. Obviously watch for stirring bottom and understand if you are stirring mud/sand that is being pumped through the water pump and cooling passages and flushing/cleaning is probably smart. I am on the Western Branch of the elizabeth river at the bottom of the bay so mostly mud in my creek.

 

[Goatrope]

I cant speak to the SE but I had a 2120 and now have a 2530. The creek I live on gets down to 1-1.5' depending on the moon cycle but with the 2120 which parkers site used to say was 15" draft and the 2530 which the parker site previously said drafted 18" I found that I could normally come and go with no issues 1.5-2 hours either side of low tide. After moving onto the creek I got stuck once with the 2120 and then again once I upgraded to the 2530 and its deeper draft. With the lower deadrise of the SE I would think you are good at slow speeds under 1.5' but probably need at least 1'. Obviously watch for stirring bottom and understand if you are stirring mud/sand that is being pumped through the water pump and cooling passages and flushing/cleaning is probably smart. I am on the Western Branch of the elizabeth river at the bottom of the bay so mostly mud in my creek.

07vtgt -Thanks for the input, much appreciated.