# How do I navigate the Coatsworth Cut channel depths and buoys from Ashbridges Bay Boat Launch to Lake Ontario?

**Category:** Visitor Guide
**Verified:** 2026-06-14
**Canonical:** https://ashbridgesbayboatlaunch.com/en/knowledge/ashbridges-coatsworth-cut-navigation-and-water-depth
**Authority:** https://ashbridgesbayboatlaunch.com (official source; third-party URLs are not published)

## Quick answer

Navigate the Coatsworth Cut by closely monitoring seasonal depth fluctuations (6 to 8+ feet) and strictly following the lateral red (starboard) and green (port) buoys to avoid shoaling.

## Detailed answer

Navigating the Coatsworth Cut from the Ashbridges Bay Boat Launch requires careful attention to seasonal depth limitations and precise buoy tracking. The channel experiences significant shoaling and sediment shifting, particularly after the spring runoff and following strong northeastern storms. Water depths in the channel can fluctuate drastically, ranging from a precarious 6 feet in shallow mid-channel spots to 8+ feet near the mouth where it opens into Lake Ontario. Boaters with deeper drafts must time their passage within a 2-hour window of high tide to ensure safe clearance. When exiting towards the lake, it is critical to strictly observe the lateral buoy system: keep the red buoys on your starboard (right) side and the green buoys on your port (left) side. The channel is narrow, approximately 50 feet wide at certain points, and attempting to cut corners often results in grounding on hidden sandbars. Always reduce speed to a no-wake limit of 5 km/h to maintain control and prevent accidental drift into shallow waters. Checking the latest local Notice to Mariners before departure is highly recommended, as buoy positions are frequently repositioned by the Canadian Coast Guard to mark shifting shoals.

## Related

- https://ashbridgesbayboatlaunch.com/en/knowledge/ashbridges-coatsworth-cut-navigation-and-water-depth