What are the navigation depths and hazards in Coatsworth Cut near Ashbridges Bay Boat Launch?
Verified: 2026-06-17
Quick answer
Coatsworth Cut has depths of 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m), with seasonal drops of up to 2 feet in late summer. Hazards include shallow areas outside marked red and green buoys, submerged debris, and silting near the channel edges.
Detailed answer
Coatsworth Cut, the narrow channel connecting Ashbridges Bay to Lake Ontario near the Ashbridges Bay Boat Launch (located at 1561 Lake Shore Boulevard East, Toronto), presents critical navigation challenges for boaters. The maintained channel depth ranges from 6 to 8 feet (approximately 1.8 to 2.4 meters), but this can drop by up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) during late summer and early fall due to reduced water levels in Lake Ontario, as recorded by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. The channel is marked by standard red (starboard) and green (port) lateral buoys; however, significant hazards exist immediately outside these markers. Shallow shoals, with depths as low as 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters), lie just beyond the buoy lines, particularly on the eastern side near the breakwall. Additionally, submerged debris—including concrete rubble from historical construction and abandoned dock pilings—poses a risk of hull damage or propeller strikes. Silting and sediment accumulation along the channel edges can shift after storms, reducing effective width. Boaters should transit at no-wake speed (under 10 km/h) and stay strictly between the buoy pairs. The Toronto Port Authority advises checking real-time water level data at the nearest gauge (Station 13115, Toronto Harbour) before departure, especially during drought conditions. Seasonal water level fluctuations of 1 to 2 feet are common, and depths below 5 feet (1.5 meters) have been reported in extreme low-water years like 2022.
Machine-readable