Running Aground, Patience Pays Off
First of all, on the ICW especially, but on any inland waterway, apparent water does not mean depth enough for your vessel, as probably know by now, personally.
If you do happen to bend over at the helm to pick up your fork, or your cell phone, etc. back down on the throttle before you take your eyes off the waterway. It may save a few hours of waiting for the tide to lift you off the shore. If you do happen to slide upon the bank of the riverside or the “ditch” reverse your engine(s) and back off the way you went on, or in as the case may be. If there is no backing out, or off, whichever the case may be, have patience. The tide will come in eventually and you will float again. If you went up at high tide you may have to empty the vessel of the passengers and push the yacht back into deeper water. You all may have to wait on the water to rise some to accomplish the task. In any case, be patient, Mick is right, time is on your side (usually).
P.S. If you are in the area of The Turner Butler Bridge the tide station to get your information from is the Oak Landing station. In the area of the Palm Valley Bridge, which is south of the Turner Butler Bridge, the station for tide info in that area is The Palm Valley station. If you are north of the Turner Butler Bridge the tide station to get info on the tides from is Jax Beach station.
Sincerely,
Capt. Curtis