It was on the news this morn. so probably happened on the 3rd. A family (outa town) attempted to go out Packery and their boat flipped.From the news coverage it definitely looked like "pilot error". The boat was a Sea Ark aluminum (about 14'),husband was about #260,wife probably #170 plus some children and large ice chests.Thankfully all (or most) were wearing vests and another boat picked them up.The boat was pulled in also.Just this morn. we went out Packery in a 21'Skeeter bay boat;all looked good and calm until just outside the jetties two pretty good rollers hit us.I guess I'm just letting other visitors know that Packery can be deceiving;it's a narrow inlet that has silted up these last few years.So if nothing else take a good hard look at what's happening at the end of the jetties before you launch a small boat.

Any inlet will be dangerous, especially on a falling tide. Packery can be very dangerous for those that don't know what they're doing...lot's of current runs through that narrow and shallow pass.

Any guesses on the depth of Packery during low tides this time of year?

Natural selection...

Patt I know about a 1/2 mile off Packery the sounder said 22'and coming in just about the bridge it said 17' which surprised me.I should have checked in the middle but didn't.However,in front of the homes on Packery the depth was steady at 8'.

Thanks for the information, Bluffrat. I haven't put a boat on Packery since it opened. I'm surprised at the 17' foot reading at the bridge, too. The last time I navigated the channel in front of the homes, I remember eight feet to be about right. There was quite a bit of rip rap steel in there (pipes, etc.). I had to take it pretty easy in there at low tide.

Thanks again.