Another boat hits a jetty...

I haven't been up the Savannah river, but I've met that channel after using the short cut from Hilton Head many time. First, I think we're talking about a (submerged) breakwater (similar to what you have at Charleston) not a jetty. Second, that's a very well marked channel. I have to wonder about the boat's destination, and if he wasn't looking for the short cut to Hilton Head (not something to do at night unless you're very familiar with the area). I remember once stopping a large Broward from grounding there in daylight.

Yep, come off the R18 to the G3 between the ranges if you're heading for Hilton Head. He came off the R14 keeping both range lights on his left. Rookie mistake.

I wouldn't be so insulting cause I've yet to meet a skipper who never made a mistake, but inexperience matched with not knowing to zoom in your chart plotter when plotting your course is a dangerous combination. If he used paper charts he'd have had no problem.

What "little used sea buoy". First these are not sea buoys. Second I DK what a "little used" buoys is. Third, sometimes buoys are put in the wrong spot (or sink). In that case yes. I stick with the channel. But this was not a case of cutting a buoy short. There is no #2. You put the 18 on your left side and go between the range lights to the 3. He evidently put the 14 on his left and kept both range lights on his left.

Yeah I think I know what an A buoy is. When I'm not familiar with an inlet (of which there are very few on the east coast) I come into line with it before going for the 1/2. However where I have local knowledge there's nothing wrong with cutting short. Especially when you're dealing with a shipping channel. They're marked for a lot deeper draft than I usually run and designed for VTC . Going to the channel entrance is a waste of a lot of time, and time is money. Also bypassing the local cut into Hilton Head adds I believe about 2 or 3 hours to your trip. Then there's things like we had up here where the CG decided to straighten a channel. Charts were printed with the new buoy, and the buoy was put in place. Right in the middle of the sandbar 2'deep because the funds for dredging were never approved. Buoys, charts and such are guides not gospel.

Must have JUST clipped the North end of it......

Hard to tell from the video, but a miss is as good as a mile. He actually could have gotten away with going that way if he stayed closer to the range but we all know that depth perception is off at night (which is why I object to demeaning the skipper). Who among us hasn't ever made a mistake or miscalculation. If he (or she) is a hired captain their career is over. If an inexperienced owner, he lost his boat. Either way they'll pay the price for their mistake.

Very good advice. Even in safe, open waters there could be a tree stump or a small unlit boat floating in our path and I'd rather hit them at 5 or 10 kts than 30. I touched bottom 3 times in my career, all in the channel. Twice just nudged the bow in and waited for the tide, the third cost a prop. All were at dead slow.

Actually the electronics are the big problem. They made people lazy. Point, put a waypoint, move on. People don't zoom in. Too much trouble. Back when we used paper charts we saw everything in our path. I had all my routes down the coast laid out in chart books, and they traveled with me (along with my personal GPS, also with most of my routes). A little extra effort saves exactly this situation.
If it's any consolation as you pay your increased premiums, I'm sure the boat had a deductible.