I work as an able seaman on a British frigate in late 1750's Chesapeake bay. Would it be safe enough for my ship of this size to sail farther North into the bay as well as closer to around the coast?

by NikKerk

referring to the question above, would it also be safe enough for my ship to navigate through the waters in Albemarle sound and Pamlico sound down in N.C.?

mormengil

It would be safe enough to navigate if:

  1. You had reliable charts of the waters (which may have been difficult to obtain in 1750).

  2. You had a good local pilot, who knew the waters.

  3. You took it slow, sent your ship's boats out to make soundings, and chart depths, and kept sailors on the forward channels taking soundings with lead lines.

With any of these approaches (or a combination of them) you would have been able to confidently navigate these waters in 1750.