inside is not very good for even a 5 foot draft. You will be going in to the prevailing easterlies for most of the trip. If the wind is very hard north or east the bay will actually be lower than charted because the wind will blow the water out. The reverse is also true.

The hawk channel is more protected than you would think by looking at the chart. Since the reef breaks up any swell there would be, you only have to deal with wind waves (plus the bahamas shield you from any real rollers).