which convinced me to turn around, go back to Beaufort (SC), and buy and install a chartplotter.
This was after I went aground twice, first (actually still in SC) shortly before I got to the
Sanannah River (my fault - I took a wrong turn) instead of heading through Ramshorn
Creek - where there were no soundings on the chart - I headed into the New River and
about 1/2 through went aground; the 2nd time was shortly after the Skidaway Narrows
Bridge. Afterwards, I spent the night in the Moon River and then headed back. (Turner Creek was a
nice location to wait out a blow). The only surprise on the way back was very thick fog (this was early
January - I spent New Year's Eve and January 1 in Turner's Creek) as I was crossing Port Royal Sound
and heading back into the Beaufort River. A plotter, I realized, would also come in handy in the fog. But, yes,
of course, you can rely too much on a plotter and I agree with you that you have to
pay attn. to your surroundings and - as someone else said - go slow where it seems prudent.
Going slower also allows you more time to process the information in front of you and decide on the
best course of action.

Jerry