I have a 1984 H31 with 5'6" draft. I am looking at a house in Bayville with a lagoon. Does anyone know if there is enough water in the area for a boat with this draft? I believe there is enough water in the lagoon but am concerned with getting into the bay. How is the sailing area? Gerry
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It's been a long time but...
...I spent summers on a lagoon in Waretown in the early 90's, Pebble Beach I think the development was called, and sailed an O'Day 222 up and down that part of the bay, over to the back of Island Beach State Park, etc. The 222 has a 20" fixed keel and a centerboard that drew 4'. Also, the tiller was the kick-up type which drew somewhat less than 4'. Unless you stayed in the main channel where all the thousands of go-fast powerboats were, there were many times that the tiller kicked up. One of the reasons I'm on the Cheaspeake now is that I wanted to go bigger and just couldn't see it being any fun on the Barnegat. On the other hand, if it hasn't changed, go check out the numerous sailboats at Mariner's Marina by the Barnegat City (on the mainland below Waretown) town dock. The people there can probably give you their thoughts. Happy Sailing!
...I spent summers on a lagoon in Waretown in the early 90's, Pebble Beach I think the development was called, and sailed an O'Day 222 up and down that part of the bay, over to the back of Island Beach State Park, etc. The 222 has a 20" fixed keel and a centerboard that drew 4'. Also, the tiller was the kick-up type which drew somewhat less than 4'. Unless you stayed in the main channel where all the thousands of go-fast powerboats were, there were many times that the tiller kicked up. One of the reasons I'm on the Cheaspeake now is that I wanted to go bigger and just couldn't see it being any fun on the Barnegat. On the other hand, if it hasn't changed, go check out the numerous sailboats at Mariner's Marina by the Barnegat City (on the mainland below Waretown) town dock. The people there can probably give you their thoughts. Happy Sailing!
NJ In NY & CT
I still can't believe I met sailors from that area that keep their boat all summer in Mystic and the same thing in Greenport,NY. I wonder what the sailing is like that they go so far from Home. Nick
I still can't believe I met sailors from that area that keep their boat all summer in Mystic and the same thing in Greenport,NY. I wonder what the sailing is like that they go so far from Home. Nick
Plenty deep
We have been sailing the Barnegat Bay, NJ for more than 15 years. Our current boat is a 2000 H340 with a 5' draft (4'8"+). Up in the Bayville area there is a fairly large span of water on the western part of the bay that should be deep enough. ICW marker #37(Green) is about 1/3rd of the way out across the bay and you can sail a bit further east of that. Down below ICW marker #40 the bay opens up and you can sail anywhere except for the most eastern waters. There is a popular anchorage called Tices Shoal directly across from Forked River and ICW mid channel marker "BB". Most sailboats lay off the shore in the deeper water but it is still an easy dink ride to the beach. Most of the fun and the parties are out on the water anyway. Going north from Bayville, you shoud stay in the channel and then sail east into Toms River where there is plenty of good water. Have said all of that, there are occassional shoals that you will surely find but the bottom is either soft mud or sand. Take a look at NOAA Chart #12324 and ask for some local advice from your neighbors. You can contact me through the HOW Owner Directory if you need any additional information. Look for "Diamonds" out on the bay.
We have been sailing the Barnegat Bay, NJ for more than 15 years. Our current boat is a 2000 H340 with a 5' draft (4'8"+). Up in the Bayville area there is a fairly large span of water on the western part of the bay that should be deep enough. ICW marker #37(Green) is about 1/3rd of the way out across the bay and you can sail a bit further east of that. Down below ICW marker #40 the bay opens up and you can sail anywhere except for the most eastern waters. There is a popular anchorage called Tices Shoal directly across from Forked River and ICW mid channel marker "BB". Most sailboats lay off the shore in the deeper water but it is still an easy dink ride to the beach. Most of the fun and the parties are out on the water anyway. Going north from Bayville, you shoud stay in the channel and then sail east into Toms River where there is plenty of good water. Have said all of that, there are occassional shoals that you will surely find but the bottom is either soft mud or sand. Take a look at NOAA Chart #12324 and ask for some local advice from your neighbors. You can contact me through the HOW Owner Directory if you need any additional information. Look for "Diamonds" out on the bay.
Thanks
Thanks for the responses. I will try to get there to talk to the local marinas about the area. I think there is enough water in the bay to sail. My concern is getting in and out of the lagoon. I will try to talk to some locals if possible. Thanks again, Gerry
Thanks for the responses. I will try to get there to talk to the local marinas about the area. I think there is enough water in the bay to sail. My concern is getting in and out of the lagoon. I will try to talk to some locals if possible. Thanks again, Gerry
Getting out to the bay
I have several friends who live in boating communities along the bay front. Some of them voice complaints about getting out to the bay especially when the tide is low. There seems to be a tendency for shoaling to occur at the entrance to many of the privately maintained community inlets. The tidal range in Barnegat Bay is only about 6 - 10" and the wind is the major force moving water around. A strong west wind for a day will "lower" many rivers and marinas. Most of the locals know where the inlat is deepest and how to avoid problems. So my advice to ask around still stands.
I have several friends who live in boating communities along the bay front. Some of them voice complaints about getting out to the bay especially when the tide is low. There seems to be a tendency for shoaling to occur at the entrance to many of the privately maintained community inlets. The tidal range in Barnegat Bay is only about 6 - 10" and the wind is the major force moving water around. A strong west wind for a day will "lower" many rivers and marinas. Most of the locals know where the inlat is deepest and how to avoid problems. So my advice to ask around still stands.
Local Information
John, Thanks for the information. I visited the area and knocked on the door of the house next to the one we are interested in. I had previously spoken over the fence to the neighbor on our first visit. He answered the door and I asked about the entrance to the bay. His answer was, do you have some time, I will take my boat out and we can use a marked pole to check the depth at the entrance. He had a working boat and we went out and poled the entrance and it appears to be ok, but very close. I will need to follow a certain path to maintain the depth. I am not sure if he is correct, he said the tide this time of year is lower than it would be in summer? The lowest area was only about 100 feet in length, I think this has a potential to change length and position with each storm. In the lagoon and once in the marked channel there was plenty of water. Gerry
John, Thanks for the information. I visited the area and knocked on the door of the house next to the one we are interested in. I had previously spoken over the fence to the neighbor on our first visit. He answered the door and I asked about the entrance to the bay. His answer was, do you have some time, I will take my boat out and we can use a marked pole to check the depth at the entrance. He had a working boat and we went out and poled the entrance and it appears to be ok, but very close. I will need to follow a certain path to maintain the depth. I am not sure if he is correct, he said the tide this time of year is lower than it would be in summer? The lowest area was only about 100 feet in length, I think this has a potential to change length and position with each storm. In the lagoon and once in the marked channel there was plenty of water. Gerry
Sailing on Barnaget Bay
We love Barneget Bay and Tices shoal. We sailed our 1983 H27 to Barneget Bay via Barneget Light inlet from the Chesapeake (West River) and docked in Lanoka Harbor for 2 years before we returnwd to the Chesapeake (Reedille, Va). Our Hunter27 has a 3'3" shoal draft and I feel that we were limited in sailing on a long tack. We would scrape the bottom going into Forked River. We had very little room going into Windy Cove off Cedar Creek where we docked. I have sailed the H34, it is a great boat that deserves the Chesapeake. In my opinion, the widest area for sailing on the Barnaget is north of the channel going across to Barnaget (Waretown) up to perhaps Tom's River. I remember the widest part between Forked River and Cedar Creek. Bottom line: Barnaget is probably too shallow for your H34.
We love Barneget Bay and Tices shoal. We sailed our 1983 H27 to Barneget Bay via Barneget Light inlet from the Chesapeake (West River) and docked in Lanoka Harbor for 2 years before we returnwd to the Chesapeake (Reedille, Va). Our Hunter27 has a 3'3" shoal draft and I feel that we were limited in sailing on a long tack. We would scrape the bottom going into Forked River. We had very little room going into Windy Cove off Cedar Creek where we docked. I have sailed the H34, it is a great boat that deserves the Chesapeake. In my opinion, the widest area for sailing on the Barnaget is north of the channel going across to Barnaget (Waretown) up to perhaps Tom's River. I remember the widest part between Forked River and Cedar Creek. Bottom line: Barnaget is probably too shallow for your H34.
Small water
I sail a Hunter 33 (Trinket) with the shoal (4') draft keel. Tidal change on the bay is about 6 inches. The bigger problem is that wind blows the water in to or out of the lagoons and bay. That variation can be as much as 3 feet. For a lot of folks that means the difference between going out or not, what with the shallowness of many of the lagoons. As for the bay itself, you end up in a long, narrow area and need to be aware of where you are constantly. Often we sail by the "bump and tack" method. One day, sailing with friends aboard while deep in conversation we touched down three times. (To me, "touch" means we bump along but keep moving. "Ground" means we stop and have to do something to get going again.) My advantage is that my keel is fat at the bottom, almost a bulb. It is actually flat on the very bottom, which keeps it from digging in to the sand. I think your deep keel is narrow at the bottom and might tend to dig in. What it boils down to is that the more shallow your keel, the more bay you have available to sail on. The good news is that if I see you sailing in place I'll certainly come over and haul you off.
I sail a Hunter 33 (Trinket) with the shoal (4') draft keel. Tidal change on the bay is about 6 inches. The bigger problem is that wind blows the water in to or out of the lagoons and bay. That variation can be as much as 3 feet. For a lot of folks that means the difference between going out or not, what with the shallowness of many of the lagoons. As for the bay itself, you end up in a long, narrow area and need to be aware of where you are constantly. Often we sail by the "bump and tack" method. One day, sailing with friends aboard while deep in conversation we touched down three times. (To me, "touch" means we bump along but keep moving. "Ground" means we stop and have to do something to get going again.) My advantage is that my keel is fat at the bottom, almost a bulb. It is actually flat on the very bottom, which keeps it from digging in to the sand. I think your deep keel is narrow at the bottom and might tend to dig in. What it boils down to is that the more shallow your keel, the more bay you have available to sail on. The good news is that if I see you sailing in place I'll certainly come over and haul you off.
Been sailing a Irwin 28 with 3.5' draft
been sailing my 28 out there and I think you're kinda deep for having fun there. I'm looking for a new boat now and won;t get anything with more then 4'6 but would prefer more shallow
been sailing my 28 out there and I think you're kinda deep for having fun there. I'm looking for a new boat now and won;t get anything with more then 4'6 but would prefer more shallow
Shorter Keel or New Boat
Looks like I will either have to cut the keel or purchase another boat. Gerry
Looks like I will either have to cut the keel or purchase another boat. Gerry
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