Planning a trip down Barnegat Bay to Atlantic City. (Catalina 27) As most of this trip will be through the ICW (about 30 miles) I would like to split the trip into 2 parts. Day #1 Barnegat to Beach Haven, stop for some dinner stay overnight, and day #2 out into the ocean for the last 10 miles down to Trump Marina. Which marina's would you recommend for transient slips in Beach Haven? I draw 4' so depth is a issue. I know the trip could be done in 1 looooooooong day, as I have done it before, but the wife would like the break half way. The return trip will be done in 1 day, and as I have not been through Barnegat Inlet, I am not sure if I want attempt it with just my wife and myself. Any thoughts on transient marina's or Barnegat Inlet?
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Be Careful
Be careful with Barnegat. It's reputation is at best not good. On both of my trips down that coast, I by passed it, mostly because of it's reputation. Used Manesqua instead. Also I don't know if it is a permanent fixture or not, but one of the worst beatings I have ever taken was coming into Atlantic City from the north, and being too close to the shore line. There is or was a bar built up, and it was really nasty. We were taking 8' breakers on the beam making the corner. When you come into Atlantic City stay far enough out to get around this bar. If my memory serves, we were maybe 1/2 mile offshore. Others with more recent and more local knowledge will probably give you more info. than this.
Be careful with Barnegat. It's reputation is at best not good. On both of my trips down that coast, I by passed it, mostly because of it's reputation. Used Manesqua instead. Also I don't know if it is a permanent fixture or not, but one of the worst beatings I have ever taken was coming into Atlantic City from the north, and being too close to the shore line. There is or was a bar built up, and it was really nasty. We were taking 8' breakers on the beam making the corner. When you come into Atlantic City stay far enough out to get around this bar. If my memory serves, we were maybe 1/2 mile offshore. Others with more recent and more local knowledge will probably give you more info. than this.
Be very very careful at Trump......
EVERY time that I stayed there, my credit card somehow got 'double billed' for the slip fees. This was on very different days, different weeks, etc. Had to turn it over to the credit card company for 'resolution' .... each time! The slip fees are incredibly expensive ... and the docks are COVERED with bird shit. Do heed the warning about the bar on the NE side of the inlet when a NE swell is running. When a NE swell is running, its better to go out and come back in from the SE.
EVERY time that I stayed there, my credit card somehow got 'double billed' for the slip fees. This was on very different days, different weeks, etc. Had to turn it over to the credit card company for 'resolution' .... each time! The slip fees are incredibly expensive ... and the docks are COVERED with bird shit. Do heed the warning about the bar on the NE side of the inlet when a NE swell is running. When a NE swell is running, its better to go out and come back in from the SE.
Do it outside
I'd do the trip outside, I believe it'll take you apx 4-5 hrs. Best check the charts for distance and calculate what you speed you cruise at. Trying to go inside with all the shoaling in the ICW can be difficult. As already mentioned Barnegate Inlet can be nasty especially if the tide and wind are opposing. Leave on a slack or an ebbing tide, avoid max ebb or flood. When entering Abescon Inlet avoid the Northern side as it does shoal up. Just line up on the markers and follow them in. Once inside Gardners Basin you have two choices, Trump Marina and Gardner Basin. Gardner is small and inexpensive but will require a taxi to get to the casinos or boardwalk. DO NOT WALK as it's a tough neighborhood. Trump is convenient to the three local casinos but is very expensive at apx $4.50 a night. You should also be able to catch a shuttle over the the boardwalk and other casinos. Hit Angelo's for dinner. It's a great Italian place just a coupke of blocks up from the convention center. Good luck and have fun. Mike
I'd do the trip outside, I believe it'll take you apx 4-5 hrs. Best check the charts for distance and calculate what you speed you cruise at. Trying to go inside with all the shoaling in the ICW can be difficult. As already mentioned Barnegate Inlet can be nasty especially if the tide and wind are opposing. Leave on a slack or an ebbing tide, avoid max ebb or flood. When entering Abescon Inlet avoid the Northern side as it does shoal up. Just line up on the markers and follow them in. Once inside Gardners Basin you have two choices, Trump Marina and Gardner Basin. Gardner is small and inexpensive but will require a taxi to get to the casinos or boardwalk. DO NOT WALK as it's a tough neighborhood. Trump is convenient to the three local casinos but is very expensive at apx $4.50 a night. You should also be able to catch a shuttle over the the boardwalk and other casinos. Hit Angelo's for dinner. It's a great Italian place just a coupke of blocks up from the convention center. Good luck and have fun. Mike
Little Egg can be iffy
We came from AC to Tuckerton last summer. The plan was to go out of AC and come in LE. In the morning there was a stiff south wind and after sticking my nose outside, I decided LE was a bad idea, its very open to the south with a lot of shoals and dog legs. Opted to go to Tuckerton via the ICW. That was a thrill. The only thing we had gouing for us was a rising tide. We had a stong cross breeze and my chartplotter chip run out at Cape May, so we were using charts, about usless in a 10' wide channel with a 20mph cross wind. We draw 4'6" and the water is quite thin in spots. It would have been much eaiser with a detailed chip. Any how, two days later we left and went out LE, even though we were motering into the chop, left over from the prior days south wind, it wasn't fun. Not a lot of room between shoals, running close to white water and you go over a bar where it stands it up pretty good. Understand, for 10 years I ran this inlet with power boats, I am vert familar with it. Doing it in a sailboat with a 35hp desiel, not so much fun. Don't get me wrong if it were calm you would be find, but its and idffy inlet. Stay away from Trump/Farley marina. The price is insane and the marina is only OK. Last year it cost 4$/foot. How can I get the state of NJ to build a marina, then give it to me so I can financially rape the public.
We came from AC to Tuckerton last summer. The plan was to go out of AC and come in LE. In the morning there was a stiff south wind and after sticking my nose outside, I decided LE was a bad idea, its very open to the south with a lot of shoals and dog legs. Opted to go to Tuckerton via the ICW. That was a thrill. The only thing we had gouing for us was a rising tide. We had a stong cross breeze and my chartplotter chip run out at Cape May, so we were using charts, about usless in a 10' wide channel with a 20mph cross wind. We draw 4'6" and the water is quite thin in spots. It would have been much eaiser with a detailed chip. Any how, two days later we left and went out LE, even though we were motering into the chop, left over from the prior days south wind, it wasn't fun. Not a lot of room between shoals, running close to white water and you go over a bar where it stands it up pretty good. Understand, for 10 years I ran this inlet with power boats, I am vert familar with it. Doing it in a sailboat with a 35hp desiel, not so much fun. Don't get me wrong if it were calm you would be find, but its and idffy inlet. Stay away from Trump/Farley marina. The price is insane and the marina is only OK. Last year it cost 4$/foot. How can I get the state of NJ to build a marina, then give it to me so I can financially rape the public.
Skip Little Egg
BD, We've been long-time Barnegat Bay sailors but have been in Atlantic City for the last ten years. I have shuttled our boats frequently from AC to Toms River. The ICW can be no fun in a keelboat. I've sailed for years in shallow draft boats on Little Egg Harbor, South of the Manahawkin bridge. There are many shoals on your way along Long Beach Island. If you must go this route I'd recomend Morrison's Marina in Beach Haven. I'd use Barnegat Inlet unless it's real snotty. Going out is eaisier if you are not familiar with the inlet. Don't worry about Absecon Inlet. You must. however, honor the most seaward bouy, G1. We use that inlet a few times each week during the season and always find it ok. Just honor that first marker. Regarding Trump, sure it's expensive. You need to determine if it's worth the convenience. You are right in the middle of the three casinos with shuttles, Jitneys, or cabs to anywhere in the city. There's live bands on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The docks are dirty in the early Spring and Late Fall. Stop in to say hi on G-Dock. Stolen Moments is in slip G48.
BD, We've been long-time Barnegat Bay sailors but have been in Atlantic City for the last ten years. I have shuttled our boats frequently from AC to Toms River. The ICW can be no fun in a keelboat. I've sailed for years in shallow draft boats on Little Egg Harbor, South of the Manahawkin bridge. There are many shoals on your way along Long Beach Island. If you must go this route I'd recomend Morrison's Marina in Beach Haven. I'd use Barnegat Inlet unless it's real snotty. Going out is eaisier if you are not familiar with the inlet. Don't worry about Absecon Inlet. You must. however, honor the most seaward bouy, G1. We use that inlet a few times each week during the season and always find it ok. Just honor that first marker. Regarding Trump, sure it's expensive. You need to determine if it's worth the convenience. You are right in the middle of the three casinos with shuttles, Jitneys, or cabs to anywhere in the city. There's live bands on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The docks are dirty in the early Spring and Late Fall. Stop in to say hi on G-Dock. Stolen Moments is in slip G48.
If you have the tides work for you
The trip to AC from Barnegat inlet will be about 6 hours, leave Barnegat at high tide, or, slack tide, the receding tide will give you a nice boost as you go south. From what I have seen, Little Egg inlet is fine if you have local knowledge, I don't have that, so I will not use it. Use the sea bouy off AC in your plot, as there are shoals North of the AC inlet. There is a nice protected anchorage on the Brigatine side of the Absecon river, many anchor there and use the dink to cross to Trump Marina. Leaving AC to go back, use the tides to push you, either inside or out, leave on Low tide, (last year we returned inside at near 7.5 knots in places) inside the green head flies will eat you alive!
The trip to AC from Barnegat inlet will be about 6 hours, leave Barnegat at high tide, or, slack tide, the receding tide will give you a nice boost as you go south. From what I have seen, Little Egg inlet is fine if you have local knowledge, I don't have that, so I will not use it. Use the sea bouy off AC in your plot, as there are shoals North of the AC inlet. There is a nice protected anchorage on the Brigatine side of the Absecon river, many anchor there and use the dink to cross to Trump Marina. Leaving AC to go back, use the tides to push you, either inside or out, leave on Low tide, (last year we returned inside at near 7.5 knots in places) inside the green head flies will eat you alive!
Beach Haven
We have made the trip many times and you should be OK for depth as long as you stay in the channel and don't cut any of the marks. There is a dog-leg turn in the channel off Harvey Cedars that can catch your keel at low tide so head from marker to marker. Stay mid-channel south of Beach Haven and watch for the radical channel direction changes. The green flies will eat you alive so bring long pants and pleanty of repellant. Transient slips in Beach Haven are hard to come by. Morrison's has only two spaces available on a T dock so call and make your reservations early (609-492-2150). You may be able to get a slip at Shelter Harbor Matina (609-492-8645) which is just north of Morrison's. They are the marina with the grey condo's but head straight in from the channel marker out front or you will run aground. There is a yacht club dock, south of Morrison's, that also has some transient slips but they are right on the ICW and suffer from boat wakes. I don't have their number. Good Luck!
We have made the trip many times and you should be OK for depth as long as you stay in the channel and don't cut any of the marks. There is a dog-leg turn in the channel off Harvey Cedars that can catch your keel at low tide so head from marker to marker. Stay mid-channel south of Beach Haven and watch for the radical channel direction changes. The green flies will eat you alive so bring long pants and pleanty of repellant. Transient slips in Beach Haven are hard to come by. Morrison's has only two spaces available on a T dock so call and make your reservations early (609-492-2150). You may be able to get a slip at Shelter Harbor Matina (609-492-8645) which is just north of Morrison's. They are the marina with the grey condo's but head straight in from the channel marker out front or you will run aground. There is a yacht club dock, south of Morrison's, that also has some transient slips but they are right on the ICW and suffer from boat wakes. I don't have their number. Good Luck!
Mullica and Bass river
There is plenty of water in Great Bay and up the Mullica river to the Bass river, The viking yachting center has no greenhead flies and great facilities in the shadow of the Viking Yacht plant. The Marina is on RT 9 in New Gretna
There is plenty of water in Great Bay and up the Mullica river to the Bass river, The viking yachting center has no greenhead flies and great facilities in the shadow of the Viking Yacht plant. The Marina is on RT 9 in New Gretna
I appreciate all the responses
I would love to go out Barnegat Inlet, but I have heard too many horror stories, maybe they are just stories maybe not. I would like some clarification from those who have been out the inlet about conditions etc. I have always wanted to run the boat up the channel and to the inlet to take a look see, but the rocking back and forth from all the fishing boat wakes makes the trip a bit uncomfortable, not for myself but for the crew. I have made the trip up from Ocean City NJ before with the intention of coming in Barnegat Inlet, but we got fogged in for over 3 hours and had to take my alternate entrance of Little Egg instead. I have to look at my chart, but I figure it is roughly 29 Miles outside from Barnegat Inlet to Absecon Inlet. Please share your local knowledge. BD
I would love to go out Barnegat Inlet, but I have heard too many horror stories, maybe they are just stories maybe not. I would like some clarification from those who have been out the inlet about conditions etc. I have always wanted to run the boat up the channel and to the inlet to take a look see, but the rocking back and forth from all the fishing boat wakes makes the trip a bit uncomfortable, not for myself but for the crew. I have made the trip up from Ocean City NJ before with the intention of coming in Barnegat Inlet, but we got fogged in for over 3 hours and had to take my alternate entrance of Little Egg instead. I have to look at my chart, but I figure it is roughly 29 Miles outside from Barnegat Inlet to Absecon Inlet. Please share your local knowledge. BD
Its be awhile
It has been a long time since I ran Barnegat. As I recall I remember the channel marker being far apart almost to the point of confusion. I have no idea where one would obtain a chart of the current location of the inlet channel markers as they most likely shift yearly, but picking the wrong next bouy is not a good thing. I would think doing the inlet on an incoming tide would be the most prudent as it should reduce wave action of tide vs wind but that would depend on the sea condition. I understand it is much better sice the south jetty has been completed. The channel at the light house is always fun because the tide water screams through there pretty good which can make getting to the inlet on an incoming tide a very slow process. AAhh its always something. Probably just going slack at hight would be good if you could order that up. I would hope you could get some imput from recent BI users as to it current condition and attitude. I have crossed paths with a few people which use BI and theuy say its not to bad these days, but I have a history with BI so I take it with a grain of salt. The run to AC from Barnegat should not be problem. We did a motor sail from AC to Cape May and got in early enough to take a bus into town and sight see before dinner time.
It has been a long time since I ran Barnegat. As I recall I remember the channel marker being far apart almost to the point of confusion. I have no idea where one would obtain a chart of the current location of the inlet channel markers as they most likely shift yearly, but picking the wrong next bouy is not a good thing. I would think doing the inlet on an incoming tide would be the most prudent as it should reduce wave action of tide vs wind but that would depend on the sea condition. I understand it is much better sice the south jetty has been completed. The channel at the light house is always fun because the tide water screams through there pretty good which can make getting to the inlet on an incoming tide a very slow process. AAhh its always something. Probably just going slack at hight would be good if you could order that up. I would hope you could get some imput from recent BI users as to it current condition and attitude. I have crossed paths with a few people which use BI and theuy say its not to bad these days, but I have a history with BI so I take it with a grain of salt. The run to AC from Barnegat should not be problem. We did a motor sail from AC to Cape May and got in early enough to take a bus into town and sight see before dinner time.
I am hoping some recent users will share input
on their transit of BI, I guess I need to take a drive over and take a look at different tides. Bill
on their transit of BI, I guess I need to take a drive over and take a look at different tides. Bill
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