I need some "local knowledge". I plan to sail my Irwin 38CC from Mt. Sinai Harbor to Block Island, then continue along the south shore of Long Island and work my way back to Mt. Sinai Harbor via Sandy Hook, NY Harbor, Hell Gate, and Long Island Sound. I've made the trip several times before in a Catalina 30 and each time spent some time at Atlantique in Great South Bay which I entered through Fire Island Inlet. I plan to stop at Atlantique again and would prefer to enter Great South Bay through Moriches Inlet because the trip would be shorter and I could mosey along with maybe an additional stop in Great River. However, I'm not at all familiar with Moriches Inlet. The charts contain warnings. The charts contain the same warnings about Fire Island Inlet but I timed my passages for slack tide and glided right through. I draw 4'6" and can make 7.5 knots under power. If you have experience with Moriches Inlet, I'd like to hear from you either here or directly at sailingbauble@aol.com.
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Fire Island Inlet is considered navigable...
...Moriches is not. I hear that there is shoaling around there too. I have no first hand knowledge. alan
...Moriches is not. I hear that there is shoaling around there too. I have no first hand knowledge. alan
Done the same trip
in the opposite direction, in a 37 footer drawing 5 feet. Transit of Moriches Inlet is strongly discouraged. Charts don't even show bouyage for it. But aside from that, Great South Bay is shallow all over with not much tidal change so you can expect to spend a lot of time ungrounding. Best to go in Fire Island Inlet, with care, and stay in the twisting channels. You can go on the Intracoastal from Fire Island all the way to Freeport and beyond. But why? Offshore to Sandy Hook is much better.
in the opposite direction, in a 37 footer drawing 5 feet. Transit of Moriches Inlet is strongly discouraged. Charts don't even show bouyage for it. But aside from that, Great South Bay is shallow all over with not much tidal change so you can expect to spend a lot of time ungrounding. Best to go in Fire Island Inlet, with care, and stay in the twisting channels. You can go on the Intracoastal from Fire Island all the way to Freeport and beyond. But why? Offshore to Sandy Hook is much better.
Mooriches Inlet is concidered . . .
The worst on the east coast. I would avoid it, except for a dire emergency. If you must go, then only at slack tide. I went thru once, about 5 years ago in a 22 ft Grady White. on a nice day, about 2 hrs into the ebb. 4 to 5 foot breakers coming from every direction. The breakers seem to stay in one place, like an eternal wave. I dont think the 34 hp Yanmar in my 37.5 could have broken thru that. I would have stalled in the surf zone, and eventually broached. Chris s/v TideSong
The worst on the east coast. I would avoid it, except for a dire emergency. If you must go, then only at slack tide. I went thru once, about 5 years ago in a 22 ft Grady White. on a nice day, about 2 hrs into the ebb. 4 to 5 foot breakers coming from every direction. The breakers seem to stay in one place, like an eternal wave. I dont think the 34 hp Yanmar in my 37.5 could have broken thru that. I would have stalled in the surf zone, and eventually broached. Chris s/v TideSong
Discourage Moriches for sure
I have not been thru Moriches in years, but I use to run a Lobster boat thru there,and there is no way I would run Moriches Inlet with a 34 HP yanmar. You only get one chance.. like a surfer,and you better have plenty of reserve.. and like most inlets... it will change after every storm...
I have not been thru Moriches in years, but I use to run a Lobster boat thru there,and there is no way I would run Moriches Inlet with a 34 HP yanmar. You only get one chance.. like a surfer,and you better have plenty of reserve.. and like most inlets... it will change after every storm...
Chart Disconnect?
Just checking what y'all are talking about - is there a chart problem there? Based on the joint it doesn't look like the charting is that accurate, or, as was mentioned, maybe things have changed. See: http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm?lat=40.76611&lon=-72.75444&scale=24000&zoom=100&type=1&icon=0&searchscope=dom&scriptfile=http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm&latlontype=DMS When zoomed out I noticed there is a Coast Guard station just inside the barrier island, for what that's worth. Also noticed lots of shoal areas.
Just checking what y'all are talking about - is there a chart problem there? Based on the joint it doesn't look like the charting is that accurate, or, as was mentioned, maybe things have changed. See: http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm?lat=40.76611&lon=-72.75444&scale=24000&zoom=100&type=1&icon=0&searchscope=dom&scriptfile=http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm&latlontype=DMS When zoomed out I noticed there is a Coast Guard station just inside the barrier island, for what that's worth. Also noticed lots of shoal areas.
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