New Sailor Seeking Slip Info

[Dunejumper]

I am new to Sailing, New Jersey and the Ocean. I bought a Catalina 27 this fall and am in the process of getting it ready for next spring.
I currently have my boat in Barnegat but read about the approach to the bay and was looking at the charts for the bay its self and felt as a new sailor I was looking for trouble to learn how to sail here.
I am looking for a good location for a beginner and was thinking the Delaware Bay somewhere midway around Sea Breeze would be best. I would like to find a slip that caters to sail boats and has a good yacht club I could join.
While not on a shoestring budget I would like to watch my spend so I can invest in my boat verse extravagate moorings.

Any suggestions?

 

[RichH]

Sea Breeze is adjacent to the Cohansey River ... with several marinas.

Only problem with the Cohansey is the huge current flow in the River and AT the marinas ...you'll need a 'stout' OB/engine to maneuver when the tide is 'a-rippin'.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Why not sail Barnegat Bay? There are a lot of shallow areas, but it seems to me there are plenty of sailing grounds. Alot of people sail out of the areas near Toms River & Lanoka Harbor.

 

[tommays]

I dont think Barnegat which has GREAT wind could be any worse than the Great South Bay of Long Island

You just get a chart and figure out the safe spots and stick to those areas

 

[redhead78]

Its the barnaget inlet thats the problem, you do not want to deal with it on weekends or anytime if you can help it. Where do u live and how far are u willing to drive to boat?

 

[Mulf]

I sailed the Barnegat 1989 thru 1996

out of a lagoon community on the Waretown/Barnegat border. Your concern is water depth. I sailed an O'Day 222. She had a 20" fixed keel with a centerboard that swung down out of the fixxed keel to give a total draft of 4'. Her rudder was set up to be pulled down with a line and was a little shorter than the 4' centerboard. I had to replace the rudder line with shockcord because of the number of times the rudder would hit and kick up. That was really a good boat for the area due to the rudder and centerboard being able to swing up, and we were there almost 8 years. When we decided we wanted to go biggger we also knew we needed deeper sailing grounds. We ended up in the northern Chesapeake. There was no turning back once we did that.

 

[Joe23455]

Have you considered Great Bay ? Not a deep bay, but a consistanly flat bottom, so no real issues. No inlets to deal with, beautiful marsh areas,
a few marina's in the area and close to barnaget.

 

[njsail]

Welcome to the wonderful world of sailing and boat maintenance. Congrats on the new boat. It would help knowing where your home is based. As for Barnegate I've been plodding around those waters for decades and still love it. We're up Forked river (across from barnegate inlet) the last 10 years or so and am very happy with our location. I pass over a dozen Catalina 27's every time I back out of my slip. They are everywhere on the River and bay. Great boat.

There are few inlet options. You either go in/out of mansquan inlet which isn't much better than barnegate in any type of weather. It's narrower but at least you have the big jetty rocks to guide you in. But to get to the bay there are a number of drawbridges. Barnegate inlet has a lot of shoaling and surprises if you don't learn the local knowledge before venturing in/out. It's to be avoided in bad weather if at all possible. On a typical jersey weekend you'll have the usual yahoo's in their speed boats flying around like they own the waterways like you have most places. Barnegate bay is a wonderful play to sail and spend time. Once your through the inlet, life slows down dramatically and you have miles and miles of windy playground. You can drop anchor and walk to some of the most beautiful beaches on the coast. Your choice of locations depends on where you live, what type of sailing you want, and how long your are willing to drive often.
Good luck with your quest. I'd stay right where you are now - sail the bay and enjoy. The first couple times you do the inlet have a friend take you with local knowledge and that will build your confidence.

 

[peterbud]

Have you thoughtof Raritan bay? There are a couple of yacht clubs there in keyport and perth amboy or you could put it in great kills on Staten island. You have Richmond County yacht club along with some comercial marinas. When I had my boat there I found it easy sailing and if yhou want to get adventuresom you can go up to NY harbor. I did one year for the fourth and it was spectacular.

 

[Prime Time]

Have you thoughtof Raritan bay? There are a couple of yacht clubs there in keyport and perth amboy or you could put it in great kills on Staten island. You have Richmond County yacht club along with some comercial marinas. When I had my boat there I found it easy sailing and if yhou want to get adventuresom you can go up to NY harbor. I did one year for the fourth and it was spectacular.

I'm a member at Raritan Yacht Club. It's a great place, we have moorings available and it's much cheaper than a commercial slip. Plenty of beginner sailors too. We have active race and cruising programs.

 

[RECESS]

Just a bit of general advice because I do not know the area. If your concern is about an inlet in bad weather, you probably will not be out in bad weather until your skill and local knowledge makes that a moot point. If you have a bay that has great prominent wind, consider yourself lucky. I hate to admit it, but it has been my experience that most new sailors take to sailing (including their spouses and children) depending on how convenient it is to get to the boat and take it out and put it away. Having your boat closest to your home is HUGE when starting out.

Good luck, a challenge in your local waters increases your skill faster.