I'm heading down the ICW next month and would like to know if the Okracoke inlet is treacherous. I've seen Oregon Inlet sometimes from land and am amazed at the rage. Is Okracoke the same? I don't want to attempt it if there is any question as to picking the perfect conditions...tide, winds,etc. Otherwise I will just stop into Silver Lake for a couple days and continue down the ICW
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Inlets
I can't remember exactly which of the inlets on the east coast are good entrances, but many of them are not. Get one of the cruising guides, I use Skipper Bobs,which is considered by many to be the best one of the bunch. It warns of many of them. I don't think it is because they are so rough, but more because the tides cause the channels to shift so much. If you check the charts you will see that a lot of them are marginal on depth at the best of times. Many of these inlets are listed in Skipper Bobs and you are told to not run them without local knowledge.
I can't remember exactly which of the inlets on the east coast are good entrances, but many of them are not. Get one of the cruising guides, I use Skipper Bobs,which is considered by many to be the best one of the bunch. It warns of many of them. I don't think it is because they are so rough, but more because the tides cause the channels to shift so much. If you check the charts you will see that a lot of them are marginal on depth at the best of times. Many of these inlets are listed in Skipper Bobs and you are told to not run them without local knowledge.
Not Recommended
Just getting to Okracoke can be treacherous. The Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds can turn nasty very quickly. Do not attempt to cross these waters if frontal passages are expected. These waters, especially the Okracoke, Hatteras and Oregen Inlets require "local" knowledge and are not recommended as departure/entrance points for snowbirds. Because things can shoal so quickly at these inlets, the charts are never up-to-date and even the bouys may not be either. Check with the Coast Guard, TowBoat/US and SeaTow if you venture into these waters for the latest info. You might want consider your forays outside further south, say Georgia, where there hasn't been much dredging of the ICW.
Just getting to Okracoke can be treacherous. The Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds can turn nasty very quickly. Do not attempt to cross these waters if frontal passages are expected. These waters, especially the Okracoke, Hatteras and Oregen Inlets require "local" knowledge and are not recommended as departure/entrance points for snowbirds. Because things can shoal so quickly at these inlets, the charts are never up-to-date and even the bouys may not be either. Check with the Coast Guard, TowBoat/US and SeaTow if you venture into these waters for the latest info. You might want consider your forays outside further south, say Georgia, where there hasn't been much dredging of the ICW.
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