moriches bay 2018

looking to see if anyone has gone west to east through moriches bay recently and if they would like to share their GPS line. From what im told the line hasnt changed since last season- go down to inlet, south of bird island follow north and cross over magenta line to a northeastern arc till you get to buoy 29 i believe... i always call towboat US before my trip but i will take all the info i can. (traveling east 7/18 or 7/19)

I haven't heard any good things . Buddy ran his CC tru and he got stuck... ( going around towards the inlet which he was told to do ) If possible outside and ins Shinnecock is best as always ….

Rob

i know its passable especially at high tide but looking for anyone who as actually gone through recently. thanks

I went through this weekend heading to Westhampton. The new channel is well marked from the coast guard. After #24 there are 14 new bouys into Hart’s cove which guide u around to #30. You absolutely must go at high tide. For the most part I saw 4-5 feet of water under the boat and sometimes 6 feet. At one point though it dropped to 3.2 and 2.9 so I can imagine in low tide most inboard boats would get stuck. This was only for a few seconds.

Seatow Moriches reports that the east-west channel at Buoy 17 is completely closed off. Danger buoys are now placed in that area. The only passage east is up to the inlet via west cut and back down the east cut. Last year we found a couple of sharp ridges across the east cut channel, but they weren't an issue with 4' draft, just looked impressive on the sounder with a nice rip forming.
After coming north up the east cut, back on the east-west channel east of the inlet, the sandbar across 26-27-29 is completely closed off and buoy 26 may be removed by the coast guard. DON'T GO TO BUOY 26. Instead, the CG has marked a NEW CHANNEL and installed NEW BUOYS heading north from Red #24 up towards Harts Cove and Seatuck cove. These new buoys are government marks, starting with Green #1, Green #3, Green #5, Then to a Red Buoy, marked up to #14.

To Navigate new channel eastbound, Seatow says to go very near Red #24 before heading north then stay very close to first three green buoys, LEAVING THEM ON YOUR PORT SIDE, before heading to red buoy. Buoys are then marked up to #14 at which point you should be looking for Red #30 back on the old east-west channel and clear water east through the bay. Seatow says there are a couple of shallow spots in the new channel, but at normal low tide he goes through drawing 3 1/2 feet and just misses. The shallow spots are pretty soft.

Also note, Jessups St. Drawbridge (first bridge heading east bound in Westhampton) has construction so check ahead if you have clearance questions. Ch 13/16 or call 631-952-6524

Latest USCG notice to mariners here https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm01192018.pdf

This is an excerpt:
Significant shoaling has also been experienced in Moriches Bay along the Long Island Intracoastal Waterway in the vicinity of Moriches Bay Buoys 26, 27, 28 and 29 extending the entire width of the channel at all tide levels. The area west of buoy 23 has severe shoaling and is now bounded by Danger Buoys. The most severe area of shoaling can currently be found between buoys 26 and 27, and is less than 3 ft at low tide. Shoaling is also reported in the vicinity of Moriches Inlet East Cut Buoys 7E and 9E. Mariners should be aware that the Aids to Navigation in these areas have been deemed unreliable due to shoaling and mariners are advised to seek alternate routes. The East and West Cut channels south of the sand shoal known locally as "Bird Island" provide a well-marked channel and deeper water than the Federal Project north of Bird Island.

Jessups Bridge

NEW YORK – LONG ISLAND – SHINNECOCK BAY TO EAST ROCKAWAY INLET –MORICHES BAY– Under Bridge Inspections – From May 10, 2018 to June 1, 2018 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., an under bridge inspection unit will be operating at the Jessup Lane Bridge over Moriches South Bay. Mariners requiring full vertical clearance can contact the contractor via marine radio VHF-FM Ch 13/16 or call 631-952-6524

Thanks so much great information.