Thinking of a few nights in Fire Island

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Mar 28, 2016
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Thinking of a few nights in fire island this year... Any Suggestions? Or in the area?
 
Wait... What?

Oh, Fire Island not Fyre Island!
 
Thinking of a few nights in fire island this year... Any Suggestions? Or in the area?

Most of the Marinas are either private or require you to be a town resident. You can usually get in to Town Marinas on weekdays at a non resident rate. The only one I’ve ever been to is Atlantique, but that was years ago. It’s in a great location towards the western end of Fire Island. You’d have to reach out to them beforehand to find out the prices and availability for non residents.
There are two Federal Park Marinas that are run by private vendors. Those are probably your best bet for both price and availability.
The first is Sailor’s Haven. That’s the one we like. It’s a 20 minute walk to Cherry Grove, the Water Taxi makes stops there to take you to other towns like Ocean Beach, etc., and it has a great beach. The Marina can fill up quickly on weekends in the season, but you can use Dockwa to reserve a slip. We used Dockwa for our last trip there in September and it worked great.
The other is Watch Hill. I think it’s the same vendor and is on a Dockwa too. It’s a bit further east and seems to be a favorite of lots of other south shore boaters. It’s much larger than Sailor’s Haven, but more remote. The water taxi service is infrequent, if at all. Also a really nice beach. Probably a better choice if you just want to go and stay in the Marina and not go in to any towns, or going with a group of other boats and just want to hang out together.
They redid the place before reopening it last season so it should be in nice shape.
Personally, Watch Hill is not my cup of tea. It’s been many years since we’ve been there. As part of the federal park system it does not get sprayed for mosquitoes and they can get really bad there in the late afternoon or early evening making being outside impossible. While Sailor’s Haven doesn’t get sprayed either, the mosquitoes aren’t bad there. Probably because of its proximity to little towns that do spray.
We also like to go to a restaurant for dinner when we’re out there, usually one night in Cherry Grove (very tiny town) and another in Ocean Beach (largest town) or Ocean Bay Park or something, and find that easier to do from Sailor’s Haven.
You can look up the Fire Island Water Taxi for prices and schedules.
Both federal Park Marinas use a less common 50A/125 receptacle (not 50 A/125-250) and will rent you the “Fire Island Adapters” (like Marinco 110a) but for a multi night stay it might be cheaper to just buy them on eBay or something before you go.
 
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Ok thanks for the info.... The mosquitoes are tuning me off, And if i tell my wife that forget it.... Looking for a place to go this year as we always do Greenport, Shelter Island, Sag Harbor and east hampton.... Something we can just do a day or 2 at nothing crazy...
 
If you want to come in through Jones Inlet you can find a nice anchorage in Zach's Bay. Thats were most of us go for the Memorial Day Air Show so it can get busy.

A little further East from there is TOBAY. Its a Town Marina that we frequent often as we are residents. Non Residents are able to come in during the week. There is a very nice ocean beach there, a couple of restaurants (with music on some nights) along with a splash park for kids. You also have a small bay side beach (great for small kids) right near the marina.

Going east there are a few popular anchorage spots and other town beach marinas.

If you plan on coming in through the Fire Island inlet a new marina just opened up in there last year for overnighting. I have not been there yet.

Once you get out to Fire Island Atlantique is a good option during the week - Its a town beach so you are not getting in on the weekends but its not particularly bad with the mosquitoes (rarely a bother) and a very short walk to the beach. You can walk east along to shore to Ocean Beach (about a 10-15 min walk).

If you are looking for a really nice marina take a look at Seaview. That marina is very nice and quiet and only a short walk on a paved and lighted walk way to Ocean Beach. In Ocean Beach you will find plenty of shops and restaurants to keep you busy. While there is a marina at Ocean Beach there are not overnights allowed so you would need to find a hotel there.

A little further east you have Flynn's. It's a restaurant/bar marina and allows overnights. Again its not too far of a walk to Ocean Beach along a paved path (you will pass Seaview). Flynns does have the Bar Scene and can get a little wild on occasions. The marina is bare bones and you would want to make sure you get an inside slip as I hear the outside ones get rocked a bit.

As @JVM225 mentioned you then have Sailors Haven and Watch Hill - both are nice but the National Park Service seems to think that mariners are the food for their pet mosquitoes. Some days and slips are worse that others but you can not guarantee that they will not be there.

East of Watch Hill there is not too much until you hit the Hamptons. Inside the Great South Bay you can find some nice spots along the north shore but you will not have beach.

While its not part of Fire Island I have also had friends that went to Riverhead and stayed near the Atlantis Aquarium and said it was nice.

-Kevin
 
Just to add to the mosquitos at watch hill, thst it depends on what time of year. The bugs were very manageable up to July 4th, and seemed to get bad into August last year.
 
In addition to the above mentioned marinas is West Hampton Bath & Tennis. Its pricey but you have a great beach with lounges & an oceanside pool. Good BBQ area & close proximity to town for restaurants etc.
 
Ok thanks for the info.... The mosquitoes are tuning me off, And if i tell my wife that forget it.... Looking for a place to go this year as we always do Greenport, Shelter Island, Sag Harbor and east hampton.... Something we can just do a day or 2 at nothing crazy...

For a fairly easy trip for just a day or two to Fire Island:
If it is a weekday trip then give Atlantique a try first. It will be a shorter trip.Call the dockmaster ahead of time to make sure you can get a slip. I think the number is still 631-513-8610. At least that’s what I have in my phone.
Like Kevin indicated, Seaview is nice and in a great spot but you may have a tough time getting a slip there and it will likely be pretty pricey if you do. I’ve tried to get in there several times on weekends and they’ve always been booked up. Even after Labor Day.
I wouldn’t recommend overnighting at Flynn’s unless you like a loud nightlife (it’s basically being tied up behind a lively bar) and are willing to get bounced around a lot while you sleep.
If it’s a weekend trip then I think your best overall bet would be Sailor’s Haven. Although they don’t spray, we’ve never really been bothered by mosquitoes there any more than anyplace else, and my wife is super sensitive to them.
If you don’t care about Fire Island and just want to spend a few days relaxing at the beach while going much less distance, then like Kevin said, Tobay is a good choice. You can go in Jones Inlet and it will be about a 30 minute ride to the Marina on the inside.
We’re residents so it’s a bargain weekend for us. It will be more pricey for you, but I donuthink it’s too crazy. It’s a hike across a parking lot to get to the beach side from the marina, but the beach is nice and if it is crowded you can just walk a litttle further east and get a much quieter spot. It’s also a walk across the parking lot to the two concession restaurants. I’d consider the food as okay for what it is, but it’s something to do in the evening while you’re there.
 
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[QUOTE="KevinC, post: 1037519, member: 20795"

If you plan on coming in through the Fire Island inlet a new marina just opened up in there last year for overnighting. I have not been there yet.
-Kevin[/QUOTE]

I was thinking of giving it a try last summer but a few guys on my canal gave it a thumbs down. They told me you get pretty beat up there overnight.
 
I was thinking of giving it a try last summer but a few guys on my canal gave it a thumbs down. They told me you get pretty beat up there overnight.

I heard similar. I know a lot of traffic crosses there and that the marina was not filled. I think those two together would make it a little rocky. Perhaps if the marina was full having more boats might dampen the rocking a bit.

It's a shame that we live on a "long island" with so few marina options without being a resident of these individual towns.

-Kevin
 
Did anyone mention Davis Park?

It’s just west of Watch Hill.

Did not mention that it slipped my mind since I visit both when I am out there. Doesn't Davis Park also have the same weekend restrictions that most of the other towns have?

-Kevin
 
I think I'm gonna give Seaview a try... See if i can book something way in advance or something in that area... How is the water coming into Fire Island from the ocean? Channel well marked? Deep water? I looked it up on my Gamin and it looks like the Channel is all over the place....
 
Davis has favorable rates for town residents. Otherwise $4/foot for the day. You’d have to call about Overnight rates
 
I think I'm gonna give Seaview a try... See if i can book something way in advance or something in that area... How is the water coming into Fire Island from the ocean? Channel well marked? Deep water? I looked it up on my Gamin and it looks like the Channel is all over the place....

I don't frequent Fire Island Inlet but it does seems to change over each winter season. I would check in the spring with updated charts and/or checking in with local knowledge via SeaTow or TowBoatUS for the area.
 
I’m more of a regular Jones Inlet User. Other than if we’re fishing on my Uncle’s 22’ boat, I rarely use Fire Island inlet, but sometimes on a nice day we will go out one and fish our way to the other so I know it a little.
It does move around a lot from one season to the next but is well marked. I think they are doing some dredging there this winter. Either way though, there is plenty of traffic in and out of it, so between all the recreational and party boats you shouldn’t have a problem just following someone in.
Once inside, the channel that runs along Fire Island can be unforgiving if you wander off course but it is marked and your chart plotter should guide you through without any problems. Again, between recreational boats and water taxis there will be plenty of traffic on a summer weekend.
I’m not a Facebook user, and I’m a BoatUS member, but I’m told that the local SeaTow has a Facebook page that has good info on local conditions.
Here is a track I’ve used. I’m coming from the north, and you’ll be coming in from the inlet, but once you get to the East/West buoy (where I turn left to head east) this track should give you an idea.
9C939F5C-2964-4DFC-97D8-A808F55682B7.jpeg
 
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Davis has favorable rates for town residents. Otherwise $4/foot for the day. You’d have to call about Overnight rates
Non residents are fine overnight, but you are talking the higher rate, and it is hard to find a spot on the weekend. You will also do some rocking and rolling with the winds......
 
I think I'm gonna give Seaview a try... See if i can book something way in advance or something in that area... How is the water coming into Fire Island from the ocean? Channel well marked? Deep water? I looked it up on my Gamin and it looks like the Channel is all over the place....
Seaview is nice. A bit on the pricy side, but given the area options, it offers protection. The inlet changes each year, but it is deep enough and marked. This is something to check closer to your departure
 
I heard similar. I know a lot of traffic crosses there and that the marina was not filled. I think those two together would make it a little rocky. Perhaps if the marina was full having more boats might dampen the rocking a bit.

It's a shame that we live on a "long island" with so few marina options without being a resident of these individual towns.

-Kevin
From the satellite view, it does not look like you have much to do, and with all the boat traffic i can see it getting old fast (as in a day trip).

I agree, some of the most beautiful beaches, but most are accessible only during the week.
 
In addition to the above mentioned marinas is West Hampton Bath & Tennis. Its pricey but you have a great beach with lounges & an oceanside pool. Good BBQ area & close proximity to town for restaurants etc.
It will be interesting to see how accessible this is from the west this year
 

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