Boca Inlet in 560 Sedan Bridge?

J

joelkoz

Member
Sep 9, 2012
57
Delray Beach, FL
Boat Info
eSea Street - 2001 560 Sedan Bridge
Engines
CAT 3406E
Hi all -

First post for me. I'm now the proud owner of a 560 Sedan Bridge that I'm keeping in Delray Beach. This is my first big boat, and I'm fairly new to the area as far as boating is concerned. Looking at the charts, my nearest way out to the Atlantic is the Boca Inlet. All the guides I've read on this inlet however state that this is a tricky inlet and that "local knowledge" is required to use. I've asked a couple of people at the marina where I'm staying, and I'm getting mixed messages. Some say "sure", others say "avoid."

So - anyone from the area - what's the trick to using the Boca Inlet if at all? Would you take a 560 out it (I think my draft is 4 ft.). How does one acquire "local knowledge?"

Thanks!

-Joel
 
You can acquire local knowledge by calling SeaTow or TowBoat and asking them on the VHF. I am sure they will be more than happy to help you out. As far as Boca Inlet, always heard it was a bear to navigate as the current is quite strong and depending on ingoing/outgoing tide along with East/WEst winds, the inlet can be a breeze or a bear. That is where local knowledge comes into play. I doubt depth is going to be the limiting factor but I guess you never know, maybe shoaling areas you have to watch for as well. ??
 
joelkoz said:
Hi all -

First post for me. I'm now the proud owner of a 560 Sedan Bridge that I'm keeping in Delray Beach. This is my first big boat, and I'm fairly new to the area as far as boating is concerned. Looking at the charts, my nearest way out to the Atlantic is the Boca Inlet. All the guides I've read on this inlet however state that this is a tricky inlet and that "local knowledge" is required to use. I've asked a couple of people at the marina where I'm staying, and I'm getting mixed messages. Some say "sure", others say "avoid."

So - anyone from the area - what's the trick to using the Boca Inlet if at all? Would you take a 560 out it (I think my draft is 4 ft.). How does one acquire "local knowledge?"

Thanks!

-Joel
Click to expand...

Joel,

Did you buy the 560 that was for sale in Hilton Head?
 
While I've never been in or out of Boca Inlet, I have been on the beach adjacent to it many times.

When the current is running strong in or out that place is crazy. I have seen alot of boats "almost" get into trouble, but only saw one (a sailboat) actually run aground. You can get a huge wave at the exit.

Hillsboro Inlet is not that much further south and thats what I use 50% of the time. Its no Port Everglades either, and can get kind of congested on busy days but I see alot of boats bigger than a 560 going through there.
 
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I lived on the east coast for a few years but never went through that inlet. I have gone through Sebastian and Jupiter inlets and both can be pretty scary depending on tides and winds. I would try to get a local captain to take you through it a couple times until you feel comfortable. The couple dollars spent will be well worth it. I alos doubt depth would be an issue with your boat.
 
trit21 said:
You can acquire local knowledge by calling SeaTow or TowBoat and asking them on the VHF. I am sure they will be more than happy to help you out. As far as Boca Inlet, always heard it was a bear to navigate as the current is quite strong and depending on ingoing/outgoing tide along with East/WEst winds, the inlet can be a breeze or a bear. That is where local knowledge comes into play. I doubt depth is going to be the limiting factor but I guess you never know, maybe shoaling areas you have to watch for as well. ??
Click to expand...

Joel, Congratulations on your 560, and welcome to CSR.

Tom is exactly correct regarding contacting SeaTow for obtaing current local knowledge. The inlet conditions are subject to shoaling and do change, especially during and after hurricane season. Just Call SeaTow on channel 16. They will give you the current conditions, and in fact in the past when he was at the inlet and offered to actually escort me out.

BTW, according to Sea Ray your draft is 54"

See you around Lake Boca,

Art
 
That's 54" dry! I would figure a full 5'.
 
Have navigated the Boca Inlet many times and I too will suggest that local knowledge would be a huge asset. Having a draw bridge right at the mouth in the curve, does add to the pucker factor in less than calm seas. Simple advise...ride down one day in the car and stand on the jetties and see your approach or departure headings. Then my biggest advise is to navigate and negotiate the inlet during a slack tide environment a couple times before using it during currents and tides. A strong ebb tide will create some big looking walls of water sitting inside the inlet and rough seas will make you want to shoot right in from the Atlantic so being comfortable at the helm is way important. The 560 was my best ride through the inlet and that was in far less than clam conditions....that boat can handle it captain, just make sure you can too and that comes from experience. Far too many problems happen down here from operators who have many days on the water and error on judgment side...Mother, Mother Ocean commands respect.

I will extend my opinion to include all the inlets in Florida that do not accommodate ship traffic, should be done during slack tide the first time or two. It does not embarrass me to follow a local sportfisher through an inlet I have never seen before....especially in the dark.

be safe. please

R
 
I have not had to deal with inlets much in my boating but hiring a captain, at least once sounds like a good idea. It is also a good idea to work out a time when you follow your marina neighbors in and out once or twice. Finally, read up on this site and other sources as there are some important do's and dont's for inlets.
 
Thanks everyone!

Very excellent advice! I'll certainly keep SeaTow in mind - would have never thought about that. Sounds like a great resource.

And here I was worrying simply about running aground and thus trying to figure out the shallow spots and how to avoid them. Sounds like that is the least of my worries.

I'm getting the impression that on a calm day at slack high tide, I'd have no problems. Any other conditions, and I could be asking for a challenge. I do have access to several good captains.. Perhaps I'll grab one on a less than ideal day and go practice. Reminds me of my private pilot training - like practicing cross wind landings on a really windy day!

Thanks again! Any additional advice is appreciated if anyone else has any more tips! :smt001

-jk
 
Lets not forget about the experienced charter Captain who died when he was thrown from the bridge of his convertible when it rolled then righted in the Jupiter inlet a couple of years ago.
 
Hampton said:
Lets not forget about the experienced charter Captain who died when he was thrown from the bridge of his convertible when it rolled then righted in the Jupiter inlet a couple of years ago.
Click to expand...

+1 East coast inlets can be downright nasty even on normal days.
 
I guess the biggest question is what's your boating experience using inlets, going through waterways with strong currents (canals, inlets), in open water in general? If it's not a lot and you have doubts there are only few ways on doing this safely:
1. Hire a reputable captain who will guide you and give you all kinds of tips and tricks.
2. Pick a day with ideal conditions in an inlet that is wide and well marked (obviously with good depths). Take the trial run to get a feel for the inlet and conditions.
3. When you do few runs and get more comfortable, take it to the next step where the conditions are slightly worst with light wind and some mild seas (2'-3' or so).
4. When you get more comfortable with one or two inlets take it to a slightly more challenging inlet (maybe not as wide, but well marked) and repeat step #2 and #3.

I posted the suggestions with the assumption that you don't have good experience. If I'm wrong, please just ignore and no disrespect meant here.

I understand that it's always good to have some reminder like John posted, but I don't want to "build a fear factor" either, otherwise people will never try to go out.

It has been good number of years, so I can't say 100%. But, if my memory serves me right I did a diving trip on my 240DA going out of Boca Inlet. I also did Port Everglades Inlet several times on my 175BR and also on 240DA.

560DB is "a small ship" that can handle a lot. Going through those inlets on a vessel like that will be like a walk in the park as long as you don't do anything stupid or pick a bad day with rough seas.

Good luck.
 
Alex F said:
560DB is "a small ship" that can handle a lot. Going through those inlets on a vessel like that will be like a walk in the park as long as you don't do anything stupid or pick a bad day with rough seas.Good luck.
Click to expand...

It's not so much rough seas as it is the current. The Atlantic is a huge body of water and flows through this little pass and creates a nasty current. I rememer coming in through Jupiter Inlet after a day of Kingfishing in November. As we approached the inlet we started on the far right (very close to the jetty) and withing seconds we were carried through the inlet and ended up on the far left side. I was with an experienced captain and trusted him but I almost **** my pants. If felt like we had no control of where the boat was going becasue the current was so strong. This is where local knowledge of navigating the inlts come into play. Had a normal person started in the middle we would have been on the rocks in a blink of an eye.
 
Bucit said:
It's not so much rough seas as it is the current. The Atlantic is a huge body of water and flows through this little pass and creates a nasty current. I rememer coming in through Jupiter Inlet after a day of Kingfishing in November. As we approached the inlet we started on the far right (very close to the jetty) and withing seconds we were carried through the inlet and ended up on the far left side. I was with an experienced captain and trusted him but I almost **** my pants. If felt like we had no control of where the boat was going becasue the current was so strong. This is where local knowledge of navigating the inlts come into play. Had a normal person started in the middle we would have been on the rocks in a blink of an eye.
Click to expand...

With all do respect let's not compare 280DA to a 560DB. What I mean is that everything you said above applies. The roughest and most difficult conditions are when there's a strong current combined with rough seas. Now lets add poor visibility (think fog or night time). It's a lot of "fun" entering Manasquan Inlet (NJ) in 6-7 footers at night. I did it on my 320DA. The big difference is that 560DB or alike is a big and heavy vessel with very powerful engines swinging big props. The heavier the vessel the more stable it is and the more power/torque at the props the more control you have. To get the same affect and maintain the same control on 280DA you may need to push those throttles a lot harder and yet not accomplish it b/c you may end up going too fast. Big props on a heavy boat allows you to approach slower with more control.

The most memorable experience I had on my 420DB is going through Shinnecock Canal with open locks. This is when the water rushes back in to the ocean at very nice speed of good approx. 4-6kts. I always passed the locks through the side gates (they are much wider). But, one time only the middle gate was open. There's a fixed bridge that I was concerned about b/c it's a tight squeeze for me, but when I started approaching the lock my concern was very quickly shifted from the height to the width as it looked like I had only 1' on each side. This is the time when you have to make the boat drive like a train on tracks by using all the skills and equipment you've got.
 
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Whoever said i did it in my 280? I was in a fishing boat hence we were out kingfishing in the Atlantic.
 
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