Greenport to Shinnecock Inlet - Local knowledge needed please!

[rondds]

Alex
Just boys. My Dad and Jon Levine. The Sound is plan B (ie: if weather sucks). I'm plotting out around 170 miles for The Sound and 135 for the Atlantic. Definitely a more interesting route and if it were a "vacation" trip I'd definitely do the Sound.

 

[rondds]

Called TowBOAT/US this morning and the dispatcher said she'd ask a captain about the status of Shinnecock Bay and call me back. Well, she did. Captain reports nothing new with Shinnecock Bay from the canal to the inlet as a result of Sandy.

 

[rcmafgny]

If I recall, Oakland's is where I got the fuel as well. It's the place right before the inlet, you can't miss it. Their prices are reasonable too.

I'm not sure who you'll have as a crew, but if it's just boys, then it's not a problem. However, if you're taking your girls along for the ride I'd take a close look at a plan B, which is going around the bend in to LIS. I've used it in the past and we liked it so much that it's now my main route. It may seam like it's longer and you'll burn more fuel, but it's not. The distance difference is around 10-15NM, but the "trick" is that you'll be in calm water most of the trip so you'll be able to use the sweet spot of the boat with ease and use less fuel compare to plowing through the ocean for 5hrs. If I recall I've used less fuel and time via LIS route vs. the straight shot SI to MI. The scenery is always there, it's a fun ride compare to boring and nothing to see the minute you leave the SI. NYC and the Islands are always nice to pass by water, even if you've done it thousand times. Your ocean run is only couple of hours at the most (between Ver. br and MI). If the tides are in your favor you'll gain the speed and save even more fuel, but I never watched them. Don't worry about the Hell's Gate, you'll zip right through it in minutes.

Just a thought.

Oaklands is right inside the inlet.
IF you go the LIS route, Dont pick up and hitch hikers near Rikers Island
Safe Trip

 

[Alex F]

Oaklands is right inside the inlet.

Hmmm...then we used different place, which was right before entering the inlet. But, I don't remember anything being inside of the actual inlet. Is it possible to have marina right inside?

I just looked at the chart and I'd say we're talking about the same place here:

 

[rcmafgny]

Hmmm
Confused......we are talking about the same place...........
Inside the bay; inside in inlet, inside of the inlet; entering the bay from the inlet..

 

[rondds]

That's Oaklands. Yes.

 

[rcknecht]

Ron, Have a safe voyage... It is great to have Jon with you, and I know he will bring tools... He's the guy I would want with me if I was taking a new boat on its madien voyage in the open Ocean... Hope the weather cooperates...

 

[rondds]

Thanks Rod. Jon's bringing two specific toolboxes, which are always on board. I salvaged my on-board toolbox from the wreckage and ordered all the garden-variety spares. Got the liferaft, EPIRB and sat phone and a notebook with lists of things to pack, notes on local knowledge, marina phone numbers - even put Alex's "obstruction" coordinates in my back-up GPS. Nothing to do now but watch the 10 day forecast. Cloudy, 54, SSW 10mph. Let's see how many times that changes.

 

[tdschafer]

Ron,

Check you out, "Sat Phone"!! Wow. When I ran from Forked River we never were out of cell range but, I did head towards the Verrazano bridge and through the shipping lanes being that it was so early in the season and there weren't many boats on the water. Similar to what you are doing this month!

Todd

 

[Mark I]

Good luck with the trip.

If the locks are open you will be running with the current so be careful to use enough power. Shouldn't be a lot of boat traffic so you should be good to go.

Take your time through the bay. It is a little unforgiving outside of the channel but you are from Jersey so you know what that is like.

 

[rondds]

Todd
Sat phone was cheap - <$100, and I have unlimited minutes!! I'm calling everyone I know from out there.
Seriously, the purpose is for that period of time that I'd be out of cell phone range and out of VHF range. Mainly for a breakdown. If I can't call anyone for help I'll wind up in England. My Dad is bringing a ham radio rig so in an emergency we'd be able to get in touch with someone, even if it's some geek in Tazmania.

but you are from Jersey so you know what that is like

How true! I'm used to strict adherence to markers.

 

[Alex F]

Ron,

Check you out, "Sat Phone"!! Wow. When I ran from Forked River we never were out of cell range ......

That's my friend is a "false positive"!!! When I'm out in the open I see at least 2-3 bars, sometimes 4. Now try to make a call. Yeah, you guessed it.... nada. At some point texting is going through, but that's closer to shore.

 

[rondds]

Every article you ever read says cell phones are useless at around 1 mile out, and VHF is "line of sight." I've been out further out than a mile but never tried to make a call, and was always travelling with other boats.

 

[Alex F]

Every article you ever read says cell phones are useless at around 1 mile out, and VHF is "line of sight." I've been out further out than a mile but never tried to make a call, and was always travelling with other boats.

I don't remember 100% and would have to scan my logs (if I made notes on this), but I know that now days the range is greater than 1NM by far. I guess it depends on the towers location and in the tri-state we have good number of them. I was making calls almost in the middle of the LIS, which is 15-20NM wide in some areas. But, one thing we know for sure is that you'll be out of the cell range one way or the other.

 

[rcknecht]

We made a call about 5 miles off the southern LI coast on our way to Montauk, but for $100, and being that it is a new boat to you, and it is mighty cold in April, it will be nice to have...

 

[Alex F]

Ron,

If you need anything (handheld VHF, dinghy, binocs, whatever....) to borrow, feel free to ask. It's all stored home for now and we're not too far away from each other.

 

[rondds]

Thanks Alex. I'm all set with safety gear boating supplies. I was able to take almost everything off the Lil Krissy III before giving her up (other than some real scuzzy and oily dock lines). I really appreciate the offer!

 

[mistercomputerman]

I offered my liferaft and EPIRB, but, he told me he was a man and he didn't need no stinkin' safety gear...

 

[rondds]

Yes, my buddy Rick was kind enough to offer to drive up to Maryland from VA Beach to me 1/2 way in order to loan me his liferaft and EPIRB. I though that was above and beyond the call of duty. But I politely turned him down when I was able to rent both, delivered to my office, for $145. Gas and tolls for us both would have been more than that!

Rick is loaning me another great piece of gear for this trip though. Diacom Marine Diagnostic software. Plug one end into the engine's ECM, the other into the USB port of a laptop and get real time data and codes. If for some reason a motor goes into "Guardian Mode," I can figure out what the problem is - is it serious - is it nonsense? This is a great tool to have, esp when you're 10 miles offshore with 85 miles to go.

Thanks co-cruise director!

 

[johngus]

not sure about out east in the bay there but from what I have been hearing there is a lot of debris floating around the bay.make sure you get some great lookouts for you while you are traveling through the bay to the inlet.My friend made the trip from Amityville to riverhead last year and called the local seatow captain for advice in traveling shinnecock bay.he was advised to anchor for 2 hours and wait for the tide to come back in before transversing through the bay.he was at almost low tide when he arrived to the area.He has a 47 bayliner so the draft is probably similar to you.he was coming from the west so not sure if you are in the same area as he was at that time,just a heads up.again watch for debris,from what I have been hearing keep it slow for best safety.