Huntington LI to Tomes River NJ - Share Your Local Knowledge

Alex F

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2006
9,166
Miami / Ft Lauderdale
Boat Info
2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
Engines
Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
Finally spring is just around the corner and we’re getting ready to deliver our friend’s boat from Huntington LI to Tomes River NJ. Although, I feel pretty confident I think getting some tips in regards to local knowledge from fellow boaters will help us very much with the voyage.

Here are preliminary rout highlights and bridges we need to pass.


High Level Route
  • Huntington Bay into LI Sound
  • LI Sound into East River
  • East River into Upper Bay
  • Upper Bay into Lower Bay
  • Continue South bound hugging the Sandy Hook
  • Following shore line all the way to Manasquan inlet
  • Manasquan River to Point Pleasant Canal

Bridges:
  • Rail Road Bridge near Rt35
  • Rt.35 Bridge
  • Rt. 88 Bridge
  • Bridge Ave. Bridge
  • Mantoloking Bridge
  • Tomes River Bridge
From reading other posts I’m aware of some debris that might be floating in the areas of East River and around Statue of Liberty. However, I have few questions:
- To begin with, do you guys see anything wrong with this route (we’re simply looking for the shortest one, since this is simply a boat delivery that we'll slightly dress up with some overnight fun stops along the way, but the basic idea is to get from point A to point B?
- Are the any special considerations when travelling in the areas like the City, Statue of Liberty and cutting straight to NJ coast?
- It looks like we’ll be travelling near few shipping channels, is there anything we should avoid or to be aware of, besides staying away from large ships :wow:?
- We’ll be passing under at least 6 bridges, is there a way to get the bridge opening schedule or they’re all open on request basis only?
- What’s the average wait time to get a bridge open?

Any input to make this voyage a safe one is greatly appreciated :thumbsup:

Alex.
 
I can't speak for the NJ portion of the trip but the Long Island/NY portion is quick and easy. No bridge openings involved. Huntington Bay to LI sound approx 12-15 minutes. LI Sound west to East River approx 45 mins. Upper East River south to Varrezano Bridge another 30-40 minutes or so. I'm sure one of the Jersey boys will pick it up from there.

Budget 1 1/2-2 hrs for this part of the trip. The floating debris myth is overplayed. Have a second set of eyes but don't obssess over it or you'll miss all the great sights traveling through the city.
Enjoy.
 
No myth about debris in the east river and bay. Just take it slow and look for junk.

the channel gets narrow at rikers island, stay in the middle.

water taxis and ferries, keep a look out.

take pics and share.
 
Why overnight stays? If you start early in the am, you should be able to stop for fuel , pull into the slip, set the lines for the new boat, wash down the boat and open your first brewski before the evening rush hour.

Based on jg's info above, 1 1/2 hours to the VZ, it's another 3 hours from the VZ to my dock. So your total travel time is under 5 hours.
 
Why overnight stays? If you start early in the am, you should be able to stop for fuel , pull into the slip, set the lines for the new boat, wash down the boat and open your first brewski before the evening rush hour.

I would agree with your estimates if it wasn't for the 5mph avg speed on the boat we're deliveryng :grin:. Therefore, according to our plotted route we're looking at about 95 or so miles trip. Needless to say we're looking at least 2 or maybe even 3 day trip. So, I think we'll have plenty of time for pictures :grin:.

Dom,
Do you know if there's a schedule for bridges posted somewhere or do I need to contact CG?
 
Wait a minute....are you delivering one of those funny looking boats with those big pogo sticks sticking up out of the middle of the cabin??????
 
I'm not certain, but I think all of the local bridges that you will be coming to in NJ are on winter schedule.....which basically means that they open on demand. Probably best to call either State Police or CG.....sorry I can't help....I don't typically worry about bridge openings in that area...no pogo stick!!!!
 
You should consult coast pilot 2 and 3 along with the LNM for information on the bridges. You must also look at the current predictions for travel down the Sound, through the East River and NY Harbor, Manasquan Inlet and the Point Pleasant Canal. Cruising at 5 knots the current will have a huge effect on SOG.
 
yeah, you definitely want to time the tides. If you hit hells gate and the east river at the wrong time, you'll be moving backwards.
 
You should consult coast pilot 2 and 3 along with the LNM for information on the bridges. You must also look at the current predictions for travel down the Sound, through the East River and NY Harbor, Manasquan Inlet and the Point Pleasant Canal. Cruising at 5 knots the current will have a huge effect on SOG.

Sea Gull,
This is very good tip. I just googled coast pilot and looks like there's lots of good info. Currents were one of my concerns. Is there a site you can recommend for getting data for currents?
 
I must of traversed LI sound, the East River, and the area around the Statue of Liberty last year during the "mythical" times as the debris was pretty bad... There were a few spots around the statue of liberty that looked like a ship sank with trees, chairs, poles and all kinds of other stuff floating in various debris fields. Some of these debris fields in the LI sound went on for miles. Unbelievable. Maybe it was because of all the rain/storms we encountered while we were up there.
 
yeah, you definitely want to time the tides. If you hit hells gate and the east river at the wrong time, you'll be moving backwards.

Thanks Mike, do you know if there's any restricted areas along my way in NYC area (I haven't been there with my boats after 9/11)?
 
If you get too close to the UN building, a boat will come and greet you. Statue of Liberty has a no boat zone around it but you'll see the red bouys. Cargo ships, you're supposed to give them something like 200' but if there are several anchored in the harbor, you just have to give them as much room as you can.

Water taxis and ferries would be my concern at 5knts. Those guys will run you over if you get in their way.

You will have to time hells gate at slack tide or you'll be stuck in purgatory. Out going tide and you won't get through. Incoming tide, you'll get through hells gate but you won't be able to get down the east river. So I would time it so you get through hells gate at slack tide transitioning over to outgoing tide for the ride down the river.
 
Alex,

What kind of boat will you be on? Average speed 5 mph?

I have been up and the down the East River and Jersey Shore countless times. It is a pretty easy trip on a power boat, but at 5 mph you will need to worry about currents on the East River and possible bridge openings if it is a sail boat. I can’t help with those issues.

Once you get down into NY Harbor, you can anchor just on the north side of the Statue of Liberty, or head a little north and try for a transient slip in Liberty Landing. Be careful around the Statue of Liberty, there isn’t much water on the North Side, so study the charts.

When you leave NY Harbor and pass under the Verrazano Bridge, keep your heading at 180 and you will end up just on the outside of the Sandy Hook and then you can follow the coast down to the Manasquan Inlet. (If you have have a problem, you could duck into Shark River/Belmar inlet, but that may require a bridge opening and is a dead end.) Once you’re cruising down the coast, keep an eye out for lobster traps. Not as many as Long Island sound, but they are out there.

The trickiest part of the Manasquan inlet is the infamous train bridge; there is usually a strong current and only enough room for one boat to pass at a time. Bridge openings are tied to NJ transit train schedules. The bridge remains open, until a train comes and then closes for about 10 minutes until the train passes. Take your time and you will be fine.

Your next challenge will be the Point Pleasant canal. Once again you may find a strong current depending on where you are with the tides. Unless you have a really tall mast, you shouldn’t need a bridge opening inside the canal. Once through the canal your next bridge opening will be the Mantoloking Bridge. Don’t leave the channel between the Point Pleasant Canal and the Mantoloking Bridge.

At this point, your should know the waters pretty well.
 
There are online resources for current and tides, but my suggestion is to buy Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book. This has all of the tide and current tables as well as mini charts showing current vectors at one hour intervals.
 
I must of traversed LI sound, the East River, and the area around the Statue of Liberty last year during the "mythical" times as the debris was pretty bad... There were a few spots around the statue of liberty that looked like a ship sank with trees, chairs, poles and all kinds of other stuff floating in various debris fields. Some of these debris fields in the LI sound went on for miles. Unbelievable. Maybe it was because of all the rain/storms we encountered while we were up there.


Debris field? Long Island Sound? I travel the length and width of the sound all summer for the past 10 years and can count on one hand the number of items floating out there. Not even a consideration, especially moving at 5 knots. Now lobster pots, that's a different story, plenty of those but again, at 5 knots not an issue. As for NY Harbor it's wise to keep a second pair of eyes for a lookout, but by no means a dealbreaker. Stay vigilant and enjoy the views.
 
So. . this is a blowboat?

If not. . .I wouldn't worry about the tides once you hit Jersey. Aside from the rail bridge. . I wouldn't worry about the bridges either.

If this is a blowboat. . then you do have to worry about all the Barnegate Bay bridges. As Dom suggested. .they may be on winter schedule. They will open on demand, but I think you have to give something like 4 hours notice (Think as though they have to get someone out to the bridge and open it. . .). Call and check.

The Point Pleasant canal is non-trivial in a blowboat. It is a few miles long, a few hundred feet wide, and can have a significant current. Current is strongest at the bridge where you have to get around the footings. . .I think you want to do this part at slack tide as well.

What is the draft on the boat? If it is more than 4', you would want to be a bit cautious on the North side of Barnegate Bay. Particularly between the Mantaloking bridge and the Point Pleasant canal. . channals make a few turns and there are "high spots" near the intersections as shown on the charts. Hint: If seagulls are standing in the water don't go near them.
 
Alex is withholding some seemingly embarrassing info. Maybe it's a pontoon boat with an electric trolling motor. :grin:

Hell' Gate is tricky to navigate b/c of fast current and narrowness. About equivalent to the Pt Pleasant canal on a Saturday afternoon. Probably be good to catch it at slack tide, esp if it is a blow boat you're transporting. If you can only make 5mph and you're bucking a 5 knot current, you may in for an even longer trip than you thought. Better yet, catch the tide right and you could almost double your speed!

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/get_predictions.shtml?year=2009&stn=2557+New%20York&secstn=Hell+Gate,+Wards+Island&thh=%2B2&thm=58&tlh=%2B3&tlm=45&hh=*1.33&hl=*1.59&footnote=
 
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Alex is withholding some seemingly embarrassing info. Maybe it's a pontoon boat with an electric trolling motor. :grin:

Knowing how you guys love your boating fellows with sailboats I was trying not to focus so much on the boat. But, if you insist, it a beutiful 2008 Benetue 343 equiped with very nice electronics like radar, C80 multifunction display and much more:

benetue_343.jpg

It sounds like our biggest challenge is to time the tides right.

Btw, you'll see this boat anchored next to 320DA quite often in our area, so you'll have no problems spotting me :)

Thanks for the warnings guys.
 
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Nice picture entering Huntington Harbor at Eatons Neck. Great anchoring spot behind the Coast Guard station and light house pictured there.
 

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