Huntington LI to Tomes River NJ - Share Your Local Knowledge

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

You're buddy will have to leave on Friday evening to meet you for a Saturday raft-up at 'The spot'.......:grin:
 
Dom,
Honestly, I'm more than happy to leave any Friday night to be at the spot on my boat as well :lol:. I usually try to, but not always happens.

I'm sure you'll have plenty of chances to throw your jokes when we'll meet :grin:, but let me tell you that after we had chartered similar boat in BVI (Jan 2008), I have very different opinion on sailboats.
 
I know we're getting off topic, but I've spent some time on blow boats also. Took a few multi-day trips up to the NYC harbor on a friends 33 CC. They're fun all right.....you just need to be retired to really enjoy them....
 
I have chartered a number of larger boats. . . in the last few years they have been catamarans as opposed to Monohulls. Beneteau makes a good boat. . .the Jeanneau's are really nice as well.

What is the draft on this boat? If it is has a full keel (as opposed to a shoal draft wing keel), the area from Point Pleasant Canal to Mantaloking Bridge could be a challenge. It is non-trivial even in a shoal drafted boat of this size. You may want to consider entering at Barnegate inlet as opposed to Manasquan. Although the overall trip would be longer in miles (15-20?) you won't have to worry about the Point Pleasant canal or the bridges. The Barnegate inlet (at least last summer) and associated channels was well enough marked that you don't sweat bullets navigating.

Is your final destination in the Toms River, or is it north of the Rt 37 bridge?
 
it a beutiful 2008 Benetue 343 equiped with very nice electronics like radar, C80 multifunction display and much more

How many horsepower?
 
How many horsepower?

You just can't wait to make some more fun of this boat...:lol:

I'll wisper in your ear when we'll pull up to your marina. BTW, Paul will be your new neighbor.:thumbsup:
 
What is the draft on this boat? If it is has a full keel (as opposed to a shoal draft wing keel), the area from Point Pleasant Canal to Mantaloking Bridge could be a challenge. It is non-trivial even in a shoal drafted boat of this size. You may want to consider entering at Barnegate inlet as opposed to Manasquan. Although the overall trip would be longer in miles (15-20?) you won't have to worry about the Point Pleasant canal or the bridges. The Barnegate inlet (at least last summer) and associated channels was well enough marked that you don't sweat bullets navigating.

Is your final destination in the Toms River, or is it north of the Rt 37 bridge?

The draft is about 4.5'-4.7'

You're right, going around to BI was the first option on the table, but since it added extra 20miles or so we started looking at the shortest route. At this time the route is not finalized, but we'll have two plans of action and will adjust accordingly.

Our destination is the end of TR.
 
If you decide on the BI route, you need to be VERY carefull of the oyster creek channel this time of year. The buoys haven't been re-set yet after the winter and the freezing and thawing will have had a definite effect on things.

SeaTow down that area will be able to help out with local info this time of year....you may want to give them a call....

BUT....going the extra distance in that blow boat....with that big ol' 12 hp motor.... will probably cause you to spend another night out on the hook.......:smt043
 
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. . .but its probably a diesel.

. .and it's probably a mighty 30hp. :)


When going around Herring Island north of the Mantaloking bridge, there is a Eastern route and a western route. Going from the Point Pleasant canal to the shorter eastern route (which hugs Bayhead and the barrier island) I *think* there are low spots just before the markers. I am not sure you have 5' of water on the northern end of the channel. Not saying you don't have the water. . .but it makes me want to check the chart really close.

Going on the western route, you basically hug the mainland, cross Beaverdam creek and the Metedonk on the Western side and then cross through a narrow cut between Herring Island and Mantaloking. During the summer, the cut between Herring Island and Mantaloking is well marked (the cut is only about 200 feet wide). Where to cross across the creek and river is less well marked. I do not know how well marked this area is at this time of year. (some markers may have been removed for winter). Out of the channels, just West of the Island you barely have enough water for a jet ski.

South of the Mantaloking Bridge, stay in the channel until you hit ICW 20 or so. Note all the "3"s on the charts for the area North of the 37 Bridge. Not that you are doing this at night. . but a few of the ICW markers are unlit between ICW15 and ICW22.

I am sure people take boats that size up this way. . . but I can't say I see it that often. In part, because *I* don't generally go North of the Mantaloking bridge that often, but in part because between the Mantaloking Bridge, the Canal bridge, and the Point Pleasant Canal itself. . . you don't casually take a big sailboat through this area.
 
BTW: I second Dom's motion on calling the SeaTow guys. If anybody knows the current state of the channels and markers. . .it's those guys!

Maybe you can get one to escort you through the tough spots. This time of year, you have to coordinate the tides and bridge openings anyway. . .
 
You just can't wait to make some more fun of this boat...

Yeah, guilty as charged! :grin: But any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Is he going to be at Lighthouse? What slip?

that big ol' 12 hp motor...it's probably a mighty 30hp

Hey Dom, can Alex's buddy pledge the Snotty Diesel Guy Fraternity with 30 hp?
 
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If you decide on the BI route, you need to be VERY carefull of the oyster creek channel this time of year. The buoys haven't been re-set yet after the winter and the freezing and thawing will have had a definite effect on things.

SeaTow down that area will be able to help out with local info this time of year....you may want to give them a call....

Dom,
This is very good point, I haven't thought about this. Do you think I can rely on updated navionics chart while going throught the area and obviously dethfider? Or do you think the charts wont reflect most current conditions? I remember you had mentioned in the past that the creek's bottom changes frequently.

BUT....going the extra distance in that blow boat....with that big ol' 12 hp motor.... will probably cause you to spend another night out on the hook.......:smt043

Although, you're just 17hp off (the boat has 29hp diesel motor) it still doesn't matter that much :grin:.

Yep, looks like there's no easy answer to this, so I didn't make up my mind yet as for which route is better (go extra 20 miles to BI or deal with 6 bridges and PP cannal). Based on our preliminary estimate we're thinking to cover about 40 miles or so per day. We're planning to have first stop at Libert Landing marina. Then, depending on the route we choose we'll be heading somewhere to Manasquan Inlet area to find a place for the 2nd night. After that I'm hoping to go all the way to TR.
 
Is he going to be at Lighthouse? What slip?

Yeah, he'll be in the Lighthouse marina, but I don't know the slip # yet.

Btw, you're right the boat is powered by just under 30hp diesel. Are you saying that Dom's genny has about 30hp? That's funny :lol:.

But, let me tell you all jokes aside, when we were in BVI cruising all week on about 3rd day I really thought that fuel guage was broken, b/c this thing just didn't move. When we returned the boat after a week of actively cruising (not always by engine of course) we've used only 1/4 of the tank. I was shocked :wow:.
 
Alex:

There are a bunch of day sticks at the end of the TR leading into LH marina. there are at least threee channels west of the bifurcation point. There is a good chance that all the sticks are not there either....I know that a few into my development didn't make it through the winter. Even with the sticks in place, the water can get skinny if you don't have that local info into the marina. In the channel, you should have plenty of water.....it's going to be finding the channel with out sticks....or most likely, trying to figure out which of the remaining sticks are red and which are green.

There's plenty of big boats in LH....so don't be concerned with that......but...if you do happen to find bottom, you can just raise the proper color, red or green, up that pogo stick and save the state the trouble of setting a new stick....:smt043
 
Do you know when they start resetting all the sticks back in pace after the winter? We're not in a big hurry and waiting for steady nice weater before we do the trip. Something like end of April or even beginning of May. Do you think the coasties will place the sticks by then?
 
The short answer is " it depends", but usually by Mid to late May. I should be down in that area soon and I'll let you know what it looks like. But the channel into LH Marina is the most direct of all the channels there.....you should be just fine.....OR....you can look for a pre-clintonite in the area and follow him in.....
 
Alex
I'd DEFINITEY NOT rely on anything other than eyeballs in Barnegat inlet and Oyster Creek Channel. I think they move those markers every other weekend (I'm exaggerating). A quick check of the chart shows that NOAA doesn't even bother to put any markers other than the red/green that demarkates the channel change that brings you into High Bar Harbor.

BarnInlet.jpg
 
There are basically two different channels from the Barnegat Inlet leading to the ICW ...the south channel marked in BLUE(I don't remember what it's called) and the north channel marked in PURPLE(Oyster Creek Channel). Both channels are accessed from the Barnegat Inlet main thorofare marked in RED. note...all channels are VERY rough drawings...not to be used for navigation.

BarnegatInletchannels.jpg


The channels are marked with floating cans and nuns and prone to movement throught the season and over the winter. The Oyster Creek channel markers are in....I can't personally speak for the south channel. Along with the LNM, as I said above, the local Sea Tow group is a great resource to call for local up to date channel info in that area.

As a side note....anywere you see seagulls, on the water, they are not floating, most likely they are standing......stay away from that area.....:grin:
 
Dom
The south passage is Double Creek Channel. Have you ever used it? Know anyone who has?
 

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