Oregon Inlet

JV II

JV II

Active Member
Nov 17, 2007
2,655
RI
Boat Info
Flybridge
Engines
Volvo V-Drive
I'm captaining a 45' Sundancer from Myrtle Beach to Boston the first week of May. Assuming perfect conditions, high pressure, low swells, and light wind, can I get out of Pamlico Sound to run up to Virginia Beach without running the Oregon inlet before? Is there a clearly marked channel? There isn't much information online less than a year old. I wonder if there is regular traffic through the inlet that I could follow.
 
I grew up on the OBX. There is always a clearly marked channel through Oregon Inlet. The Corp keeps a dredge local. The channel changes a lot with storms, but has always been clearly marked. There is a fleet of offshore charter boats that visit the Gulf Stream daily out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.

If it were me, I would exit the Pamlico Sound at either Ocracoke Inlet or Hatteras Inlet. The sound is extremely and I mean extremely shallow. There are ferries that run from Cedar Island over to Ocracoke and another from the north end of Ocracoke over to Hatteras Island. Running the inlets will be easier than the sound. Good luck!

Bennett
 
We've always run inside all the way to Norfolk using the Croatan Sound route. On a flat calm day, I think you can attempt Oregon Inlet, but get local knowledge before you do. There are reports of shoaling to 2' in spots. Local notice to Mariners is a good resource, but also call Sea Tow in the area for advice.
 
Sea Gull said:
We've always run inside all the way to Norfolk using the Croatan Sound route. On a flat calm day, I think you can attempt Oregon Inlet, but get local knowledge before you do. There are reports of shoaling to 2' in spots. Local notice to Mariners is a good resource, but also call Sea Tow in the area for advice.
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Good tip on Sea Tow. I didn't think of that. It will have to be flat and calm, which is unlikely, so most likely I'll go Croatan Sound too.
 
I recall seeing some updates in LNM about dredging it. Like Jeff, I never used it due to constant depth issues. I would also call local SeaTow and local CG for more upto date info.

You have two nice routes, Alligator/Pungo Canal or Pomlico Sound. Stay away from Pomlico in 15-20kts NW or NE winds (when heading north). When it's blowing, it generates nice chop. Heading right into to that will make it very uncomfortable ride for a while. This is a long stretch. A/P is the official ICW and a "lifesaver" when it's really blowing. I've used it during 40kts winds storm and it saved the day. If you don't need to open the bridge, there's nothing to worry about.
 
Thanks everyone for the tips. I spoke to the Oregon Inlet Sea Tow captain. He said he will escort any active Sea Tow member through the inlet. We both agreed that it is not a good plan to go out if seas are greater than 3-4 and if the wind is coming from the north. It is 68 NM to the next north inlet, Rudee, so planning the weather is critical. I have a good backup plan that will add at least 6 hours to the journey. If I can go outside the whole way, I'm doing that.
 
JV
i just made the trip from Charlestown to Beaufort, 2 weeks ago, and have fished extensively out of ocracoke
In that boat given favorable sea conditions and for your best time I would run outside from masonboro inlet at wrightville beach to ocracoke, 130 miles, hop inside for fuel then hop back out to Virginia beach, another 130 miles
if you stay inside there is one bridge, onslow beach swing bridge I think, that only opens on the hour all others on command and a crap load of no wake zones
also there are 2 areas on the intercostal between Wilmington and new river that are shoaling but they are marked where the channel deviates oddly towards the inland side dramatically one so much so you appear to be driving up on the marsh
i can not give you good info north of ocracoke
rock pile north of mrytle as well but I'm sure you're aware and cricket cove marina cheap gas
fun trip, I'm jealous!
will
 
feetdoc said:
JV
i just made the trip from Charlestown to Beaufort, 2 weeks ago, and have fished extensively out of ocracoke
In that boat given favorable sea conditions and for your best time I would run outside from masonboro inlet at wrightville beach to ocracoke, 130 miles, hop inside for fuel then hop back out to Virginia beach, another 130 miles
if you stay inside there is one bridge, onslow beach swing bridge I think, that only opens on the hour all others on command and a crap load of no wake zones
also there are 2 areas on the intercostal between Wilmington and new river that are shoaling but they are marked where the channel deviates oddly towards the inland side dramatically one so much so you appear to be driving up on the marsh
i can not give you good info north of ocracoke
rock pile north of mrytle as well but I'm sure you're aware and cricket cove marina cheap gas
fun trip, I'm jealous!
will
Click to expand...

We are inside at Myrtle Beach. The plan is to exit at the Little River and head up to the Cape Fear River and out Masonboro to avoid the Frying Pan Shoals. The timing has us docked overnight in Beaufort, NC on Friday PM. Are you saying that it is better to go off-shore out Oracoke from Beaufort vs. running the whole Pamlico up to Oregon Inlet, given favorable conditions? It looks shorter running up inside to Oregon Inlet. Something about the Pamlico I don't know about? Hoping to get to Rudlee in time for a feast. We'll have 325 gallons leaving Beaufort and will burn between 20-25 GPH, so we should make it to Rudlee from Beaufort with plenty of fuel.
 
Sorry for delay
pamlico sound is fine given no wind, however shallow depths and wind make for a very steep chop
nice ride up Adams creek and neuse river to sound though
if weather is favorable no reason to run outside
 
feetdoc said:
Sorry for delay
pamlico sound is fine given no wind, however shallow depths and wind make for a very steep chop
nice ride up Adams creek and neuse river to sound though
if weather is favorable no reason to run outside
Click to expand...

Thanks. I was on the fence about going out and around Cape Lookout Shoals or going up to Neuse River. I think it's just as fast and safer to go Pamlico Sound and out Oregon Inlet. Captain Stewart from Sea Tow Oregon Inlet will be waiting to escort us through. We can save a half day running off-shore to Rudee Inlet.
 
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JV II said:
... Something about the Pamlico I don't know about?....
Click to expand...

If you treat it like the ocean you'll be fine. If you treat it as a sheltered ICW, it will prove you very wrong. Use "15kts rule".

Also important to remember that if the forecast is off, you got no place to hide.
 
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We departed Myrtle Beach Marina Village at 11:00 on 4/29 and headed out the Little River Inlet up to the Cape Fear River and out Masonboro Inlet again to Beaufort. We arrived in Beaufort at 19:30 for a crab cake meal and Margarita. At 07 on 4/30 we departed to either Lake Rudee or Norfolk. After a light grounding on a mud bank at the Arendell St Bridge, and seeing tons of dolphins right after that all the way to the Neuse River, we headed up through the Pamlico Sound toward Oregon Inlet. The Pamlico had 2 footers smacking us in the face with a 15 knot NE wind. We aborted Oregon inlet due to Sea Tow Captain Stewart confirming my 95% instinct that running outside to Rudee would be a bad idea. So, it was onto Norfolk. After straying to far to port in the Albemarle Sound and nearly hitting the platform ruins, we motored up the nail biting narrow channel and crab pot ridden path to the North Landing River and up to Coinjock for a fill-up at 17:00. Onward to Norfolk. Missed the first swing bridge by 2 minutes and got delayed 28 minutes. Pressed onto the next swing bridge, delayed there 15 minutes. Lucky for us the next rail bridge went right up on request and we were the only one in the locks. Sun went down shortly thereafter as we motored onto Tidewater Marina, arriving at 21:00. On 5/1 we departed at 07, with an outside run up Maryland to Cape May for a fill-up and then overnight at Atlantic City with a half dozen Blue Points, a 9 oz fillet, and a shot of Crown Royal to warm myself back up. We left AC at 07, and headed up through NYC to Newport. We had to stop in Huntington Harbor for a cold rainy fill-up. We arrived at Newport Harbor Hotel at 19:30 with a pizza preordered for our arrival. After pizza and beer, we took advantage of the pool and showers before it closed. On 5/3, after a solid breakfast at Handy Lunch, we departed at 09:30 to Boston. One stop for a fill-up in Sandwich and we arrived in Boston at 16:00. Four days and 5 hours. The weather was crap the last 3 days. The boat ran like a dream. What and amazingly efficient power package and sea worthy hull, the 2003 410DA with 3216s. Super impressed.
 
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