Point Pleasant, NJ navigation and marinas?

[JamesT]

Hi all. I've never boated in this area and have to visit a friend in Pt. Pleasant who lives on the water just south of the southern exit of the Pt. Pleasant Canal. Assuming I survive the 65 miles of ocean between my inlet (the Great Egg Harbor inlet) and the Manasquan inlet, I'm wondering what condition Manasquan Inlet is in (how deep, how rough, etc) and then once through there are there any really nice marinas? I've read as much as I can on Active Captain and no stand outs seem to exist. Hoffman's is an A.C. sponsor that looks nice but the reviews are mixed. Very rocky, old piers, narrow slips, etc. The closest marina to his house is Canal Point Marina but the NOAA charts seem to say that area is 4' deep at MLW? I don't like messing in the shallows with this vessel. 15 years ago when I used to stay at this house in the summer I seem to remember some huge boats going through there, but the facilities and charts seem to suggest a smaller boat venue? Also to get to Canal Point, I have to transit the Pt. Pleasant Canal. Any advice on depth there would also be appreciated.

 

[rcknecht]

The PP inlet is a breeze... no problems... It is no wake once you get between the jettys... The biggest challenge is the train bridge... It is very narrow... One boat at a time... And the people don't abide by the Rules of the Road when it comes to current and right of way... just be careful... You can fuel up just be for the train bridge on the right, the fuel is usually a very competitive there. If I recall correctly it is Hoffman's marina... Once your through the train bridge, the under the route 35/71 fixed bridge, you will approach the canal... The current can be strong, but you should not have a problem... It is wide enough and you can keep enough power on to control your boat... If you have the current with you, you have the right of way, but just watch out for the small boats...

 

[rondds]

James...like Rod said, Manasquan is one of the easiest inlets in NJ. Stay in the channel and you're fine - the rail bridge can be a pain but if you're coming in that inlet you don't have a choice!

Not sure if your goal is to NOT go through the canal, but on the Manasquan River there's a Marine Max just west of the Rt. 70 bridge. I'm sure they could put you up there. OR if you go through the canal to the bayside, Johnson's Brothers Boat works is just outside the canal. Plenty of room to manuever and the T-head at the end might still have an open spot for you (check the view on Google Earth- circled in red below). My friend's boat is the smaller one you see at the T (370 Sundancer). The big boat you see circled is no longer there.

 

[aquadancer]

I'm sure you'll get plenty of local knowledge from our Barnegat Bay members. My perspective is from a deliver trip I did bringing my dock neighbor's 2008 44DA from Brick to the Chesapeake. This was our first time in the area, other than messing around on jetskis which visiting a buddy on LBI long time ago.

We went through PP Canal and out the Manasquan Inlet. My general observation was that there is very skinny water everywhere, even more so than the Chesapeake and currents around both sides of the PP Canal and around the railroad bridge are pretty strong. We were looking for fuel before going into the ocean run to Cape May, so we hit the station-keeping button on the Zeus drives few times while looking for cheap fuel - really threw some wake while trying to keep position! Railroad bridge is narrow and lots of small and big boats heading in our out the inlet. Manasquan Inlet was fine, no issues. Can't comment on the marinas, but navigating around there as a visitor with no local knowledge was pretty stressful. Just my $0.02.

 

[Vince_nj1]

I will add a few observations. The water under the RT 70 bridge is surprisingly shallow. I think I saw 5ft on my depth finder a few weeks ago. You probably wont have an issue, but it may make you squirm a bit. The water if deep enough before and after that point until you get out of the canal in Barnegat Bay. If your friend lives in the development that has Certainty drive and Rui Mirador streets, then I would not attempt to take your boat in there. I need 33 inches and I kicked up a bunch of mud and kelp when I went in there 2 years ago. Pretty sure I was dredging the channel for the neighborhood. I There was a 43 Tiara inside, but most other boats were smaller. And the canals are very tight. If your friend is out on the open bay, water is deep, but you will get beat up by boat traffic. It is not a no wake zone there and everyone barrels through that area. Most boats over there are on lifts.

 

[JamesT]

Ron, Thanks. On active captain they label Johnson's as the marina above the pic you provided. Does Johnson's have a northern section and southern section or is that southern section part of Canal point marina? So there's plenty of water to get into any of those marinas there all the way from the Manasquan inlet? My friend's house is across the bay from there. The road the house is on is Perch Hole Point Place.

 

[rondds]

James
If you find Johnson's on Googlemaps, start from where they mark it and "drive" along Bay Ave, stay right at the fork and continue southeast about 900'. That's the section of the marina I'm talking about on the left. I believe that basin to the north is also part of Johnsons. The view below is almost at the very end of Bay Ave and the red arrow is pointing to that big Carver that is no longer there at the T-head.

Canal Point is the marina in the canal, a bit north of Johnsons. If you were driving south on Bay Ave, Canal Point is on your right, BEFORE you get to Johnsons.
You won't have any trouble with water depth.

You could dink over to your friend's house - probably a lot faster than the car ride.

 

[rondds]

James....
Point of clarification...my friend's marina is Canal Point. My bad. I just asked him. So if you're going to give them a call, you have to call Canal Point.

 

[AboveBlue]

Hey James, my base is Canal Point Marina so if you decide to head there the contact is Karyn 1 732 899 8010 for both CPM and Johnson's. tell her you prefer not to be in the Yacht Club basin it is right off the canal and could be a bit tricky if you are not familiar with the current of the canal getting in and out of that basin. Manasquan inlet is well marked and easy to get in and out of. The channel between the inlet and canal entrance is also well marked and should be no problem for you so long as you follow the markers. As someone else mentioned here the railroad bridge cut is tight and vessel's going with the current have the right away but for the most part everyone does what they are supposed to and it seems to work. When you approach the RR bridge cut coming from the inlet watch out for small boats cutting around the corner from the left oncoming once in awhile they pop out of nowhere because of how the angle of the approach is from the other side. The canal should be no problem for you but can get a little busy on the weekends. Keep in mind the sailboats need for the bridges to open in the canal so if you are following one especially with the current going your way allow enough distance for you to give way should you need too. So far as the marina itself goes, very little tide change and it is an easy walk into town through the back way walking bridge or bikes if you bring them. Feel free to PM me if you need anymore local knowledge. You can get fuel at sanzari marina just across the way should you need too. Nick