Shinnecock Inlet and Canal Info/Questions

[EKM]

Hi,
Planning a trip to MV (departing from Long Beach Island NJ) and thought about going thru Shinnecock and spending my travel day on the hook at Shelter Island, then go to Sag Harbor for a next day and off to BI and MV after that.

Any channel issues or height constraints? I'm traveling w a 48'SF and my 400DA.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[rondds]

Hey Ed...
Sounds like a great trip. I researched the hell out of the canal and wound up NOT taking that route due to weather. Here's my thread...
http://clubsearay.com/showthread.ph...knowledge-needed-please!?highlight=shinnecock

Also, there are a few helpful youtube vids you can watch. Just search for Shinnecock canal. I don't believe there are any issues with height but etiquette and protocol might come in to play depending on what time you arrive there and how many boats are trying to get throught at that moment.

 

[EKM]

Hi Ron,
I saw that thread and read thru part of it....you ended up taking the inside route. Just concerned about grounding the 48' footer as he draws 5' (no prop pockets) Not a good way to start off a vacation.
Regards,
Ed

 

[shinsr]

There is a fixed rr bridge in the canal - your 48 sf may very well have an issue getting through - google the locks, it shows the clearance. Also, not sure of the draw of the sport fish but the bay b/w inlet and locks should be run close to high tide if possible. I ran it in may, there is a west channel once in inlet which is marked on chart - however there is a non-charted east route which has much more water, all the large boats seem to run that way. See if local seatow can provide coordinates, it was really easy. Good luck.

 

[Xplicitlnck]

Another thing to take into consideration is the fixed bridge that shinsr is speaking of is under construction there is a scaffold hanging from the bridge subtracting I would say 8 ft from the posted height. Not sure if its still there but I would check. I watched a 40? Footer try and backed off just in time he would have mossed by about a foot

 

[EKM]

Not sounding too promising. Is this route a big time saver vs going around the forks? I thought this would be a nice scenic to Sag Harbor.

 

[Alex F]

Ed,

I traveled the area few times and as you can see from other posts there are two things your friend should be concerned about, the depth and the bridge clearance. When doing the Shin. Canal to Shin. Inlet leg I don't recall having troubles with depth in the channel. But, this was pre-Sandy. I would call up CG and local SeaTow to get most recent reports. Before making the run under the bridge I timed the tides to travel with slack water and open gates. This way the water in both bays is leveled and I was told it was one of the favorable ways to do it. I made it fine under the bridge with about 1.5-2' clearance. By the specs I'm 20' 2.5" from the keel to the mast. Taking away about 3' between the keel and waterline I should be around just over 17', according to the specs. However my true height is more due to the dual seaview mount, which adds at least 2-2.5'. So, I'd say that I'm in a range of about 20' from the waterline. Knowing the exact height of the 48SF will dictate your travel plans. If the bridge has any obstruction, I wouldn't go near it. Other than that, assuming there's no much changes in depths since I was there it should be very pleasant and fun ride.

 

[EKM]

Will measure his boat this weekend....he thinks its 25' so he needs to go around. It looks to be about 45 miles detour to go via Montauk. Probably will pass up Sag Harbor if we can't make it via the canal.

 

[Alex F]

I'll try not to forget to measure mine this weekend too.

The distance between Montauk and Sag is about 20-25NM. Shelter Island is only couple miles off the Sag. I wouldn't sweat excluding these beautiful ports of my itinerary.

 

[EKM]

coming from LBI, its about 155 miles to Sag running the locks and 200 miles going past Montauk. He runs much faster than I can anyway....so I guess he can run around the tip and I'll take the inside route. Last cruise, it was so rough in the ocean, the 48' was knocking down the waves for me. The 48' SF cruises at 30 knots and I do about 24 knots....but my burn rate is like half too!!

 

[EKM]

High tide for 8/9 is 2:15pm which works well...this is the canal high tide mark. Any other considerations for slack tide between the Peconic and Shinnecock bay?

 

[Alex F]

coming from LBI, its about 155 miles to Sag running the locks and 200 miles going past Montauk...

I'm not sure what software you're using, but according to RayTech, which I've used for many years, from Montauk Pt to Coecles Harbor is about 23NM. I just double checked this. We can always add couple of miles as a margin of error, but I can't see how it's possible to be off by 20NM.

P.S.
I just checked my logs. One time I went from Greenport (passing by SI Coecles Harbor) to MYC and that leg was recorded at 24NM. So, I guess I wasn't much off.

High tide for 8/9 is 2:15pm which works well...this is the canal high tide mark. Any other considerations for slack tide between the Peconic and Shinnecock bay?

Slack tide is fine. The locks will be open and you'll have no delays.

 

[EKM]

Because its times 2....run from Little Egg Inlet to Montauk and then back to Sag vs straight into Shinnecock. Thanks for the help. Are there alot of no wake zones in Shinnecock route?

 

[EKM]

What is the best place to stay at Sag Harbor for an "in town" location? Another option would be to go to Greenport (could even meet the returning LI flotilla).
Thanks,
Ed

 

[Alex F]

Because its times 2....run from Little Egg Inlet to Montauk and then back to Sag vs straight into Shinnecock. Thanks for the help. Are there alot of no wake zones in Shinnecock route?

I thought about that you must be counting the return, but the way you phrased it made it look like you were lookig at one way, b/c LEI to MTK is about 147NM + 23NM bet MTK and SI gives us about 170NM. Now you just need to add remainder leg for each port, which is few miles.

coming from LBI, its about 155 miles to Sag running the locks and 200 miles going past Montauk...

Very small sections of no wake zones. 1 is obviously the canal and the locks, but then a small section just after the canal (on the Shinnecock bay side).

 

[EKM]

Thanks....I'm at work and using Google earth to ball park it. So my miles were not NM.

 

[EKM]

So the SF is 22' clearance w riggers down. Any issues with the bridge width between pillars? Any info of horizontal clearance?
Thanks....Ed

 

[EKM]

Departure date is coming up....any issues with the Shinnecock Inlet? Is it well marked or should I wait and follow someone in?

The sport fish is also making the trip...measured flybidge at 20'-2" so he should clear without problem.

 

[tdschafer]

Departure date is coming up....any issues with the Shinnecock Inlet? Is it well marked or should I wait and follow someone in?

The sport fish is also making the trip...measured flybidge at 20'-2" so he should clear without problem.

All I can say is that it was quite a white knuckle ride when I went through last week! The water was rushing toward us at a very good clip, like white water rafting. Then the 3 foot rollers appeared as we went through the narrowest part which tried pushing my boat sideways. There was a lot of steering back & forth at the helm to maintain my heading. I know Ron told me at one point he was at full throttle and wasn't moving! I'm glad that it wasn't a following sea because I'm not sure how I would have maintained control. This was my first experience through the locks so maybe it was just a little more stressful for me than others but Neil had been through several times before & said this was the worst he had seen. I think Joe caught some GoPro video but it was cut short before the real fun began. I know there are ways to time it so it's relatively calm or the locks are even closed. Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Todd

 

[EKM]

Todd... was this the inlet or the locks on your white knuckle ride? I should be there at slack tide if it was the locks. Looking for inlet information...marked well?