Vacationing in Emerald Isle, NC ???

[jshaffer]

Hello everyone!!!
I will be vacationing in Emerald Isle, NC July 6th through July 12th and wanted to know if anyone has been there? If so could you point out near by attractions or must see's. I will be boating with friends and family in our 06 Sundeck 240 that we'll be trailering.
Are there areas I should avoid i.e. shallows or treacherous water paterns?
Thanks!!!

 

[Four Suns]

I was down there several times in our 480 and our old 380. I have relatives that live in Emerald Isle... well... they have a vacation condo there. The water between the barrier islands and the mainland is **very** shallow there so you have to be careful. My cousin has grounded his outdrive boat many times.

If you head up to the area around Beaufort and the town docks there, it's really nice (i.e. pubs, places to eat, etc.) and there is an island right there that has wild horses on it. Also, right by the inlet there on the inside (and north) the water is very deep and you can pull your boat right up to the beach. That's Shackleford Banks. There is also an inside route out to get to the Cape Lookout Bight. You head up between Shackleford Banks and Harkers Island. Again, that's pretty shallow and I could not get the 480 in there but there are a lot of pontoon boats and bow riders that make that run. I had to take the 480 up there on the outside but I wouldn't do that in a smaller boat as the inlet is pretty rough. The whole area between Emerald Isle and Cape Lookout is loaded up with rental pontoon boats so be aware of that. Also, my cousin grounded a rental pontoon boat in that area and hopped out of the boat to push it (1-2 feet of water) and had two sharks that became very interested in him.

It's a neat place... have fun. I got in trouble with the Coast Guard there two years ago since I had my 2 older boys and we were jumping waves just out of the inlet in our dinghy... nice 8 footers on a strong easterly breeze. The boat would come up the backside of a wave and get airborne about 3 feet... what a hoot.

 

[jshaffer]

Thanks Gary this is great information. I'm very excited to explore the different areas. The shallow areas post a concern but I guess I'll need to go slow and take my time.
How long does it take to boat form the center of Emerald Isle to Beaufort / Shackleford Banks?

 

[Four Suns]

I would guess Emerald Isle is about 10 miles from Beaufort. You'll have to put in around Emerald Isle and get across Bogue Sound (I probably spelled that wrong) to the ICW. It is very shallow though but I'm sure someone there can tell you how to cut across. It's probably about a mile across the sound there. Cape Lookout is about another 10 miles from Beaufort.

 

[Four Suns]

The other thing I forgot to mention was the dolphins followed our boat around everywhere. That was pretty cool...

 

[Newbie]

With the exception of the ICW, you can pretty much walk across the bogue sound without wetting your waist. STAY IN THE CHANNEL!! There is lots to see around Beaufort as Gary said and also pleny to see in Morehead. One of our favorite things to do in Beaufort is to walk the old graveyard thats about a block from the waterfront. IIRC, it dates back to the 1600's. I've never been to cape lookout by boat so I cant help you there but I "think" the only docks there are the coastguards and the ferrys and you cant use them for your own use. SB

 

[jshaffer]

Gary - I hope to see the dauphins the kids would realy enjoy. Thanks again for everyones input.