Traveling the jersey coast

[Toolsntoys]

Hello. Next week I'll be bring my boat home From MD. To CT. does any one have any advise on the inlets along the jersey shore. I think I have the trip planed out except this run. We will stop at cape may for the night and proceed north on the outside. In the embassy Gide it states that the three best inlets are. Cape may, Atlantic city, and sandy hook. Traveling from cape may to Atlantic city doesn't like a productive day, and going from cape may to sandy hook may be a stretch at 10 knots. I also figure we would spend our last night in port Washington ny. But I'm open to going along the south shore of Long Island also. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Pete.

 

[GJH]

We always stopped at Atlantic City to/from Cape May, and anchored across from AC in the pond by Brigatine. Allowed us to spend more time in Cape May. The entrance to that pond is marked with stakes, obey them and we had no issues getting in and out. Actually one of our favorite anchorages; we enjoyed launching the Whaler and exploring the wetlands.
Both Barnegat and Manasquan are eminently navigable, but get local knowledge on Barnegat.. did each of those once, with others. We have a few experienced Jersey locals here who I am sure will chime in shortly.

 

[Pascal]

I ve always done cape may - Sandy hook in one shot, easy to do even at 10 kts. Boring run anyway, i like to get over it

I ve stopped at manasquan once for fuel, easy entrance, fuel was cheap there that time. Barnagat what should be pretty easy too

Check out active captain.com for more detailed and up to date data than paper guides. Data is available off line thru a number of apps incl garmin blue chart. I haven't looked at a paper guide in 5 or 6 years

 

[saltshaker]

Hello. Next week I'll be bring my boat home From MD. To CT. does any one have any advise on the inlets along the jersey shore. I think I have the trip planed out except this run. We will stop at cape may for the night and proceed north on the outside. In the embassy Gide it states that the three best inlets are. Cape may, Atlantic city, and sandy hook. Traveling from cape may to Atlantic city doesn't like a productive day, and going from cape may to sandy hook may be a stretch at 10 knots. I also figure we would spend our last night in port Washington ny. But I'm open to going along the south shore of Long Island also. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Pete.

What size boat and what's your draft? Can you make AC instead of stopping in Cape May? If so that will give you a shorter run to Sandy Hook or you can continue to NYC and stop at Liberty Landing. Barnegat isn't as bad as it used to be but it can get tough in anything but ideal conditions. Going up the Bay isn't any picnic either. Lots of traffic and vey shallow. Manasquan Inlet is fine most of the time, just watch it when the wind and tides are opposing and the wind is over 20kts. Cape May to Sandy Hook isn't a bad run if you can run on plane. Cape May to Sandy Hook Gong buoy is 107NM and about 120NM to Liberty Landing. Figure another 45-60 mins to get in around the hook to a marina if you're running 10 kts.if you go to Manasquan it's about 83NM and the marinas are close to the inlet. Leaving from AC will shave about 30NM off the trips north.

 

[bobk]

In 2010 we ran Cape May to Barnaget then inside to Toms River and Lavalette to visit friends after which we went out at Manasquan to Sandy Hook. It made for easy off shore runs at 8 knots, but inside was not fun. I would not do it on a summer weekend.

Bobk

 

[Toolsntoys]

Thanks guys. Jack, my boat is a 53my with 4 ft draft. I don't want to push the boat and have any issues. So my plan is to run at 10 knots. Pascal if the weather is clear I may try and run nj in one shot.

 

[MadHatter53]

If you plan on running barnegat inlet let me know I'm slipped just inside.

 

[Pascal]

You burning a lot more fuel at 10 than 9 kts

At this time of the year you have long days so it s an easy one day trip. I usually anchor inside Sandy hook In cape may Utsch usually has the best fuel price. Much better than the other places

 

[saltshaker]

Thanks guys. Jack, my boat is a 53my with 4 ft draft. I don't want to push the boat and have any issues. So my plan is to run at 10 knots. Pascal if the weather is clear I may try and run nj in one shot.

If you do run Barnegat or Manasquan you may need to push the throttles forward to avoid being tossed around. Make sure the boat is running well so you can run her up if/when needed. The ride up the Jersey coast is pretty easy and straight forward. Many run right off the beach as there's plenty of water. I like to run about 5 miles or so off. Less traffic and mostly out of the way of those who are fishing. Stay out a bit around Little Egg Inlet and the southern end of Long Beach Island. There are shoals that go out a ways.

 

[Walter P]

Jacks comments are right on.. I am a Jersey boy and have made the run offshore from Cape May to Sandy Hook lots of times. Only one time did we need to duck into Manasquan on the way up. My experience with Manasquan inlet is that it is rarely difficult this time of year, in fact I think it's one of the better inlets next to Atlantic City and Cape May. If you leave Cape May early enough (after sunrise) you will have at least 14 hours of daylight which is plenty of time to make Sandy Hook. My recomendation for overnight at the Hook would be Atlantic Highland Municipal Marina if you need dockage and/or fuel. There is also a very good anchorage close by Atlantic Highlands which offer outstanding sunrises and great weather protection with a long breakwater protecting you from the Bay. I would probably not try for New York Harbor the same day at your proposed speed, unless you don't mind a very long day and night arrival.

If you are having west south/west winds ride near the shore line and it will be much calmer, otherwise I like to go farther offshore for the reason Jack stated and I think the sea state is such that you get longer swells rather than close to shore where the shallow water tends to cause wave action with a much shorter period.

At this time of year, I'm sure it will be a pleasant trip.. Have fun and good luck.

Walt

 

[Toolsntoys]

After taking in your advise I think we will leave cape may early morning and head to sandy hook and skip AC. If I feel I want to cut in a bit early I will head into manasquan. That should still be an easy trip up to port Washington the following day. I do like the idea of running 5 miles out.

 

[Fanfare]

Re: Ocean City, Maryland inlet. CAUTION

We were northbound in thick fog, visability max 100 yards, probably less. Th Atlantic City sea buoy is one nm offshore. The inlet has stone breakwaters extending to seaward on both sides one longer that the other. On the VHF boats were going aground on both sides of us. ( Radio: "We need help. We are aground at 4th Street."
USCG: How do you know it is 4th Street? Radio: We walked ashore and read the road sign.").

I was stopped at the sea buoy trying to adjust my radar for the best range to feel my way in yet still see both the sea buoy and the breakwaters a mile apart, never having been at this inlet before. A boat hails from behind us, "Can we follow you in?" I said something like maybe not your best bet, when USCG comes on, "We are right behind you both with a tow. Want to follow us in?" [Me: Thank You God!!]
USCG: :"Please stay 100 yards behind us."
Me: "I can't see you at all from that far back."
USCG: "Then stay as far back as you can."

We enter. Now between the breakwaters, we are 10 ft. from the rocks, can't see anything; the cutter takes a 90 degree course change. Me: "Oh SH.." So I do too. Giant current influx from left, probably the ICW although I can see nothing, but we are now headed in the proper direction and miss the rocks.
Shortly thereafter, USCG: "Would you like us to take you to your (marina) dock?"
Me: " Uh., Uh..Uh.."
My Admiral: "Say yes, you idiot."
Reach dock, tie up. Large martini. Wake up next morning, No fog. CAVU. Big F'ing bridge across harbor right in front of us that I might have run into.

Moral of this story: It's better to be lucky than smart.

On our entire trip to Nava Scotia and back this was the only time I think we could have been in big trouble. THANK YOU USCG!

 

[saltshaker]

Absecon, Atlantic City, is a very easy inlet but you do need to see where you're going. I was coming in once and running about 22kts. Sailboat heading out decides he's going to tack across my bow and the inlet. Same trip I'm leaving the Inlet and hit fog as you described. Decided I'd run out 10 miles or so and all should be fine. Radio chatter stated otherwise so we went back in and spent another night giving money to the casinos.

 

[MikeP]

We have done Cape May to Liberty Landing Marina (in the new york harbor area) several times, in one day in each case, arriving at Liberty Landing at dusk running our 53MY at 1400 RPM). Then a nice leisurely run up the East river the next morning and to the North shore of LI (Northport), where we kept our boat for several years.

The outside on one occasion was fairly exciting in the afternoon northbound with good size swells and following seas - surfing down some of the swells at a good clip and then staggering up the uphill side to immediately surf down again. The boat handled it fine; we didn't like it so much.

 

[MikeP]

We have done Cape May to Liberty Landing Marina (in the new york harbor area). several times in one day, arriving at Liberty Landing at dusk running our 53MY at 1400 RPM. Then a nice leisurely run up the East river the next morning and to the North shore of LI (Northport), where we kept our boat for several years.

The outside on one occasion was fairly exciting in the afternoon northbound with good size swells and following seas - surfing down some of the swells at a good clip and then staggering up the uphill side to immediately surf down again. Much wallowing and a lot of spray over the bridge! The boat handled it fine; we didn't like it so much.

 

[oscarvan]

When in doubt......stay out.

 

[GJH]

One point of curiosity, is this a delivery trip driven by time constraints? We didn't find it so boring, you can cruise very close to shore save for the inlets. We too anchored inside Sandy Hook if it was late, but first Atlantic Highlands for fuel and pumpout then Great Kills for dockage and NYC exploration was out objective. Atlantic Highlands being preferable to Cape May when going north because it maximises the amount of cheap Jersey fuel you can take on. Price of fuel goes way up after that.

 

[saltshaker]

Post Sandy marine fuel prices aren't as cheap as they used to be here in Jersey but we're still lower than our neighbors. Diesel is at or slightly over $2. In CT it will run him $3.