Long Island Intercoastal Waterway and bays.

[Mark42]

I plan on taking my 14ft runabout on some long day trips sightseeing in the LI Intercoastal Waterway. From the charts, I see that there are dregged channels, and the charts list that the channels should be 6 ft. Most of the bay areas are marked at 3 to 12 feet. <br /><br />I plan to go from Sag Harbor, across the Peconic Bays, through the Shinnecock canal and into the Shinnecock Bay, then head west toward Fire Island.<br /><br />Do I have to worry about running aground with my small boat? Even if I do (and I have before) I just get out and push it. But I really worry about shallow ROCKS that will trash my prop.<br /><br />From the charts, and also using Google Earth, this looks like a nice trip. Probably take me the better part of a day to get down there and back.<br /><br />Any advice on navagating these waters? Suggestions for places to stop for fuel and stretch the legs? Can I just beach the boat anywere on the barrier island side of the bays?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mark.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Long Island Intercoastal Waterway and bays.

I'm not from the area, I just dropped in on the thread because it looked interesting. I bought a book off of Amazon called the "Hungry Boater's Guide to Florida's West Coast" it gives all of the dockside restaurants and hotels, as well as cool things to do in the area. Maybe you could find a similar book for your area. If not, I suggest you start finding those places yourself, and write one. If so, please send me a % of royalties! <br /><br />Have fun, I love boat trips in new waters! Not really having a destination seems to make it all the better.

 

[tommays]

Re: Long Island Intercoastal Waterway and bays.

Mark<br /><br />i think you will be OK i have done it with a sterndrive at HIGH TIDE <br /><br />BUT the channels out east are REALLY NARROW 10' in some places so you really have to be carefull theres no margin for error in many places<br /><br />It really starts to open up west of the forge river and gets real wide west of bellport<br /><br />tommays

 

[Mark42]

Re: Long Island Intercoastal Waterway and bays.

Tommays,<br /><br />Thanks for the info.<br /><br />Do you think I can beach the boat on the barrier islands, or will they be wall-to-wall people? Google Earth shows some roads, but no parking in many areas. <br /><br />I have run my boat in as little as two feet of water at speeds (wrong side of bouy), but just idling around takes a little more or I drag the skeg/prop across the bottom.<br /><br />Do you know if Fire Island still "alternative lifestyle city" or is it suitable for the family?

 

[tommays]

Re: Long Island Intercoastal Waterway and bays.

WELL cherry grove is still what it is <br /><br />And then field 6 near Fire Island Lighthouse is a clothing optional place gets pretty ugly there<br /><br /><br />I would say anywere there are private houses you will run into problems<br /><br />They get pretty PO when you walk over any of the dunes without walkways so if you want to go the ocean you need to land near a Park <br /><br />I like the sunken forest its got a great boardwalk but thats a really long day trip if your doing it in one shot<br /><br /><br />They have a nice ramp off exit 68 down buy smith point <br />( DIRECTIONS: William Floyd Parkway South ... Just before Smith Point Bridge, entrance to the ramp is on the right.)<br /><br />That puts you in a much better starting place for a day trip in the area<br /><br />And Heckscher State Park has a great boat ramp that really starts off right in the middle of all the good stuff<br /><br />The one big X factor is that the wide areas chop up pretty bad allmost every day and it can get pretty brutal if you have to go a long way home<br /><br /><br />Its kinda of funny because i allways travel east for the better boating out were you are <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Mark42]

Re: Long Island Intercoastal Waterway and bays.

Thanks!

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Long Island Intercoastal Waterway and bays.

Captree State Park (NY) has a good boat launching facility and is in your target area.<br /><br />NYSDEC has a listing of boat launching facilities that you may find useful.<br /><br />It's always a good idea to check the latest charts before exploring a unknown area.

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: Long Island Intercoastal Waterway and bays.

Mark, Are you sure you want to venture into Long Island Sound in a 14' boat? Anyway, if you follow the marked bouys on the chart , you'll be ok