Long Island's Southern Passage

[Carlr219]

I am planning on traveling from New England to Florida and would like to experience Long Island's Southern.



I plan on starting at Greenport, NY and heading through the Shinnecock Canal and then heading west through the Bays until I find and exist around Coney Island and then head south to Cape May.


Specifically I'm interest in advice. Any dangerous areas not marked on the charts. Where are the good mrinas and Towns to visit.



Is there enough of interest to merit this mini adventure.


I've travel the southern route through Long Island Sound as well as having gone directly from Block Island to Cape May.


We need a change of scenery?


Comments,
Carl

 

[jbinbi]

What's your draft? Unless it's really low, the S Shore of LI is VERY shallow. We couldn't do this in our catamaran with 3.5' draft. Either straight shot from the end to NJ, or LI Sound to NYC and down the E River and out.

 

[Finseeker]

Hi - I see you list a Fleming 58 in your profile. If that is the boat you are planning to do this trip with, I would definitely not do it. As the previous reply said, the bays are shallow and there are some tricky legs on your planned route that are not well marked. I live on the south shore of Long Island, the Great South Bay is where I do most of my boating. I have a 38' boat with a 4.5' draft and when I am heading to New England I go out Fire Island Inlet and around past Montauk, I won't do that inside route with my boat as areas around Moriches and Shinnecock bays can be very shallow.

The other issue I see is that most or all of the Fire Island marinas closed for the season today. Columbus Day weekend is pretty much the official end of beach season around here.

You can go into Greenport, Montauk, and maybe some other stops out east along the way. When do you return north in the spring? If you are coming by around the June timeframe that can be a nice time to visit some of the Fire Island marinas, Atlantique has big enough slips for a 58' and you can probably get into Watch Hill FI also (at high tide at least).

John

 

[Rearmount]

I live on the south shore of LI and own a 34'Mainship Pilot 2 1/2 ft draft. We go to Greenport and east every year. This year we did not go through Moriches bay due to shoaling. The local sea tow companies are escorting members through. You WILL NOT make it through Moriches bay just east of the inlet. This year, we had to duck out Moriches inlet into the ocean and back into Shinnecock to the canal and locks. Not a bad trip except Moriches inlet is not marked or maintained. There was only a narrow passage on west side of inlet to get back into Moriches on our way back west. My advice. Spend some time around Shelter Island, Sag Harbor, Greenport, Montauk and several areas nearby. Also as previously stated, everything is closed this time of year for the most of the south shore except a couple spots which you probably won't fit in. There are a couple places that might be able to accommodate you in Shinnecock inlet but that would be about it until NYC area.

 

[LovetoBoat]

So I have gone on the outside of Long Island when the weather was good. And I have gone all the way down Long Island Sound into NY City and then out to Sandy Hook when the weather was poor. Either way I have a 3.5 foot draft and had zero troubles on either route.

Messing with shoaling and or narrow channels may not be the best use of your time and effort.
Good Luck with your plans.