Northeast - great south bay to shinnecock inside???

planing to go around long island and was wondering how the intercoastal from great south bay to shinecock bay was. my charts show a channel but local knowlodge helps. how are the bridges and slow no wakes. i draft 2.6ft and 10 ft high. thanks

I would consider the ocean from Fire Island Inlet to Shinnecock Inlet (weather permitting), the bay not only gets congested with fishing on bouys but also has a number of 5mph no wake zones. The bridges should be fine and generally well posted at tide for height. Hope this helps.

There are depth issues in Moriches Bay. If the ocean allows, I agree with running to Shinnecock Inlet.

If you are intent on running inside, take a look at the Moriches thread in the LICC forum on boatered. There is detailed information on transiting the area.

Also note that you can run inside from East Rockaway Inlet (Debs) all the way out but there are a number of bridges to contend with.

If you take the inside, between Morriches Bay and Tiana Bay you will require two bridges to be opened. They are both on Ch. 13. You will transit a few more bridges but they are higher and won't be a problem for you.

Water depth in Morriches bay will be your biggest issue. Particularly from just west of the inlet, to just east of the inlet. DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR CHARTS CHANNEL MARKINGS!!

Currently, instead of going straight across morriches bay and the CG station area, you have to go south into the backside of the inlet, and around the islands before going back north and back into the normal channel. Take this entire area slowly, as many spots have only 4' or 5' of water.

Here's how: what you have to do is go east thru Morrichs bay until you reach Green can 7W. Turn right and head about 138 deg MAG, or South-Easterly. There are a 2 Red cans you will pass as you approach the backside (inside) of the inlet, keep those just on your port side. Basically you are heading direction at a huge pile of rocks (a man made jetty linning the North-west corner of the inlet). About 30 yards or so from those rocks you will turn left a bit and enter into the backside of the inlet. Head east and cross the inlet channel, and follow along the green cans on the east side of the inlet starting with Green 3E, then Green 5E, then Green 7E and 9E. Keep those greens on you port side. After passing 9E, you will head almost due North to Green 11E, and then to Red 24. At Red 24 you head east at about 84 deg MAG down the marked channel keeping the Reds on stbd (seaward) and the Greens to port. Then you are home free, just follow the chart to Shinnecock bay...

Hope that helps... The green line is the track you want to take....

I agree with the rest, try to take a day in the ocean. I bought my boat from Shinnecock and went through the locks to have the survey done, then back out the inlet and in the ocean all the way back to Jones (stopping in fire island for lunch)

Outside is so much easier/safer. There are constant reports of issues in moriches.

Birdman is 100% correct!

You can MOT take the rout that runs on the north side of the bay near the CG station in smaller outboard boats at high tide.
The area north of the CG station has filled with sandbars.

You must go south of the two islands on the north side of the inlet. even then there is low water east of R#24.

Aslo, I there is some shoaling in the West Hampton Canal where that house is only a few feet from the bulkhead on the north side of the canal. When passing there it seems to be deeper on the north side.

Also the Shinnecock Rail Road bridge has scaffolding under it lowering the clearance by 2 feet.

check boatered for the info on moriches, if nice run outside much better.

made the run past moriches yesterday. didn't see any option but south toward inlet and around the back. pita but pretty well marked

Birdman nailed it. I boat there and that is the route if you choose not to use the ocean. I don't even try to pass the Coast Guard station, it's not worth it.

I came thru that route on Monday coming back from Shelter Island. The worst spot in morriches bay is Rd #26 (just left of Green #27 in my picture above). I had 2 to 3' below the boat (about 4 or 5' total of water) at HIGH tide at Red #26. That sandbar right there is really shallow.

I wouldent even consider the inside passage take the ocean.Bird is spot on but a few feet out of those narrow channels and your gonna need sea tow.

I wouldent even consider the inside passage take the ocean.Bird is spot on but a few feet out of those narrow channels and your gonna need sea tow.

Problem with that is, if there is any swell larger than 2 or 3 foot, good LUCK getting out or back in Morriches! ;)

If you only draw 2.6ft. you will have no problem navigating this area. Pay careful attention to what Birdman has described and you will have clear sailing. He covered every aspect of the areas in question. All the buoys are close together so searching for them is not an issue. Again.....GO SLOW if in doubt and there will be absolutely no reason for you to leave the channel. There is plenty of room for 2 boats to pass safely, and when the fisherman l are drifting the channel, go slow .Navigating the Moriches Inlet is way more challenging and dangerous if you are not familiar with the area.
I go thru the Moriches on a weekly basis and draw 41 inches and never have a problem. I never look at the tides and there is always plenty of water beneath the boat. When in doubt, slow down! Way too much of a deal is made over this area. It is deeper this year utilizing the west and east cuts than ever before.