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I may be purchasing a boat loacated in Morehead City NC. It would be my intention to bring it up the coast to Indian River Del. It looks like I will need a fuel stop and maybe an overnight along the Virginia coast. I am looking at Rudee Inlet. Is this a difficult inlet to navigate, any recommendations on marinas to overnight. The boat is 28.5 feet L.O.A ,Beam 10'6"and draws about 30 inches she has a tower with a clearence of about 13 feet.
Any information about Rudee would be appreciated. Thanks
Went out of Rudee for a few days last January and it was not pretty. They were @ that time dredging and replacing a fishing pier and Jetty and it was not well marked. Also used Little Creek just west of the CBBT and that was great but maybe a little out of the way. Check www.tidalfish.com also for lots of local info.
Jerry, call me when you get the chance! I lived in Va Beach, and fished out of Rudee often. It is easy to get into with plenty of space for your boat.. will have to call and request a slip for overnight stay. Hotels are everywhere. Hopefully you are bringing it up soon, because if you wait too long the tourist season in Va Beach is gearing up as we speak!
Are you coming up the Chesapeake Bay or running "outside"?
If you're "following" the Bay, there are also marinas at Little Creek and Willoughby Spit (JUST west of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel).
There is also the "Salt Ponds Marina(?)", just above Hampton, VA - directly off the Bay.
The marinas near the mouth of the York River would take you a little too far "west" of your route - those are JUST east of the Geo. P. Coleman Bridge at Yorktown, on the north side of the river,
At the Rappahannock, you have Broad Creek (on the south side of the river - VERY near the mouth), with several marinas (Norview Marina is one that I KNOW can take care of you) and Windmill Point Marina - directly across the river on the north side - BOTH of those are VERY good facilities, although there has been a LOT of renovation at Windmill Point - hopefully, they have finished that by now. I go to Norview a LOT and can vouch for the facilities and folks there!
Marina Shores 757-496-7000. Located like 12 miles past Rudee Inlet and 5 miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Easy to get to, pool, fuel and repair, over night stays welcome. They also have a deal with the Va beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center for a room, and they will pick you up or walk the 1/2 mile to it.
Avoid Lynnhaven inlet if you can! Marins Shores is a great place, but the water there is very trechorious, sand bars everywhere, tide runs HARD 6-8 kt, channel is narrow, there are a lot of fishing lines from shore, and a bunch of boaters that are what I'd call idiots (you know the kind, enough money, but not enough sense). Go there if you know your boat well.
As a follow up to the last post of Lynnhaven being difficult to run, I question your bad experiences! Sure it's narrow, but well marked and very easy to get to a decent marina with all amenities. I will admit that the weekends are less desireable but that is every where these days.
Stop in and have a good time in that area, plenty of good restaurants, friendly people, and helpful folks at the marinas.
My 9 year old navigates the lynnhaven inlet. Coming in, you keep the red marker on your right and the green marker on your left. and the beach fishing is tough during Winter Striper season, but you'll be going in the opposite direction. It's a beutiful place, lots of night life and great people. I live 2 miles away, pm me, and I'll give you my # if you need/want help.
Axiom- Rudee Inlet had shoaled up pretty thin over the winter, but has since been dredged. Plenty of big rigs come in and out every day. There is a fixed bridge with 30+' clearance- go under bridge, Fisherman's Wharf Marina is about 400 yards past bridge on starboard side. Fuel dock, floating docks, restaurants, etc. Call Paula Owen at 757-652-8409 for reservations. From Morehead, I would suggest running the waterway to the Neuse River (up Adam's Creek)- then just run the sound to Old House Channel (back side of Oregon Inlet) and shoot out Oregon Inlet. Now- Ols Housu Channel and Oregon Inlet can be pretty tricky- so go slow through there and if you can get behind someone, I'd recommend it. Your draft is pretty shallow.... I ran the inlet last week (Southbound)- the charter boys are staying just south of the marked channel once you pass beneath the high rise bridge. (keep the green bouys to port- about 20 yards or so). Once you reach the sea bouy, you have an easy 65 mile run up the beach to Rudee Inlet. Rudee is JUST to the south of all the high-rise hotels, etc of Va Beach. Easy in-easy out. Lynnhaven Inlet is around the corner inside the mouth of the Bay. I am in and out of there all the time, so its real eay for me- for some, the current can be tricky. Hit Rudee, have a nice steak, and you'll be in Delaware by 3 the next day... Good luck, and stay safe....
One more thing- If you get to Old House Channel, and its blowing pretty good out of the NE, you can go to Pirate's Cove Marina on Roanoke Island. Fuel, restaurants, etc. If you want to make more time, then go up past Pirates Cove, take a left around the Northern tip of Roanoke Island, and join the Northbound channel of the Albemarle Sound. Head north to the North Landing River- (you will have just re-joined the ICW)- go up to Coinjock and get the Prime Rib! Problem is that now you have to deal with drawbridges, no-wake zones, and a lock at Great Bridge the next day. If you leave early enough, and can get offshore again at the mouth of the Bay, you can make it all the way. I used to be full-time delivery captain- feel free to email for advice, etc. bakeryachts@msn.com
Rudee Inlet help 
