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Long Island Boating Destination - North Shore or South Shore
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Long Island Boating Destination - North Shore or South Shore
Hi,
Just waiting for my 1st boat to arrive and am wondering something that I'm guessing most people already know, where to wet slip their boat. I live in Bellmore (Nassau County) so conventional wisdom would be as close to home as possible. The area nearest my home has it's share of Marina's but my reason for contemplating is this? Are their more boating destinations along the south shore or along the north shore (which also provides me access to inlets in CT). I My first boat is a single drive so hamptons are a bit far should I develop engine trouble. My guess is that since North shore is more affluent that slip rates could be much more expensive their but perhaps one of you knows for sure.
Several things come into play:
First is how big is the boat - I get the impression it is in the 22-27' range and not a 40-50' single engine trawler. The reson this is important is that with a big boat, you could spend weekends on it, not just day trips.
Second, the trip to the North Shore is 35-40 minutes each way, meaning you will likely use the boat a lot less often than if it is 5 minutes form your house.
Third, what is it you want to do - just sight-see places you haven't been, raft up with friends, take extended trips? The North Shore, especially once you get out East has more unique places to go, but the South Shore, including Fire Island and Montauk have a lot to offer too - and being new to boating, you haven't been to them either.
Fourth, since it is your first boat, you may not know exactly what you want out of boating yet - I've been at it for over 30 years (15 in your neck of the woods) and can say change every few years is nice, but it takes a couple of seasons to figure out what boating (including finding the best boat) is most enjoyable.
If it were me, I would get a slip in a place close to home (Wantagh, Bellmore, Merrick or Freeport (each has distinct advantages and negatives)) which offers the ammeneties you want and doesn't require long (10 minutes plus) trips at 5 mph, which gets old fast.
Now you've gone and done it! You bought a boat. Now your in trouble :-)
J/K, but I never realized what money pits boats are until I bought my first one many years ago.
Give us some more info. about the boat. Cruiser, walk around? length? fishing use? pleasure cruising? etc.
Since I live in Seaford, and slip keep my boat in Merrick, I definitely can offer some advice on the subject. Especially since I have many friends with boats on both the North and South shore of the Island.
The advice others have given so far is good. The closer you keep the boat (in the water) to your house, the more you will use/enjoy it. I have a 15 minute ride from my house to my marina (with a stop at Causeway bait & tackle of course). I couldn't imagine driving North to Port Washington, Oyster Bay, etc. (and ****** every time I wanted to use my boat. I am at Blue Water Yacht Club in Merrick (down Hewlett). This is my fourth year there, and Gary the owners a great guy. A guy named Justin runs their Service dept. and he's been very helpful to me over the past 4 years. Of course there is some expense to "Marina Life" and I do find myself cutting a lot of checks to the marina. That would be the case on the North or South Shore (unless you plan on doing all the maint. yourself, but then there's Summer and Winter dockage/storage fees. Another alternative is Treasure Island Marina in Seaford, but being from Bellemore, I'm sure you are familiar with many marinas from Freeport, East.
There is a lot to see and do in the Sound on the North Shore or the Great South Bay/Atlantic Ocean on the South Shore. If your question was fishing specific, I'd say there are pluses and minuses on both shores. Keep your boat on the South Shore and buddy up with a family member or friend on the North Shore and boat together every once in a while and alter boats. That's what I do and it works out great. I've even caught 30+ pound Stripers while drifting EELs in the East River under the nighttime reflection of the UN. Crazy!
The only reason I would see for a South Shore LI resident to keep their boat slipped (or moored) on the North Shore, is if you had family with a house on the water in Conn. and it was the destination most times you used the boat.
BTW, I have a 24' single engine I/O driven boat and weather permitting (and allowing lots of $$$ for fuel), I have taken my boat from the Jone's Inlet to Montauk. Actually, both in the Ocean and the "inland" route, thrrough all the Hampton bays, etc. You do want to make sure your boat is mechanically sound and you have all of the proper safety gear, but your just running off the beach a few miles offshore, it's not like your going out to the Canyon. It's also more of a weekend thing. I've never run there and back the same day. BTW, the $140 for a Sea-Tow or Boat-US membership should be one of the first things you buy when you put your boat in the water (especially with a single engine). I've never had to make that cell/VHF call (for myself anyway), but it's nice knowing I have the card in my wallet.
I know I'm rambling on, but I once was where you are (boat wise). The biggest PITA on the South shore is navigating the bay. You don't want to drift or drive outside the channel markers (until you become familiar with the waterways....and that took me a few years) because you can be in 28' of water one second and 8" of water the next. It's really fun with a Lunar low tide.
Well, I hope I've helped more than hurt. Drop me a PM if you want to meet up one day/night at my Marina in Merrick and I'll give you the 10cent tour.
You guys rock!!! Thanks for taking the time to put forth your advice. First the details on my boat. 2008Chaparral 250 (27 ft total) single merc w/ seacore i/o.
The cabin/galley will serve mostly as a place for the wife and our 1 child to get out of the sun or play Nintendo/make popcorn. I don't expect that we'll spend much time sleeping overnites, although the possibility does intrigue me. So at first it's just getting used to being on the water, pulling the occasional tube, dropping the occasional line (for fun- not for any serious angling).
As for my plans, that is where I'm hazy. While I agree with the opinion, that the closer the boat is the more it is likley to get used, as a first time boater, (as recommended above) I haven't yet figured out what it is I want to do with it. My guess is since its a cruiser I'll take day trips to wherever I can find. Problem is, I dont know where the destinations are.
My thought on slips on North shore is that it has the added advantage of offering the North shore as well as CT, whereas the South shore has basicly Fire Island and Zach's bay. Am I underselling the South shore? What else is there?
Thanks for the offers of additional assistance. As I move forward, Im encourages such nice folks are out there willing to share.
I don't want to sway you either way, as there is A LOT to do with a boat on the North Shore and South Shore of Long Island. When I was younger (mid 70's to early 80's) I would launch my old boat out of Mt. Sinai or Pt. Jefferson on the North shore.On a side note, I always thought MT. Sinai was one of the most beautiful harbors. I also spent many days anchored at Olfield (spelling). I remember the tidal saltwater pond in the back, and with no houses around, one really felt "alone" on that pebbly beach. I haven't been there in decades, so I hope they haven't built condo's there yet. Kidding..... slightly.
Plus the Notrh shore has execution rock. The fact they would tie "bad people" up at low tide, now that's a sucky death..... but my point is there's LOTS to see/do.
Now, the South Shore, you have the entire Jones Beach and Fire Island National Sea Shore. I'm starting to sound like a I love NY Ad (I do.... except for the taxes and MOST of the politicians, but that's for another thread). I spend most of my time offshore ( close offshore < 10miles) fishing the reefs or trolling, but there are MANY boaters at my marina (250+ boats) that ONLY pleasure cruise. We always chat as they are unloading their beach chairs and I'm washing fish blood and clams off my cockpit (they must hate me :-)). I don't know the "pleasure craft haunts" as well as they do, but Ocean Beach, Sailors haven, Ocean Bay Park come to mind. I know there are several places that offer overnight slip rental, but I can't name any.
My suggestion is to do a lot of web surfing on the subject. You will find lots to do on both coasts.I'll start you off:
If I remember my geography, you live closer to the south shore. There are more marinas there and probably cheaper to dock. Plus you have the ocean if you like fishing and the fishing IMO is just a bit better in the ocean than the sound. I have fished regularly in both places.
Shallow water and sandbars or rocks? Pick your poison. Great advice above. LI offers so much to the boater in terms of natural beauty.
The south shore is probably more congested, at least until you hit the ocean but also has more marinas (read more choice, maybe less $), restuarants/bars, and more service places. Softer bottom (sand) but generally shallower water/sand bars. Probably more coastline, canals and nooks crannies to explore.
North shore is rockier, deeper water, has more sail boats (UGH!), less congestion but less slips, probably more $, ability to run to Ct., arguably more picturesque. The Sound will typically be rougher than the south shore bays but calmer then the ocean. Not always though.
Closer to the house is better IMO - the trip across the island can be bear. You will find yourselves spending more time/days on the boat without ever leaving the marina if its close and you have a little free time.
Congratulations on your new boat. You are going to love it. When I was a kid, we kept our boats in Port Washington and Merrick (different years). From a kid's perspective both were great. I have a lot of great memories of swimming in Manhasset Bay and Zachs Bay. As an adult I've kept boats in Huntington, Lindenhurst and now in Oakdale. I live in the middle of the island, so it has always been about a 20 minute ride to the marina. I definitely agree with those who have advised you to keep your boat close to home. If you fall in love with boating you are going to want that boat as close as possible. You might even end up buying a house on one of those canals in Bellmore. That's where my wife grew up and she loved it.
I think that both the North Shore and the South Shore are beautiful. My family really prefers the South Shore for boating. We think that it is more laid back, friendlier, and we've gotten better service for our boats at the South Shore marinas. Great destinations too. We love going to Fire Island. And it really is pretty easy heading out east. When we were in Huntington we used to go across to Connecticut all the time - it loses its allure and it is expensive (gas-wise that is). There is something about the South Shore bays and the ocean that I never seem to get tired of. That being said, I'm always tempted to pick up again and dock the boat in Huntington.
The good thing is that you can try one location and if you don't like it, or you think that the sea is a better shade of blue somewhere else, you can always pick up and go to a different marina. I think that you'll have a great time wherever you go.
A 25' Chaparal with a small cabin is more capable of multiple hour voyages than you think - would I take it 30 miles off shore: no, but I wouldn't hesitate to make a 100 mile trip (which is probably all the range you have with an 80 gallon tank) with it staying less than 5 miles from shore. From Jones Inlet, on a nice summer day, Manhattan is only 90 minutes away, and you never need to be more than a mile from land.
Over the past 27 years we've taken my 23' boat on many 40-80 mile day trips without worries or issues (on the other hand my 32' boat spends at least 4-6 overnighters in Hudson Canyon (80-100 miles out) every season, so I may not be your best advisor on comfort). Well maintained, a single engine boat shouldn't be unreliable at all, and if it stops, Sea Tow will come get you. The bigger issue with going outside the inlet is weather and sea conditions - and if you are heading to NYC or NJ, at least from the East Rockaway Inlet West, it will have to be in the ocean. While a nice boat, that Chaparal should be confused with having the same rough weather performance as a comparbly sized Grady White or Boston Whaler, and prudence keeps the family happy.
i second the peconic bay area but the reality is living in bellmore its probably not going to happen. it would be a nice place to spend a week if you decide to take a trip. there are plenty of places to anchor and have a nice stretch of beach to yourself or hang out with other families. lots to do including the aquarium by boat or a real short walk if you stay at treasure cove marina which has a pool and restaurant. larrys lighthouse marina also has a nice pool and restaurant along with a tiki bar then you could make day trips to greenport and others.
You're most likely NOT going to find a Slip on the North shore! But can definetly find one in your area on the South Shore! If you want to keep your rig on the NS you will probrably have to get a Mooring ( it's a Pain in the A**) Even though I prefer to fish on the NS, I keep my boat on the SS
Long Island Boating Destination - North Shore or South Shore 
