Moriches update from USCG notice to mariners

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Robski97

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Shoaling has been reported in Moriches Bay along the Long Island Intercoastal Waterway in the vicinity of Moriches Bay Buoy 17,18, 21, 26, 27, 28 and 29 extending the entire width of the channel and at any tide level. The shoaling has resulted in reported depths less than one foot at high tide. Shoaling is also reported in Moriches Inlet in the vicinity of Moriches Inlet East Cut Buoys 3E and 5E. Mariners should be aware that the Aids to Navigation in these areas have been deemed unreliable due to shoaling and mariners are advised to seek alternate routes. If transiting these areas, do so only at high tide and proceed slowly and with extreme caution.

Rob
 
That report makes me almost glad that I can't do any boating this season for medical reasons. Our Cruisers inboard draws at least 2.5 feet of water. Since she was going to be docked in Eastport, that would put me at constant risk of grounding. I thought the channel and inlet were supposed to have been dredged last month. What happened? Hy
 
quote:
Originally posted by walterv

Less than 1 foot at high tide !!!! OMG!!!

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Sounds like you'll need a good storm surge to get through!

That really sucks.
 
"reported depths less than one foot at high tide"

Isn't that the definition of a beach?
 
Went thru July 4. We Went thru 1 hour before high tide and Buoy 18 to 20 is VERY shallow. I think I touched bottom in one spot. I don't understand how it is 2' at low tide and still less than 4 feet near high tide. There should be a 2.5 to 3' swing in high tide there, but we barely saw 3' between 18 and 20. I will be going thru at high tide Sunday morning and hopefully find more water then - will let you know.

I am using Moriches Coast Guard Station for the tides.

This is the guidance I received from Moriches Sea Tow a day before trip: Need to take channel route. Moriches inlet route no good. East cut has filled in.
Channel route: Turn north at green 17 (but keep 17 on right heading east, which is technically wrong side). Go between 17A and 18, then turn south to 20. Shallow spot between 18 and 20, 2 ft. soft sand at low tide. Then we are back in the channel. Moriches dredged east of Coast Guard station, so no problem once back in channel.
 
Went thru at 8am today to catch high tide. Sun was behind us so a little easier to read water, but did see approx 3' in the same shallow spot as July 4th post. Water was really clean and blue - Florida like. Could see sand in 10' of water. All in all a great Westhampton trip with 7 other boats.
 
Buddy went tru last weekend . He was not happy... be very careful between 18 and 20. High tide is a must for the big draft guys ...

Im an outside person now . I have no patience for this anymore.

Rob
 
Rob,

I hear you about going outside. Even when I took my boat to Florida, weather allowing, I ran outside as much as possible. Even the intracoastal is not as well maintained as it is supposed to be!

The problem with Westhapton as a destination is the north cut from the inlet is also a major problem this year so the only other option to avoid the moriches channel is to go via shinnecock inlet, which is a very long way out of the way. Based on the water I saw at Moriches this season, I may not go back again until,they dredge, which probably won't happen until next year, if ever!

Fortunately, for the most part The Great South Bay was not effected too badly by Sandy. The canals may be a different story....
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dani-Lu

Went thru July 4.

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If you were running east through Moriches with a parade of express cruisers approaching the bridge at around 4:45pm, here ya' go...

file_zpsc8fe757b.jpg
 
That looks like us. We had 8 express cruisers. What made you shoot that pic? Small world.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dani-Lu

That looks like us. We had 8 express cruisers. What made you shoot that pic? Small world.

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Yup - I counted seven or eight. It's not a common sight in that part of the bay and thought it might be someone here or on CSR that would enjoy the shot. Unfortunately, all I had on me at the moment was the iPhone and not my good camera.
 
anyone have an update on this area. im picking up a new boat in connecticut and bringing it through the canal and back to west sayville. thanks.
 
We came tru 2 weeks ago . Must time for dead high tide . It's 2.5 hrs after Moriches coast guard station high tide . It's an almost straight line . As head head west there is a jog north and another jog south . It's well marked . Must go at high tide ..........

Rob
 
ok im going to go through at high tide. but any other local tips or routes to go from east to west through moriches bay?
thanks robski97
 
I've gone through that area twice in the last month. Both at mid-tide.

Here was report from a different thread...
I can now report that Moriches should not be a problem at mid tide and up if you take the dogleg through the inlet area. The lowest reading I saw was 6' (actually 4' plus the offset for transducer placement) in the 5mph zone near the RV campsites. Coming west I went shy of the buoy that marks the main channel towards the north of the east inlet entry (i believe it was red 24) and then I headed out of the west inlet entry just west of the shoaling towards the green (15?) buoy to get back to the main channel...basically what I've done for the last couple of seasons with the Formula.

The only thing I will add to the above would be is that there is a distinct shoal about 250' east of the inlet that had more than enough water for me (2' 11" draft) where I went through that I think you would need to visually navigate over (I just picked the spot that seemed the deepest by color and it turned out there was 4' of water under my keel at idle speed).

Just take your time in that area and you should be fine.

Jeff
 
hello everyone,
im planning to hit moriches near high tide with my new to me boat Friday 27th. i have not traveled moriches bay this year so looking for help.
i will be traveling East to West.
does this sound right?....
hit 30, 29,28 then come off plane for safety.
travel 30' south of 27,
travel 30' north of 26
go Right at 20
be north of 18
once i hit 17 should just follow chart.
thanks
 
I don't believe that's not correct . It's a straight line til I think 17 . It's clearly marked . Then 2 small jogs . We did not go towards the inlet

Rob
 
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