Folks,
If you review what I wrote in the sticky about traversing the canal you'll see the info that I've put together from my experiences with the canal both with the gates open and closed. My marina is right off the canal and do ask people to slow down prior to entering the canal when the current is moving. There's a fish cleaning station at the end of my dock and I've been tossed about as a large boat powers up before they get into the cement walls of the canal. Remember that your wake is tossing boats around in the marinas just south of the canal so I do ask boats to slow down. Once you are in the canal please stay on your power to be safe. There's also a small entrance to Tidewaters Restaurant that you need to keep an eye on as there may be boats transiting while you are coming thru. Not a large margin for error for sure when the current's moving hard.
Robski97,
Yes, the current runs slow just after opening and before closing. During the middle, boy that current can really move. I have a 24' cc and have no problem other than staying on the throttle and kicking up a wake...the canal closes as the incoming tide starts from Shinnecock Bay. The Peconic Bays are higher than Shinnecock and if the gates didn't close then there would always be a current flowing from the Peconics to Shinnecock.
Hope this helps...
Perry