Navigateting the Fire Island Inlet 4 ft. draft

[Jayc231976]

I'm looking to navigate my way through the Fire Island Inlet in a couple of days...i've never gone through there before...I'll be coming in off the atlantic and could use some advice... I forgot to mention I have a 4ft draft....

 

[unique_name]

the libi sticky has a picture of it, and one of the members posted explicit instructions on navigating it, along with the chart, a while back. see if you can search for it.
good luck

 

[billybokay]

The inlet is pretty well marked. I stay in the channel which is on the right side once you make your turn. There are boats everywhere , but either they know more than I do, or they don't know enough to be in the channel. I get nervous after the bridge where the markers diminish and there is not alot of water. If you are going on a weekend be prepared for a stupid amount of boats. I always go into shock when I run the ocean for a few hours with a boat here and there and then come into chaos.

 

[SV Grace]

Try to avoid running the Inlet when the tide is ebbing against the prevailing southwest winds.

Slack water in the Fire Island Inlet is about 5 minutes before the time of current change at The Narrows for the Flood, and about 30 minutes after The Narrows for the Ebb.

The times of current change can be found in Eldredge Tide and Pilot book.

The Inlet hasn't been surveyed in many years, so it doesn't look like what is shown on the charts. Your chartplotter can show you crossing over dry land when you're in 30 feet of water

The buoys for Inlet are not shown on the Chart (because they are moved around)

I'm just going by memory, but approaching from the Ocean heading north you'll see buoys 1 & 2 parallel to eachother, then 3 & 4, then Can # 5, then #6 where you start heading east.

http://205.156.4.52/cgi-bin/EyeSpy....buttons&alig=0&contenttype=image/jpeg&375&275

 

[alliecat]

The only worry w/ FI Inlet is the shallow water and bar that is found on the East side following the jetty. Entering the inlet you follow the first few markers. You may be tempted to cut the corner and follow to the bridge to your East. Do not turn yet, when you are almost at the N side of the straight coming in you will then swing to the E around that last marker.
As long as you stay away from the jetty you will be fine.
Happy Cruising
Harris

 

[JohnC]

I have a 4'+ draft and no problems going through the inlet if you stay between the buoys.