Snakehill Channel

C

ChillPill

Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2004
RO Number
13149
Messages
24
When I was a kid and lived in West Islip, I took this channel frequently. It was the fastest way to avoid speed zones in the State Boat Channel and get to Fire Island Inlet or Captree. Back then, I didn't even have a compass, but I knew it like the back of my hand. It is just east of the Robert Moses bridges. Anybody use this channel today?

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I don't, but I see a lot of people go through there, mostly with small outboard boats.
 
It's strictly for shallow draft boats. You have to pick your time cause the water can get real skinny at anything less than mid tide.
 
While the channel was narrow, (some spots as narrow as approx 150 feet wide) it was never a shallow channel. The water level indicated on my chart is anywhere from 11 - 17 feet in the channel. I agree you don't want to miss the channel! I do remember the tide could be fast moving at times.

I don't boat regularly in this area any more. Perhaps only once or twice a year now. But, I think I am gonna leave the route in my gps and perhaps try it on the right day. Unless things have changed drastically, with a good gps it should be easier to navigate than Moriches Bay.
-Dave
 
I have used that channel many times retuning from FI and never found it to be problem, it does get tight between sn5 & sn6.
 
Friends of mine with a 31’ and 34’ have also done snake. The channel is narrow but they say its ok depth wise as long as you don’t drift a foot out of the channel.

I do the Moriches dog leg by the USCG station a few times a year, but Snake is a bit too white knuckle for me. Even Dickerson tends to be somewhat tense at times when low tide, but I take it few times a season with no problem with a 33” draft.

I mostly take West Channel or Babylon Cut to the State Channel when heading south to FI or the Inlet.

What’s the rush ?, except getting the last slip in Atantique or Kismet or the tail end of the Bass run to the inlet.
 
Hey guys...

Just how accurate are the noted depths / widths on these GPS Chartplotters. I have a Garmin 492 with Bluechart v8.5, I have been plotting a few routes out to the Peconic from SS3, I keep my way points in the white water..but some of those channels out in the West Hampton area look real tight...I guess I could always stay in the ocean and take Shinecock Inlet......

Anthony
2006 Sundancer 260
"Angela Marie"
 
Yes, how accurate are they and do they take into consideration tides... or are they just best case scenario?
 
That chart is not accurate. There is shaoling on both ends and you have to know where to make your turns exactly or you'll end up in the mud! I pulled some boats out of snakehill last summer and almost became a victim twice. I avoid it at all costs!

Adam
 
If you guys try to use your chartplotters to navigate Snakehill Channel and have no recent local knowledge of it. I have one thing to say to you. Make dam sure your Sea Tow/Tow Boat US memberships are paid in full. The charts haven't updated the channel since the 70's and it has changed completely. Enter at your own risk.
 
I took a 34 Rinker through the Snakehill Channel on a regular basis last year, but do not recommend it to anyone who does not have exact knoledge. The way I was able to do it was by taking the chip out of my GPS, and putting it into the unit on my SeaBoss 18. At dead low tide I marked the channel, then put the chip back in to my other boat. Be aware this is somthing you have to do again each season. The channel moves every winter, but always has a deep passage, because the bay drains out through this channel durring the tides.
 
That's what I do. I use a portable depth sounder and handheld GPS in my little boat. Then I have an accurate route for my "big" boat.

The important point is--don't trust the depth readings on your chart. They're based on a hydrographic survey that may have been done decades ago.

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