Connetquot River to Fire Island ????

tom f

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I've been boating for a few years. My South Shore boating has been exclusively in Nassau County, out of Freeport. I've never been east of Captree by boat. This weekend (weather permitting) will be my first Suffolk County outing. I will be going out of the Connetquot River in Oakdale. I'm planning a circular cruise, starting by heading south towards Ocean Bay Park following the East Channel. I will then head east along Fire Island. Then will head North from Saltaire toward Bayshore. I will then finish off the circle by heading west past Hecksher and back to where I started. I have been looking at the most current charts and it looks like a fairly straight foward run. I have programmed a route into the GPS as well staying between the reds and greens.

My questions are: Are the buoy locations on the charts accurate in this area ? Are there any shoaling areas that I need to know about ? The charts indicate numerous “stakes" in the area…what are these ?? Are they fish traps similar to the oyster stakes that I see all around Oyster Bay ?? Are they visable ?? I also plan on anchoring somewhere along the way to let the kids go swimming…..any particularly good areas that anyone can recommend? Thanks
 
All pretty straight forward, it does get skinny outside all those channels, so make sure you are always in the channel.
North Channel is fine.
Stakes usually are fish traps and on a clear day are very visible.
Good swim spot is just outside of Sailors Haven. Also you can go ashore to the sunken forest which is pretty cool.

Just to correct you, you will be heading West along fire island not east.
You will keep red to your port in east channel.
Be sure to pick up the EW buoy when going from east channel to west channel by Saltiaire.
Take it tight on either side.
You will head north in the West Channel and you will switch to red on your starbord.
Then your back in North Channel by bayshore heading east past hecksher, not west..
There are shoals outside of the east channel, west channel and north channels are fine.

Good luck.
 
Also we may be in the Connetquot river on Saturday as well over by Snapper Inn which is up the river a bit.
 
quote:

Good swim spot is just outside of Sailors Haven. Also you can go ashore to the sunken forest which is pretty cool





I was going to suggest the same thing. The route you are planning really won't take very long and has too much traffic on a summer weekend to stop and swim anywhere. To make a day of it I'd suggest do your circular cruise, and then at the end head south to Sailor's Haven after you pass Hecksher and anchor up for the afternoon. The kids could swim there and go to the beach. At the end of the day it's pretty much a straight shot north back to the Connetquot River.

John
 
Oooops, got my east and west mixed up....how embarrassing on a boating website. I had it correct in my head :)

I will do as you guys suggested and head to Sailors Haven area. I might reverse the circle (west then east) and then head there.

Thanks Captains !!!!
 
Wow....you Suffolk folks are quite lucky. What a beautiful area.
 
Glad you enjoyed it. Did you follow the planned route and make a Sailor's Haven stop?
 
Yes we did. Took my cruise. We anchored at Sailors Haven and took the kids ashore for a hike....awesome !!!!! And then later spent some time at anchor in the river near Snapper Inn. There is much to hate about Long Island, but there is also lots to love about it. Today was an "I love Long Island Day" !!!!!
 
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