Rookies First Real Trip

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thedirtyjobs

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Alright folks, wife and I are going to make our first real trip in a few weeks. Have to go to a wedding in Rumson NJ. So, going to go by boat. Looking for some advice on best route (although i dont see many choices), areas i need to be careful of, guestimate on time, and anything else you can think of.

So, i'm going from my Marina in Flushing Bay, to just into the Navasink River in Rumson.

I figure i'm heading out Hells Gate, down the East River, through upper new york bay, under verazano, through lower new york bay, across Raritan Bay, into Sandy Hook Bay, staying on the inside of Sandy Hook National Park and then to the navasink river and turn to starboard!

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated!

thanks,
dan
 
Make sure you have the charts and follow the channel once you get to Sandy Hook, the Navasink has some shallow areas that you want to avoid.

The current under the bridge can be pretty nasty.
 
Thanks Hogan! Yeah, i'll have my charts, and my electronics!

Which bridge are you referring to...the Hells Gate, Verrazano or other?

thanks,
dan
 
The Rte 36/Ocean Ave bridge inside Sandy Hook on the Shrewsbury River
 
I did a similar trip twice. The first time, I was very surprised to not see Sandy Hook when I exited from under the VZ bridge. Visability was clear but I guess the hook is so low to the ground, it was hard to pick up. This is when using the "zoom out" feature of the chart plotter worked well. It's pretty much due south from under the bridge. When you get to the Highlands, stay in the channels as there are shallow areas as noted on the charts. I stopped at the Highlands for gas and man, the current was strong. I waited for someone to clear the bridge HOGAN mentioned and just sitting there was tough as the current moved you quite a bit.

All-in-all, a fun trip, great sights. Stop and take a picture near the big lady in the harbor.
 
Sounds like a fun trip.

Don't get linger too close to the big lady or you may get to know NY's finest. Make sure you have all of your coast guard requiments/safety equipment are up to date since it would not be unusual for them to do a safety check in the harbor.

If possible, time your trip on an outgoing tide and you will not be fighting the current all the way down the river.
 
The Navesink is my neck off the woods so I can provide some context. The stretch of river from where the Shrewsbury and the Navesink spilt to the Oceanic bridge is very shallow and very shoaled. IF your draft is much more then 3 feet I would seriously considering making this trip at high tide. Especially early in the season when the channel has not be dredge by other boats going aground.

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The worst part of the trip is just off of Barley point. On the chart you can easily see why. The spit of sand that sticks out labeled 2' is very real. At low tide this whole area is above water and you will see gulls and and children playing on the newly formed islands. This is one area where you will surely want to use the look over your shoulder trick to make sure you are still in the channel.

Once you get to the Oceanic bridge are are relatively safe assuming you stay in the channel until redbank. Once again the river gets very shallow. Where is the wedding in Rumson? And where are you staying? If you are headed to the molly pitcher think coming and going at high tide; if you are going to the Slat Creek Grille make sure you get there early as they do not take docking reservations. For the salt creek ensure that you use the private channel to the Marina; as there is a very shallow sand bar that runs if front of the restraunt. You will have enough water to get to the dock and do a tight turn but not much more.

I hope this helps. This is surely a nice stretch of water but not the most user friendly. IF you are looking for Fuel your stop should be the Atlantic Highland Municpal Marina; it will surely save you between 25-30 cents per gallon; and surely the freshest fuel around.
 
Wow...thank you all very much! Once i get inside Sandy Hook I'll be taking it very slow!

Northern Ivy, the wedding is at Salt Creek Grill. However, i was looking for someplace that would offer transient dockage for 2 nights. The first night i would stay at a local hotel, the 2nd night on the boat!

Would Salt Creek allow that? If not, which local facility would you recomend?

thanks,
dan
 
How big is the boat? and what are you looking to do during the day? The nicest marina in the area is the Molly Pitcher Inn; about 5 miles up the Navesink in Redbank. Redbank is a very "cute" as the wife puts it little town. Tons of great places to eat and really good shopping as well. The Molly Pitcher is one of the nicer places in all of Monmouth County. You will need to get reservations early (like now). You could also stay right at the MP or get a place in Redbank. You could easily take a cab to the Salt Creek from the MP for about $15. The Salt Creek is basically a restaurant that has a T-dock (fixed pier) say 60 feet long. We used to keep our boat at the marina right next door (the oceanic marina) they some times take transients; but you will have a much better time at the MP for sure.

Once you pass under the oceanic bridge you will want to look for the private day markers that mark the channel to the marina. You will follow this channel to the Salt Creek; once you make your turn to port you will want to be about 20' off the bows of the boats in the marina. We had a slip on the outside of the marina and we would come out of our slip, pivot and head for the private channel. The channel is usually in late may early june and you can see the circles on the chart the generally mark where they would be; do not make the turn as soon as you clear the bridge; as you will be aground in a big way. In the chart the SC is basically the dock that is shown right next to the bridge.

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I hope this helps. I can think of worst way to spend the weekend.
 
Thanks Northern Ivy! My boat is a 28' Rinker. My draft is just over 2' at MOST! Some of those water levels frighten me! We are looking to boat in on Friday afternoon (may 16th) and find a place for dinner, then a bar to watch mets vs yanks! Then saturday morning/afternoon is the wedding! Then Saturday night hang out somewhere, then crash on the boat & up early Sunday for the trip back home!

I have a feeling im going to be very nervous when i go and do this........but you gotta bite the bullet sometime right!!!!

thanks,
dan
 
Dan, with an I/o and a 2 foot draft you are going not have a problem. We draw nearly 4' and we would churn mud at the same point every trip in and out. As the shoaling got worse we decided to move to Atlantic Highlands. If I were you I would go to the Molly Pitcher. You will find 100 places to watch the game on Friday (and I believe the marina has in slip cable). Depending on what you want to eat I am sure that you will find something to your liking. Once of the only Zaggat 29's is 4 mins awat from the Red Bank so if you enjoy "fine dining" Nicholas is the place to be. On a more casual level red bank will give you a ton of options in walking distance. Have a good weekend. With a shallow draft this trip is a piece of cake!!!
 
Excellent! I think i'm in good shape then & I'm going to take your advice and go with the Molly Pitcher! I'm looking forward to it & I'll report back!

Thanks again,
dan
 
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