Manasquan Inlet to Sandy Hook

[Captain Guido]

Hello.

I’m looking for feedback from anyone with experience transiting this section of the coast. After an overnight somewhere inside the Manasquan inlet in my R23, I want to head out to follow the coast north, around Sandy Hook, then toward the Varrazzano Narrows Bridge. The navigation charts take you off the coast several miles before you turn toward the bridge, and I would prefer to stay closer to the shore to reduce the distance traveled in open water. If anyone is familiar with this section, please let me know if it’s common practice for small boats to closely follow the coast north, and generally, a safe distance from the shore.
Thanks
Captain Guido

 

[knotflying]

You can stay a couple of miles off shore. Being close won't help you much since there are no inlets to duck into. Just make sure you go during good sea conditions. Check the weather and you will be fine.

 

[NautiTug]

This is my local area. Yes, you can stay close to shore. I usually run it 2 miles off the coast as the water is deeper so any swells have less impact. Only area of caution is if you are going to go around the tip of sandy hook into sandy hook bay. pay attention to the channel markers around what is called the "false tip" of the hook. if your charts are from this year or last you should be ok but older than that it will be wrong.

 

[Martin610]

My local area as well. I transited this area in June on a trip to Fire Island. I use Windy.com to check winds and sea state. A west wind will make things a bit easier.

Manasquan inlet is pretty straight forward. Anchoring up river from Treasure Island may work for you. There is a dock and dine marina called River Rock that has really good pizza. A few miles up the coast from Manasquan you have Shark River Inlet. There are transient slips there.

Sandy Hook requires your undivided attention. Lots of shipping traffic. The channel that goes around the hook is pretty narrow. Once around the hook you enter Sandy Hook Bay, there is an anchorage just inside the breakwater of Atlantic Highlands municipal marina. Good holding. If you go ashore there are restaurants and the Henry Hudson Trail for hiking.

The Waterway Guide is a good reference.

Side note, on my trip to Fire Island I saw container ships anchored up stretching all the way from Ambrose approach to FI Inlet! Never saw that before. Doesn't seem like the shipping back log is getting any better.

-martin610

 

[Captain Guido]

My Maptech chart of NJ coast is Edition 3, which I purchased in 2020. The chart does shows the "False Hook", but who knows how much the sands shifted since publication. I also have my Garmin system, which was last updated in May of 2022. Nevertheless, I'll swing east of the area and keep an eye out for the weather.

Thank to all for your feedback.