U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 19 SEP 2021 ¢ 342 AY OCK INLET ONIC B EC ays 72°30' W T P SHINNEC GREA ampton B H .charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveCatalog/nrnc.shtml esthampton W Chart Coverage in Coast Pilot 2—Chapter 10 MORICHES INLET http://www AND SOUND ANTIC OCEAN Online Interactive Chart Catalog has complete chart coverage ’s TL NOAA ONG ISL L TH A NOR 73° W AY atchogue P T SOUTH B AND GREA e hor 12326 12353 ay S B ONG ISL AND INLET L FIRE ISL Lindenhurst 73°30' W t eepor Fr JONES INLET 12352 Y INLET WA EAST ROCKA 40°30' N 41° N SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 ¢ 343 19 South Coast of Long Island
(1) This chapter describes the south coast of Long Island information on right whales and recommended measures from Shinnecock Inlet to and including East Rockaway to avoid collisions.) Inlet, several other inlets making into the beach along this (12) All vessels 65 feet or greater in length overall (LOA) part of the coast, and the canals, bays, and tributaries inside and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States are the beach. Also described are the towns of Patchogue and restricted to speeds of 10 knots or less in a Seasonal Oceanside, including Oceanside oil terminals; Bay Shore, Management Area existing around the Ports of New a large fishing center; and the many smaller communities York/New Jersey between November 1 and April 30. that support a large small-craft activity. The area is defined as the waters within a 20-nm radius
(2) of 40°29'42.2"N., 73°55'57.6"W. (See 50 CFR 224.105 Caution in chapter 2 for regulations, limitations and exceptions.) (3) Eelgrass is found in most of the waters described in (13) this chapter. Eelgrass nets are often placed at the entrances ENC - US3NY01M to canals and are sometimes difficult to see. Chart - 12300 (4) Fishtrap areas are in Moriches, Shinnecock, Tiana, Quantuck and Great South Bays. (14) The south coast of Long Island has a general trend of (5) South shore inlets and bays are prone to extreme 247° for 68 miles from Montauk Point to Fire Island Inlet shoaling and depths as low as 1 to 2 feet at low tide. The and thence trends 263° for 36 miles to the western end location of marked channels is subject to change in order of Coney Island in the Lower Bay of New York Harbor. to mark best water. It is a clear shore and may be safely approached as close (6) as 1 mile with not less than 30 feet anywhere between COLREGS Demarcation Lines Montauk Point and Rockaway Inlet, except off Fire Island (7) The lines established for this part of the coast are Inlet and the inlet’s westward side where the shore should described in 33 CFR 80.160, chapter 2. be given a berth of at least 1.5 miles. When viewed from
(8) seaward it presents only a few prominent features. It is Weather, South Coast of Long Island and vicinity composed of a series of sand dunes backed by low dark (9) The south coast of Long Island is open to weather woods. from the south and southeast but somewhat sheltered to (15) Shinnecock, Moriches, Great South and Hempstead the west through north. Waves of 8 feet (>2.5 m) or more Bays are inside the beach along the south coast of Long are most likely in winter when they may be encountered Island and form an inside route for boats of about 3-foot about 6 to 10 percent of the time near the coast. During draft. The three main inlets from the sea to these bays this period gales are encountered less than 5 percent of the are Fire Island Inlet, Jones Inlet and East Rockaway time but are more likely a few hundred miles out to sea. Inlet. These inlets and all auxiliary channels within Fogs are more apt to occur in late spring and early summer the south coast of Long Island have numerous wrecks with a June maximum. Visibilities of less than 2 miles and obstructions, frequent and extensive changes and, are observed about 5 to 10 percent of the time from May although marked in many areas, should not be used through July. These frequencies are higher at the eastern without local knowledge. end in May and June and between Westhampton and (16) Two small inlets, Shinnecock Inlet and Moriches Ambrose in July. Locally, Shinnecock Inlet is particularly Inlet, which broke through in 1938 and 1931, respectively, rough when southerly winds climb to 15 knots or more are also used by small boats for entrance to these bays, during ebb tide; breakers fill the entrance. but their use is not advisable without local knowledge.
(10) (17) North Atlantic right whales No-Discharge Zone (11) Endangered North Atlantic right whales may occur (18) The State of New York, with approval of the within 30 miles of the south coast of Long Island, Environmental Protection Agency, has established a including the approaches to New York Harbor (peak No-Discharge Zone (NDZ) in the South Shore Estuary season: November through April). (See North Atlantic Reserve (SSER) and its harbors, bays and creeks. The Right Whales, indexed as such in chapter 3, for more waterbodies included in the SSER are Shinnecock Bay (East and West), Quantuck Bay, Moriches Bay (East and West), Bellport Bay, Patchogue Bay, Nicoll Bay, Great U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 19 SEP 2021 ¢ 344
(23)
Structures across Shinnecock Canal
Clear Width of Clear Height above Draw or Span Mean High Water Name•Description•Type Location Opening (feet) (feet) Information
Overhead power cable 40°53'24"N., 72°30'08"W. 38
Sunrise Highway/Route 27 Bridge (fixed) 40°53'24"N., 72°30'07"W. 148 23
Railroad Bridge (fixed) 40°53'14"N., 72°30'06"W. 106 22
Overhead power cable 40°53'12"N., 72°30'06"W. 48
Overhead power cable 40°53'10"N., 72°30'06"W. 44
Route 80 Bridge (fixed) 40°53'06"N., 72°30'03"W. 112 25
Overhead power and television cable 40°53'05"N., 72°30'03"W. 34
South Bay (West, East and Great Cove), South Oyster 200 yards. Tidal currents throughout the entire canal Bay, East Bay Complex, Middle Bay Complex and can be dangerous; caution is advised. See the Tidal Western South Shore Bay. Current prediction service at tidesandcurrents.noaa. (19)
(35) Shinnecock Light (40°50'31"N., 72°28'42"W.), 75 Main Street in Westhampton Beach. A reported depth of feet above the water, is shown from a red skeleton tower about 4 feet can be carried to the yacht basin just before on the west side of the inlet. Lights mark the jetties at reaching the Stevens Lane Bridge, which has a fixed span the entrance to the inlet, and uncharted buoys mark the with a clearance of about 7 feet. Berths, electricity and channel. a launching ramp are at the yacht basin. Gasoline, ice (36) The jetties extend about 120 yards beyond the lights and marine supplies are available at a marina on the east marking them. A fish haven is about 2.4 miles south of bank of the bight; engine and hull repairs can be made. Shinnecock Inlet entrance. A forklift can handle craft to 6 tons. In 1981, a reported (37) Ponquogue Point, low and sandy, is 1.2 miles depth of 2 feet was available at the marina. northwestward of Shinnecock Light. The west channel (45) Moriches Bay extends for about 8 miles from from inside Shinnecock Inlet enters the Long Island Quantuck Canal to Narrow Bay and provides an inside Intracoastal Waterway southeast of the point. The passage for small boats. The general depths in the bay Ponquogue Bridge, a highway bridge crossing Shinnecock range from 5 to 7 feet and as low as 1 to 2 feet at low tide, Bay at Ponquogue Point, has a fixed span with a clearance but the southern part is shoal. The marked channel may of 55 feet. be shifted significantly to the north in order to mark best (38) Shinnecock Coast Guard Station is on Ponquogue water. Point. An antenna tower, 229 feet above the water and (46) When navigating the Long Island Intracoastal marked by red lights, is also on the point. Waterway through Moriches Bay northeast of Moriches (39) Pine Neck, 2.3 miles westward of Ponquogue Point Inlet, extreme care must be taken as this area is prone to and on the west side of Tiana Bay, is low, flat and sandy. extreme shoaling. A shoal extends southward from Pine Neck Point and is (47) Speonk Point, near the eastern end of Moriches marked on the south end by a lighted buoy. About 0.5 mile Bay on the north shore, is marked by several bulkheaded east of Pine Neck, a privately dredged channel marked jetties and a prominent flagstaff. by private buoys leads to a basin at Tiana Beach, a small (48) Seatuck Cove, on the north side of Moriches Bay, summer resort on the south side of Shinnecock Bay. about 1 mile westward of Speonk Point, is entered (40) Weesuck Creek, on the north side near the western through a privately dredged channel that leads northward end of Shinnecock Bay, is entered through a privately for about 1.1 miles and then forks into three branch dredged channel that leads to the head of the cove at East channels: East Branch, the easterly branch; Seatuck Quogue. In 1999, the channel, marked by private seasonal Creek, the northerly branch; and Little Seatuck Creek, buoys, had a reported controlling depth of about 5 feet. the westerly branch. In 1981, the controlling depth in the There are two boatyards on the west side near the head entrance channel and in the three branches was 7 feet. of the creek. Berths, electricity, water, marine supplies, Private seasonal buoys mark the entrance channel to the storage facilities and lifts to 30 tons are available. The fork and the channel in East Branch to the small-craft largest marine railway can handle craft up to 65 feet in facilities just inside the entrance. length; hull and engine repairs can be made. (49) A landing at Eastport is on the point just above the (41) Quogue Canal connects Shinnecock Bay with fork between East Branch and Seatuck Creek. In 1981, Quantuck Bay. The canal is crossed by a highway bascule depths of 2 to 3 feet were reported at the landing. Berths, bridge with a clearance of 15 feet and by overhead power moorings, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, and TV cables with clearances of 75 feet. (See 33 CFR some marine supplies and a pump-out are available at 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799(a) through(d), chapter small-craft facilities on East Branch. Lifts to 15 tons can 2, for drawbridge regulations.) A 5 mph speed limit is handle craft for engine and hull repairs. Depths of 3 feet enforced in the canal. are reported alongside. (42) Quantuck Bay joins Quogue Canal with Quantuck (50) Hart Cove, westward of Seatuck Cove, is entered Canal. Quantuck Creek, at the head of the bay, is crossed through a privately dredged channel, marked by private by a fixed bridge, which is the head of navigation except seasonal buoys, that leads to the head of the cove.
for small pulling boats. (51) (43) Quantuck Canal connects Quantuck Bay and Small-craft facilities Moriches Bay. The canal is crossed by two highway (52) Small-craft facilities are near the head on the west bascule bridges with a least clearance of 10 feet. (See 33 side of the cove. Gasoline, water, ice, storage, marine CFR 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799(a) through(d), supplies, a launching ramp and a 30-ton mobile hoist are chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations). The overhead available; hull and engine repairs can be made. power cable at the westernmost bridge has a clearance of 77 feet. A 5 mph speed limit is enforced in the canal. (53) Tuthill Cove, locally known as West Cove, on (44) About 300 yards northeast of the westernmost of the north side of Moriches Bay, 1.5 miles westward of the two bridges, a privately dredged channel leads to Seatuck Cove, is entered through a privately dredged a yacht basin at Westhampton Beach. The channel is and partially marked channel that leads to the head of along the west bank in the bight and is marked by private the cove; in 1986, the channel had a reported controlling seasonal lights and buoys. A dredged cut leads up to U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 19 SEP 2021 ¢ 346
depth of 2 feet. Several privately dredged channels lead (65) from the main channel to small-craft facilities on the east Small-craft facilities side of the cove. A Coast Guard Sector Field Office and (66) Small-craft facilities near the head of the creek Station is on the east side of the entrance to Tuthill Cove. have berths, electricity, storage and a 6-ton lift; hull and East Moriches is on the north side of the cove. engine repairs can be made. A marine railway can haul (54) Tuthill Point is on the west side of the entrance to out vessels up to 32 feet in length. Tuthill Cove. (55) Moriches Inlet, 44 miles westward of Montauk (67) Mud (West Senix) Creek, westward of Senix Creek, Point, is a shallow entrance from seaward to the deeper had a reported controlling depth of about 5 feet in 1981. water in Moriches Bay. Weather continuously changes The creek is used mostly by local residents. A marina the jettied entrance, which is subject to extreme shoaling. on the east side of the creek near the head has berthage, Both east and west jetties are marked by a light, and the electricity, gasoline, diesel, water, ice, marine supplies, approach to the inlet is marked by a lighted whistle buoy. sewage pump-out, surfaced launching ramp and storage; In 2019, significant erosion observed along the shoreline hull and engine repairs can be made. In 2009, approach and exposed riprap mounds in the area of 40°46'11" N., and alongside depths of 6 feet were reported. 72°44'33" W. Due to rapidly changing shoaling conditions (68) Forge River, at the northwest end of Moriches Bay and existing dangers in Moriches Inlet, it is considered about 0.5 mile westward of the common entrance to Senix unsafe for mariners to navigate this inlet at any time. and Mud Creeks, is entered through a privately dredged Buoys are not maintained in this inlet. channel that leads from the Intracoastal Waterway to (56) A fish haven, marked by a buoy, is about 2.5 miles the town dock and turning basin at Mastic, about 1.5 south-southwestward of Moriches Inlet East Breakwater miles above the entrance west of Masury Point, thence Light. for about 0.2 mile to the head of navigation. In 1981– (57) 1999, the reported controlling depth was 6 feet from the COLREGS Demarcation Lines Intracoastal Waterway to the head of navigation. Favor (58) The lines established for Moriches Inlet are described the east side of the channel at the entrance. The channel in 33 CFR 80.160, chapter 2. is marked to the turning basin by private seasonal lighted and unlighted buoys. The town dock is available only to (59) Fire Island extends west from Moriches Inlet for the local residents; however, overnight transient berths about 28 miles along the south shore of Long Island to are available. Fire Island Inlet. With the exception of the state park (69) Old Neck Creek empties into the easterly side occupying its westernmost 4.6 miles, all of Fire Island of Forge River about 0.5 mile above the entrance. A is part of the Fire Island National Seashore, a Marine privately dredged channel leads from the river to the Protected Area (MPA). head of the creek. In 1981, the channel had a reported (60) Orchard Neck Creek, 1.7 miles west of Tuthill controlling depth of 7 feet. A marina, just inside the Point, is extensively used by local small craft as a mooring easterly entrance to the creek, has berths, electricity, basin. A reported depth of about 3 feet is available to the gasoline, diesel, water, ice, marine supplies, lifts to 90 head of navigation. A private seasonal lighted buoy marks tons and storage; hull, engine and electrical repairs can be the entrance. made. In 2009, an approach depth of 5 feet was reported with 8 feet alongside. (61) Small-craft facility (70) Narrow Bay extends for about 3 miles from Moriches Bay to Bellport Bay and provides a continuation (62) A small-craft facility is on the west side of the creek of the inside passage for small boats. The bridge across near its head. Gasoline, water, marine supplies and a 12- the bay eastward of Smith Point has a bascule span with ton lift are available; hull and engine repairs can be made. a clearance of 18 feet. (See 33 CFR 117.1 through 117.59 In 1981, a depth of about 2 feet was reported alongside and 117.799(a) through (d), chapter 2, for drawbridge the facility. regulations.) Caution is recommended when in the vicinity of the bridge because of the piling near the (63) Areskonk Creek, immediately westward of channel. The bridge is an excellent radar target from 5 to Orchard Neck Creek, is used as a harbor by yachtsmen. 10 miles. A privately dredged channel, marked by private seasonal (71) Bellport Bay extends for about 3 miles from Narrow buoys, leads to the head of the creek. In 1981, the channel Bay to Great South Bay and provides a continuation of had a reported controlling depth of 8 feet. the inside passage for small boats. The bay is shoal in its (64) Senix Creek, 0.6 mile westward of Orchard Neck southern part but has depths of 5 to 7 feet in the northern Creek, has a narrow entrance. With local knowledge, part. a reported depth of about 4 feet can be carried in the (72) Carmans River, on the northeast side of Bellport channel to about 0.5 mile above the entrance. Bay, has a depth of about 2 feet through the entrance. Sometimes bush stakes are placed on each of the shoals SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 ¢ 347 19
making off from the points at the entrance. Enter in repairs can be made. A 7-ton marine railway is available midriver between these stakes, favor the east side for a in Abets Creek and a 40-ton marine lift is available in distance of 0.5 mile and then follow midriver; caution Mud Creek. is advised. The river, marked at the entrance by private seasonal lighted buoys, is entered between Long Point (84) Swan River, about 0.4 mile westward of Mud Creek, on the west and Sandy Point on the east. Some of the land is entered through a privately dredged channel that leads areas on both sides of the river just above the entrance to the head of navigation about 1 mile above the mouth. are part of the Werthein National Wildlife Refuge, a In 1981, the channel had a reported controlling depth of Marine Protected Area (MPA); landing is not permitted. 4 feet. In 1985, a shoal was reported to be encroaching A 5 mph speed limit is enforced on the river. from the west side of the channel at the mouth of the river. (73) A private seasonal lighted buoy marks the entrance, and Small-craft facility poles mark the channel above the entrance. (74) A small-craft facility is on the west side of the river about 0.6 mile above the entrance. Electricity, water, (85) Patchogue River, on the north side of Great South some marine supplies, a 12-ton lift and storage facilities Bay, 3.7 miles west of Bellport and 0.9 mile westward are available; hull and engine repairs can be made. of Swan River, is entered through a federal channel that leads from Great South Bay, thence through Patchogue (75) Beaverdam Creek, on the north side of Bellport Bay, and thence to the head of river navigation about 1 Bay about 1.5 miles westward of Carmans River, is mile above the mouth. The federal channel has a project entered through a privately dredged approach channel depth of 8 feet. (See Notice to Mariners and latest edition marked by private seasonal buoys. In 1999, the channel of chart for controlling depths.) The channel is marked by had a reported controlling depth of 7 feet. a lighted and unlighted buoys from the bay to the jettied
(76) entrance. The west side of the entrance is protected by a Small-craft facility breakwater with a light on the outer end and the east side by a bulkhead and short jetty extending southward from (77) A small-craft facility is at the head of the creek and can provide berths, storage, supplies and a 30-ton lift; it; a private light is near the end of the jetty. engine repairs can be made. (86) Patchogue, on Patchogue River, is the principal town on Great South Bay. Depths at the wharves and piers at Patchogue range from 3 to 9 feet. (78) The wharf of a yacht club is on the northwest side (87) Passenger ferry service, summer only, is maintained of Bellport Bay at the town of Bellport, about 0.5 mile from Patchogue to Davis Park and Watch Hill on Fire westward of the entrance to Beaverdam Creek. In 1981, Island. depths of 6 to 8 feet were reported in the basin behind (88) Marinas and boatyards are on the Patchogue River the wharf with about 2½ to 3 feet alongside. Water and a and can provide gasoline, diesel fuel, electricity, water, launching ramp are available. A seasonal passenger ferry marine supplies, pump-out facility, marine lifts to 40 tons operates between the yacht club and Bellport Beach on and winter storage, and full repairs can be made. Fire Island. (89) Corey Creek, 0.6 mile westward of Patchogue (79) A dockmaster manages the village dock adjacent to River, is entered between two jetties each marked by the yacht club. a private seasonal light. In 1981, depths of 3 feet were (80) Great South Bay, on the south shore of Long Island, available in the creek. A marina, on the east side of the extends from Bellport Bay on the east to South Oyster creek just inside the entrance, has berths, electricity, Bay on the west. It is about 20 miles long and about 4 gasoline, marine supplies, water, ice, storage and a 16- miles across its widest part. It can be entered through ton lift; hull, engine and electronic repairs can be made. Fire Island Inlet, from Great Peconic Bay via the inside Depths of 5 feet were reported at the marina in 1985. route, and from westward through Hempstead Bay. The (90) Brown Creek, locally known as Browns River, 3 southeast and southwest portions of the bay are shoal. miles westward of Patchogue, is entered between two Lights, daybeacons and lighted and unlighted buoys mark short jetties extending out to a depth of about 4 feet. The the channels. jetties are marked by lights. A federal project provides for (81) Abets Creek and Mud Creek, on the northeast side a depth of 6 feet from the entrance to the first bend (at of Great South Bay, had reported depths of 4 feet in 1981 Browns River Road), thence 4 feet to the upstream limit of and 6 feet in 2009, respectively. The entrance to each the project. (See Notice to Mariners and the latest edition creek is marked by a private seasonal lighted buoy and of the chart for controlling depths.) Local interests advise stakes. A 5-mph speed limit is enforced in Abets Creek. that mariners steer a centerline course from a point about (82) 0.75 mile south of the jetty lights through the entrance Small-craft facilities channel. (83) Small-craft facilities in both creeks can provide berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, water and storage, and full U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 19 SEP 2021 ¢ 348
(91) these resorts. Year-round ferry service is maintained Small-craft facilities between Ocean Beach, Saltaire and Bay Shore, a town (92) There are several small-craft facilities on the creek. northwestward on the north shore of Great South Bay. Berths, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, marine Seasonal service is available between the surrounding supplies, mobile hoists to 80 tons and hull and engine towns and Bay Shore. A privately dredged channel with repairs are available. A marine railway can handle vessels a reported depth of 9 feet in 1981 leads southward to Fair to 15 feet long. Harbor. A private light marks the channel. (101) On the north shore of Great South Bay, in the vicinity (93) Passenger ferry service, summer only, is available of Nicoll Point, is Heckscher State Park. A boat basin from Sayville to Fire Island Pines, Sailors Haven, Cherry and a small-craft launching ramp are at the park in a Grove and Barrett Beach on Fire Island. cove about 1.6 miles west of Nicoll Point. The park is (94) Green Creek, about 1 mile west of Brown Creek, open during daylight hours only. A 5 mph speed limit is is used by many clam boats. Depths of about 5 feet were enforced. reported available in the creek in 1981. Mariners are (102) Sailors Haven, across Great South Bay from Nicoll advised to use care when entering the creek, especially Point, is part of the Fire Island National Seashore. A during strong southwest winds. Inside the creek, gasoline, privately dredged and marked channel with a depth of water, marine supplies, storage, a 30-ton lift and complete about 4 feet leads from Great South Bay to a seasonally hull, engine and electronic repairs are available. A 4 mph operated marina at which berthing, water, ice and some speed limit is enforced in the creek. supplies are available. A seasonal passenger ferry operates (95) Green Harbor is a privately maintained two-part between Sailors Haven and Sayville. harbor just westward of the entrance to Green Creek. The (103) entrance to the outer basin and the connecting channel Weather, Great South Bay and vicinity between the outer and inner basins are very narrow. In (104) Islip is on the south side of Long Island just inland 1985, depths were reported to be about 6 feet. Limited from Great South Bay and opposite the Fire Island berthing is available in the outer basin. A boatyard is in National Seashore, about halfway between New York the inner basin. An aquaculture site, marked by a private city and Montauk Point. buoy, is near the entrance to Green Harbor around (105) At Islip the average annual temperature is 53°F 40°43'11"N., 73°05'36"W. (11.7°C). The average high is 61°F (16.1°C) and the (96) Connetquot River, locally known as Great River, average low is 44°F (6.7°C). July is the warmest month, is 3 miles westward of Brown Creek. In 1981, a reported with an average high of 82°F (27.8°C) and an average depth of 5 feet (with local knowledge) could be carried low of 67°F (19.4°C). January is the coolest month, with from Nicoll Bay to the boatyards on the east side of the an average high of 39°F (3.9°C) and an average low of river, thence about 2 feet to the head of navigation at 24°F (-4.4°C). The warmest temperature on record for the railroad; favor the east bank of the river above the Islip is 101°F (38.3°C), recorded in July 1991, and the boatyards. A shoal with depths of 2 feet extends northeast coldest temperature on record is -7°F (-21.7°C), recorded from Nicoll Island on the southwest side of the river in January 1984. On average, seven days each year record entrance. A private light marks the entrance to the river. high temperatures in excess of 90°F (32.2°C) and 98 A prominent mansion with a tower, now part of a private days record minimum temperatures below 32°F (0°C). school, is on the north shore of the entrance. An average of only two days each year has an extreme minimum below 5°F (-15°C). (97) Great River is a village on the west side of the river. (106) Precipitation is both moderate and distributed evenly (98) Watch Hill, part of Fire Island National Seashore, throughout the year. August is the wettest month. with an is across Great South Bay from Patchogue. A privately average precipitation total of five inches (127 mm), and dredged channel with a reported depth of 3 feet in 1999 February the driest, with just over three inches (76 mm). leads from Great South Bay to a seasonally operated Average annual precipitation is about 45 inches (1,143 marina. The channel is marked by private seasonal mm). Most of the rainfall from June through September lighted buoys and a lighted range. Berths, electricity, comes from thunderstorms; therefore, it is usually of water, ice, some supplies and a pump-out facility are brief duration but relatively intense. Thunderstorm days available. A passenger ferry operates between Watch Hill average 25 each year. From October to April, however, and Patchogue. precipitation is generally associated with widespread (99) Cherry Grove, a summer resort across Great storm areas, so that day-long rain or snow is common. South Bay from Connetquot River, has a boat landing (107) Snow falls an average 30 days each year and averages extending out to a depth of 5 feet. Seasonal ferry service 21 inches (533 mm) in any given year. The snowiest is maintained with Sayville. month is February, with an average of six inches (152 (100) Point o’ Woods, Ocean Beach, Fair Harbor and mm). Snow has fallen in each month November through Saltaire are summer resorts on Great South Bay westward April. The greatest 24-hour total snowfall was eight of Cherry Grove. Provisions are available at most of inches (203 mm), which fell in March 1993. SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 ¢ 349 19
(108) Tropical storms have influenced the area several southwestward. These waterways are for the most part times since 1871. Hurricane Gloria passed within 10 privately maintained and for the exclusive use of the local miles west of Islip in September 1985. Gloria made property owners. landfall about halfway between Kennedy and Islip and (120) Fire Island Inlet, about 28 miles westward along provided sustained winds of 75 knots at time of landfall the south coast of Long Island from Moriches Inlet, is for the Islip area. Only two days earlier, Gloria was a the only direct entrance from the Atlantic to Great South 125-knot hurricane. Bay. The inlet is subject to extreme shoaling and has been (110) The Long Island U.S. Courthouse (40°45’35"N., moving westward for many years. Mariners are warned 73°11’25"W.) is a prominent feature in East Islip, across to beware of extreme tidal turbulence especially during Champlin Creek from Islip. The building is rectangular times of tidal change and should seek local knowledge with a cone-shaped entrance, is constructed of white and of the latest conditions before entering. Navigation of the gray panels and is 281 feet high; reported to be visible inlet is difficult even with relatively calm seas, and for from 20 miles offshore. small craft it can be extremely dangerous. During heavy weather, the entrance usually is obstructed by breakers. (111) Great Cove, on the north side of Great South Bay (121) about 4 miles westward of Nicoll Point, has depths of 4 COLREGS Demarcation Lines to 8 feet. A line of private orange and white spar buoys (122) The lines established for Fire Island Inlet are across the mouth of Great Cove marks a shellfish closure described in 33 CFR 80.160, chapter 2. area. (112) Orowoc Creek, which enters the northeast part of (123) Fire Island Light (40°37'57"N., 73°13'07"W.), the cove, leads to the boat basin and wharves at the town 167 feet above the water, is shown from a black and of Islip. The channel in the cove is sometimes marked by white horizontally banded tower about 4 miles east- stakes and had a reported depth of about 6 feet in 1981. A northeastward of Democrat Point. Fire Island Coast private light marks the westerly edge of the 3-foot shoal Guard Station is about 1.9 miles west-southwestward on the east side of the channel near the entrance to the of the light. A water tower, about 208 feet high, marked creek. by floodlights and visible for 16 miles, is about 0.1 mile (113) southwest of the Fire Island Coast Guard Station. Small-craft facilities (124) The Robert Moses Causeway Bridge over Fire (114) Small-craft facilities on the creek can provide Island Inlet, 2.1 miles inside the entrance, has a clearance gasoline, water, ice, storage, marine supplies and complete of 65 feet at the 464-foot center span. The bridge is an engine and hull repairs. A 55-foot marine railway and a excellent radar target at a range of more than 12 miles. 25-ton mobile hoist are available. (125) Two boat basins at the Robert Moses (Fire Island) State Park are entered just westward of the southern end (115) Several fish packing plants are on the creek. of the bridge. Berths and water are available in the basins (116) Penataquit Creek and Watchogue Creek, locally between sunrise and sunset. In 1981, depths of 7 feet and known as West Creek, about 0.5 mile westward of 6 feet were reported available in the east and west basins, Orowoc Creek, empty into the northwest end of Great respectively. Cove through a common entrance. Bay Shore is a large (126) fishing center on the northwest shore of Great Cove at the Currents head of the creeks. The common entrance is protected on (127) The currents in Fire Island Inlet, after crossing the its westerly side by a bulkheaded sandspit, which forms bar, have a velocity of about 2.4 knots at full strength and a well-protected boat basin. The entrance channel leads are influenced greatly by the force and direction of the between the northeast end of the sandspit and the point to wind. In the bay, currents have little velocity except in the the east. A private light marks the entrance to the creeks. narrow channels between the shoals and within a radius The channel had a reported depth of 6 feet in 1981. A 4 of 3 miles from Fire Island Coast Guard Station where mph speed limit is enforced on the creeks. their estimated velocity is 1 to 1.5 knots. See the Tidal (117) The ferry landing near the entrance of Penataquit Current prediction service at tidesandcurrents.noaa. Creek had a reported depth of about 5 feet at its end gov for specific information about times, directions, and in 1981. From the landing, ferries connect with Ocean velocities of the current at numerous locations throughout Beach and Saltaire year round and with Point o’ Woods, the area. Links to a user guide for this service can be found Kismet, Fair Harbor, Dunewood, Atlantique, Sea View in chapter 1 of this book. and Ocean Bay Park during the summer. (118) There are several small-craft facilities in Penataquit (128) Fire Island Inlet remains open throughout the year, and Watchogue Creeks. but ice does become a problem in the inland channels through Great South Bay from early January through (119) There are several creeks and a dredged boat basin about mid-March. Several channels lead from Fire Island between Watchogue Creek and Conklin Point to the Inlet to places in Great South Bay and connecting inside U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 19 SEP 2021 ¢ 350
(109) CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA – ISLIP, NEW YORK (40°47'N, 73°07'W) 85 feet (25.9 m)
WEATHER ELEMENTS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC YEAR RECORD SEA LEVEL PRESSURE (station pressure reduced to sea level) YEARS OF Mean (millibars) 1018.5 1018.1 1017.4 1015.6 1016.0 1015.0 1016.1 1017.4 1019.3 1019.5 1019.8 1019.4 1017.6 12 TEMPERATURE (°F) Mean 31.7 32.8 39.8 49.4 59.4 68.6 74.4 72.8 65.1 54.9 45.7 36.0 52.7 12 Mean daily maximum 39.0 40.1 47.6 57.3 68.2 76.9 81.7 80.4 72.9 63.7 53.8 43.5 60.6 12 Mean daily minimum 23.9 25.0 31.5 41.0 50.1 59.8 66.7 64.9 56.7 45.6 37.1 28.0 44.4 12 Extreme (highest) 67 67 82 86 95 95 101 94 91 85 78 66 101 12 Extreme (lowest) -7 2 8 24 34 46 50 45 38 28 11 7 -7 12 RELATIVE HUMIDITY Average percentage 60.4 55.7 49.1 30.6 34.8 25.2 36.0 49.0 67.9 70.2 72.7 68.7 51.4 12 CLOUD COVER Percent of time clear 23.8 27.0 25.5 20.7 20.2 17.2 14.1 18.1 23.4 31.3 22.7 23.2 22.2 12 Percent of time scattered 16.0 16.0 16.6 17.4 20.2 24.4 23.8 24.7 22.1 19.4 20.2 17.4 19.9 12 Percent of time broken 17.5 16.2 17.3 19.4 21.4 25.9 27.6 28.5 21.1 18.6 20.8 17.0 21.0 12 Percent of time overcast 39.7 37.4 36.8 38.9 34.7 28.9 30.0 24.3 29.2 27.0 33.3 38.1 33.1 12 PRECIPITATION (inches) Mean amount 3.4 3.1 3.8 3.0 4.2 3.6 3.6 4.9 3.3 3.5 4.1 3.6 44.6 12 Greatest amount 6.2 5.5 5.5 5.0 10.1 7.8 8.3 13.7 5.0 8.7 8.0 6.0 65.3 12 Least amount 1.3 1.1 1.3 1.2 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.4 0.8 0.3 1.2 0.9 34.4 12 Maximum amount (24 hours) 1.6 2.3 2.5 1.8 4.0 3.5 2.6 6.7 2.2 3.9 2.6 2.6 6.7 12 Mean number of days 15 13 15 16 15 12 13 12 13 11 14 15 164 12 SNOW Mean amount 5.9 6.0 4.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 3.3 20.7 12 Greatest amount 13.5 20.0 13.3 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.6 10.4 33.8 12 Least amount T T T 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 T 11.8 12 Maximum amount (24 hours) 5.7 7.0 8.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.6 9.2 8.0 12 Mean number of days 8 8 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 30 12 WIND Percentage with gales 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.53 12 Mean wind speed (knots) 8.3 8.6 8.9 8.4 7.6 7.5 6.5 6.3 6.6 7.0 8.2 8.2 7.7 12 Direction (percentage of observations) North 5.8 7.3 8.3 5.3 5.3 5.2 4.7 5.6 8.5 8.3 7.0 6.8 6.5 12 North Northeast 4.3 6.2 5.8 5.5 4.4 3.3 3.1 4.1 4.9 6.8 5.1 5.5 4.9 12 Northeast 5.5 4.0 3.7 4.9 4.5 2.5 3.2 4.3 4.9 3.7 4.4 4.5 4.2 12 East Northeast 3.1 3.1 3.0 4.4 4.2 3.2 2.2 4.3 4.2 2.6 3.1 3.5 3.4 12 East 1.7 3.8 3.4 3.7 3.2 3.0 3.1 2.9 3.8 2.5 2.2 2.4 3.0 12 East Southeast 1.6 1.6 2.5 4.6 3.8 2.7 2.8 2.2 2.0 2.5 2.2 1.5 2.5 12 Southeast 1.4 1.5 3.4 4.4 4.6 2.4 2.9 1.7 2.5 2.8 2.4 1.2 2.6 12 South Southeast 1.1 1.4 3.1 4.2 4.2 3.2 4.2 3.0 2.7 3.0 1.9 1.3 2.8 12 South 2.8 2.7 4.9 6.0 7.1 8.0 9.4 8.5 6.2 4.3 3.7 2.3 5.6 12 South Southwest 3.9 5.1 6.5 6.8 8.9 12.4 12.2 9.6 8.1 5.5 5.6 3.5 7.4 12 Southwest 7.7 7.7 6.8 8.7 11.1 14.8 14.3 14.1 9.8 9.5 10.1 7.3 10.2 12 West Southwest 8.0 6.1 4.0 4.9 5.4 7.6 7.2 6.9 6.2 6.2 9.1 9.0 6.7 12 West 9.5 7.4 4.6 5.0 4.0 3.4 3.6 2.8 4.0 5.9 8.0 9.7 5.6 12 West Northwest 12.6 11.2 7.6 6.5 4.8 4.8 3.1 3.7 3.4 6.3 7.5 11.3 6.8 12 Northwest 11.0 11.5 11.4 8.3 6.1 6.0 4.3 4.0 5.0 6.0 8.1 9.5 7.6 12 North Northwest 7.3 10.4 10.7 7.9 6.0 7.7 5.4 6.3 7.0 6.3 7.7 8.2 7.5 12 Calm 12.6 9.8 10.3 9.0 12.3 10.3 14.8 16.4 16.7 18.0 12.2 12.9 13.0 12 Direction (mean speed, knots) North 8.3 9.4 9.3 8.1 7.8 7.7 6.9 6.6 7.5 7.8 7.8 8.7 8.1 12 North Northeast 9.3 8.4 9.7 9.6 9.0 8.3 6.8 7.6 7.6 8.8 8.9 9.2 8.7 12 Northeast 9.1 9.2 11.2 10.6 9.5 8.3 7.3 8.2 8.5 9.7 9.5 9.7 9.3 12 East Northeast 8.8 9.2 10.9 9.3 8.5 6.7 6.7 7.8 7.6 8.3 9.0 8.8 8.5 12 East 7.4 8.2 8.7 8.3 7.8 7.3 5.6 6.3 7.0 6.9 7.6 9.4 7.5 12 East Southeast 8.1 9.7 9.2 9.0 8.1 7.9 7.2 7.2 8.3 8.0 9.8 10.2 8.4 12 Southeast 9.2 9.8 9.7 9.3 9.3 8.4 8.3 8.8 8.4 9.6 11.0 8.5 9.2 12 South Southeast 9.0 9.7 9.6 8.3 8.2 8.0 7.2 7.6 8.1 8.6 11.2 8.8 8.4 12 South 7.6 7.4 7.9 7.7 7.8 7.5 7.1 7.3 6.9 7.6 8.8 7.0 7.5 12 South Southwest 9.6 9.4 10.2 10.0 9.1 9.5 8.8 8.2 8.7 9.2 9.4 9.4 9.2 12 Southwest 9.3 9.0 9.7 9.4 9.4 9.0 8.7 8.0 9.1 9.1 9.4 9.1 9.0 12 West Southwest 8.8 8.2 8.3 7.6 7.5 7.3 6.8 6.8 6.8 7.8 7.7 8.0 7.6 12 West 9.2 8.3 9.1 7.8 7.4 7.0 6.0 5.6 6.2 6.9 8.4 8.8 7.9 12 West Northwest 10.9 10.3 11.3 10.2 8.7 8.2 8.2 7.3 7.8 9.2 10.6 10.4 9.9 12 Northwest 11.0 11.2 11.3 10.6 9.8 9.4 8.1 8.7 9.4 9.7 11.9 11.7 10.5 12 North Northwest 9.6 10.8 10.5 10.1 8.8 8.7 8.2 7.7 8.3 8.8 9.6 9.8 9.4 12 VISIBILITY Mean number of days with fog 15 14 16 16 18 16 22 19 17 15 14 14 196 12 T = trace (not measurable) amount of precipitation Miss or blank is a missing value SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 ¢ 351 19
waterways. These channels are marked with buoys that with East West Channel. These connecting channels are are shifted in position with changing conditions. discussed later in this chapter. (129) The area between Fire Island Inlet and Jones Inlet (137) Babylon is a town on the north shore of Great South is characterized by low, sandy beaches and numerous Bay. A flag pole and a church spire are prominent. The islands fringed by vast stretches of marshy ground. Many public landing, about 0.3 mile northward of Sampawams shallow areas, irregular in outline, are a serious menace Point and at the mouth of Sampawams Creek, had a to the navigation of light-draft vessels. An extensive reported depth of 6 feet at the end in 1993. Approaching network of bays, creeks, coves, channels and inlets covers around Sampawams Point, give the point a berth of 0.3 the entire area. mile when southeastward of it and head northwestward (130) The channel connecting Great South Bay with to the wharf. Jones Inlet, East Bay, and South Oyster Bay is narrow (138) Sampawams Creek, just northward of the wharf, and treacherous and has numerous short bends. Caution has been dredged to reclaim adjacent lands and is should be exercised when navigating in these areas in bulkheaded on the west side. The entrance is marked by small boats. private seasonal buoys and a private light. It is used as (131) From Fire Island Inlet the State Boat Channel leads an anchorage by small craft and has a depth of about 5 westward through Great South Bay and South Oyster feet through the entrance and greater depths inside. Boats Bay to Zacks Bay at Jones Beach State Park, thence also anchor between the public landing and Sampawams westward in Hempstead Bay through winding channels, Point. This anchorage becomes choppy during easterly or well marked by lights, buoys and daybeacons to Reynolds southeasterly winds. Several small-craft facilities are on Channel at Point Lookout, just west of Jones Inlet. the creek. (132) The speed of vessels is limited to 10.4 knots (12 (139) Carlls River, westward of Sampawams Point, in mph) in the channel and 3.5 knots (4 mph) in the areas 1981, had a reported controlling depth of 5 feet in the designated as basin or anchorage. privately dredged entrance channel leading northward (133) A marina on the south side of the channel at the from East West Channel. In 1982, shoaling to an unknown eastern end of Captree Island has berthage, gasoline, extent was reported in the channel. Small-craft facilities diesel fuel, water and ice. on the river have berthage, gasoline, water, marine (134) The Robert Moses Causeway Bridge over the State supplies, a 9-ton lift and a 40-ton mobile hoist; hull and Boat Channel, connecting Oak Beach with Captree engine repairs can be made. In 1993, depths of 5 to 6 feet Island, has twin bascule spans with a clearance of 29 were reported alongside at the facilities. feet at the center. (See 33 CFR 117.1 through 117.59 and (140) West Babylon Creek, locally known as Mud 117.799(a) through (c) and (i), chapter 2, for drawbridge Creek, is about 1 mile westward of Sampawams Point. In regulations.) The twin fixed spans of this bridge and 1981, the privately dredged and marked entrance channel causeway over the inside passage in Great South Bay leading northward from East West Channel had a reported between Captree Island and Conklin Point have a controlling depth of 4 feet. Creeks to the westward have clearance of 60 feet for a middle width of 460 feet. been improved in a similar manner. Several small-craft (135) A shellfish closure area, marked by private yellow facilities are on the creek. buoys, extends from the Robert Moses Causeway (141) A submerged obstruction was reported at the mouth at Conklin Point westward for about 6.8 miles to of the Santapogue River entrance channel in about Narraskatuck Creek. 40°40'01"N., 73°20'36"W. (136) Oak Island Channel, locally known as Babylon Cut, (142) Oak Beach is primarily a summer resort and fishing extends northwestward from the State Boat Channel from village on the north side of Fire Island Inlet. The channel a point opposite the northeastern end of Oak Island to to the village pier, passing eastward of Oak Island, has a Great South Bay and Babylon Cove. In 1981, the channel, depth of about 9 feet. A tall lighted mast on the south side marked by seasonal buoys, had a reported controlling of Oak Beach is prominent. depth of 6 feet except for shoaling to an unknown extent (143) Cedar Beach and Gilgo Beach, westward of Oak in the channel opposite Grass Island. From a point about Beach, are maintained and operated by the County and 1.7 miles above the State Boat Channel, Oak Island Township authorities and are not part of the Long Island Channel connects with a privately dredged and marked State Park System. A tower is prominent east of Cedar channel, locally known as East West Channel, that leads Beach, and another tower is prominent west of Gilgo westward and parallels the northern shore of Great South Beach. Bay for about 6 miles to South Oyster Bay. In 1981, East (144) Neguntatogue Creek, on the north side of Great West Channel had a reported controlling depth of about South Bay at the town of Lindenhurst, has several 4 feet. Several channels, some leading northward into the small-craft facilities. In 2000, the reported controlling waterways on the north side of Great South Bay and some depth in the entrance to the creek was 4 feet. Berths, leading southward to the State Boat Channel, connect electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, storage and U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 19 SEP 2021 ¢ 352
marine supplies are available; hull and engine repairs can (156) Carman Creek, about 0.8 mile westward of be made. Amityville Creek, is used by boats drawing 4 to 5 feet. (145) Fox Creek Channel, privately dredged and (157) South Oyster Bay, lying between Great South marked by private seasonal aids, leads from the mouth Bay and Hempstead Bay, is shoal over its greater part. of Neguntatogue Creek across Great South Bay to a A channel marked by buoys and daybeacons, good junction with the State Boat Channel just eastward of for a draft of 4 feet at high water, extends through the Cedar Island. In 1982, the reported controlling depth was bay. Through traffic uses the State Boat Channel and 3 feet. connecting lanes on the south side of the Bay. (146) Strongs Creek, westward of Neguntatogue Creek, (158) Gilgo Heading, a channel and basin between the in 1981, had a controlling depth of 7 feet in the privately State Boat Channel and Gilgo Beach, has a depth of about dredged entrance channel leading northward from East 7 feet. West Channel. (159) Hempstead Bay is on the south side of Long Island
(147) inside the beach extending from the west end of Great Small-craft facilities South Bay to Far Rockaway. The bay has many sloughs (148) Small-craft facilities in the creek have storage and a that are subject to change in the vicinity of the inlets and 12-ton mobile hoist; hull and engine repairs can be made. where dredging is done to reclaim land. Navigational aids marking the main channels of the bay are maintained by the town of Hempstead. Many shoal spots, some to a foot (149) Great Neck Creek, westward of Strongs Point, has or less, have been reported at several areas of the rivers a depth of about 7 feet in the privately dredged entrance and channels. channel leading northward from East West Channel; (160) Jones Beach State Park, on the south coast of Long greater depths are inside. Island, comprises about 2,500 acres and is under the (150) Woods Creek is westward of Howell Point and jurisdiction of the Long Island State Park and Recreation Howell Creek. In 2005, the reported controlling depth in Commission. A prominent red brick water tower, with the entrance was 3 feet. Gasoline is available just inside a pyramid top, 3.5 miles eastward of Jones Inlet, is the the entrance, and a small-craft facility at the head of the center of Central Mall. The tower, flood-lighted at night, creek can provide limited berths, electricity, gasoline, is visible for 16 miles. The eastern part of Zachs Bay, a water, some marine supplies, a pump-out station, winter dredged basin just east of Jones Beach State Park, is used storage and a 30-ton lift; hull, engine and electrical as an anchorage; a swimming area marked by private repairs can be made. buoys is in the western part of the bay. (151) Amityville Creek, on the north side of the western (161) The Wantagh State Parkway bridge crosses Sloop extremity of Great South Bay, had a reported controlling Channel from Jones Beach State Park to Green Island. depth of about 3 feet in 1981. The entrance to the creek The bridge has a bascule span with a horizontal clearance is marked on the west side by a private light. Several of 76 feet closed and 50 feet open; vertical clearances are boatyards on the creek have marine railways, the largest 16 feet (20 feet at mid-span.) The middle Wantagh State of which can handle craft up to 50 feet in length; gasoline, Parkway fixed bridge over Goose Creek between Green water, ice, storage, marine supplies and complete engine Island and Great Island has a clearance of 16 feet. The and hull repairs are available. northern fixed bridge of the Wantagh State Parkway spans (152) Amityville is a small town on the north shore of Great Island Creek with a clearance of 12 feet. South Bay at its western extremity. The village wharf bares at low water at its face. Amityville Cut extends (162) southward from Amityville Creek and joins the State Boat Caution Channel near Gilgo Beach. The privately maintained and (163) The current is reported to be swift during periods of marked channel had a reported controlling depth of 8 feet maximum flood and ebb at the bridge crossing the Sloop in 1993. Channel from Green Island to Jones Beach State Park (153) Narraskatuck Creek, 0.5 miles westward of and has a tendency to set boats into the bridge abutments. Amityville Creek, had a reported depth of about 3 feet in Mariners are advised to avoid this part of the channel 1981. during these periods and to use the secondary route in Goose Creek, north of Green Island. (154) Small-craft facilities (164) (155) The small-craft facilities on the creek have gasoline, A privately marked channel, locally known as berths, electricity, water, ice, storage, and marine supplies. Racehorse Channel, leads northward from Sloop Mobile hoists can handle craft up to 20 tons; hull, engine, Channel and westward of Green Island to the western and electrical repairs can be made. entrance of Island Creek. Olivers Channel, marked by private buoys and daybeacons, leads westward from near the north end of Racehorse Channel to East Bay. (165) A fish haven is near the middle of East Bay. SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 ¢ 353 19
(166) at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov for specific information Small-craft facilities about times, directions, and velocities of the current at (167) On the north side of East Bay, there is a small-craft numerous locations throughout the area. Links to a user facility on the west side of Nicks Point that had an guide for this service can be found in chapter 1 of this approach depth of 6 feet in 2010. Another facility is on book.
the north side of Island Creek and can provide gasoline, (176) electricity, water, ice, pump-out, some marine supplies, COLREGS Demarcation Lines a 25-ton lift and full repairs; the approach depth is 7 feet. (177) The lines established for Jones Inlet are described in 33 CFR 80.160, chapter 2. (168) Sloop Channel, the main channel leading east from Jones Inlet, extends along the north side of Short Beach (178) Point Lookout is a village on the east end of the and Jones Beach State Park. The channel is marked by barrier beach on the west side of Jones Inlet. A large buoys and daybeacons; shoaling has been reported in lighted tank in the western part of the town is prominent. several areas. (169) A channel joins Haunts Creek east of East Crow (179) Long Creek, marked by seasonal lighted and Island and leads northward through Broad Creek unlighted buoys, leads northward from Jones Inlet Channel to East Bay, thence to Merrick Creek. between Alder Island and Meadow Island and between The channel joining Sloop Channel just west of the Smith Meadow and Pine Marsh to Freeport. The channel Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge leads north through below the Loop Parkway Bridge has been improved by Swift Creek and Neds Creek to East Bay. The channel dredging. The channel above the bridge at the intersection between False Channel Meadow and Pettit Marsh leads with Sea Dog Creek is subject to frequent change; local to Freeport Creek. information should be obtained before using these waters. (170) The Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge has (180) Hudson Channel extends northward to the piers the following clearances: 21 feet for the bascule span at Freeport, a city on the north shore of Baldwin Bay. across Sloop Channel between Jones Beach State Park Freeport has rail and bus service to New York City and and Jones Island, 14 feet for the 29-foot fixed span other points on Long Island. between West Crow Island and Pettit Marsh, and 12 feet for the 29-foot fixed span between Pettit Marsh and (181) Fighting Island. (See 33 CFR 117.1 through 117.59 and Anchorages 117.799 (a)through (c) and (h), chapter 2, for drawbridge (182) A general anchorage is in Randall Bay at the regulations.) northeast end of Baldwin Bay. (See 33 CFR 110.1 and 110.156, chapter 2, for limits and regulations.) (171) The Loop Parkway Bridge has the following clearances: 20 feet for the fixed span over Swift Creek between West Crow Island and Meadow Island, 21 feet (183) Reynolds Channel extends westward from Jones for the bascule span between Meadow Island and Alder Inlet to East Rockaway Inlet and is the main thorofare of Island, and 20 feet for the 29-foot fixed span over Reynolds the route between the inlets. The channel is crossed by Channel between Alder Island and Point Lookout. (See several bridges. 33 CFR 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799(a)through(c) (184) and(f), chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) Currents (172) Jones Inlet, about 12 miles westward along the (185) Strong currents exist in the western portion of south coast of Long Island from Fire Island Inlet, is the Reynolds Channel, and caution must be exercised when principal entrance from the Atlantic to the inside passages approaching the drawbridges, particularly with a fair and towns in Hempstead Bay. The inlet, which is used current; the signal to open the bridge should be given mostly by pleasure craft and fishermen, should not be sufficiently in advance so the bridge can be cleared of attempted without local knowledge because the channel traffic and the draw opened before the vessel arrives and depths are constantly changing. there. The currents of the two inlets meet at the entrance (173) The approach to Jones Inlet is marked by a lighted of the channel leading west from Cinder Creek. whistle buoy, and a light is at the outer end of the jetty on the east side of the entrance. A small-craft basin is (186) A 5 mph speed limit is enforced in the channel inside the inlet on the north side of Jones Beach; berths, between Middle Island and Point Lookout. electricity, water and a pump-out station are available. (187) A secondary channel extends northwestward Jones Beach Coast Guard Station is in the small-craft through Cinder Creek and westward of Parsonage basin. Island to Middle Bay; the channel is not marked. Garrett (174) Lead, the primary channel extending northeastward from Currents Reynolds Channel to Middle Bay, is marked by buoys and (175) The tidal current in the inlet has a velocity of daybeacons. about 3 knots. See the Tidal Current prediction service U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 19 SEP 2021 ¢ 354
(188) Barnums Channel, heading west from Garrett Lead, tankers berth at or near high tide and ground out at low leads to a small-craft facility providing berths, electricity, tide when alongside. gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine supplies, a pump- (196) Woodsburgh Channel joins Broad Channel out facility, a lift to 35 tons, storage and full repairs. The about 0.5 mile northward of Hicks Beach and leads facility has an approach depth of 17 feet and an alongside northwestward to Woodsburgh. The two fixed bridges depth of 14 feet. over Woodmere Channel northwestward of Brosewere (189) Long Beach is a seaside resort on the outer beach Bay have a least clearance of 11 feet. about 4 miles west of Point Lookout. The waterfront on (197) Atlantic Beach is an oceanfront and bayside the bayside is bulkheaded. community on the east side of East Rockaway Inlet. (190) The highway bridges crossing Reynolds Channel Facilities for mooring are eastward and westward of the between Long Beach and Island Park have bascule highway bridge. Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, provisions spans with clearances of 20 feet. The railroad bridge and other supplies are available. about 0.2 mile westward of the highway bridges has a (198) Bannister Creek is just east of the Atlantic Beach bascule span with a clearance of 14 feet. (See 33 CFR Bridge. Bridge Creek extends west just above the mouth 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799(a) through (c) and (g), of Bannister Creek. A small boatyard on the creek can haul chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) out craft up to 6 tons for hull and engine repairs; water, a (191) A dock of the Long Beach Hospital is on the south pump-out and some marine supplies are available. side of Reynolds Channel about 0.3 mile eastward of the (199) The highway bridge crossing Reynolds Channel highway bridge; medical aid to boatmen is available here. to Atlantic Beach just inside East Rockaway Inlet has a The dock is marked by a square white sign with a large bascule span with a clearance of 25 feet. (See 33 CFR red cross. 117.1 through 117.59 and 117.799(a) through (c) and (e), (192) Just westward of the railroad bridge, a dredged chapter 2, for drawbridge regulations.) The bridgetender channel passes through Island Park. The fixed footbridge monitors VHF-FM channel 13; call sign KFL–348. and highway bridge crossing the channel have a least (200) East Rockaway Inlet, about 8 miles westward clearance of 7 feet. Several wharves are available at along the south coast of Long Island from Jones Inlet, is Island Park. the westernmost entrance from the Atlantic to Hempstead (193) Hog Island Channel, the main route to the towns of Bay and the inland water route along the south shore of Oceanside and East Rockaway, joins Reynolds Channel Long Island. The inlet is subject to frequent changes but is southwestward of Island Park and leads westward of reported to be usually safer to navigate than Jones or Fire Island Park, then eastward of West, East and North Island Inlets. The aids marking the inlet are periodically Meadows. East Rockaway Channel, privately marked moved to mark the best water; local knowledge is advised. and an alternate and shallower route to the towns, joins (201) Two large identical apartment buildings are Hog Island Channel about 0.8 mile and 2.4 miles above prominent about 0.8 mile north-northeastward of the jetty Reynolds Channel. Oceanside and East Rockaway are light.
along the east and west sides, respectively, of the northern (202) part of East Rockaway Channel. Currents (194) Mariners of vessels transiting Hog Island Channel (203) The tidal current in the inlet has a velocity of about in the vicinity of the public beach at the village of Island 2.3 knots. Caution should be exercised when passing Park are requested to proceed at a speed that will create through the inlet and bridge at times of maximum minimum wave wash and wake and avoid damage to the current. See the Tidal Current prediction service at beach facilities. tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov for specific information (195) There are numerous marginal-type petroleum about times, directions, and velocities of the current at wharves along the eastern side of Hog Island Channel numerous locations throughout the area. Links to a user between 1.75 and 2.25 miles above the junction with guide for this service can be found in chapter 1 of this Reynolds Channel. In 1981, depths of 6 to 10 feet were book. reported alongside the wharves; oil barges and coastal SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 10 ¢ 355 19