Running Inlets

[Gerry Zagorski]

If you are new to boating here are some tips for running inlets.


- If you're not familiar with an inlet make sure you have charts so you are aware of the correct approach. Shoaling usually occurs on the south side of most NJ ocean inlets. Some have rock remnants that are out a good distance from the mouth of the inlet that may be submerged during high tide. Running up on a shoal or into rocks may not cause an immediate sinking but it can certainly lead to one. There is an inlet in Morgan NJ that's entire east rock jetty is submerged from the shore out to the inlet marker. Imagine not knowing that and cutting that corner. If you don't have a chart or are familiar with the inlet wait and follow another boat in.

- If your running an inlet and you encounter unfavorable conditions the inlet is not the place to turn around. Often times the conditions will be worse inside the inlet then they are in the ocean. It's best to tough it out through the inlet and make your turn to run back out in the ocean. The waves are usually not as frequent or steep in the ocean and you have better maneuverability and there are fewer boats around to be concerned with.

- Large swells at the inlet entrance are caused by the inlet currents meeting the ocean and boat traffic. This is usually more pronounced when you have a wind against tide situation, especially an outgoing tide and an east winds. If your running a small boat why not take the car down to the inlet before you run it to check the conditions. Either that or get on the radio and try and reach someone who had just run it.

- Following seas can be very dangerous and unnerving to small and especially new boaters. They are most frequently encountered when running into rather then out of an inlet. When the back of a wave hits your stern it causes you to loose steering and therefore control of your boat. In small outboard boats with open transom wells they can also cause swamping.

- Another problem in following seas is Pitchpoling. You can liken it to surfing a wave. Easy to do on a surfboard but not to be done on a boat. If you're climbing over a wave once over the top and down the back of it you can build up excessive speed and make your bow dig into the trough of the next wave. The pressure on the back and front of the boat can cause it to roll. This happens most often when you have tight steep waves instead of swells. Best thing to do to avoid Pitchpoling is keep your bow up and as light as possible and avoid getting caught between waves. For this reason when your approaching an inlet in following seas hang outside the inlet and observe the wave patterns. Most often waves will come along in-groups of 3s with the last wave being the largest. You want to follow behind that 3rd wave and keep up enough power so any waves don’t catch you from behind. You need a lot of power for this maneuver and some skill. If you or your boat is not up to the task best to stay on the ocean side until conditions improve in the inlet.

- The weather doesn't have to be terrible or the wind howling for inlet conditions to turn sour. Boat traffic also effects the ability of a small boater to run an inlet for 2 reasons 1) Boats cause wakes which are exaggerated in the small confines of an inlet and 2) Boat traffic dictates how fast or slow you can go as well as where and when you can or can't turn. It's always best to hang back and let larger boats clear the inlet before you run it.

- If your in questionable conditions you and your crew should be wearing your life jackets. This is even more important in inlets where the conditions are usually more dangerous.

- If you do need to turn around, time your turn and try to avoid taking waves on the side/beam. Keep your boat pointed into the seas and wait until you are between wave sets to make your turn and make it fast.

I don't want this post to talk anyone out of taking their boat out on the ocean. The ocean can be a beautiful relaxing place. You do however need to know the limitations of your boat and crew, keep a sharp eye out for changing conditions, know the inlet your running and most of all know what to do should you get caught in unfavorable conditions.


Hope this helps you navigate inlets more safely.

[BOILERMAKER]

remember going out barnegat inlet many years ago with my dad when boats used to single file without passing and swamping the other guy. even on the weekends, boy them days are gone. i still practice this when in my boat but it doesnt seem to work these days . it would make a more enjoyable day for all.

[JoeLongo]

Thanks for talking me out of getting a boat Gerry

[DMac]

I was running a 23 CC Mako now downsized to a 17CC. I run the ocean but pick my days. i was out a few days people would have called me crazy, but I have been on a boat since I was 9 months old and running them since a child. I came into belmar inlet one day and it was nasty. My point is somedays being in a small boat has its advantages. I went in that inlet staight as an arrow while any boat over say 23-25 feet was getting tossed back and forth like a rag doll. Saw a 36 Luhrs spin completely sideways in front of me. I just worked my throttle. to keep me where I wanted to be and left plenty of space between me and boat in front of me. Also saw someone panic and almost put there boat on the rocks. Worst thing you can do in bad conditions is panic. You can be nervous, because that is nature and will make you more observant, but panic will get you killed.

[Gerry Zagorski]

For sure Dmac. Bigger is not always better.... Smaller boats are a lot more nimble, especially in close quarters like an inlet... Their ability to turn on a dime and power up quickly helps a great deal. Point in case, I've seen some Wave Runners run some pretty nasty inlets when larger boats had a more difficult time.

And you are right.... The worst thing to do is panic.

I was coming into the Belmar inlet once.... We had run down from Sandy Hook and the east wind started honking pretty good. It was bumpy and we took a few over the bow when runing the ocean, but were never in any danger. Every time we'd take some water over the bow the 2 women we had with us were screaming... "OMG were gonna die" sort of stuff....

As I approached the inlet I knew it was going to be a bit nasty because we had an outgoing tide and the waves were standing up. I slowed the boat down well outside the inlet and told the ladies.... "Look.... You want to get in safely right? Well, we are in no immediate danger but I need to really concetrate when we go through the inlet, so could the 2 of you please calm down so I can take us in"...I'm sure my words were a bit more forcefull and colorful then that, but I needed them to get ahold of themsleves and stop screaming so I could concentrate.

I waited for a few minutes and you could see that there was a definate cadence to the seas. The waves would come in sets and then you'd get a lul.. I timed it so we went in behind a set and we hardly even got a splash on the windshield.

Take your time, be observant and don't panic and you can get through just about anything.

[DMac]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

For sure Dmac. Bigger is not always better.... Smaller boats are a lot more nimble, especially in close quarters like an inlet... Their ability to turn on a dime and power up quickly helps a great deal. Point in case, I've seen some Wave Runners run some pretty nasty inlets when larger boats had a more difficult time.

And you are right.... The worst thing to do is panic.

I was coming into the Belmar inlet once.... We had run down from Sandy Hook and the east wind started honking pretty good. It was bumpy and we took a few over the bow when runing the ocean, but were never in any danger. Every time we'd take some water over the bow the 2 women we had with us were screaming... "OMG were gonna die" sort of stuff....

As I approached the inlet I knew it was going to be a bit nasty because we had an outgoing tide and the waves were standing up. I slowed the boat down well outside the inlet and told the ladies.... "Look.... You want to get in safely right? Well, we are in no immediate danger but I need to really concetrate when we go through the inlet, so could the 2 of you please calm down so I can take us in"...I'm sure my words were a bit more forcefull and colorful then that, but I needed them to get ahold of themsleves and stop screaming so I could concentrate.

I waited for a few minutes and you could see that there was a definate cadence to the seas. The waves would come in sets and then you'd get a lul.. I timed it so we went in behind a set and we hardly even got a splash on the windshield.

Take your time, be observant and don't panic and you can get through just about anything.

I must give my crew that day credit they gave me the look like they were saying we trust you, but I did reassure them before we made the run in that I was confident in how to approach it. once we broke the bridge my one buddy said to me I am glad you were behind the wheel because I would have been a mess. It was nasty especially for being in a 17 foot center, but the seas were not that bad at all it was just the way the wind and tide were running that made the inlet angry. didn't help that people were not working their throttle just running and gunning and getting tossed all over.

You are right nothing worst than a panic stricken crew. If anything would happen you need them to be able to respond.

I came thru that inlet with engine problems in my 23 footer due to ethanol fuel breaking free deposits blocking my carb fuel filter. now that was scary. what I did was idol outside to let fuel build up in carb and then made a mad dash and just as I broke into no wake had it spudder starving for fuel.

[seadog]

No such thing as to much good boat handeling advice. Also no substiute for having proper safty equip either. Life jackets should always have whistle And light or glow stick, throwable flotion device ( I like keeping A Mustang stick in addition to this) water proof portable radio also good idea. Also I'm fond of the inflatable life belts, especilly in cold weather conditions. Due to the comfort of thies belts I find people more inclinded to wear them. Last but not least portable EPRIBs have really come down in price ( pretty affordable now). Might be worth a 2ed look for a lot of boaters. There should also be a plan in place for getting some out of the water if they do fall overboard,this may not be as easy as you think. As stated before PANIC makes any bad situation worse. A calm (even fake calm) Capt. will help keep the crew at ease. Years ago I used to teach non swims in NAVY boat Camp and you would be amazed how quickly people can panic when it comes to water. The calmer they can stay the easier it is to respond safely to adverse conditions.

[mickrazz]

Thanks for some very good info Jerry. You really ARE a nice guy.

[DMac]

Originally Posted by seadog

No such thing as to much good boat handeling advice. Also no substiute for having proper safty equip either. Life jackets should always have whistle And light or glow stick, throwable flotion device ( I like keeping A Mustang stick in addition to this) water proof portable radio also good idea. Also I'm fond of the inflatable life belts, especilly in cold weather conditions. Due to the comfort of thies belts I find people more inclinded to wear them. Last but not least portable EPRIBs have really come down in price ( pretty affordable now). Might be worth a 2ed look for a lot of boaters. There should also be a plan in place for getting some out of the water if they do fall overboard,this may not be as easy as you think. As stated before PANIC makes any bad situation worse. A calm (even fake calm) Capt. will help keep the crew at ease. Years ago I used to teach non swims in NAVY boat Camp and you would be amazed how quickly people can panic when it comes to water. The calmer they can stay the easier it is to respond safely to adverse conditions.

They make a light stick kit now that you can carry and I personally carry on my own boat that has a white light for stern and a green and red light stick for your bow in case you have malfunctioning navigational lights. Only thing they should add are some zip ties to attach them but I just personally threw them in. You never know when you might have a light go out on you, altough you might be able to fix the problem like a light bulb, fuse etc at sea you also might have something you cant fix. Its a cheap addition to your safety gear that might come in useful for some other situation.

[High low]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

- If you're not familiar with an inlet make sure you have charts so you are aware of the correct approach... Some have rock remnants that are out a good distance from the mouth of the inlet that may be submerged during high tide.

Couldn't agree more. A few years back after a day outside, we ran into the Barni during a following sea. Some schmuck on a bowrider came screaming across the submerged jetti. Never have I been more afraid, not for my safety, but for the little kids enjoying a day on the water in the back of that boat. Capn spins the 21 CC we're riding on a dime and we mash the gas toward them as they skim across the top of the water and keep moving through the inlet at full throttle. With them somehow being safe, we plow through the snot back out to make entrance #2 into the inlet. A hundred yards in and the inlet starts to play nasty, the boat leans to port, then back to starboard (where I was standing holding the windscreen) as the water disappears beneath our feet and all I see is sand. Capn backs off the gas, boat is dropping as the water fills in and we roll up the back of another wave. Can never let your guard down, and when you think you're being the nice guy and helping out, mother nature comes along to slap you on the back of your head to remind you who is really the boss.