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.