Jones Inlet Claims its first Boat of the Season

[Leprechaun]

Actually, I'm surprised it took this long. Had the VHF off and WFAN-FM on pretty much all day, due to the incessant BS spewed on 68, so I missed all the chatter. Coming home thru JI at 3:30 yesterday, I saw more than a few USCG, Bay Constable and other such governmental boats running around the mouth of JI with their revolving blue lights on, but noticed nothing more than that.

When I go to my dock wifey called and asked if I had seen the boat in distress in JI. I had not. It turns out that a big "Sea Ray-type" cruiser with 12 (twelve!) aboard had tried to transit the Inlet right around low water slack, and unaware that the channel has shoaled in at the 3 can, it hit bottom and tore out its running gear.

USCG got out there and took the people off, the boat was taken under tow. Somehow the tow line wrapped around Buoy 3's anchor chain and got hung up. Geez, bad to worse. They eventually sorted it all sorted out and moved the big pleasure boat out of the inlet - at least by the time I went through there anyway.

Obviously, the driver (I hesitate to call him/her a "pilot") didn't know about the shoaling, nor that the USCG has done nothing about it, and so a nice boat was probably totaled. Please note: for anyone that transits JI outbound - ESPECIALLY at low tide, when approaching the 3 can, go 100 - 150' WEST of it to get past the shoaling, then curve back to the East to reenter the channel. Opposite of course when heading inbound. Either case, stay West of the 3 can.

Why that channel buoy hasn't been moved West (along with the red 4 can), with the USCG well aware of this issue, is just beyond me. Governmental negligence (or indifference) is all I can come up with. Luckily it was a very flat day, because had any of this occurred on a "bad" day in my rotten inlet, the situation could have been waaay worse.

 

[Avenger]

It's probably typical bureaucracy, such as, they can't move the marks without a survey or something like that. I wonder if there's liability if they're aware of the problem and do nothing?

Either way, it's a shame that some family lost their boat due to typical government incompetence.

 

[george]

That was an accident waiting to happen. And they're likely to keep it that way.

 

[Pangaroo]

I ran aground in Jones Inlet about 12 years ago . Was going out in my deep keeled Lobster Boat , I was about 200 feet off the East Jetty ( Inside the Inlet) when I ran aground. Terrifying being stuck in the sand with a strong outgoing tide pushing your boat every which way . Me and my father were terrified for a few moments , but luckily with the deep keel we just gunned the engine and it just slid along the sand until we found deeper water. I was that close to the jetty because years I saw big Party Boats cruise there. I wouldn't race thru the bay in those Big Sea Ray type boats with the open prop/rudder on the bottom , but so many do.

 

[Leprechaun]

I used that "jetty channel" for 26 of the 28 years of owning this boat. In more recent years I always stayed 150-200' off to clear the sandbar that built up there. That channel closed up a couple of seasons ago.

BUT - I heard that one of the locals with 35' T.Jason still uses it all the time. He's got bigger stones than I do. Waaay bigger.

 

[Leprechaun]

 

[Pangaroo]

I used that "jetty channel" for 26 of the 28 years of owning this boat. In more recent years I always stayed 150-200' off to clear the sandbar that built up there. That channel closed up a couple of seasons ago.

BUT - I heard that one of the locals with 35' T.Jason still uses it all the time. He's got bigger stones than I do. Waaay bigg

I wish they'd make a deep channel close to the East Jetty because usually the breaking waves start in the middle of the inlet and move towards the west. Growing up my father always warned us about the West Bar , but a lot of times I go across the West Bar closer towards the beach just to avoid the breakers forming in the middle of the inlet. Man when you get broadsided by one of those inlet waves and your boat practically turns on it's side, it's like time stops and your in some dream.
I'd love for the Gov't to put a camera on an inlet buoy so you know how good or bad the inlet is before you motor all the way over .

 

[OVERBORED]

I've seen many experienced captains get spun around in that inlet. I guess the govt thinks money is better spent replenishing beaches rather than making navigation safer.

 

[george]

I've seen many experienced captains get spun around in that inlet. I guess the govt thinks money is better spent replenishing beaches rather than making navigation safer.

As mariners, our numbers are small, and we don't have the power to influence any election. Most Long Islanders, including our elected representatives, don't even realize they're on an island. In over 50 years of boating and fishing on Long Island, I've learned that no one cares about us except ourselves.

Boaters will be navigating treacherous inlets from Breezy to Montauk, with some facing unnecessary dangers and even fatalities. Meanwhile, new multimillion-dollar homes are being built on Dune Road, homes that we'll likely see floating away in the future.

 

[OVERBORED]

Up and down the coast, you really need to pay attention when navigating inlets.

I can understand not getting out on a southerly wind against tide but running aground IN a channel.

That's negligence on the part of Coast guard!

 

[Leprechaun]

I've seen many experienced captains get spun around in that inlet.

It's only happened to me once, years ago coming home from a blackfish expedition to the West. I believe Capt. Mike was aboard that day. There was a big roll on, and that, coupled with a brisk SW breeze and strong outgoing tide had them really built up. I mean REALLY built up.

Bow fully tabbed up and tried to pick a roller that we could ride through. Unfortunately, after about 200' of sleigh ride the wave broke right under the boat, spinning us like a top - broadside to the next one. I was fast enough on the wheel and throttle to get us righted, just as the second biggie threw us sideways once again. Jesus, I though we were gonna roll, but again I was able to get control - and motored on through. One of the two times that I really was scared enough that my knees were weak for an hour afterwards.

The other instance was outbound (solo, no less), when I took a green one right over the bow and up over the navy top. Never before (or since) have I ever looked into a wave and seen nothing but green water - no foam. I really thought the windshields would blow in. But the bow did come back up (Thank God for Charles Jannice's excellent naval design work on the Shammie 26) and though I had at least a hundred gallons of water in the cockpit, I did motor on thru the nasty stuff - and proceeded to get my solo limit of nice fluke. Badly shaken up, but a happy ending, luckily.

Two Inlet transits I will never, ever forget. One can tempt fate only so many times before the bill comes due. I hope I haven't reached my limit just yet.

 

[OVERBORED]

Wow! Hats off to you. Very easy to panic in those situations. At least you found out the hard way what you and your boat are made of.