East Coast Inlets

[Jim Jenkins]

Wind direction and the direction the inlet opens toward along with tide make inlet running no big deal or very hairy. Oregon Inlet faces NE and on a stiff NE wind, she will live up to her billing as one of the worst on the East Coast. Hatteras Inlet faces SW. Not so bad on a NE wind but the prevailing SW summer wind blowing 20+ can make this inlet bad as well.

My personal favorite is Barden Inlet which is protected by the Lookout Bight and short of a very stiff West or SW wind is a piece of cake. If it is really blowing hard SW, I do not want to go out side into Onslow Bay anyway.

The channel from Harker's Island area down past the light house is worthy of another thread and discussion. Haven't bumped the bottom in two years now but may touch on the next trip....

[Bart]

Masonboro, Beaufort and Little River, and Charleson Harbor are all very easy in the conditions that you would want to venture out in a 19'. Oregon Inlet is notoriously brutal on outgoing tides. Bogue inlet is scary because its dredging and marking are very inconsistent.

Following other boats out, using common sense, and paying attention to your "spidey senses" are keys to safety. Pay attention to weather and forecasts, even when not boating. If you're offshore, and the wind picks up, head in "Now" rather than waiting for it to get bad offshore. Been out 30 miles in my 21', and came in the minute the wind picked up, and still came through the inlet with 6 - 8' chop (scary).

Choose calm days. In NC, when we are right under a "bermuda high", you get alot of calm (enough) days. Pay attention to land... when wind comes from the North, stay sheltered (e.g. Onslow Bay). Stay inside Capes. Never go alone.

As for returning, I agree that riding the back of a wave in, is by far the most comfortable and least scary.

Bart