VIDEO: Breaking out of Ebb Current at Moriches Inlet - Long Island
VIDEO: Shinnecock Inlet nearing Max Ebb Current on a busy July day
I wrote an article for Atlantic Coastal Kayaker magazine a few years back about Long Island Barrier Inlets (see link on the right Articles Bar), and wanted to revisit/stress something it mentioned. Which is, if you paddle out one of the inlets in the Long Island barrier island chain, do so mindful of the conditions offshore and your current level of "readiness" - especially near the time of Max Ebb Current! My own paddling skills have waxed and waned over the years - now in a significant waning period after a substantial shoulder injury. I've learned from experience it's best to be cautious - get out and look at the conditions from the shore before you get in your boat. Ask yourself, "am I ready for that today?" I've had a few times where I "went for it" but probably would have preferred to have a more mellow paddle, either because I was tired or assumed a level of fitness that I didn't have or just because I ate a bad breakfast. Most recreational sea kayakers (like me) are probably in the same boat - not entirely sure of their changing abilities as the years pass, or their current level of fitness depending on the season.
Although there are many motor boaters heading out of Moriches and Shinnecock Inlets in summer, there are essentially ZERO kayakers at these two spots. The wider inlets (Jones/Fire Island) yes, you'll see an intrepid kayaker or two heading out these days, but the times I've been at the narrower Moriches and Shinnecock inlets I've seen no other paddlers. Reason is these two are like narrow sluiceways which funnel the bay's water out fast and provide no places to find a restful eddy. If you enter these inlets around time of max ebb current, you have little choice but to go out and hit whatever surf is piling up against the current or struggle back through 3+ knots of water moving in the opposite direction (see a much abbreviated video of the final moments of my exit from Moriches ebb current above, the entire paddle took a long time as I inched slowly out of the inlet at a snail's pace against the current). Shooting out with the current may be fine if the incoming waves aren't too big and you're feeling fit. But if you begin your exit and then have a change of heart you'll be in a bit of a crisis situation. With a strong body, healthy joints, good rough water paddling skills, and a group of seasoned paddling companions the room for error is wider. In fact it could be a blast - surf some waves, stay in a relatively tight group, bring rescue gear. Worse comes to worse, you get exhausted and find yourself pushed out beyond the breakers, raft up or stay offshore until the current diminishes - then head back in. But if you're paddling solo, or without good physical conditioning and a support group of paddlers, your margin for error can be very small.
Photo (below) and video VIDEO: Abandoned Marina - East Moriches, NY of an interesting dilapidated marina I've been to a few times located at the end of Bay Avenue in East Moriches NY - signs say it is (will be?) parkland, but I haven't seen any progress there in the last five years.
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| Aerial Photo of Abandoned Marina (parkland?) at Bay Avenue and Smith Streets - Hamlet of East Moriches |
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