Ocracoke Inlet - June 2017

[Two Drifters]

Well after a lot of umming and arring we decided to have a go at the Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

We are a cat and draw 4.5ft.

Local Beaufort opinion was divided as was the internet reports we could find. Some thought we would have plenty of depth other thought we were mad and would definitely sink the boat

In the end we followed a local fishing boat into the 1st marker and then amazingly met the Coast Guard who very kindly showed us the way in up to Silver Lake.

Thoughts for anyone else coming in this way. This inlet has a shifting bar and shifting shoals. Do not 100% trust the buoys, but the CG and local fishers can give you an update on the situation. Also the below is probably only good till the next storm.

- Marker 1 (Green) is SW of the RW safe water mark. It is missing its top and looks a bit like a big ship mooring in the water. Whilst this is Green the two fishing boats we followed left it to Starboard and there was plenty of water. 4m

- They then went down the middle of the channel, as did we. Plenty of water till marker 10. 3m

- At the tip of Ocracoke island we gave the red a wide berth. Again plenty of water.

- At 10, 12 it got a bit shallow. 2m

- At 22 it was a bit complicated as there are three reds in a sort of triangle. Leave 22 to Stb by about 20 ft. The next stays to PORT and the third to Stb by about 20 ft so a line cutting the middle of the triangle essentially.

- At 30 there is also 30a. After 30a take a sharp right and line up the base of the radio mast. Leaving 31 well to port as it shoals here.

After this is is a straight run up to Silver Lake. On entering Silver Lake we were told to hug the greens.

We went up 1 hour before low tied and had 2 knots against us, more in places. We could see most of the shoal water at this stage of the tide.

We had no less than 2 ft under the keel, so the channel must carry almost 6ft at LW.

Without local help we would have hit the bottom in the inner channel, but I think this would have been OK coming in through the breakers into safer water once we found Green 1 was pretty straight forward.

We had a very gentle offshore breeze. I would not want to attempt this for the first time in anything less than idea conditions.

Good Luck, hope this helps! And not for the feint of heart.

[Two Drifters]

PS when we left the buoys off station had been moved to the right place.

But Green 1 was still missing it's top half

[LoudMusic]

I realize this is only a year old, but as Two Drifters points out, everything changes with a single storm. Does anyone have more recent info regarding the Ocracoke Inlet ?

[zboss]

Originally Posted by LoudMusic

I realize this is only a year old, but as Two Drifters points out, everything changes with a single storm. Does anyone have more recent info regarding the Ocracoke Inlet ?

Wilmington District > Missions > Navigation > Hydrographic Surveys > Side Channels Small Harbors