Point Pleasant Canal requires "extreme caution"

[osead]

Its been years for me on the Barnegat but I haven't been through the Point Pleasant Canal yet. 

Chart 12324 says to use "extreme caution" through the canal's bridges and my FV 250 is only a single engine and I was wondering how difficult is it to navigate?  I've been told the problem in the Canal is the tides and the really poor seamanship of the general boating public.

Any Comments welcome.

[AlexisandChad]

Up in my area we have a few of those "warnings" but those are for low bridge clearances and hidden shoals.  One of our new members snapped his antenna this weekend.  boat cleared but the antenna didn't.   

most charts have warnings that may seem extreme sometimes but they are there for a reason.  do your research and good luck.

[osead]

Thanks, AlexisandChad   but I neglected to say the the chart states the "the waters are very turbulent" and I've been told by a few Marina buddies that, if you catch it right, you'll get water washed right over the bow of a 28 footer. The canal is also narrow.   So.... how difficult can that be to maneuver? with my 25 footer?  Just wondering is it a lot of hype or is it scary?

[HORIZONS]

I travel the Point Pleasant Canal frequently.  No problem with your FV250.  Boats of all sizes go through with no problem.  During high traffic (weekends) the canal can be like a bath tub.  Most stay in line following along in no hurry.  Every once in a while someone will get stupid and pass, just let him go.  Good ride to the Manasquan inlet.  Enjoy the cruise.

[Cassiola]

I have a FV270 and I travel that canal during spring and then in the fall when I bring the boat for storage.

Yes, it can get turbulent, and the tide can be quick, but as long as you take it easy, follow the other boats, there's no problem.

As HORIZONS said, every once in a while you'll get someone that's impatient and will want to blow by you. Just let them go. I take it nice and easy and there's never a problem.

[capt bob]

Ditto to what everyone said.  Take it easy, stay on your side, let the idiots be idiots.  Just give yourself some room from the sides and you'll be fine.  Enjoy the ride.

[goodrigo]

I've travelled through the canal quite a lot, and yes it can be very turbulent when the tide is changing and there is heavy traffic. I keep the bow high and leave a bit of a wake when the conditions are like that, just to avoid water coming over the bow.... which has happened before. We once secured a small disabled sailboat until local towing arrived... they were frantically trying not to smash into the metal piling which lines the walls of the entire canal. Generally, it can be a nice ride between both bodies of water... the Metedeconk and Manasquan rivers and then out into the ocean.

[osead]

Yeah I've heard stories about the water over the bow roughness and that's why I've been avoiding it especially with the family.  So its a tidal phenomenon then?

[goodrigo]

You mentioned the time you spent in the Barnegat Bay.... 2 yrs ago I exited through the Manasquan Inlet and went down the Jersey coast in hopes of entering the Barnegat Inlet and making my way up through and back into the Metedeconk. I found the initial navigating after entering the Inlet very tricky... I guess the sands are constantly shifting down there, because it got quite shallow in many places, it was like an obstacle course. My GPS helped a little with identifying where the channel "should" be. Needless to say, I chose to follow another boat back out toward the Inlet and I ended up brushing the sandy bottom following them... I left with my tail between my legs. I only had a couple of years of boating under my belt, so I'll try it again someday.

[osead]

Yeah, I know what you mean.  I follow Chart 12324 and refer to Coast Guard's LNM before i go anywhere on the bay.  The whole bay is none to deep!

That's what started me with this whole post.  The Chart says to use "extreme caution" and from the posts above, I can only conclude it must be a tide-dependent-boat traffic-event as to when it gets "ify".

I'll check the tide tables and go on a weekday with a buddy and w/o the family if I can schedule it.

Best of luck!