Oregon Inlet, NC

[Sailorman Ed]

I am finally bring my "new" boat home to NC and considering going out of the Chesapeake and down along the coast and then in thru Oregon Inlet. This would be my first time and I have heard this inlet can be challenging under some conditions. The wind looks to be near 20 knots out of the east, NE and waves about 5-6 ft when we would come thru. We will have 2 days experience with the boat by then. Anyone with local experience who can comment?
Ed

[Krogensailor]

Go down the ICW.

[Waterway Guide]

Use the ICW.

[Hannah on 'Rita T']

Oregon Inlet claimed the boat of a friend of mine, the ICW is fun the first time.

[Flem.S.Coyle]

First time into OI? Probably better to do it on someone else's boat, no?

Take the ditch, man!

[Captain Bill]

I was thinking of going out of Oregon Inlet about a month ago but the LNM said hurricane Arthur had taken out all of the markers. I didn't check to see if they had all been relocated or not but I would not do Oregon Inlet even in benign conditions without the markers in place. In the conditions you describe I would use the ICW.