Ocean City (MD) inlet information

[pete33458]

Hi all: preparing to make first trip down the east coast from CT to FL. I have limited information for NJ/DE/MD inlets (I live in FL). Can anyone familiar with the area of Ocean City MD tell me whether the inlet is navigable under normal conditions for 6' draft/60' height, and whether there are any sailboat-friendly marinas there? If not, other inlets between there and the Chesapeake that might be useful, even for anchoring? I want the next leg to be all the way to Beaufort (outside), and want to round Hatteras in early morning (daylight) to make Beaufort late afternoon (that's the plan anyway), and I think the Ocean City region is about the right range.

Please, no hurricane warnings.... thanks, pete

[thinwater]

Your best bet is going to be to call the Chincoteague Coast Guard (area HQ from Delaware to Chesapeake) at 757-336-2874.

You should have pleanty of water at OC, but it is some rough in on-shore conditions, as there is a bar that can break at low tide in any swell much over 8 feet. I prefer to anchor in OC, as the marinas near the entrance are subject to surge.

There are no other harbors between the Delaware and Chesapeake you want to try. Chincoteague will work, but there are no marinas for your draft other than the town dock. It is a variable entrance and 6-foot draft can be a problem inside at low tide, if you get just a bit off-track.