Ocracoke and Hatteras Inlets?

[witzgall]

Hi all;

We are taking off for two weeks starting tomorrow. After spending some time down at Point lookout, one option is to go to Ocracoke, if we can navigate either the Ocracoke or Hatteras inlets. We draw 5'3" The charts are ambiguous on the subject.

Are these inlets currently navigable for us? We would not go if the wind is much more than 15, since I image the breakers would be an issue? I ahve navigated inlets via powerboat many times, but not aboard a sailboat.

Any information or advice would be appriciated.

Thanks,
Chris

[ggray]

My experience there was about 5 years ago.
Drawing 3 1/2 ft, I had no trouble with Ocracoke at all, with room to spare, so think you could have made it too, THEN. So I hope others weigh in on this.
But the Big (Foot ?) Slough channel into Silver Lake, where I'm guessing you want to go, was a problem this spring. We started over there, but reports were that the channel was less than 4 ft. The coast guard @ Ocracoke could't tell me for sure, but one finally said fishing boats drawing 5 ft went in all the time. Not sure if they had to avoid low tide though. The ferry goes there as well, and I would think that draws over 5 ft. We would have triedit, but the wind died, and it would have been too late to be worth going.

[camaraderie]

ggray...are you talking about the channel into silver lake....or coming in ocracoke inlet from the ocean side and making your way to Silver Lake?

[witzgall]

I'm interested in getting to Silver lake from the Ocean inlet...

Anyone been there in the last month or two?

Chris

[ggray]

This spring I heard a report that the Big Foot Slough channel into Silver Lake from the Pamlico Sound was limited to 4 ft at low tide.
I wasn't entering Ocracoke Inlet from the Atlantic, so didn't ask about that. I'd be surprised if that would be a problem, but I haven't entered there an some years.