Oregon Inlet, North Carolina

[Ardie]

Ahoy ! As part of our summer cruise I am considering entering the Atlantic via the Oregon Inlst, NC. I am having difficulty gathering anything but superficial info on the Inlet. I know the bottom shifts, I learned the outflow is 3X the inflow but I'd like to talk to folks who have used it and what advice they would offer. I have used East Coast inlets before a number of times but like to have knowledge based on experience and/or local knowledge. I would appreciate your responses. Maybe it would help if I mention, 37' sailboat, 5' draft.

Thanks, Ardie in Virginia

[Sunspot Baby]

They try to keep the marks up to date with the channel, but any info you get today won't be valid soon. The good news, in my mind, is that you are going out there. Get close, then dinghy in and make friends with a local commercial fisherman. Get the latest scoop, and maybe enven follow him out.

Can't do that coming in.

George

[camaraderie]

Don't do it. Bad inlet, lots of shoals on approach...constantly shifting channel with strong currents.
Since you are coming from the inside...if you are heading south...suggest just going down the Pamlico and heading up the Nuese and onward to Beaufort inlet. If northbound...stick to the ICW (you can do the alternate ICW up past Manteo for variety).
I use lots of E. Coast inlets too....this ain't one of those!

[Iain]

I would never take my sailboat through the inlet. I have been through there on other boats when the channel markers were on dry sand and when there was less than 3' of water in the marked channel. I grew up about 5 miles from the inlet and have never seen a sailboat go though. I would say the only way to know the condition of the inlet would be to go through and take soundings of the channel.

[Iain]

If the inlet is in decent shape, the surf is calm and you go through at a slack tide im sure it cold be done.

[GordMay]

Aerial pics of Oregon Inlet, N.C. don't make it look very inviting ...
Oregon Inlet pictures 1932 - 1998
Oregon Inlet pictures 1932 - 1998

Oregon Inlet

[camaraderie]

MORE DATA...
May 15, 2006
NC-Oregon Inlet, Shoaling:
A Corps of Engineers survey conducted on May 3, 2006, indicates shoaling to a depth of 4.3 feet MLW in the vicinity of Oregon Inlet lighted buoy "11" and lighted buoy "14." This shoaling also extends into the auxiliary channel. The aids to navigation may no longer mark the best water and boaters are advised not to transit this area during low water and to use extreme caution during other tidal states.

ARTICLE: Trawler runs aground in Oregon Inlet, loses load of fish (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)
Trawler runs aground in Oregon Inlet

[lee oakley]

hello I am at Bath n.c. if you get any info please let me know best way I can find is up at hatterus it is shown a lot better o noaa charts

[lee oakley]

Hellohow about up at hatterus? I am at bath n.c. and best info that I can get shows that channel well

[TheOffice]

This is a 9 year old thread.

Try this: Wilmington District > Missions > Navigation > Hydrographic Surveys

[tuffr2]

About a year ago I was going to live in Va. and make Deltaville my port to the Chesapeake then the Atlantic.

Since then I decided to move to Florida.

Not sure if my Deltaville idea was a good idea or not.

Sent from my SM-G360V using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[lee oakley]

What about hatteras inlet? Can anyone tell how it is:

[thomm225]

I was told to avoid Oregon Inlet and I only have a draft of 4'.

Inlets change fast up here. The inlet we used as kids on powerboats closed itself off during a weather event and is now a beach!

If all else fails, there's lots of good information about all the inlets in that area here:

(you'll need to register and login. Then select nautical and zoom in)

https://activecaptain.com/X.php

[lee oakley]

Does not seem anyone can tell me anything about the hatteras inlet

[thomm225]

From Activecaptain:

Hatteras Inlet, 11 miles westward of Cape Hatteras Light, is entered over a shifting bar which is subject to continual change; local knowledge is recommended. The approach is marked by a lighted buoy; buoys marking the channel over the bar are not charted because they are frequently shifted in position. An 88-foot lookout tower showing a white light on the east side of the inlet is a conspicuous mark. Hatteras Inlet Crab Spawning Sanctuary, a Marine Managed Area (MMA), is in the inlet near Hatteras Island and Pamlico Sound.

Hatteras Inlet Channel is a dredged channel that leads from Hatteras Inlet to Rollinson Channel in the vicinity of the basin entrance at Hatteras. The channel is reported to shoal rapidly between dredgings. In 1981-May 2000, the controlling depth was 6 feet. The channel is marked by lights, buoys, and daybeacons. In September 1999, a side channel to Austin Creek had a controlling depth of 5½ feet to the Coast Guard pier and the ferry landing. The creek channel is marked by two lights.

Rollinson Channel, the approach to Hatteras from Pamlico Sound.A small ferry carries vehicles and passengers across Hatteras Inlet from Austin Creek to Ocracoke Island.Tides: The mean range of tide is 2 feet on the bar. In the channels the height of the water depends upon the direction and force of the wind.Currents: The tidal currents in the channel through the inlet are influenced by winds and attain velocities of about 2 knots.The most recent Army Corp depth survey can be found at:http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missio...llHarbors.aspx