Masonboro Inlet

[gettinthere]

Looking for up to date info on Masonboro inlet in NC.
Want to sail to B-fort.
Is it well marked & deep? We draw 5'6".
Thanks

[sailvayu]

This is a very good inlet and you should have no issues, Rock breakers on either side, good in most normal weather conditions, a straight shot till you get in then a dogleg just inside, one of the better inlets in the area. about 64 miles buoy to buoy easy run in good weather.
Good luck

[gettinthere]

Thanks for the info

While I'm at it...how is Winyah Bay entrance? Might need it as a bail out charleston to southport.

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by gettinthere

Thanks for the info

While I'm at it...how is Winyah Bay entrance? Might need it as a bail out charleston to southport.

Both are fine, Winyah has some current, so if you have strong east wind with outgoing current if could be rough until you make the first turn.
I wouldn't to Masonboro at night, they have some unlighted small buoys.
Tom

[cheoah]

Masonboro is a great inlet, all usual precautions. Winyah is good too, and Cape Fear is in there and sounds like you plan on calling on Southport. You probably know this, but Cape Fear and up snows cut to Masonboro, then out to Beaufort or Cape Lookout is very direct. Catch the Cape Fear on a rising tide and it will whisk you up towards Wrightsville.

Like others, I don't recommend these inlets at night, but I must confess, I've done it before, mostly putting out to sea though. Cape Fear is probably the easiest at night, with not as much light noise, but by far, more shipping traffic than the others. I have ended and embarked on passages many times at Cape Lookout after dark -- easier than Beaufort. Acres of 20'+ depths and good protection after an easy entrance with no major wind/current issues in moderate conditions.

Never really get tired of doing laps from SC- NC. If you like to eat fish, make sure you drag a ballyhoo rig behind you for some mahi, or some spoons for Spanish. Can't wait to finish corn planting, barley harvest, etc and get out there... Hope you have a fun, safe passage-

Chase

[Katiusha]

Almost every time we would end up entering Masonboro at night, without a problem. Just watch for the next buoy both visually and on radar and you should be ok.

Oh, and listen to CG alerts: one time there was an unmarked, half-sunken barge adrift around the channel... Thankfully CG's coordinates were spot on and we got around it.