Sailboat Docking in Fire Island, NY

[Joe500]

Has anyone taken a sailboat into the bay at Fire Island? Can someone recommend a place to dock or anchor there where it is fairly deep? I once went to Atlantique and found a municipal dock there that allows non-residents when it's not busy. But it took me two nervous hours of motoring to get there and at least one grounding in sand. I also saw an anchorage right off the left side of the channel after passing through fire island inlet but being anchored so close to the channel on a busy day didn't seem too pleasant. Are there any marinas closer to Fire Island inlet that are deep enough for a sailboat? My boat has about a 5 foot draft and I don't want it bouncing up and down and hitting the bottom on every wave that comes around.

[hellosailor]

Most of the Great South Bay is very shoal and very private. You might try the Point O'Woods Yacht Club if you can get a contact number for them, they're located in the private community of Point O'Woods on Fire Island, probably the only YC there. Or contact someone from Gateway National Park, they might have some public tie-up at Watch Hill available.

Anyplace you can dock--expect to be eaten by mosquitos, bring repellant.

[anotherT34C]

Originally Posted by Joe500

Has anyone taken a sailboat into the bay at Fire Island? Can someone recommend a place to dock or anchor there where it is fairly deep? I once went to Atlantique and found a municipal dock there that allows non-residents when it's not busy. But it took me two nervous hours of motoring to get there and at least one grounding in sand. I also saw an anchorage right off the left side of the channel after passing through fire island inlet but being anchored so close to the channel on a busy day didn't seem too pleasant. Are there any marinas closer to Fire Island inlet that are deep enough for a sailboat? My boat has about a 5 foot draft and I don't want it bouncing up and down and hitting the bottom on every wave that comes around.

Ah, this is my backyard. A five-foot draft is plenty shoal enough to enjoy the bay.

Atlantique is a pretty good marina, and it's free to dock there after labor day, though the bathrooms and snack bar will be closed. No need to try and contact them, just find a slip and park. Very informal. There is also an excellent (free year round) anchorage just to the east of the marina. It's fifteen feet deep, and only a few yards from a beach you can land a dinghy. The "trick" is that you have to enter the anchorage from the northeast, don't come in parallel to the Atlantique marina buoys (make your turn southwest at the red#12 buoy). On your way in to the anchorage, it'll shoal to about six feet before you reach the deep hole. The town of Islip does spray, so mosquitoes aren't much of a problem here. From the marina, you can call a water-taxi to take you to Ocean Beach (town) or wherever. There's no dinghy landing at OB.

Also, you can dock at Watch Hill. This is a nicer marina, and includes a campground. Not sure what, if anything, is open after labor day. The way in is about two miles of narrow channel that is 8+ft deep. Watch Hill is open to all, and I think it was $50/night during the summer. Not sure about off-season. Just pull in anywhere and see the dockmaster to pay. If you can't find a dockmaster, you don't have to pay. As I say, it's all very informal.

Closer to the Fire Island Inlet, you can dock at Saltaire, but to be honest, I'd ride the extra 15-20 minutes and park at Atlantique.