Question for New York & New Jersey boaters

[wahoo33417]

A question for you who know the Hudson River, New Jersey ICW and Delaware Bay waters: Are the waters significantly less busy after school begins?

I'm planning an annual boat trip in which we cover a segment of the Great Loop. This year, we hope to begin in Albany, head south through NJ, and finish in Philadelphia.

We prefer the more quiet times of year on the water, but we have to balance this with the more predictable seas of summer. Given other family constraints, we could begin in mid August and catch what I presume to be more likely calm seas in the 40-mile stretch from New York Harbor to Manasquan Inlet and then another stretch through Delaware Bay.

Or we could wait until mid September, after school begins, but risk (perhaps?) less predictable sea conditions.

So, to those who know, is there any appreciable difference in typical sea conditions and waterway activity from say mid August to mid September?

Thanks in advance for you help.

Rob

 

[rjchankalian]

I run out of Manasquan and Barnegat inlets. I'd say there is less boat traffic at that time but the weekends are still busy. September is a great month and good fishing around here.

 

[wahoo33417]

Thanks, Bob. Local knowledge is always a great thing to have.

Tx, Rob

 

[beachbum]

agree- i live along the hudson and have a boat in barnegat- the traffic is lower in Sept and the weather/seas are not much different than August. I agree, the weekend traffic is a bit heavier than weekday during Sept but still better than July and Aug.

 

[beachbum]

I was looking at your question again. I am not sure about the Albany area but the lower Hudson a river, jersey shore boating and beaches actually start to slow down ( particularly on weekdays) in mid August. Between college starting and high school sports, our beach area is deserted on weekdays beginning mid August. So I think you will be fine mid August through Sept. If I had to choose, it would be September- prices on hotels come down, Restaraunts are emptier, etc.

Email if you want suggested places to stay around NYC or along jersey shore.

Good luck- how big a boat?

 

[Bayhouse]

Weekdays on the Jersey shore are pretty low volume most non-holidays. The crazy Navy is out Friday through Sunday. Gets better mid-September.

 

[wahoo33417]

Bob, Beach and Bay: Your replies are helpful - thanks. I'm doing the Great Loop, two weeks at a time. Its the 'forever and a day' plan. I'm not terribly hardy, so I prefer small marinas with mom-and-pop hotels nearby. I'll stay on the boat when those aren't available. I'm just now doing my homework for this stretch, so I may come back asking for recommendations. At first glance, I don't see many marinas with associated hotels.

Through previous travels, I've compiled a pretty good list of such marina/motels along the Atlantic ICW, Chesapeake Bay, Okeechobee Waterway and portions of Florida's West Coat ICW. I'll put them into a book someday. In the mean time I'd make the rough draft available to others if there is a way to post some Excel spreadsheets on this site?

By the way, the boat is a Journey 258. It spends most of its hours fishing and diving, with these occasional excursions. And it is a manageable size for long-distance trailering.

 

[wahoo33417]

Re: NY-NJ Trip Completed. Thanks for the help! Question for

Thanks to Bob, Beach Bum and Bayhouse for your advise on timing a cruise through NY and NJ. We did as advised and left right after Labor Day. We put in in Albany, came down the beautiful Hudson, then out and around Sandy Hook, then through the NJ ICW. Wanted to depart Cape May and pull out in Philadelphia, but didn't get a good weather window to go up Delaware Bay in time, so pulled out in Cape May.

A great trip. As you all advised, it was easy to get a slip, and sometimes a room, on weekdays. But weekends, even after Labor Day, required more advanced planning.

With that section done, we've covered all of the east coast, from Albany to the Keys. Hope to cover the Great Lakes next summer. Will be looking for more guidance from folks on the forum then!

Thanks, Rob