How Big In The Sounds???

[Deep C]

Figured I'd plant the question here in the Carolinian super place... I'm planning on running south starting tomorrow and that puts me in the big sounds behind the OBX on Wednesday in time to catch a northeaster bringing 30 knots...

The new girl is tough and handles big water just fine. Still I'm on a mission to get her south in pristine condition without having to explain to the boss how I bent or broke something. My plan originally was Coinjock to Morehead but I know the sounds can get big, tight and ugly... My question would be I guess, just how big does it get in there and am I better off twiddling my thumbs rather than risk it?

[Capt. Mike]

If you're leaving tomorrow why not NJ to Rudee? Leave Rudee early Tues., get through OI by 8am and be tied up in Morehead by noon-1:00 before it gets breezy?? Eating wings at Rap's during the rain on Wednesday...

[Deep C]

I'm toting tall tower. I think the bridge at Rudee is too low...

[Capt_John]

I'm sure some of the OI and Hatteras boys can help more, but the sounds do get big at times. But if you got the tide going with you, you should be fine. Just make very sure you watch your bottom machine. One small slip and it comes right up on ya.

[Capt. Mike]

No bridge at Rudee. Call the Fishing Center and tell them ya need a slip on the south side. Pull in the inlet and the slips are right to your left. Dock attendant will be waiting with fuel hose right behind your boat. Don't know how tall your tower is but I think the fixed bridge is around 29' if you really wanted to stay at VBFC main dock. I need 32' for my riggers so I just stay on the outside although it's wide enough to drop the riggers to make it under the bridge. Plenty of boats bigger than yours in there. Like I said though, the easiest place to stay if you're worried about it is on the south side. Then just take a walk across the bridge for dinner. Last year I left Rudee around 5am and was in OI (~65nm) by 7:30. Got into MHCYB by noon. Sound should be nice on Tues with the wind following you can cruise all the way to the creek...

[WAHOONBOX]

PAMLICO SOUND-
1107 AM EST SUN NOV 2 2008


THIS AFTERNOON
NE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.

TONIGHT
NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.

MON
NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF
SHOWERS.

MON NIGHT
NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. A CHANCE OF
SHOWERS.

TUE
NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT...INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 KT LATE. WAVES 2
TO 3 FT. SHOWERS LIKELY.

TUE NIGHT
NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT...INCREASING TO 20 TO 25 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. SHOWERS LIKELY.

WED
NE WINDS 20 TO 25 KT...BECOMING N 25 TO 30 KT. WAVES 2 TO
4 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

THU
NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT...DIMINISHING TO 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 2 TO
3 FT...THEN 1 FT.

LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE ON YOUR STERN COMING SOUTH

[TunaTeaser1]

Because your in the sound...wave period can be next to nothing and makes for a terrible ride. Brought the boat back from Morehead a few years ago (45' Viking) and once we got in the sound it was solid 6 footers, but all waves were extremely close and made the ride hard and a very wet one with the high winds. Somehow my jacket was still completely white even with a full 3 sided enclosure
I don't think you should be too worried about depth as long as you don't stray off course too much (don't know why you would). Most of the area is relatively shallow, but it's a consistent shallow.

Oh, and I really wouldn't recommend coming through OI at all if you don't have to.

[aprilfool]

left last sunday shinnecock to rudee inlet fuel was 3.70??? highest we paid all the way to pompano. next day ran to wrightsville bch all the way on th e outside fuel at bridgetender 3.69? next day out masonboro to fernindina bch,@ florida petroleum 2.70 for fuel now that was better, no discount at any of the other places and we took over 1000 gallons each day? went from fernindina to merritts got our ass kicked everyday weather was terrible roughest trip we have had in a while, and oh yea it was 37 degrees every morning frooze our asses off as well! ski hat and gloves everyday till canaveral hope you have a nicer ride then we did.

[Deep C]

We have a late start from the northern most end of jersey. Two bridges before we even get to highlands where we need to take on 300 gallons... By the time we make sandy hook were probably at 10AM IF WE'RE LUCKY...Need to do a fuel burn check so that would be Ocean City at 3PM + fueling so I guess that will be the stop for the day. With it dark just past 5 I'm not gonna chance Norfolk area from there...
Boss and I agree not to chance the outside from Norfolk to Morehead with bad weather approaching. I can be in coinjock afternoon on tuesday. Don't know if I want to chance going further or not...
I too have had that six foot tight nasty death stuff in the big sound, even with a two foot forecast... This boat doesn't hop but she can be wet..Down sea with her "creative wheels" she tends to cavitate some when she stuff from behind. That can't be good for the trannies and shafts... Can't do the wheel change til I get her to our southern base... So I'm still up in the air...

[Ravens16]

Deep, hopefully mother nature helping out
I'll be in Morehead on Wednesday evening
We have to hook-up for dinner
I'm buying