Harkers Island, NC / Cape Lookout 8/3-8/5

[Joshua Miller]

that's a nice run from Beaufort inlet to Lookout bight on the outside. Watch the tides, I've seen some good haystacks where the currents meet. They were a ball on the waverunner, a challenge on the 212x. I'll add another detail. the stretch along the Beaufort waterfront is a LOOOOONG no wake zone.....if its a hot day you'll cook yourself. there's some nice houses on the east half, a marina for fuel/snacks. but I found the the western 1/3 was where most of the interest was.
the inside of the shackelford banks has beautiful beaches and are protected for a nice anchor drop

I accidentally went on the Oceanside of Shakleford Banks looking for a path to Cape Lookout— I specially remember seeing the Ft Macon peninsula and flag. That was right about the time the chop took a turn for the worse plus the boat traffic got too much for me. Not a fan of that route.

 

[Joshua Miller]

Hmm. Certainly not opposed to more boating, I was kinda thinking Beaufort anyway (or maybe even New Bern).

@Joshua Miller - launching on the 3rd, camping 2 nights, and returning on the 5th is our plan.

Was the plan tent camping on the beach I assume? I checked the lodges that @justason mentioned but they are all booked for that weekend.

 

[veedubtek]

Correct sir, we'll be tent camping.

 

[redthumper9]

Always wanted to do this..... But I'll be in Disneyland that weekend

 

[DieselCamel]

I've used radio island boat ramp. 4 or 5 lanes if I remember. It’s really nice has a bathhouse. But it was really busy. It’s around 13ish miles to light house.

 

[Marvin willis]

Just a heads up they took the channel markers out from Harkers island to cape lookout. Found out yesterday. Navionics is still accurate

 

[Marvin willis]

 

[suke]

Just a heads up they took the channel markers out from Harkers island to cape lookout. Found out yesterday. Navionics is still accurate

That sucks! So you went the back way and not out into the ocean?

 

[Marvin willis]

Yes. I pulled my daughter skiing and I was hoping to surf but ran into a bunch of jelly fish on the way there and the kids were asleep on the way back. Water was gorgeous. Water level was low all day

 

[suke]

I'll have to attempt that run some day. First the Shackleford/Sand dollar island run.

 

[justason]

Just a heads up they took the channel markers out from Harkers island to cape lookout. Found out yesterday. Navionics is still accurate

good grief...thats like removing the lane paint on rte 95 thru DC !!

 

[Marvin willis]

I have a friend that works for wildlife. He said the coast guard was tired of maintaining the markers bc the channel was always moving.

 

[bronze_10]

View attachment 94674

@Marvin willis ... I so want to do this... we went to the light house in November one year but it was too cold to go ashore ...

 

[justason]

@Marvin willis ... I so want to do this... we went to the light house in November one year but it was too cold to go ashore ...

Hey Mike !! .... anyone venturing out there: be aware there are alot of sand bars submerged at high tide that are well above sea level come low tide. That image shows an obvious one. I had tied off to the posts to the right of the pier in view, walked around, when I got back my boat was starting to become beached. As nice as the lighthouse is, the area I enjoy a great deal there is inside of the shakleford banks, center/west area. depth is nice, beaches are nice, plently of parking and you can watch the bikinis boats drive by..

 

[Shookie]

Bunch of us spending June 28-30 out there.... only thing I'm concerned about are the sand bars.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/new-bern-or-similar-to-cape-look-out-run-june-29th-tentative.21846/