The following is from the CG 5th District NTM 09/13.

Shoaling to a depth of 3.0 feet MLW within the channel has been reported between NJICW Daybeacon 129 (LLNR 35530) and NJICW Light 132
(LLNR 35550). Chart: 12316.

The following is from the CG 5th District NTM 23/13.

The Dredge FULLERTON will be conducting maintenance dredging from NJICW Daybeacon 147 (LLNR 35595) to NJICW Light 163 (LLNR 35655)
from 04 June until 15 July, 2013. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16. Mariners are cautioned to stay clear of dredge, booster,
floating (pontoon) and submerged pipelines, barges, derricks and operating wires associated with dredging and marine construction operations.
Operators of vessels of all types should be aware that dredges and floating pipelines are held in place by cables, attached to anchors some
distance away from the equipment. Buoys are attached to the anchors so that the anchors may be moved as the dredge advances and the
location of the submerged pipelines are marked by buoys on each side of the channel. Mariners are cautioned to strictly comply with the Inland
Rules of the Road when approaching, passing and leaving the area of operations, and remain a safe distance away from the dredge, booster,
buoys, cables, pipeline, barges, derricks, wires and related equipment. Owners and lessees of fishnets, crabpots and other structures that may
be in the vicinity and that may hinder the free navigation of attending vessels and equipment must be remove these from the area where tugs,
tenderboats and other attendant equipment will be navigating. Dredging projects are usually conducted twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7)
days a week, all fishnets, crabpots and structures in the general area must be removed prior to commencement of any work. A NO WAKE transit
is requested of all vessels passing the dredge and if necessary to clarify a SAFE PASSAGE contact the dredge on the appropriate VHF-FM
channels. Chart: 12316.

The following is from the CG 5th District NTM 20/13.

Shoaling to a depth of 2.0 feet MLW has been reported between NJICW Daybeacon 207 and NJICW Buoy 221.
Chart: 12316.

West Point is open for tours for the public. There are 2 tours by bus and by walking, 1 hour and 2 hour guided. You pay a nominal fee at the Visitor's Center across from the West Point tours office, 415 Main Street, Highland Falls, NY 10928. You can check them out on the internet and get their schedules for the month. No docking at the West Point dock that I know of, they would not answer the VFH channel 16.

-Colleen Anderson

We just completed the NJ-ICW in a 32 foot trawler with a 3.6 foot draft.
We had no trouble from Cape May to Beach Haven. We travelled from Beach
Haven to Bay Head without paying attention to tides and we bumped and
churned up mud just north of Atlantic City. We ran hard aground in Great
Bay at R130 at mid tide.
We managed to get off after waiting half an hour. We called Tow Boat US
for advice. He said there is considerable shoaling well into the channel
and we should go well away where our chart shows 1 foot. We were aground 30
feet away from R130 where the chart showed 6-11 feet with the mark on our
port while travelling north.
We found some skinny water from Bay Head to Manasquan but had no trouble
since we paid attention to the tide.
Pay attention to tides, go slow and ignore the magenta line and you may not
have any trouble. I would take the outside route next time.

Simone and jerry on North Star

We found this anchorage 2 + years ago, and it is great for taking your dog to a sandy beach and grassy park by dingy. 40.34.875N, 73.59.729W. It is a well protected anchorage in just about any winds. We were there in high winds, thunder, lightning and rain and felt safe.

-Colleen Anderson

We were directed to one of the dockage locations in the north basin of this marina. When we arrived a dockhand was there to assist our tie up. Not a minute after we'd tied up, the same dockhand told us we would have to move to a different location on the south side of the marina! Well … okay … we moved. We were then directed to the inside and final spot of the south basin. Tight place to turn a 60' boat around, but we made it. Be prepared for rolling action even this far from the Hudson River traffic. Next, be prepared for little or no cell phone service, particularly if you use AT&T. Because we use our cell phone for wireless Internet service, that meant we had no wireless on our boat. We had to take our computer up to the marina social room to stay in touch with business & family. Next, because we were tucked so far up against high rise buildings, we had no satellite TV. Be prepared to watch lots of DVD's if you are staying for a few days. We were informed that several of the docks closer to the Hudson River had been condemned, and if you saw them you’d know why. As such, seasonal boats were moved closer in to land, and larger yachts were docked all along the north & south walls of the marina’s center point. The pump out station(s) are on these walls. So, if you need a pump out forget it. You’ll be told the pump out is temporarily out of service. Our intended length of stay was unavoidably shortened. We had paid in advance, and requested a refund of the remaining time. We were told management would refund our money, but there wasn’t enough cash on hand to make the refund to our credit card! Makes you wonder why. This marina is in a good location, shopping is close, grocery needs are met close by, and the path train to Manhattan is right around the corner. It’s a great location. It’s hoped that the new management will have better luck targeting the problems and searching for remedies … provided ownership allows management to do their job properly. Oh … one more thing … our boat was next to a park-like plaza. Many people stopped to look at our boat. Unfortunately, one such looker must have decided to drop his cigarette into the water. He missed. His cigarette butt ended up on a rotting piling, which caught fire during the middle of the night. I had to play the part of fireman until 2 fire trucks arrived to finish the job. Our boat could have suffered severe damage. So much for New York boating and Newport Yacht Club dockage.

-Tom Lambert

On or about 05 March, 2013, the sound signal (Horn) at Manasquan Inlet Light 3 (LLNR 34932), will be converted to a Mariner Radio Activated
Sound Signal (MRASS). Once converted, the sound signal (Horn) may be activated by the mariner by following the steps listed below. Following
activation the MRASS will provide a Sound Signal for approximately 30 minutes and then automatically secure:
“To activate the Sound Signal during periods of reduced visibility mariners use VHF-FM channel 83A/157.175MHz and key microphone 5 times
when within a range of 1nm of the light. The Sound Signal will activate and provide the signal as advertised in the Light List.”
In your comments, please address the impact these proposed changes may impose on your operation. Also; include, in your correspondence
the means by which you are using to navigate this waterway and any electric sensors used while transiting the area. Send comments to:
Commander (dpw)
Fifth Coast Guard District
431 Crawford Street, Rm.100
Portsmouth, VA. 23704
Attn.: Chris O’NealOr email to: Christopher.a.oneal@uscg.mil
Charts : 12323, 13003, 12300, 12324, 13006.

We spent two nights at this marina. Although the location provides a good opportunity to rent a car and visit West Point, the marina has some definite flaws. The river traffic and the resultant wave action can be quite hard on dockage. The boats will "rock & roll" far more than we might otherwise have anticipated. More importantly, if you have a larger boat (as we do - 60') you will need to tie up along the outside of the perimeter docks of the marina. The coupling joints of the floating docks have protruding metal pieces. You can use every fender you own for protection, but if passing boats create large waves, your boat will sway to the point that the fenders on the tied down side will come completely out of the water! Our boat weighs nearly 80,000 pounds, and it bobbed like a cork at times! Our boat also sustained hull damage because of the protruding metal joints, which should be covered in some fashion. Another issue with this marina is the unbelievable amount of floating debris that drifts into and around this marina. Granted, the majority of the Hudson River will provide a constant supply of floating limbs and debris, but some areas seem to attract more than the usual amount. While I sought to rent a car, my wife had to lift out of the water, between our boat and the dock, a large piece of timber (10” in diameter)with nails in it! The only time we saw marina staff attempt to keep the marina free from this potentially damaging debris was after we pulled it out of the water for them to pick up! There are several restaurants immediately adjacent to this marina. The restaurant immediately south of the marina appeared to be a popular evening spot for locals. Unfortunately, the “band” played on the restaurant deck until nearly 3AM on July 3rd! I can only surmise the concept of “quiet hours” has not reached the banks of the Hudson River in this location. The spot may be good for a side trip, but I cannot recommend this marina.

-Tom Lambert

We found this jewel of a burg of New York on the Hudson River. Yonkers has a Free Transient Dock for the summer months, May 1st through October 31st, starting at 9:00 AM until 11:00 PM at night. Kay Kendrick is the Dockmaster, phone (914) 377-7949. There are 3 very nice restaurants on the waterfront, parks to walk your dog, and a small market with essentials as well as a deli within 1/2 block of the dock. We loved this stop over, Metro train station directly across the street for a quick trip into New York City and Grand Central Station. Very helpful and nice people here at this waterfront pavillion/dock. Call and reserve in advance to make sure you can get your spot here, only room for 1 large (50 ft) or 2 smaller boats.

-Colleen And Stan Anderson