I took a 41' boat (59' mast clearance, 4' 6" draft) from Bayshore to Maine
last spring. I looked at the inshore route, but my decision was made by a
low bridge up near Shinnecock Inlet. You should check that out. What is your
mast height? I can check my charts, but they are aboard, so it will be a few
days.
There is also a canal from Shinnecock (sp?) Inlet into Great Peconic Bay,
but it has some very low bridges that would require you un-stepping your
mast. I understand there are mast cranes at either end, but never considered
it.
We left Bayshore (actually the Fire Island Boat Basin) about 8 am and
motorsailed to Block Island, arriving about midnight, after dodging
thunderstorms around Montauk Point.
Getting from Bayshore to the Fire Island Inlet was all I wanted to
experience of the inshore route, as it is extremely shallow, with shifting
banks. My recommendation is outside.



"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I'm about to buy a 32 foot, 4 foot draft, boat in Patchogue, New York and
will need to get it back to Maine in the spring. I'd like to use the
opportunity to explore some of the inside passages of this area. The
Coast
Pilot mentions frequent shoaling and some of the bascule bridge listings
on
the chart look tight for a sailboat.

I'd like to make contact with someone who is familiar with these waters to
determine the feasibility of some of the routes.

--

Roger Long