Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

Oct 10, 2008by: Curtis Hoff No Comments

Important – Geographic Changes At Shackleford Banks (near Beaufort Inlet)

Shackleford Banks is a long, somewhat thin island that flanks the eastern side of Beaufort Inlet, almost opposite Fort Macon. This isle's western tip almost touches Cape Lookout, but is separated from the Cape by Barden Inlet. For years, cruisers, particularly those of the weekend variety, have anchored behind (south of) Shackleford Banks, and dinghied ashore to beahcomb and hunt for shells. One of my earlier shelling finds here, a large conch, currently sits atop this writer's desk.
There has always been shallow water to watch for around Shackleford, and running around here is a not uncommon occurrence, particulary for non local captains. Now, Captain Bently reports below that the shape of Shackleford has changed, and these changes are apparently not reflected on the NOAA charts covering these waters (11547 and 11545). Read his note carefully before naviating the waters near Shackleford Banks!

I've been sitting on this announcement, as I've been hoping that the propagation will improve. For safety's sake, I can't sit on it any longer.

We recently anchored overnight, staging, at the Shackleford Banks, south of Beaufort NC. Please see chart 11547. The weather has made EXTREME changes in the contours of the banks. Per the chart, the northwest tip had what looks like a barrier island or spit and an inland marsh. In the past, we've walked the dogs there. It is now long gone. There is a channel of deep water that runs along the island, as it did before, but that channel has moved south, and appears to now be at the southern edge of that previous marsh. The range marker is now in the middle of the channel (we passed to the north of it.)

Note that the current edition (8/2008) of the downloadable NOAA raster chart doesn't not yet reflect these changes.

If you are traveling to the Shackleford banks, read the water and keep your eyes away from the electronic chart (it's too frightening to be traveling through the center of an island.)

Safely,

Bentley

SaltyPaws