djlewis Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 I'm going to play around on the Merrimack mouth, up to Newburyport, down to the Plum Island bridge, the northern end of Plum Island, etc, Friday morning. This is not to go from A to B but to check out the various water levels, currents and put-ins around low tide in that area. If you're interested, meet at the Audubon Society parking lot at 9:00 AM. That's here... http://tinyurl.com/huhkn Directions down the page here... http://tinyurl.com/qdf8d I figure to eat lunch somewhere on the trip and be off the water by 1:00-2:00. Be prepared to paddle against a 1 kt current and dodge power boats and some rough stuff at the Merrimack mouth (and possibly drag over shallows, but hopefully not much if any). If you are interested, please respond here or by e-mail (djlewis at triadic dot com) so I'll know someone else is coming. Otherwise I might not show up at exactly the appointed time. --David. PS: I'd be grateful for any advice in advance -- whether you're coming or not. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shewhorn Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 David... Will you be monitoring your VHF? I have a client meeting at 10 AM in Boston and possibly a lunch meet with another photographer after that BUT... if the photographer thing falls through I might be able to find you towards the end of your trip. BTW... is there a West Marine in that area? I'd need to grab a chart. Cheers, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djlewis Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 Hi, Joe: Good to have you along if you can make it. I'll monitor #72. I have spare charts, and even a chart case, though you won't have it if you come late. Below is the URL of a chart image that you can print, though you may have to do it in pieces and tape them a bit. I'm not sure where I am going to launch. But if you come late, I recommend the Plum Island Bridge, about a mile and half east of the Audubon building on Plum Island Turnpike (Bascule Bridge on the chart), on the southwest corner of the bridge where there is a dirt parking area. Depending on when you come, it may be low tide, and the drying out north of that is something I want to check. But if you can find me, I can always shuttle you back to your car. There are launch spots on PI, but I'm unsure of the parking situation, especially before Labor Day. --David. triadic.com/NSPN/Merrimack.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shewhorn Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Sounds good. Wave forecast is 4 to 8 feet but that forecast is rather... terse. http://weather.boston.com/marine/ma.html It gives a wave height in Portsmouth, NH of 2 to 4 feet so I'm wondering if that 4 to 8 foot forecast is more for the south side of the Cape? I don't know how that will translate to the protected area inside the mouth a bit. If the satellite image from Google is indicative of how the waves propogate it looks like they peter out when the northern breakwater takes a bend to the northwest (about 1250 to 1500 feet inside the break). Anyhow... I'm guessing I'll probably be putting in around 11:45 to 12:00 or so. Cheers, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin B (RPS Coach) Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 > >I don't know how that will translate to the protected area >inside the mouth a bit. The mouth is not "protected". The boats come through the mouth at full throttle, especially on an outgoing tide. Fun place to play but not much room for error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djlewis Posted September 1, 2006 Author Share Posted September 1, 2006 Rest assured I will not go anywhere near the mouth, certainly alone, if the forecast is anything like what weather.boston.com is saying. But I wonder where that forecast comes from. Here's what I see... NOAA/NWS... Forecast as of 8:28 PM EDT on August 31, 2006 Stonington Me To Merrimack River Ma Out To 25 Nm Fri -- NE winds around 10 kt...becoming E in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 ft. Fri Night -- Se winds 5 to 10 kt...becoming E 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt after midnight. Seas 1 foot or less...then 2 to 3 ft after midnight. Forecast as of 9:55 PM EDT on August 31, 2006 Coastal Waters From Merrimack River Ma Out 25 Nm To Plymouth Ma Fri -- NE winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Fri Night -- E winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. and http://tinyurl.com/j4p3o I'll check the forecast in the morning, again when I get up there, and listen to VHF weather radio. I'll send you my cell phone # by e-mail if you want to know if I even went out. --David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shewhorn Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Kevin, I meant "protected" in terms of protected from waves and conditions... not power boats (they're one of the reasons why I wanted a big ugly yellow boat LOL). I have to get some of that nuclear powered orange tape that Cathy has on her paddles as well. The kayaks may have the right of way but common sense says the bigger boat that might not be able to see you in conditions has the right of way. LOL Cheers, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shewhorn Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 >Rest assured I will not go anywhere near the mouth, >certainly alone, if the forecast is anything like what >weather.boston.com is saying. But I wonder where that >forecast comes from. Here's what I see... Interesting... looks like you pulled up a much more localized forecast. I like that forecast better. :-) Cheers, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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