BlueSeas

Rhode Island’s Coastline - Entrances, Inlets, & Passes

Rhode Island’s Coastal
Entrances, Inlets, & Passes

While sailing along Rhode Island's Coastline, a number of Entrances, Inlets, or Passes exist between the offshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the inland waters of Rhode Island.

At last count, in January 2021 there were (4) entrances, inlets, or passes found along Rhode Island's coast including: Point Judith, West Passage, East Passage, and the Sakonnet River Entrance. If you factor in Block Island, that brings the total to (6) counting Old Harbor and Great Salt Pond.

All of these inlets can be considered navigable for most vessels. We have listed them below along with useful information on each to aid you in deciding if you wish to use a particular inlet.

When entering any small inlet or entrance on the east coast of the U.S., the best time to enter is on a rising tide with a smooth sea; passage may be hazardous during easterly gales and heavy seas.

Sakonnet River Entrance

Sakonnet River Entrance lies 8.8 NM northeast of the Narragansett Bay approach buoy and 9.4 NM northwest of Buzzards Bay Light; just east of Narragansett Bay. It is located between Sakonnet Point to the east and Sachuest Point to the west. It provides access to Tiverton, RI for vessels drawing 16 feet or less and Fall River, MA for vessels drawing 16 feet or less and able to meet a vertical clearance of 65 feet.

Sakonnet River Entrance

NOAA Chart #13218- Martha's Vineyard to Block Island is suggested for the approach to Sakonnet River Entrance while NOAA Chart #13221 - Narragansett Bay is suggested for the entrance.

Approach

The safest offshore approach to Sakonnet River Entrance is from the SSE through SSW keeping out of the red sector (015° through 170°) of Sakonnet Light. These approaches are deep with depths greater than 43 feet and free of off-lying dangers.

The inshore approach is marked by an unlighted buoy (G "1" BELL) located 1.5 NM southwest of the entrance and unlighted buoy (R "2A" BELL) located 0.6 NM SSE of the entrance. The approach is deep with a least charted depth of 48 feet.

Prominent on the approach to Sakonnet River Entrance at night:

  • Point Judith Light (Oc (3) 15s 65ft 16M HORN (MRASS)) located on the southeastern tip of Point Judith Neck at (41°21’40" N / 071°28’53" W).
  • Beavertail Light (Fl 10s 64ft 15M HORN (MRASS)) located on the southern tip of Conanicut Island at (41°26’58" N / 071°23’58" W).
  • Sakonnet Light (Fl 6s 70ft 5M) located on the eastern side of the Sakonnet River Entrance at (41°27’11" N / 071°12’09" W).
  • Buzzards Bay Light (Fl 2.5s 67ft 14M HORN (MRASS) RACON (— · · ·) AIS) west of Cuttyhunk Island located at (41°23’49" N / 071°02’05" W).
  • Gay Head Light (Al WR 15s 175ft 20M) on Martha's Vineyard located at (41°20’54" N / 070°50’03" W).

Entrance

Sakonnet River Entrance lies 8.8 NM northeast of the Narragansett Bay approach buoy and 9.4 NM northwest of Buzzards Bay Light; just east of Narragansett Bay. It is located between Sakonnet Point to the east and Sachuest Point to the west. It provides access to Tiverton, RI for vessels drawing 16 feet or less and Fall River, MA for vessels drawing 16 feet or less and able to meet a vertical clearance of 65 feet.

The Sakonnet River Entrance is 2.2 NM wide with depths of 36 to 60 feet. It is marked by Sakonnet Harbor Light (Fl R 4s 29ft 6M "2") on the east side of the entrance.

Cautions:

  • Schuler Ledge covered 8 to 16 feet lies 2.1 NM SE of the entrance. It is marked by an unlighted buoy (R "2" BELL).
  • Sakonnet Point foul ground covered from bare to 14 feet lies 1.4 NM SE of the entrance and is marked by Sakonnet Point Light (Fl 6s 70ft 5M).
  • Cormorant Rock and Reef covered from bare to 11 feet lies 1.3 NM WSW of the entrance and is marked by unlighted buoy (G "1" BELL).

Strangers should not attempt to enter or navigate the Sakonnet River at night.

Tides & Currents:

Tidal Range is 3.1 feet at the entrance. Tidal Currents are approx. 0.4 knots on the flood and 0.3 knots on the ebb.

East Passage

East Passage, the principal passage into Narragansett Bay, extending between Aquidneck Island on the east and Conanicut and Prudence Islands on the west.

It is the most direct route to the head of the bay and provides access to Newport, Bristol, Providence, Mount Hope Bay and Taunton River.

Narragansett Bay’s East Passage

NOAA Chart #13218- Martha's Vineyard to Block Island is suggested for the approach to Narragansett Bay’s East Passage while NOAA Chart #13223- Narragansett Bay is suggested for the entrance.

Approach

The safest offshore approach to East Passage and Narragansett Bay is from the south Along the Traffic Separation Lanes. This approach is deep with depths greater than 72 feet and free of off-lying dangers.

The inshore approach is marked by lighted buoy (RW "NB" Mo (A) WHIS RACON (— · · ·) AIS) located 4.0 NM south of Beavertail Light at (41°23’00" N / 071°23’22" W). It is adequately marked by lighted and unlighted buoys marking shoal waters on the approach. The approach is deep with a least charted depth of 54 feet.

Prominent on the approach to East Passage at night:

  • Point Judith Light (Oc (3) 15s 65ft 16M HORN (MRASS)) located on the southeastern tip of Point Judith Neck at (41°21’40" N / 071°28’53" W).
  • Beavertail Light (Fl 10s 64ft 15M HORN (MRASS)) located on the southern tip of Conanicut Island at (41°26’58" N / 071°23’58" W).
  • Block Island Light (Fl G 5s 261ft 20M) ) located on Southeast Point of Block Island at (41°09’10" N / 071°33’04" W).
  • Watch Hill Light (Iso R 6s 40ft 9M HORN (MRASS)) located on the eastern side of East Passage Entrance at (41°27’44" N / 071°21’46" W).

The approach buoy (RW "M" Mo (A) WHIS AIS) lies 1.7 NM south of the entrance at (40°44’08" N / 072°45’12" W). Lighted and unlighted buoys mark shoal waters on the approach.

Entrance

The entrance, between Brenton Point on the east and Beavertail Point on the west, is 1.7 NM wide between shoal waters with charted depths greater than 90 feet center channel. Lighted and unlighted buoys mark the 2.3 NM long entrance.

A fixed highway suspension bridge crosses East Passage about 3.6 NM above the entrance. Clearances through the 1,500-foot center span are 213 feet at the center and 205 for the mid 1,000 feet of the center span.

Cautions

Brenton Reef and foul ground to the south of Brenton Point covered 5 to 27 feet and marked by unlighted buoy (R "2A" BELL), lighted buoy (R "2" QR WHIS), and unlighted buoy (R "4" GONG).

Tides & Currents

Tidal range at the entrance averages 3.3 feet. Flood currents frequently have (2) maximums of velocity separated by a minimum velocity that at times can become an ebb flow.

Over the greater part of the bay, the usual maximum flood or ebb velocity is from 0.2 knot in the broad portions of the bay to 1.5 knots in the more constricted sections.

West Passage

West Passage is considered the secondary entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is located just to the west of East Passage between Beavertail Point on the east and Boston Neck to the west.

It is used for the approach to Dutch Island Harbor, Wickford, Quonset Point, Greenwich Bay, and Providence River. Vessels of 16-foot draft or less should have no difficulty in going to the head of the bay and Providence River.

West Passage

NOAA Chart #13218- Martha's Vineyard to Block Island is suggested for the approach to Narragansett Bay’s West Passage while NOAA Chart #13223- Narragansett Bay is suggested for the entrance.

Approach

The safest offshore approach to West Passage and Narragansett Bay is from the south is the same as for East Passage, using the Traffic Separation Lanes. This approach is deep with depths greater than 72 feet and free of off-lying dangers.

The inshore approach is marked by lighted buoy (RW "NB" Mo (A) WHIS RACON (— · · ·) AIS) located 4.0 NM south of Beavertail Light at (41°23’00" N / 071°23’22" W). The approach channel is adequately marked by lighted and unlighted buoys. The approach is deep with a least charted depth of 61 feet.

Lighted and unlighted buoys mark the dangers of River Ledge, Whale Rock, as well as the junction of East and West Passages on the inner approach.

Prominent on the approach at night will be Point Judith Light (Oc (3) 15s 65ft 16M HORN (MRASS)), Beavertail Light (Fl 10s 64ft 15M HORN (MRASS)), and Castle Hill Light (Iso R 6s 40ft 9M HORN (MRASS)).

Entrance

The entrance lies between Beavertail Light and Boston Neck. It is deep, with a least charted depth 45 feet center channel for 1.6 NM above the entrance.

Lighted and unlighted buoys mark the channel above the entrance.

Cautions

"River Ledge" located to the south of Boston Neck, covered 9 to 18 feet and marked by unlighted buoy (G C "1"), "Whale Rock" just south of the entrance, covered from bare to 8 feet and marked by lighted buoy (G "3" Fl G 4s GONG), and "Jones Ledge" covered 9 feet and marked by unlighted buoy (G C "5").

Tides & Currents

Tidal range averages approximately 3.0 feet at the entrance to West Passage. Tidal currents of 1 to 1.5 knots may be encountered in the vicinity of Dutch Island. Elsewhere in West Passage velocities are usually less than 1 knot.

Pt. Judith Harbor of Refuge and Pt. Judith Pond

Point Judith Harbor of Refuge is easy of access for most vessels except with a heavy southerly sea. It provides access to Point Judith Pond, Jerusalem, Galilee, Snug Harbor, and Wakefield, RI.

Within the Harbor of Refuge, the majority of the area has depths ranging from 10 to 29 feet.

Point Judith Harbor of Refuge

NOAA Chart #13218 - Martha’s Vinyard to Block Island or NOAA Chart #13215 - Block Island Sound is suggested for the approach depending on your direction of travel, while NOAA Chart #13219 - Point Judith Harbor is suggested for the entrance.

Approach

The safest offshore approach to Point Judith Harbor of Refuge is from the ESE through the WSW. This approach is deep with a least charted depth of 26 feet and free of off-lying dangers.

Prominent on the approach are three very prominent landmarks: Point Judith Light (Oc (3) 15s 65ft 16M HORN (MRASS)) located at (41°21’40" N / 071°28’53" W) and shown from an octagonal tower with the lower half white, upper half brown, an elevated water tank 1.7 miles north of Point Judith at (41°22’380" N / 071°29’22" W), and Hazard's Tower, a high, square stone tower 0.5 mile south of Narragansett Pier at (41°24’56" N / 071°27’25" W).

Entrance

There are (2) entrances to the Harbor of Refuge, locally known as the East Gap and the West Gap. The East Gap has the deeper water with a least charted depth of 20 feet while the West Gap depth is 19 feet.

The East Gap is marked by a lighted beacon on the breakwater (Fl G 4s 39ft 5M "3") on the western side of the entrance. The West Gap is marked by 2 lighted beacons, one to the north (Fl G 6s 35ft 5M "3" HORN (MRASS)) and the other to the south (Fl R 4s 29ft 5M "2").

Cautions

Avoid any shoal spots, even with a smooth sea, and exercise extra care where the depths are not more than 6 feet greater than your draft.

A rocky shoal area about 100 yards wide, paralleling the west side of the main breakwater northward, should be avoided.

A wreck, covered 12 feet, is about 570 yards southeast of Point Judith Harbor of Refuge West Entrance Light "2" in about (41°21’33" N / 071°30’28" W).

Another wreck, covered 6 feet, is marked by a lighted buoy about 475 yards westward of Point Judith Harbor of Refuge East Entrance Light "3" in (41°21’34" N / 071°30’11" W).

Tides & Currents

Harbor of Refuge has a tidal range of about 3 feet. The tidal currents have a velocity of about 0.7 knot at the south entrance. The currents off the west entrance are rotary, with a velocity at strength of 0.5 knot. Considerably stronger currents have been reported to develop especially when the tide is ebbing.

Point Judith Pond The mean range of tide in the pond is 2.8 feet and occurs later than in the Harbor of Refuge by about 10 minutes just inside the entrance and 30 minutes at the north end. The tidal currents in the entrance have a velocity of 1.8 knots on the flood and 1.5 knots on the ebb and cause slight rips and at changes of tide. Higher current velocities are reported to occur.

Notes

The minimum controlling depth in the channel from the harbor of Refuge to the State Pier and the East Branch Channel in Point Judith Pond is 14 feet in February 2012.

Block Island

Block Island, 5 miles long and hilly with elevations up to about 200 feet. The shore of the island is fringed in most places by boulders and should be given a berth of over 0.5 mile even by small craft; water depths shallow abruptly when approaching the island.

Block Island has (2) harbors: Old Harbor located on the eastern side of the island and Great Salt Pond located on the western shore.

Old Harbor

Old Harbor is an artificial harbor formed by two breakwaters located on the east side of Block Island, 1.3 NM northward of Block Island Southeast Light. It offers direct access to the town of New Shoreham and is frequently used as a harbor of refuge.

Old Harbor

NOAA Chart #13218 - Martha’s Vinyard to Block Island is suggested for the approach depending on your direction of travel, while NOAA Chart #13217 - Block Island is suggested for the entrance.

Approach

The safest offshore approach to Old Harbor is from the northeast through the southeast. This approach is deep with a least charted depth of 43 feet and free of off-lying dangers.

Prominent on the approach is: Block Island Southeast Light (Fl G 5s 261ft 20m HORN (MRASS) shown from a red-brick octagonal, pyramidal tower, located at (41°09’10" N / 071°33’04" W) and Point Judith Light (Oc (3) 15s 65ft 16M HORN (MRASS)) located at (41°21’40" N / 071°28’53" W).

The inner approach is marked by lighted buoy (G "1" Fl G 2.5s BELL) located 0.4 NM NNE of the entrance channel at (41°11’06" N / 071°33’09" W).

Entrance

The entrance is well marked. The east breakwater extends about 300 yards northward of the entrance channel of the inner harbor and is marked at its end by a lighted beacon (Q G 27ft 6M "3" HORN (MRASS)). The western breakwater is marked by a lighted beacon (Fl R 2.5s 30ft 6M "8"). The entrance channel is well marked by charted unlighted buoys with a controlling depth of 15 feet shoaling to 8.7 feet was reported in June 2017.

Cautions

Approaches from the north are cautioned about "Block Island North Reef" a sand shoal with a least depth of 11 feet extending 1 NM northward from the north end of Block Island. It is marked by a lighted buoy (G "1BI" Fl G 4s BELL). The shoal should be avoided by all vessels; its depths change frequently, and its position is also subject to a slow change. It is practically steep-to on all sides, so that soundings alone cannot be depended on to clear it.

Approaches From the south have offshore wind turbines averaging 2.75 miles from Southeast Point on Block Island. They stretch in an arc from 130° to 168° and are marked by Yellow lights. Showing (Q Y) at the ends of the arc "WTG-1" and "WTG-5". WTG-2 through "WTG-4" Display (Fl Y 3s). Additionally, a wreck, considered hazardous to surface navigation, SS LIGHTBURNE a large tanker. Located 0.3 NM southeast of Southeast Point Light at (41°08’57" N / 071°32’52" W) and unmarked. Lying in 24 feet of water.

Tides & Currents

Mean tidal range for Old Harbor averages 2.9 feet. Currents at Old Harbor are negligible.

Notes

The harbor is the traditional year round port for ferry service to and from the mainland it is also occupied by pleasure craft during the summer. The eastern part of the inner harbor is left clear for the passage of the ferry to the wharf.

Great Salt Pond

Great Salt Pond (New Harbor), on the west side of Block Island, with the entrance located 1.8 NM SSW of Block Island North Light (Fl 5s 58ft Priv).

Great Salt Pond

It is the best harbor in Block Island Sound for vessels of 15-foot draft or less. In easterly gales when the sea is too heavy to enter Old Harbor, a landing can be made at Great Salt Pond. The entrance, about 1.8 NM south-southwestward of Block Island North Light, is a dredged cut through the narrow beach.

NOAA Chart #13205 - Block Island Sound and Approaches is suggested for the approach, while NOAA Chart #13217 - Block Island is suggested for the entrance.

Approaches

The safest offshore approach to Great Salt Pond is from the southwest through north. This approach is deep with a least charted depth of 41 feet and free of off-lying dangers.

Prominent on the approach is Block Island Southeast Light (Fl G 5s 261ft 20M HORN (MRASS)) located at (41°09’10" N / 071°33’04" W), and shown from a red-brick octagonal, pyramidal tower attached to a dwelling. Montauk Point Light (Fl 5s 168ft a4M HORN (MRASS)) located at (41°04’15" N / 071°51’25" W), Point Judith Light (Oc (3) 15s 65ft 16M HORN (MRASS)) located at (41°21’40" N / 071°28’53" W), and Harbor Neck Light (F R 49ft 8M "4" HORN (MRASS)) located at (41°11’58" N / 071°35’35" W).

Entrance

The entrance is a dredged channel with a controlling depth of 15.5 feet in June 2017. It is well marked by lighted and unlighted buoys. Once inside the entrance, depths of 12 to 55 feet can be found.

Cautions

Southwest Ledge, covered 21 to 30 feet, 5.5 miles west-southwestward of Block Island Southeast Light, is marked on its southwest side by Southwest Ledge Lighted Buoy (R "2" Fl R 2.5s WHIS AIS). Rocky patches extend 1.5 miles northeastward from the ledge. The sea breaks on the shoal in heavy weather.

Tides & Currents

Tidal Range for Great Salt Pond is 2.9 feet. Tidal currents in the entrance to Great Salt Pond have a velocity of 0.3 knot.


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