NYCkayaker Arthur Kill Navigation

Thu Mar 29 19:36:10 EST 2007

Why cross the Kill van Kull when you don't have to?

If you cross Newark Bay from east to west, just south of the container port,
you can see any container ships making the turn from the Kill van Kull into
the bay. It also puts you in the shallows behind Jersey Gardens and on the
correct side of the Arthur Kill to bypass Howland Hook. If you choose to
visit Shooter's, then you cross the Arthur Kill channel at the markers,
rather than the busier Kill van Kull, and approach the island from the west.
I've done it; it works.

Richard Whitby
tel: 201-319-0939
cell: 201-213-3502

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From: islesteve7 at netscape.net [mailto:islesteve7 at netscape.net] 
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 2:46 PM
To: richard.whitby at verizon.net; nyckayaker at rockandwater.net
Subject: Re: NYCkayaker Arthur Kill Navigation

A friend of mine brought this e-mail to my attention. I guess I should
probably reply.

I am a Staten Islander who has navigated the length of Arthur Kill on many
occasions.  I'm not sure of your point of origin, but, from Newark Bay
heading south you are much better off staying on the east side of the bay.
All the shipping channels are in the middle to the west side of the bay. The
large container ships that pass under the Bayonne Bridge turn center channel
up Newark Bay - just before Shooters Island. When you do your crossing you
should get out as far as possible out into Newark Bay/Kill Van Kull at
Bergen Point - just on the edge of the shipping channel. Look as far as
possible to Port Elizabeth in the west and down Kill Van Kull to the east.
Then make your crossing aiming straight for Shoooters Island. The shipping
channel runs VERY CLOSE to the island. You have to paddle into the shallows
and in beyond the channel markers - pier heads/pilings. You can also cross
to Staten Island right under the bridge. This is the shortest distance and
the large ships can only travel directly under the middle of the Bayonne
Bridge.  Keep in mind that the small channel just south of Shooters Island
is also very busy with commercial boat traffic. 

If you're travelling down the Arthur Kill stay to the east side of the kill.
Avoid getting within a few hundred feet of the container ships
loading/unloading at Howland Hook - cameras - just around the corner from
Port Ivory - the northeast corner of Staten Island.

To travel through either of the kills you have to watch the currents. At
some points in the day both Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull flood. Kill Van
Kull overtakes the Arthur Kill so that you can travel for about a mile down
Arthur Kill on an ebb (Kill Van Kull's flood) and then hit the flood from
the Arthur Kill. Use your Eldridge. The best time is when they are both
ebbing. You may get a slight flood up the Arthur Kill until after the
Goethals Bridge heading south on the kill. I'd stay on the east side of the
kill all the way down - to the left of the channel buoys. The west side is
the shipping channel and most of the oil loading terminals. There are fixed
cameras monitoring the terminals. If you get too close to the terminals The
Coast Guard will automatically be summoned. 

Hope this is helpful.

- Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: richard.whitby at verizon.net
To: nyckayaker at rockandwater.net
Sent: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 7:15 PM
Subject: Re: NYCkayaker Arthur Kill Navigation
It's probably best to stay to the eastern side of Newark Bay, then cross the
channel once you're just south of Port Elizabeth. Don't wait until you get
close to the Kill van Kill, or you'll find yourself dealing with ship
traffic from three directions.

Shooter's Island, off northern S.I., has decaying bulkheads from the days
when it was home to several shipyards. There are lots of old bottles
scattered around, although most are broken. The island's interior contains
poison ivy in remarkable abundance.

Both sides of the Arthur Kill are interesting, including Prall's Island and
the ship graveyard on the S.I. side, south of Fresh Kills. There's also an
old ferryboat on the N.J. side that you can paddle through and massive
remains of a coal-loading facility.

The best launch/takeout I've found is the Woodbridge Township boat ramp.
There's a tiny beach on the ramp's southern side. If you use that, the
attendant (when there is one) usually won't try to charge the ramp fee. It
also has a parking lot.

Richard Whitby
tel: 201-319-0939
cell: 201-213-3502

-----Original Message-----
From: nyckayaker-bounces at rockandwater.net <javascript:parent.ComposeTo(> 
[ <javascript:parent.ComposeTo(> mailto:nyckayaker-bounces at rockandwater.net]
On Behalf Of William
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 2:13 PM
To: nyckayaker at rockandwater.net <javascript:parent.ComposeTo(> 
Subject: NYCkayaker Arthur Kill Navigation

Hi all,
So any experience can be shared on paddling down the
Arthur Kill west of Staten Island? 
Thinking of doing it  in a month  or two from now
coming down the Hackensack River.
thanks,
Will 

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