Local Notice to Mariners & Swimmers
Chatham Harbor - Inlet
The break that occurred in Nauset (North) Beach, east of Chatham Light on January 2, 1987, is now the ONLY inlet to Chatham Harbor and Pleasant Bay.
The inlet is used by vessels with local knowledge, but can be extremely dangerous. Small craft and anyone without local knowledge and experience should avoid using the inlet at all times.
Currents in the inlet are ferocious. It is difficult if not impossible for sailing vessels, small craft, underpowered vessels, sailboats and sailboards to make headway. They can easily be swept out to the ocean or into dangerous surf.
Surf conditions can be severe in the inlet, particularly on the “outer bar”. During flood (incoming) current, there may be little or no surf in the inlet, but when the current ebbs (goes out), dangerous surf may quickly build on the outer bar and in the inlet.
SWIMMERS and users of small beach/water craft (tubes, rafts and floats) are advised that this is an unguarded rural beach, and are not encouraged to swim or use floats in this area.
All vessels should heed the “rough bar” warning (quick flashing yellow) light, at Chatham Coast Guard Station, indicating surf of two feet or more in the inlet.
Currents are very strong in Chatham Harbor. Ocean waves break in the Harbor as far north as tern Island. The flood current carries ocean waves to shoal areas in the harbor where they break and can be extremely dangerous. In addition, ocean surge carries into the harbor.
Tides are approximately one-foot lower in Chatham Harbor and Pleasant Bay. At low water there is less water - even in marked channels. Shoals are constantly shifting. It may be necessary to schedule boating activities around the tides.
Anchoring - even mooring - in much of Chatham Harbor is no longer advisable due to the extreme conditions.
Large and potentially dangerous debris (flotsam and jetsam) in the Harbor is an additional hazard.
In short, careful operation and navigation is required by all mariners and swimmers.
| 
