Sand At Fire Island Inlet Diverts Boaters

BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - An accumulation of sand has made the popular Fire Island Inlet dangerously shallow, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs On The Story

So, they're warning boaters to avoid it.

"Right now, it's pretty tough, especially the way the buoys are, you know," Nick Manzari, Captain of the Island Princess fishing fleet, told WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs. "It wouldn't be recommended because if you followed the buoy pattern you'd be in trouble."

He said that, on some days, navigation is impossible.

The only real solution to the problem is dredging, and that's a least a year away.

So, in the meantime, it's a slow go, or, on some days, no go at all, through the Fire Island Inlet.

Has the sand caused a problem for you? Share your story in the comments section below.