Located off Smithtown Bay, about three miles south of Crane Neck Point, the Porpoise Channel is an eight-mile journey from Port Jefferson to the east, and a 15-mile journey from Huntington Bay to the west. With five marine facilities and a shallow, but easily traveled channel, the Porpoise River is a popular stopover for exploration and relaxation among many cruisers. Many Long Island boaters use it as a mid-journey stopover when transiting the north shore of Long Island.

Use NOAA Chart 12364.

The Porpoise Channel is approached from the north via Smithtown Bay off Long Island Sound. Flashing green buoy “1” starts the approach into the channel, and is followed by flashing green buoy “3,” flashing green buoy “5,” flashing green buoy “7,” flashing green buoy “9,” and then flashing green buoy “11” at the channel’s mouth. The approach channel does have some depths of two feet charted, but most boats with drafts of less than four feet can successfully navigate the well-marked passage.

Inside the inlet, the channel breaks off to the west with a long line of well-placed flashing buoys that lead to two marinas - one of which will accept transients. The southern portion of the Porpoise Channel, which breaks off the main channel at flashing green “1,” has three more marinas, and one of those will accommodate transient guests.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.