What's the best route from Deep River CT. to Cape May, N.J?

Your geography a a bit off. From the CT River you seem to be describing heading West on Long Island Sound, not the Atlantic Ocean. This is your best route with plenty of fuel stops and over night options in LIS and NY harbor.

It all depends on the weather. The fastest (shortest) route would be to head across to Orient, down Peconic Bay, through the Shinnicock Canal (don't go southbound when the lock gates are open and remember to lower your antnae for the 19' clearance). Stop for fuel at Jacksons on the canal and stay overnight somewhere around there (you can cab into Hampton Bays or Southampton for dinner). Next day head out Shinnicock inlet and head across open water.

A better idea though, and less weather dependent, would be to head up L.I. Sound, and put in for the night in NYC (Chelsea Pier or across the river at Liberty Landing). Fuel at Liberty. From there run down the coast the next day to Cape May or A.C..

Note: That boat won't make it on fuel from Deep River, around Montauk Pt. to Cape May. Even topping off the tanks in Montauk I'd head for a fuel stop at Atlantic City.

As for Hurricane Sandy, I would not trust any charts currently available for an inlet or bay along the north Jersey coastline.

Don't plan on stopping in Atlantic Highlands. Marina is under reconstruction from the storm. Best bet for fuel price might be Fisherman Supply in Point Pleasant. Call around. Atlantic City was $4.59 yesterday. Glad we didn't need to fuel there. Check the weather. Calling for a lot of Southerly breeze this week. Good Luck.

Don't take that "southerly breeze" too lightly. Seas are forecast to be 3 to 6 most of this week, and having them on your bow the whole trip could make that a fairly crummy ride most of this week. Add in the threat of storms, and I wouldn't be in a big hurry to move. A west wind is your friend. I also wouldn't plan for a fuel stop along the north Jersey coast. Given the questionable conditions, the questionable fuel quality after a wash over, plus the fuel and time burn going in and out, I'd fuel in NY harbor and then at the end of my day.

I also wouldn't mess with the north Jersey inlets or inside waters until the local boys and the CG have had a chance to run them and gain some local knowledge. One other thing, anybody running those waters after storms or full moon high tides can expect a fair amount of flotsam washing off the shores.

I agree with NYCAP123, "A better idea though, and less weather dependent, would be to head up L.I. Sound, and put in for the night in NYC (Chelsea Pier or across the river at Liberty Landing). Fuel at Liberty. From there run down the coast the next day to Cape May"

i grew up in Deep River, Chester, CT. I've done the trip may times doing deliveries between CT and Florida.

Deep River to NYC/Liberty Landing then on the Cape May is a nice easy trip. just watch the weather before departing NYC.

I hope it all works out well for you.

Manasquan Inlet is in good shape and shouldn't be a navigational concern (in good weather) for a fuel stop if the price is right and it fits into the voyage plan. As always call ahead and check prices. NY Harbor marinas fuel can be pricey. Best marina price between Palm Beach and Highlands, NJ 2 weeks ago was Coinjock, NC. Same for Charleston to NJ last week. As far as the "breeze" West is best for the run south along the Jersey Shore. South of Barnegat SW can be painful for a Carver and lots of other boats that don't like head seas. Down there North of West best. Have a safe trip.

My .02.

LI Sound to East River and make Liberty Landing the first stop for the night and fuel.

Skip all the other NJ inlets and make Atlantic City the next stop for fuel and overnight. Easy in and out.

Then Cape May inlet is a fairly short trip from AC.

Good luck. As stated, the winds don't look in your favor.

When moving a boat it's not all about fuel price. There's the hour's fuel burned leaving your course to go in, plus the maybe 2 hours lost. Additionally there's the calculations of Connecticut fuel being burned and does it pay to replace it mid-way with a decent price rather than filling my tank with an ok price in NT Harbor and replacing it with even cheaper fuel at the end of the day in Cape May. Then add in tips for the dock workers and the fact that you'll be burning more fuel in mid-afternoon due to larger seas. Long story short I'll consider fuel prices of one dock over another where I'm putting in, but I wouldn't leave my course to maybe save a few cents a gallon mid-leg.
A.C.makes sense when you've been battered for most of the day instead of pushing another hour and a half to C.M. or if you're going to spend the next day on the dock due to weather or such. They've also got a good dock and several good dinner choices across the street. In C.M. you're taking a cab unless you want fish. I also don't want to keep a dock staff waiting late if I can help it. That said, my first choice going south would be C.M. unless other factors are involved.

Hi,

NYCAP posted this elsewhere so might explain his eastern seaboard tour by restaurant.

You really like that one eh, K1W1?
Different cruisers have different priorities, but I'm a firm believer that if you need to count every dollar you're in the wrong sport with boating. That $200 represents a 5% savings. 5% savings wouldn't get me to shop anywhere, for fuel or even a pair of jeans. It's certainly not worth pushing my schedule back 2 hours. Doing that every day on a north/south run would add an extra day of salary for myself and my mate, another day the owner is without his boat, and at least an extra night's dockage, tips, and an extra 20 hours of fuel burn. Then there's the risks involved every time you run an inlet.
Nothing wrong with wanting to save money, but we just have different styles.