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| With their traditional attachment to the water, most Down East residents have a boat -- or more -- at their disposal. Many are working boats - trawlers, skiffs and skimmers used for setting nets, shrimping, clamming, crabbing and during duck season, doing double-duty as floating duck blinds, with the addition of some pine branches. The traditional Core Sound boats, used in the shoal (shallow) water have a very shallow draft. If you do bring your boat on your visit to the area, be sure to refer to your charts, as well as checking with the local watermen. Many of the channels are narrow and there are many submerged obstacles. |  |
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If you don't bring a boat, you can still explore much of the area by ferry. The North Carolina Dept. of Transportation Ferry Division operates a car and passenger ferry on a regular schedule between Cedar Island and Ocracoke . The ferries run from 7 a.m. through 4 p. m. during the winter months (Nov. - Apr. 8, 2002) and from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. the rest of the year, with expanded service from late May through the end of September. The full schedule for all NC Ferries can be viewed online (requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.) During the summer months, reservations are recommended. Make reservations for boats leaving Cedar Island by calling 1-800-856-0343 or (252) 225-3551. While most NC ferries are free, the Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry costs between $10 and $30 (one way) for vehicles and trailers depending on overall length. Motorcyclists pay $10 per bike; a bicycle rider $2 and for a pedestrian only, the fare is just $1. |
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There are several commercial ferries serving the North and South Core Banks, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks from various Down East communities. Check with the individual services for prices, operating season, and routes. Some also offer guide and tour services. Passenger and vehicle ferry service to the North Core Banks from Atlantic, NC is provided by Morris Marina, Kabin Kamps and Ferry Service, Inc., 1000 Morris Marina Rd. Atlantic NC. 28511, (252) 225-4261. The Algier Willis Fishing Camps, Inc. offer passenger and vehicle ferry service from Davis, NC to the South Core Banks. They may be contacted at P. O. Box 234, Davis, NC 28524, (252) 729-2791. There are several ferry services offering passenger service from Harkers Island to the South Core Banks, Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks.
Note: Pets are prohibited on ferries to Cape Lookout National Seashore. |
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