Directions to Rex Marine by Sea

Rex Marine is located in South Norwalk Connecticut.

Boats up to 50′ with 6′ draft

*Information provided below is from local knowledge and not provided for navigation purposes, a prudent mariner will use up to date charts, his or her knowledge and skills to safely navigate any channel or body of water.

From Eastern Long Island Sound:

Keep “R24” to your right as you  approach the entrance to Cockenoe Harbor.  If you pass “R26”, you have gone too far.  The channel entrance extends about a mile from Peck Ledge light to keep you off the dangerous shoals and rocks that guard the entrance to either side.  Gong Buoy “G5” has been replaced by a can and is off station to the east by about 200′.  Peck Ledge light is a Cast iron tower, 54 feet high, painted brown and white, flashing green every 2.5 seconds.  As you pass the light to port, you will immediately steer west towards the Manresa smokestack (approx 300′ tall) keeping light “8” to starboard.  When within 200′ of “G11” turn north and steer for light “14” (a two sided tower, 13′ tall flashing QR atop a rock pile).  DO NOT use “R12” as the entrance to the Norwalk River channel, light “14” is many times unrecognized as it has no dayboard facing south!

From Western Long Island Sound:

As you approach Sheffield Harbor from the west or south, you will clearly see Green’s Ledge Light guarding the end of a ledge which extends 1.1 NM west from the shore of Sheffield Island.  The light, flashing ALT RW, 24 seconds, is at (41°02’30″N., 73°26’38″W.), 62 feet above the water, is shown from a conical tower, the upper half white and lower half brown, on a black cylindrical pier on the north side of the west end of the ledge. A fog signal is sounded at the light.  Be very sure to leave LIS “R28” and entrance buoy “R2A” to starboard as the shoals, rock and reefs off Sheffield are waiting for you there.  Sheffield Island Harbor, entered between Greens Ledge and the mainland, is the main approach to Norwalk Harbor and The Norwalk River.  It is a well marked and federally maintained channel that brings you safely to light “R10” across from the Manresa power station inlet and pier where the no wake section of the channel begins.  From the center of the channel at light “R10”, steer straight for light “R14” a dayboard tower structure. 13′ tall, atop a pile of rocks.  At night the lights from the ball field (although a distraction) can be used as a range, line up the light to the far right with light “R14” QF to stay on course.  Long Beach to starboard pushes many to “G11” but the channel usually carries over 6′ right off the bar at low tide.

From Light “R14”:

You will find only cans sailing north to assist you, though the channel is quite wide.  Avoid Gregory point at night as the lights from Vets Park can blend with the lights from the dock that lays about 50′ off the point.  We are about 3/10 of a NM past “G21” on your port side, a large gray building marked “Rex Marine Rack Storage” with three fairways, the largest being the center and used most often for our guests.

From the North:

You will need to pass under three bridges if transiting down the Norwalk River from the Wall Street center of town.  The first, a turnpike highway fixed bridge, about 0.9 mile below the Wall Street bridge has a clearance of 60 feet.  The second, the Metro-North railroad swing bridge just above the highway bridge, has a clearance of 16 feet; an overhead power cable with a clearance of 203 feet crosses the river near the railroad bridge. The third, “Washington Street Bridge” bascule bridge at South Norwalk, has a clearance of 8 feet.  The bridgetenders at the State Route 136 bridge and the railroad bridge monitor VHF-FM channel 13; call signs KXJ-707 and KU–6035, respectively.  You will probably need to make reservations to open the Metro North bridge though most boats can get under and the Washington St bridge is closed during rush hours.  The following is from the CFR 33, 117.217;

(a) The draw of the Washington Street S136 Bridge, mile 0.0, at Norwalk, shall operate as follows:

(1) The draw shall open on signal; except that, from 7 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, the draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels that draw less than 14 feet of water.

(2) The draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., on the first Saturday in December, to facilitate the running of the annual Norwalk River Fun Run. Should inclement weather force the postponement of the race the above bridge closure shall be implemented the next day, the first Sunday after the first Saturday in December, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

(3) The bridge opening signal is three short blasts. Vessels drawing 14 feet of water or more shall add one prolonged blast after the three short blasts.

(b) The draw of the Metro-North “Walk” bridge, mile 0.1 at Norwalk, shall open on signal as follows:

(1) From 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., except that, from Monday through Friday excluding holidays, the draw need not be opened from 7 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., unless an emergency exists.

(2) Only once in any 60-minute period from 5:45 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

(3) From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., if at least four hours notice is given.

(4) A delay of up to 20 minutes may be expected if a train is approaching so closely that it may not be safely stopped.