thanks for your replies guys. Yeah I kinda figures patchogue was gonna be in the middle but finding dockspace was a problem. im gonna either go farther east or west next year. But this is my first boat and I didn't really know to consider all of that. Smiths point bridge isn't that bad of a ride. Think I could catch some stripers over there. And that weakfish run to Connetquot sounds good. Yes I bought the maps and charts and im getting a gps installed.