Monahan's - Narragansett Surf Guide

Monahan's - Narragansett Surf Guide

Also known as State Pier #5 and Tucker’s Dock, Monahan’s Dock is one of Rhode Island’s heaviest waves. The rocky pier at the end of the seawall sets the stage for a short, punchy A-frame with a heavier, hollower right and a softer, more rippable left. The ideal swell can produce dredging, thick, tall barrels bending into a bowly end section. There’s rarely any current here, but the place breaks a lot of boards — and bones.

By East Coast standards, Monahan's is a high-risk surf spot. The ride is short, but the waves have power and break directly into the jetty. Before surf leashes, few people risked surfing here because of the potential damage to their surfboards. With today's lightly glassed shortboards, a broken leash at Monahan's most often means terminal board damage.

In sticking to the high-risk theme, Monahan's is not only a heavy wave, but a holder of heavy crowds. Personal injury and/or damaged surfboards are more likely here than at any other New England break: there is one peak and one takeoff spot, so tensions dramatically increase when four or more surfers are out. Any session with more than 10 people out should be considered a waste of time, but that doesn't seem to stop twice as many people from paddling out at the same time. At such times, Monahan's becomes a circus: a great wave too often overrun by clowns. The vibe in the water is as heavy as you'll find anywhere. To add to your overall health concerns, the sewage outlet for the nearby town of South Kingstown empties into the ocean a few hundred yards from the lineup. Obviously, Monahan's is not for the sensitive or the inexperienced, so if you're a beginning surfer - or at least one who is adverse to crowds - remember that there are plenty of breaks very close by that offer sometimes empty line-ups and fun waves.