Block Island advise

Audrey II

Audrey II

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Aug 5, 2008
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30499
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I'm currently in Montauk and I planned to head to Block in the morning but I called over this afternoon and was tell I would have to be rafted. I have a dog and a bad back I don't think this is a good idea. I could head to another marina grab a mooring or go to Mystic of something defferent for a night anf try again on Thursday.
Looking for some inputand thoughts.
 
I assume you called Champlins. Call Block Island Boat Basin. They are the marina by the Oar House.
 
Champlins has no idea what is going on there docks. You could get there and the dock hands
will give you a dock side slip. On a Wednesday, I would think if you asked when you arrived
not to be rafted, they would accomadate you.
 
When I called they said that they were already rafting boats and no one was leaving until thursday.
 
We are at Champlains right now and it is the end of the second day of a 3 day fishing tournament out here. Because of the weather forecast (Bertha) for the fishing grounds most boats decided to fish Mon/Tues and skip Wednesday so there are maybe 25+ larger fishing boats like 60'+ Vikings here now. The dock is rafted for the most part so is the boat basin and Payne's dock when we went past them earlier today. I expect a bunch of boats to leave Thursday but a few like us will likely leave tomorrow opening up some space - I would call but not come out here unless you are sure of the space available.
FWIW - we will watch for the wave height and period report for tomorrow before we decide to head out since Bertha is near parallel to BI now and throwing some swells this way.

Hope this helps
 
I will make some calls in the morning but I may just head to mystic for one night.
 
Champlins will never see me again. Also have a bad back and a big dog and rafting is for the birds. Go to boat basin or paynes. Besides people walking all over your boat and your boat getting damaged, its not worth the fun of the place. Admit it's a fun place, but you can walk from boat basin there and enjoy it then walk back to your nice safe boat.

Dump the Chump!
 
You know why. Multiple reasons that weekend

1) Brand new boat. Rammed by dockmaster with launch boat becuase he thought we didn't pay but we did pay. Scratched the boat and I made claim to their insurance which they did settle and pay.
2) This after being rafted 5 deep with WalterV's bow pulput and anchor in my cockpit all weekend. People hitting their head on it all weekend.
3) My power cord fried after their electric outlet wigged out and they had to cut my cord back about 10' to remove the burnt part.
4) Boat on next dock over was rafted, a guys anchor smashed the window and champlins said, sorry, he wasn't tied right, not their problem.
5) Friends who were with us, made a reservation for 30 amps. Got there and told, they had no 30 amps left that they would need to use a 50amp outlet and buy adapter from them for $375
6) All weekend we tripped over power cords laid on dock hap hazardly.
7) I had to carry my dog across 3 swim platforms to get out.
8) Power constantly going on and off and people running gas genny's at the dock with noone saying to shut them off.

Champlins in my view is not worth the hassles. Stay their at your own risk. Nice place if they just weren't so money hungry and learned to say no more room when full!
 
Mid September usually had spectacular weather And empty docks in the past. If you want to experience what cruising was I suggest trying then.
 
Dave, that's what you get for going on July 4th weekend... We go the week after and are never rafted - in fact, this year, I had the entire well to myself almost all week.

Payne's is much smaller, and you will be rafted there WAY before you will be rafted at Champlins. The only place you won't be rafted is the Boat Basin - but there are really very few amenities there.
 
Paynes only rafts side to side against the dock, so your stern is against the dock but your rafted side to side.
Champlins rafts up to 6 boats with only 1 boat on dock and all the other boats pulling on that one boats cleats.
Agree about boat basin.
Agree that July fourth is not the weekend to go.
But Dave(Audrey II) was saying they are rafted there now and it's not the fourth.

Just based on the way they treated us I will never return.
Everybody's experiences are different.
You get one bad stay there and you will change your tune!
 
I agree, Dave. Montauk turned me off this year when they were charging $6.50/ft for the weekend of the 4th.

When we were at Block, Paynes had boats rafted side to side off the dock, just like at Champlins.

Apparently there is a fishing tournament at Block - that is just ending and boats are now leaving.
 
Montauk actually was great this year. We expected it to be a ripoff but they seemed to drop the minimum and the other ridiculous charges for us, we think because we were a group and we complained.

I am suprised Payne's is doing that, might of been a special thing for a group that was together, becuase Cliff says he doesn't like rafting.

Again, I like Champlains but will never return. For drinks or the party, it is the place to be. As a marina, they have some things to learn about how to manage docking, power cords, and customers!
 
as a lake boater in TX who will probably never get to experience this myself, this is a fascinating discussion. anyone have any pics?
 
Thanks for posting.
There are your pics!
I forgot how bad it was!
 
I had a great time at Montauk! I tried the Boat basin and they said flat out they had no slips. Champlins said they couldn't make any promises but I got here and while I don't have a floater I am starboard tie to the main and it is an easy step off from my platform at high tide and the gunnel at low tide. I'm not rafted and the place should clear out tomorrow now that the tournament is over. So far the trip has been great I plan to rent a car tomorrow for a couple of days my back is in no shape for scooters.
 
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