Boston

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Steve P.

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Has anyone done Boston from CT before?

Friends want to go but we've never done it. I'm thinking first stop, Newport. Then up into Buzzards Bay and through canal. Next stop, East end of canal (Barnstable). Then onto Green Harbor for our third stop. From there it's on to Beantown! Does this sound about right? We have a 34ft. flybridge convertable. Equipped with GPS, radar, depth sounder, chartplotter, loran C, and two VHF radios. Our fuel capacity is 250 gals. & 100 gals. of water.

I welcome any opinions or advice.
 
Never done it from CT but I did bring my boat down from north of boston to its current home in Narragansett Bay. The run from Newport up thru the canal is a long haul and Buzzards Bay can get pretty rough in summer afternoon southwesterly winds. Particulary with an outgoing tide. From Newport I would be more likely to stop somewhere in Buzzards bay, maybe Onset at the mouth of the canal or Cataumet on the cape side. Then run the canal and up to Boston. The run from the East/North side of the canal to boston can't be much more than a couple of hours. But some nice spots to stop on the south shore, south of boston if you are looking for places to visit. At about 25knts with a fuel stop, the run from Dennis (north of boston) to the Sakonnet River (East of Newport) took only 6hrs.
 
The only comment I'll make is the seas are much different once you get out of the protection of Long Island Sound.

I'm not saying that's a good or bad thing.

Mark
 
We have made that trip several times, usually on our way up to Maine. Your proposed itinerary could work for you, personally I do it much faster. You don't specify your cruising speed, but mine is 23-25 knots depending on conditions. Obviously fog and sea state can reduce that substantially.

The last time we did this trip the first day was Stratford, CT to Sandwich, MA. Sandwich is the hurricane hole inside the East end of the canal. It is a great place to stop; easy in and out with inexpensive fuel and a restaurant on premises. We made Boston on the second day with no problems. Actually we sometimes go from Sandwich straight to Portsmouth, NH or Portand, ME.

Of course if you choose to take it more slowly, there are some great places to stay along the way. Keep in mind that Newport is far off your rhumb line. It's fun to go there, but I would not consider it a stopover on my way East. Other favorites along the way are Cuttyhunk, Hadley Harbor and Plymouth.
 
Thanks for the input guys!

I'll be traveling at about 15 knts. I think my first stop could be Cuttyhunk. That's about 4 hrs. Then head up through the Bay and thru the Canal. Because it's a 10 knt. speed limit it should give us time to chill out for about an hour while making the passage. A stop in Sandwich on the East end of the canal does make sense. I'm thinking the next stop may be Scituate. To go from Sandwich to Boston would about 4+ hrs.?? I think the stop in Scituate may be a nice break at that point. After 4 - 5 hrs. on the water my wife starts feeling crappie, even in good conditions. I don't want to push my luck with 5 - 6 hr legs and take away the joy of cruising.

Thoughts and opinions welcome!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sea Gull

............... We made Boston on the second day with no problems. Actually we sometimes go from Sandwich straight to Portsmouth, NH or Portand, ME.
.................

Click to expand...
if you want to overnight or stay for a bit in Portsmouth (on the Piscataqua River) please pm me and we'll set you right up!

def
 
Thanks Def,
but we're only going as far as Boston. We'll spend 3 or 4 days there, visit with our two sons for a night, maybe do alittle sight seeing and then head south towards home. May stop at Ptown or Wellfleet on the way home. I know it's off the rhumb line but Ptown is always entertainig. Not sure yet.
 
P town is GREAT! we stayed on the mooring in the harbor for 2 nights in August - the launch is very available and comfy.

This past summer we ventured into Rowe's Wharf in Boston - what a trip - fun and clean place to stay and of course, the city! If you go to Rowe's Wharf - ask to stay in a slip on the 'outside'(better view and more room). They have the configuration on their website.

good luck!
 
Thanks Def:
We were thinking of staying at either Boston Waterboat Marina or Boston Yacht Haven. I like the location of each as they're both an easy walk to Quincy M. Bos. Y Haven has more protection from the harbor traffic, but more $$$$. Both have great view of the city skyline. Were you rockin' and rollin' in your slip at Rowes? Constitution Marina is too far out of the way in my opinion. I don't want to have to take a water taxi to get to shops & restaurants.
We also stayed on mooring in Ptown over forth of Jly. Wind was so bad we had to leave boat for two nights and stay at a B&B. There were whitecaps behind the breakwater. I watched the launch driver's personal fishing vessel sink right in front of me. Bilge pump stopped working. Was taking on water due to high winds! He wasn't real happy!
 
Steve:

If you are still checking this post, we've run the Boston to CT route many times. Like you, we typically run 4-5 hours at 15-17 knots and then put in to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. The distance from Brenton Reef to the west end of the canal is around 55 NM. Don't have my log book for Newport handy, but it can't be more than 5 NM or so. The canal is 7 NM and as a rule, I always consider it a one hour ride to the Sandwich basin. Figure 4 hours to the canal at Bourne as long as you do it before noon and the wind has not picked up from the southwest, which it does every afternoon. Even if the Admiral is tired, she'll come topside for the views of Hog Island Channel and in the canal and its a good time to have lunch and waive to the people on the walking paths. I heartily endorse the basin at Sandwich as it is usually our stop on the route south from Beverly. Fuel and food are available and a real hurricane hole.

From Sandwich to the LNB "B" is 40 NM. You would not have to go that far north, so figure 45 NM to the inner harbor. Again, unless wind is from the northeast, in three hours you are inside the Boston Harbor Islands. Scituate is a nice little harbor with very little to do and you are really only an hour or so south of Boston.

Your biggest problem is that once you pass the entrance to Plymouth Harbor at Gurnet Point, you will start to encounter lobster pots that you'll swear are out to get you. They are! And don't forget to read the histories of Minot's Light off Cohasset ("I LOVE YOU" flashing sequence at night)and Boston Light on Little Brewster Island. You'll pass close aboard both lights. Then you pass George's Island and the legend about the Lady in Black who has wandered there since the Civil War.

Gene
 
great trip
we've done it in pieces and in one.
for overnite, I'd recommend Red Brook Harbor, look for location in vicinity of Kingman Marine, Cataumet. Southwest of canal but great spot.
PICK YOUR WEATHER DAYS
 
Check the tide through the Canal. It can add time if your on the wrong side.
 
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