New England vacation

B

BillyK

Active member
Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
RO Number
24466
Messages
1,146
Hello,
I'm from Long Island south shore. I'm taking a trip up to Salem through the Cape Cod canal via Buzzards Bay. Any suggestions or warnings after looking at my list of marinas would be appreciated. Also,What is the best way to time the tides in the canal.

Onset marina

Consititution Marina

Woods Hole Marina

Newport Hotel & Marina

Thanks for any and all comments. Billy K.
 
You will be much happier timing the CC Canal with a fair current. Speed is limited to 10 knots (or mph - I forget which) with no wake so it's a long slog against the current. I have never stayed at any of the marinas you list, but everyone seems to like the Newport Hotel and Marina. The others would not be my personal choices, but without knowing why you chose them I wouldn't tell you not to stay at any of them. A couple are very close together so maybe you plan to stay at Onset on your way up and Woods Hole on the way back? More details would help.
 
Hi Seagull, My destinations were Boston, Salem and Newport so your right I picked Onset as a stop on the way up and Woods Hole on the way back. My fuel tanks allow me less than 150 miles before refueling. I stayed in Woods Hole as a kid and had a good time so that's why I'm going there.
I'm staying at Pickering Wharf in Salem. I forgot to add that.
When picking the right time to go east on the canal do you look for the time that it is low tide on the east side at Sandwich or another rule of thumb. Thanks for any help. Billy K.
 
For currents, you should pick up a copy of Eldridge - it's only about 10 bucks and will give you times of current change and maximum flow. My recolection is that it doesn't exactly match times of high tide in either Buzzards or Cape Cod Bays. It will be helpful to know the currents in Block Island Sound and Narraganset Bay as well - with fuel prices the way they are every little bit helps.

If you like anchoring out I would recommend Hadley Harbor or Cuttyhunk as an alternative to Woods Hole. Also, the harbor at Sandwich at the eastern end of the canal is a good refueling stop. They have traditionally had very low fuel prices compared to the surrounding area. It's a nice small marina with a restaurant across the street. I have also gotten fuel in Onset, but have not stayed there overnight.

Constitution Marina is supposed to be nice, but I usually opt to stay in Boston proper. You won't have a pool, but you will have great access to the city.
 
We have stayed at the Newport Hotel & Marina. It is right in town and has an indoor pool. Nice place.
 
Billy:

Onset is a big marina. Walk into Onset but do not expect too much. Another choice would be the one operated by Mass Maritime just behind the school at the entrance to Buttermilk Bay. Walk into Buzzards Bay, but again, not much to do.

With a 35' twin engine, you will not have any problems with the currents in the canal. Two different tides so it really doesn't matter which one you pick. Speed is limited to 10 mph (not knots)and they monitor it by radar. When the tides are opposite, there can be 2-3 feet of standing water about half-way through. 100 feet on either side, it is flat calm.

Constitution Marina is great! If you get an inside slip, all the better, but it can be a tight fit. They have dock hands to help. Walk over the North Washington Street Bridge to Boston's North End. Restaurants and pastry shops second to none.

Pickering Wharf is a very short walk to downtown. Stay in the channel as you pass the power plant. The floating buoys shift to dolphins and will bring you to Derby Wharf. If there are no moorings in a spot, it is because there is no water at low tide.

On the return, I would discourage you from running down Buzzards Bay in the afternoon. Typically, the wind comes up in the afternoon from the southwest. The bay is funnel shaped from the southwest. With a nice long fetch, all that water has no where to go but up! Of course, you might get lucky.

If you can, I would suggest Cuttyhunk Harbor on the way up (the "marina" is owned by the town). You can then run up to Sandwich Basin at the east end of the canal, refuel and make the run to Boston or Salem. Sandwich to Salem is about a 50 NM run. Boston is about the same to the marina. On the way home, stop at Onset to get a fresh start in the morning before the wind picks up.

Sounds like a great trip.

Gene
 
Sea Gull,Hogan,Gene
Thanks for your "local Knowledge". Charts and the waterway guide only tell you so much. My family and I are very excited to get going on this trip. I'll report back on each marina for you, and maybe it can help you guys or someone else. Billy K.
 
Can we request a "Helm camera?" We have done the middle leg of that Journey. From Westerly Rhode Island up to Plymouth, Mass. Good times. Be sure and leave your self a day or two cushion in case of a unfriendly rips. We got nailed one year coming South out of the canal by onset. Be sure all of your gear is stowed well. Woods hole is a good resting point. FYI, Garmin has chips you can rent for once in a lifetime trips, if thats what it is.
 
Another Buzzards Bay Marina option would be Kingman Marine in Cataumet at Red Brook Harbor. It is situated between Scraggy Neck and Wings Neck behind Bassett's Island. It's just before the entrance of the canal about 20 minutes before you hit Onset Marina. There is a great restaurant and bar called The Chart Room right next to the slips, gas docks, a small gift shop and facilities.
 
Great info including the tides etc from the Army Corp.
http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/ccc/navigation/TideChart2008.htm
The tide flowing into Buzzards Bay with a SW wind can build some very large waves.
It is not unlikely to see a very tight 5' chop in Hog Island Channel.
Traveling the canal in the morning before the SW winds builds in the afternoon can usually help but there are always exceptions to every rule.
hogisland.jpg
 
If by "Newport Hotel & Marina" you mean the one on Goat Island across from Newport, don't bother. Lousy location, lousy service & attitude, hotel services are not available to transients except at certain times, etc. Better off getting a slip on the Newport side.
 
Nope, that is a different hotel, Newport hotel asnd marina is on the newport side, not goat island.
 
One of our favorites is Kingman Marine in Cataumet (Red Brook Harbor) on the east side of Buzzard's Bay just southwest of the CC Canal.
Anchorage, moorings and slips alongside a terrific restaurant "The Chart Room".
Hope it's still there.
 
Pickering Wharf is a very popular spot and fills up quickly. Make sure you book reservations well in advance.
Here's another marina near Pickering in Salem you might keep as a backup: http://www.hawthornecove.com/hawthornecove.html

Salem harbor is very rocky with a lot of small islands throughout. There are a few hazards (rocks just breaking the surface), but they are marked. The channel is also well marked, but you might find navigating easier if you come in via the Main Channel. The main channel into Salem runs north of Middle Ground, where it's dredged and marked with lighted buoys for the large vessels serving the power plant. The South Channel, between Marblehead and the Coney Island group, requires finding a number of unlit buoys and daymarks, but it carries depths of at least 15 feet.

Jack
 
Skipperguy, Is there an echo in here? Didn't I mention that about 5-6 post up? It's still there.
 
Thanks everybody for your input. As my father would say, "There is no knowledge like local knowledge". Sorry TJM I'm not teckie enough for a web cam but I will keep a journal and post the highs and lows on my return. We are leaving tomorrow and can't wait. Thanks again and happy boating. Billy K.
 
Billy, See you in Newport.

Hogan and others suggested this lobster takeout place near the marina and I am looking forward to that.
 
Yep don't miss the Aquidneck Lobster Company, pick out your own lobster from among thousands and they will steam it for you.
 
We launch out of the Sandwich marina - good fuel prices, but nothing at the marina.

Avoid fighting the full current flow in the canal...it's no problem for a powerboat other than throwing money away watching people walk faster than you burning 10+++gallons an hour. Time it right and go out for a NICE dinner with the fuel saved. Xtide or similar (or your chartplotter) should have current flow data. 4' tides on the Buzzards bay side, back to 10' tides on the other end.

If you catch the flow going with you, you will avoid the waves mentioned (or at least the brunt of them). Wind and current at your back heading into the canal, I head for the deep sections; fighting the current with the SW winds so common to Buzzards Bay I stick to the shallows to avoid the standing walls of water.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top