Trip to Block Island

Steve,

[G] what # is your slip. You must be near Bill and Cathy D. Does he still go by "Brother Bill" ?
How many years have you been at CIM ?
I'll be at I34 this year although I might show up mid season the way things are going.

If I'm in the water I'll stop by and talk to you about the Block Trip.

Mark G.
 
Steve
We havent been to three mile yet. One of these days we will get there. When we travel we either stay at a Brewers yard or on the hook. We stay at Brewer in Deep River so we get free nights at all the other yards. He has 21 marinas all over NE. I actually like to stay on the hook or a mooring though. Its nice getting away from the docks sometimes.
 
Spike:
Jumping of that Silverton was wild!. I knew I couldn't go down the same way I got up there with everyone watching. D/T already gave up their slip. They didn't renew. Too bad. Good Luck with the restoration. I'd like to see it someday. Yes, lets plan some trips this summer. Keep in touch!
 
Alabmuth:
Yes, Aqua restaurant still going strong. However, it's a bit pricey. Like to go there to have a few beers after a day on the water!
 
Goilic:
We're right next to B & K. Great people! This our second year there. Came from Westport, MA. Got tired of the rough seas of Buzzards Bay. Also, the drive was really getting to us (2+ hrs). Yes, stop by and visit. We're not sure if we're going to spend all seven days at Block or break it up alittle and plan for a few more stops.
 
Vista:
I agree! Sometimes we like to stay on a mooring rather than a slip, too. Much cheaper and no crowds, epecially at Block were they sometimes squish you in like sardines. We stay on the hook at 3 mi. hbr. It's a nice place.
 
When I was there last year, I thought I might shoot for a mooring this year. It seemed like even on a weekday, you have to get there early to have a shot.

What has been your experience?
 
early in the season it's no problem....pre July... and after that it's crazy until after labor day
 
It's been years since I've been to Block. However, from what I'm hearing lately, slips get pretty crazy! If I'm paying for a slip I don't want to be rafted up to anyone! Even one of my cuising guides states "beware of the revelers into the morning hours". That's a red flag for me. I've also heard horror stories about staying on the hook there as well. Friend of a friend's boat was dragging anchor in Salt Pond. When he got back to boat, it wasn't there. Habormaster had Seatow tow it to Harbormaster dock. Said boat was "in peril" and they had to "salvage" it. They wanted $9 thousand to get his boat back (he got them down from $18k)! They told him he better call his ins. co. I think a mooring may be the way to go but I undertand it's first come, first serve so that can be really chancey. Can anyone tell me if ALL the marinas in New Harbor get crazy? Is one better than the other? I'm told Champlin's is pretty nuts, but what about the others?
 
Just wondering if anyone knows if you can raft on a mooring? Dont think you can, but does anyone know for sure?
 
Steve,
The Boat Basin does not raft and everyone gets an individual slip. I was there the last week of August and the place was not crowded at all. Neither was Paynes or Champlins either. I was in a slip too big for my boat, arrived on a windy day and their dock help left alot to be desired. That set a little bit of a bad tone. The positives are that you get a floating dock astern, restaurant/bar on site and alot less foot traffic on the dock than Champlins. No pool.

Champlins is great for kids. They have a pool, movie theater bumper boats, bike rentals etc. and lots of other kids. We always liked to walk the docks, look at the boats and meet people from all over. Kind of a strange mix of families and hard-partying groups. On weekends, they pack as many in as possible.

We've never been to Paynes, but hear the ownership is pretty decent. Close to Dead Eye Dicks rest. They raft/squeeze as many in as possible.

From what I can tell, there are 2 types of moorings. One is for larger/heavier boats but people seem to ignore that. Boats hover/troll through the mooring field and on a busy day, it looks like a musical chairs race when someone leaves. I've seen 2-3 boats rafted on moorings.

While there are alot of boats anchoring, I've seen and read alot of stories like Steve P above. When the winds kicks up, those that don't anchor properly are dragging all over the place. Which is why I tend to resist that temptation.

My issue with finding a mooring is that we are 5 hours away. If I leave directly from my home port in Glen Cove, I will not get there in time to get one making it necessary to leave a day early and stop somewhere closer. My current plan is to go in mid-July, overnight in CT somewhere and arrive on a Sunday or Monday morning. Look for a mooring and if non are available, get a slip. Anchoring is a third option.
 
Note the two boats in the center of the picture. I don't know if it is technically allowed, but rafting does occur on the moorings.

IMG_0768.jpg
 
All but one marina will have you raft up - and that's the culture at Block. Too crazy for me thanks, but many boaters do it, and have great fun as well. If your looking for a restfull quiet time away, that's not going to be it.

The mooring idea is popular, they do limit the number of boats on one. Last year it was two.

On the hook is also very popular - something we've done lots of. You certaily do have to have some decent ground tackle, and lots of scope. If you have that, then you are okay. Overall the bottom is just fine. That is until the wind blows. All of a sudden, the open moorings become unavailable. I've been there in 25-30 kt. Unfortunately, other people just do not have the right equipment and or do not let out enough line.

On the Fourth, the place is crowded no matter what - so the space you've acquired with your 10:1+ becomes intrusive. The guy to your windward may have a much shorted scope, and if he is away sipping cocktails at The Oar, his empty boat now on top of you. Not much you can do about that. Without the wind however, you're just fine - it's a great place.

Nothing better than to hear "Andiamo," and have Aldo's Bakery visit you early in the morning.

100_144250Andi.jpg
 
Yes. We're big Aldos fans as well:

IMG_0763.jpg


A real shame they had a family tragedy last summer. I believe they lost a college age son. There was a memorial going on when we were there.
 
Thanks for all the info guys! Now I just have weigh all options!
 
We also are at Block 4 to 6 times per year. Always on the hook off of Breezy point. Heavy Delta or Claw with lots of chain and you will be fine. We always try to be back at the boat by 3:00 for the increase in winds. As stated above, it can be tricky. Know your limitations and ground tackle and you will be fine. We used to power-set our anchor but have learned over the years that a wind shift will leave you wondering. When we arrive I drop the anchor, back up, pay out the correct scope and wait about an hour. If it holds under the natural wind and boat weight I can reasonably assume that when the wind shifts it will re-set on its own
 
Good advise. I just read last night to power set the hook.. Hmmmmm
 
The family and I made our first trip out to BI last summer. We went on a non-holiday weekend in August. Arrived on a foggey Friday about 11am. We didn't have trouble getting a mooring but by later that afternoon as the fog cleared it filled up. Saturday AM there would have been very little chance of getting one. As soon as someone pulled off, another boat, likely at anchor that night, hopped on.

I think my strategy will be to head out on a Thursday this summer and make it a 3 day weekend. On a Thursay AM I think I will have a pretty good shot at a mooring.

Also earlier last summer, I went to BI with some guy friends on a sailboat. There were 3 boats all together and we went the last weekend of June. Had no trouble getting moorings for all 3 boats. Folks said it's really pretty slow until 4th of July and after.
 
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