Hi everybody, My trip was a real success. The weather was great and the people in New England were fantastic. Destinations:
Oaklands Marina at Shinnecock inlet Long Island.
Excellent location just inside the inlet to the west. I used this location as a jump point both ways on my trip. The restaurant is a bit pricey but the food is terrific. Fuel dock, bathrooms and showers,ice etc. Coming in the the inlet with an outgoing tide and a wind from the south 6' to 9' waves can appear. I buried my bow twice coming home. Inside there is plenty of deep water but also lots of fishing boats and there can be a stiff current. The ocean is a very short walk as is the inlet.
Onset Bay Marina is another nice jump point close to the Cape Cod Canel. Fuel, pumpout, bathrooms and showers,laundry, full service marina. As noted by Gene there is not much of a town but they had a nice bbq area that we took advantage of.
Pickering Wharf in Salam is in a very tight and well protected canal. The entrance to the harbor is beautiful. We came in on a Saturday afternoon after a day in the ocean that was so calm we stopped for a swim. The town is right behind Pickerings and there is a nice restaurant and bar in the marina grounds. Thanks Jack for the heads up as to areas with no boats and shallow water. I took the main channel in and the south channel out. We walked over to Hawthorne Cove, it is not as nice as Pickerings Wharf.
Boston Harbor is a very nice ride in. The channel is wide and deep so you can see the sights as well as navigate. Constitution Marina is very nice with a small pool, bbq area, laundry, and very nice bathrooms and showers. There is a supermarket within walking distance and of course " Old Ironsides " the USS Constitution is right next door. We took the all day trolley which I wood recommend to anyone only staying a short time. It gave us a flavor for the city with a little history and saved our legs.
Going through the Cape Cod Canel was a breeze, I don't know why I was worried about it.It is wide, deep and well marked especially on the on the west side. I went east with a slack tide and came west with the current going my way. I saw plenty of small boats going both ways with no trouble but I did have beautiful weather both days.
Buzzards Bay was a short chop on my way to Wood's Hole. The tide against the mild wind caused a 1'- 2' sea so I can see how it could be a bear in more windy conditions. Woods Hole channel is a very cool experience. So much water rushing through a narrow passage is exhilarating when everything on your boat is working properly, but one little problem and you are on the rocks in seconds.
Woods Hole Marina is inside the Eel Pond which requires you to wait for a drawbridge to open. The marina is behind a nice restaurant with a quant little town. Too bad we arrived too late for the aquarium and were leaving the next day.The facilities were not what most people would be looking for but it was very nice and low key.
Going to Newport down Buzzards we saw the most incredible mansions on the Mass./R.I. shoreline. Newport is always an amazing arrival. The sailing history,the sail boats, and of course the mega yachts. We stayed at The Newport Hotel and Marina and met friends Brad and Linda from my club. The marina has a nice pool, laundry, bathrooms and showers. Although it was hot and humid outside there was the availibility of a sauna if you so desired. The town is awesome and we did tour the Vanderbilt mansion. The trolley station is a short walk from the boats and again it saves your legs. It never ceases to amaze me how much walking is associated with boating. As Hogan suggested we picked up 4- 3lb lobsters and ate them on the dock behind our boats. I will never forget how quiet it got, except for the sounds of lobster shells and claws breaking.
And that was it, as long as it took for the trip to arrive it was over just like that. We had unbelievable weather, great sea conditions, beautiful destinations, and no equiptment failure. We were very lucky and had a great time. Thanks again all for your input.
Billy K.
Oaklands Marina at Shinnecock inlet Long Island.
Excellent location just inside the inlet to the west. I used this location as a jump point both ways on my trip. The restaurant is a bit pricey but the food is terrific. Fuel dock, bathrooms and showers,ice etc. Coming in the the inlet with an outgoing tide and a wind from the south 6' to 9' waves can appear. I buried my bow twice coming home. Inside there is plenty of deep water but also lots of fishing boats and there can be a stiff current. The ocean is a very short walk as is the inlet.
Onset Bay Marina is another nice jump point close to the Cape Cod Canel. Fuel, pumpout, bathrooms and showers,laundry, full service marina. As noted by Gene there is not much of a town but they had a nice bbq area that we took advantage of.
Pickering Wharf in Salam is in a very tight and well protected canal. The entrance to the harbor is beautiful. We came in on a Saturday afternoon after a day in the ocean that was so calm we stopped for a swim. The town is right behind Pickerings and there is a nice restaurant and bar in the marina grounds. Thanks Jack for the heads up as to areas with no boats and shallow water. I took the main channel in and the south channel out. We walked over to Hawthorne Cove, it is not as nice as Pickerings Wharf.
Boston Harbor is a very nice ride in. The channel is wide and deep so you can see the sights as well as navigate. Constitution Marina is very nice with a small pool, bbq area, laundry, and very nice bathrooms and showers. There is a supermarket within walking distance and of course " Old Ironsides " the USS Constitution is right next door. We took the all day trolley which I wood recommend to anyone only staying a short time. It gave us a flavor for the city with a little history and saved our legs.
Going through the Cape Cod Canel was a breeze, I don't know why I was worried about it.It is wide, deep and well marked especially on the on the west side. I went east with a slack tide and came west with the current going my way. I saw plenty of small boats going both ways with no trouble but I did have beautiful weather both days.
Buzzards Bay was a short chop on my way to Wood's Hole. The tide against the mild wind caused a 1'- 2' sea so I can see how it could be a bear in more windy conditions. Woods Hole channel is a very cool experience. So much water rushing through a narrow passage is exhilarating when everything on your boat is working properly, but one little problem and you are on the rocks in seconds.
Woods Hole Marina is inside the Eel Pond which requires you to wait for a drawbridge to open. The marina is behind a nice restaurant with a quant little town. Too bad we arrived too late for the aquarium and were leaving the next day.The facilities were not what most people would be looking for but it was very nice and low key.
Going to Newport down Buzzards we saw the most incredible mansions on the Mass./R.I. shoreline. Newport is always an amazing arrival. The sailing history,the sail boats, and of course the mega yachts. We stayed at The Newport Hotel and Marina and met friends Brad and Linda from my club. The marina has a nice pool, laundry, bathrooms and showers. Although it was hot and humid outside there was the availibility of a sauna if you so desired. The town is awesome and we did tour the Vanderbilt mansion. The trolley station is a short walk from the boats and again it saves your legs. It never ceases to amaze me how much walking is associated with boating. As Hogan suggested we picked up 4- 3lb lobsters and ate them on the dock behind our boats. I will never forget how quiet it got, except for the sounds of lobster shells and claws breaking.
And that was it, as long as it took for the trip to arrive it was over just like that. We had unbelievable weather, great sea conditions, beautiful destinations, and no equiptment failure. We were very lucky and had a great time. Thanks again all for your input.
Billy K.