MV & Nantucket

Pirate Lady

Pirate Lady

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2020
7,533
Chesapeake Bay, Middle River
Boat Info
Sundancer 250 ‘91
Engines
7.4 Bravo 1
Do you folks that live along the New England southern coast ever take your boats to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket? Day trip or too far for a <38’ boat?
I never see threads about trips, made me wonder.
 
We have gone there several times from Rhode Island. It’s about 2.5 hrs to MV and 4 hrs for NT for us. Personally I’d rather go to Block Island. If you do go to Nantucket from RI or CT, take the route north of MV, not south. Too many shoals that move around in the southern route.
 
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Last summer we did montauk->newport->nantucket->Montauk->home
Great trip. Absolutely loved Nantucket. Took 3ish hrs from Newport to Nantucket and about 4.5 hrs to get back to Montauk
I wouldn't say that's a day trip, but definitely a worthwhile one
 
I won’t be doing the trip. When I was 16 we did a family vacation to Hyannis, loved it, went to New Bedford whaling museum. All the places, crossed to MV on a ferry. Loved it.
Was just curious why I never see threads about boaters going there.
 
These threads are more about the boats themselves. There are other forums and Facebook groups were you may see more travel stuff
 
Back in the good ole days when we had the NE flotilla MV would pop up as a destination. We never made it as a large group since it’s a bit of a hike for most in lower CT and LI waters so it was hard to plan as a group due to weather. Personally we love MV and try to go every year. Love block island but for us there isn’t much to do to keep us entertained for a full week. On the other hand there is too much to do in MV in one week. This summer we’re are actually planning on doing a month there. We actually move around the island staying in different harbors. As for Nantucket we’ve only been once and it’s a pretty cool spot but very packed in the peek of summer but still worth the trip.
 
2 ports on the Vineyard, Oak bluffs and Vineyard Haven are both about a 15min run for me from Falmouth so we are there all the time. Edgartown is about 45min and we do that 8-10 times a season. Mostly day trips for us to the vineyard but we will stay in Oak bluffs a few nights a year. Nantucket is about 1.5hrs and we do that trip 2-3 times a year for a weekend at a time. Both are awesome boating destinations each with their own charm.
 
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Last time I was in MV had to leave a restaurant because Obama was in town. We left and spent the next two days in Cutty Hunk
 
I'd go way more often if closer. As a kid we went all the time on the ferry, but now we have our own ferries :D

Watch out for submerged Oldsmobiles :eek:

Last year I had a slip booked in Oak Bluffs, but it turned out to be the same weekend as the obama birthday party plus the weather wasn't great so we cancelled.

I haven't read a ton about the trip either, but for me coming south from Boston, it's faster for me to go through the CC canal and there is plenty of reading on that. Otherwise, if I went east around the Cape via Chatham, it takes longer and the Warden is convinced we'll be attacked by Jaws

Lately we like to go down to the Mystic seaport (by car) and that trip by boat is on my list for sure.
 
Phil S said:
I'd go way more often if closer. As a kid we went all the time on the ferry, but now we have our own ferries :D

Watch out for submerged Oldsmobiles :eek:

Last year I had a slip booked in Oak Bluffs, but it turned out to be the same weekend as the obama birthday party plus the weather wasn't great so we cancelled.

I haven't read a ton about the trip either, but for me coming south from Boston, it's faster for me to go through the CC canal and there is plenty of reading on that. Otherwise, if I went east around the Cape via Chatham, it takes longer and the Warden is convinced we'll be attacked by Jaws

Lately we like to go down to the Mystic seaport (by car) and that trip by boat is on my list for sure.
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Mystic by boat is a lot of fun. There is a lot to see once you get there. It is a busy harbor so plenty of boating stuff to do so it is a different feel when going by boat. A run over to Watch Hill for the day is a lot of fun. Cute little port with nice beaches.
 
Like Jeremy, we have a short run to MV, an hour and half or less, so we go 6-10 times a year, lots of times just for lunch.

Nantucket, about a 2-1/2 hour ride, we do at least once a year, two or three times if the weather is good early season as the dock is only $1/foot and you get $1/off in September or October (to make it also $1/foot).
 
Pirate Lady said:
Do you folks that live along the New England southern coast ever take your boats to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket? Day trip or too far for a <38’ boat?
I never see threads about trips, made me wonder.
Click to expand...
I recently moved to NC. But when I was in Boston, I used to love to go to points south. Provincetown on Cape Cod was an easy 40 ish mile run. And I’ve Made the trip to MV many times..easy run. Definitely want to stay at least a night or two. Oak bluffs was a great spot there. Been to Cuttyhunk as well and just shy of NYC in Long Island sound. Lots of nice marinas along the way. The farthest non stop-except for gas-trip I think I’ve made was from Block island back to home port in Quincy-a few miles south of Boston-no problem. This was in my current 2006 260. I had a 2009 330 for a season. But any seas I would not want to be out in the 260, I still would not want to be out in the bigger boat either.
Watch the weather/conditions and you should be fine.
 
The Vineyard has such a variety of boating experiences available depending on what you want.
Oak Bluffs has a lot of action, places to drink and eat, music, but a very busy harbor. The moorings on holiday and busy summer weekends will have 4 boats rafted each. The joke is that you can walk across the harbor on the rafted boats. The "slips" are up against a bulkhead, and if you're very social it can be a lot of fun, because you'll have many friends saying hello.
Edgartown is mostly a mooring location, few slips, and they are crazy money. It's across from the Ted Kennedy experimental car as submarine test area (Chappaquiddick). The shopping is pricy, but plentiful, so the Admiral is always happy with a good credit card limit.
Vineyard Haven has a few dock options, and moorings. There are shops and restaurants, notable is the Black Dog of course. Another Vineyard Haven option is anchoring in the lagoon, which also has a dinghy dock so you can walk into town.
For a totally different, peaceful experience, we love Menemsha. Buying lobsters and having them on the beach there at sunset is really awesome. Cruising around Menemsha pond is a good time, lots of sandy beaches in there to pull up and hang out. Another peaceful option is pulling into Lake Tashmoo, no services, just peace and quiet, but you can dinghy ashore and it's a short walk or bike to Vineyard Haven.
 
Been there many times over the years from Stony Brook LI. Went to Block Island then MV then Nantucket and back the same. Great week trip(s). Favorite spot is anchoring out in Edgartown, Oak Bluff ferry kind of ruins that area. My favorite is Block Island, I miss Block.
 
I am coming into the harbor now for our first trip this season. It is nice to back.
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This yacht is awesome. I am more of a traditional styling type of person but it is impressive.
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That yacht was in Newport this past weekend, docked at Gurney's (Goat Island ). All the big toys were out.
 
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