Block Island Trip

boatrboy

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2006
1,839
Orange, CT
Boat Info
2006 340 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 Horizons with V-Drives
Last week I enjoyed a nice 5 day trip on my 270 Sundancer. It was a guy's trip and one of my buddies was with me. We travelled together with my dock neighbor, who has a 2 yr old 29' Maxum. It is comforting to travel with another boat.
We left Ct early Wednesday and traveled to Montauk for one night. We stayed at Snug Harbor marina (thanks Dave) which has floating docks, but man was it tight there. No wonder they call it "Snug" Harbor. It was a good place for a night. It was about 95 degrees w/no breeze so we were happy to see the pool! We took a cab into town for dinner.

We headed out early Thursday and before we left the harbor, my neighbor's boat overheated. We docked at the Coast Guards dock to check things out, but after changing thermostat, we knew the water pump went. We moved the boat to Montauk Boat basin and the parts guy actually drove somewhere to pick up a water pump for him and we changed it at the dock. It must have been the low water we noticed at Snug, but we are not really sure. Once we found all the impeller blades.....he installed the new pump and we were on our way to Block Island. We had reservations at Champlins and we were on floating docks there as well. This place is wild as boats are packed in like sardines. I love it. This place is a resort and boaters have access to everything. We brought dink's and inflated them after we were settled. We cruised the harbor, marshes and beaches.

We left Sunday and my neighbor wanted to go back via Montauk because he was worried about fuel range and going thru the Race. We had calm waters and cruised about 28 mph the whole way. It took 45 mins from BI to Montauk and 2 1/2 hrs from Montauk to Bridgeport harbor in CT.

It was a great trip and this will be an annual event as this is my second year. Next year we will stay somewhere else on the way, maybe Essex or Mystic. I can't wait to cruise again this weekend!

Mark

Edited - Added pics below
 
Sound like a great trip. Got any pictures?
 
Boatrboy-
Looks like fun! We're hoping to hit Block Island next summer. What happens at Champlins when you're pinned in and you need to get out? Do they put any thought into who goes where (based on how long they're staying) or is it completely random? It does look fun and very social, but I get claustrophobic when I'm three-four boats from escaping!
 
Sounds great..Chapmans is a zoo if you like that kinda thing. We're heading back to Essex this week and have been there many times. If there is anything you'd like to know about it please ask.

Joe
 
prodigalson said:
...What happens at Champlins when you're pinned in and you need to get out? Do they put any thought into who goes where (based on how long they're staying) or is it completely random? ....

It is amazing but they try to put you in based on the length of your stay. Many times a boat behind you has to move and they have dock hands re-arrange and pull you out. Sometimes I watch and think "no-way is that boat going to fit thru that opening" but they get them out! The boats in front of us you see in the pic's we leaving the same day so all was planned perfectly. What was tough was getting into the dinghy's from the bow during the weekend :smt021

It really was a blast and Sea Ray heaven.......
 
They pack you in EXTREMELY tight at Champlins. We go there 3-4 times per year, and once last year, we actually came back to find a new boat come in right behind us with the anchor hanging over our rear cockpit seating in our old 320 Sundancer. It was ridiculous, but I got the dock guys to move the boat....that was too tight! It is not out of the question to come back to your boat either, and find it moved. If someone needs to get out, the dock hands just grab the lines, and move the boats. They seem like they know what they are doing most of the time. I sam them move a three boat raft all with 40'+ boats last year....without any owner even being on the boats. Impressive to watch them do their thing.
 
We were also at Block this past Saturday. We arrived at about 11:00 from Stratford and were lucky to get an orange town mooring as a sailboat was leaving. It was the only of the large capacity moorings to change hands that day.

The anchorage was quite crowded - but no surprise with the near perfect weather.

One 44 DA was anchorded on short scope in the private mooring field. The owner decided to leave the boat with generator running and dangerously close to the moored boats. The harbor master gave the guy a ticket for anchoring in the mooring field, but the boat then started to drag anchor. The owner of the moored boat was able to fend off the Sundancer using his dinghy, until the harbor master arrived and towed the wayward Sundancer to a temporary mooring. he then added $150 to the ticket for the towing service.

It's rare to see only one instance like this on a crowded weekend, but too bad it was a Sea Ray.
 
Sea Gull said:
We were also at Block this past Saturday. We arrived at about 11:00 from Stratford and were lucky to get an orange town mooring as a sailboat was leaving. It was the only of the large capacity moorings to change hands that day.

I am disappointed we did not get to meet. I see your boat on the river all the time but have yet to stop.

How long did you stay? Did you go to Champlain's for a mudslide?

Did you go straight thru the race?
 
Sounds like a good time guys. I got here yesrterday and am at the boat basin for a couple of days. I got a friend of mine the last green mooring this morning searching on my dinghy. What a problem here today withall the wind. not only anchors but moorings breaking and dragging with boats swinging into each other.
 
Cool Pics :thumbsup: , They sure do pack them in.
 
Yes, you have to stop over and introduce yourself!

We left Stratford at 8 am and were on the mooring in Block at 11:10. It's almost a straight shot through the race, but I always aim for the green buoy which means a slight course change at that point. One nice thing about diesels - we made the whole trip on one tank with fuel to spare. We never made it to Champlains, but had mudslides at Ballards and a nice dinner in town. We left Sunday morning and headed over to Newport where we spent two nights.
 
Next time on the Block try Payne's Dock. If you think that Champlin's packs them in you have to see what happens at Payne's. The guys there are amazing and they should charge for entertainment when moving boats in and out. Oh , and by the way they are 1/2 the price of the Boat Basin and Champlins. Mahogany Shoals is a great place to hang out at night. I have been to all of them but Payne's is the best!!
 

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