I was speaking to a fellow boater today. He said it typically takes 2.5 hours from Boston to Plymouth? How can that be? I charted it to be about 40 miles and my boat cruises at >30 mph. I realize the no wake speed in Boston Harbor and Plymouth Harbor will add some time, but if you subtract that, shouldn't it be about an hour on a calm day?
Boston to Plymouth
- Thread starter JV II
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jrirvine1
Member
Julia, don’t know much about boating in your area, but here on the Chesapeake when I travel a charted distance of around 40 miles, it will take between 2 and 2.5 hours for the trip – depending upon conditions. (wave height and direction)
We cruise in open water at between 26 and 28 mph. When making a run there is considerable time involved for leaving the slip, traveling at 6 knots through the no wake areas, dodging the “blowboats”, entering the destination harbor and hailing the dockmaster. I think the time you were given is realistic unless you have a “go fast”.
We cruise in open water at between 26 and 28 mph. When making a run there is considerable time involved for leaving the slip, traveling at 6 knots through the no wake areas, dodging the “blowboats”, entering the destination harbor and hailing the dockmaster. I think the time you were given is realistic unless you have a “go fast”.
MAKC
Member
- Oct 23, 2006
- 519
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- 1997 400 Sedan Bridge
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- 3116 Caterpillar
2.5 hours for a 40 mile trip sounds about right. And depending on the conditions, it could even take longer. While your boat can go close to 40 mph (give or take), your average speed will be much less than that with all the other stuff. Besides, you're boating! Whats the rush? 
Enjoy the scenery!
Mike
Enjoy the scenery!Mike
Sea Gull
Well-Known Member
Mike,
Your boat may be capable of a 30 knot cruise, but in practice you may rarely see that and certainly not on an average speed basis. Even the big 50+ foot offshore fishing boats, that are designed to cruise at high speed, are often limited by sea conditions.
The last time I cruised between Plymouth and Boston it was pretty calm but foggy. I don't have my log book with me, so I can't tell you exactly how long it took, but it was probably about 3 hours.
Your boat may be capable of a 30 knot cruise, but in practice you may rarely see that and certainly not on an average speed basis. Even the big 50+ foot offshore fishing boats, that are designed to cruise at high speed, are often limited by sea conditions.
The last time I cruised between Plymouth and Boston it was pretty calm but foggy. I don't have my log book with me, so I can't tell you exactly how long it took, but it was probably about 3 hours.
Henry Boyd
Well-Known Member
- Apr 24, 2007
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Mike,
Yes, your boat can go that fast, and t= d/v, but.......
You have to take into consideration sea state and effects of wind and tide. Currents, tides and wind all affect the actual speed of your boat. The 'speed' you really need to be concerned with is SOG (speed over ground) that is output by your GPS. You are also affected by the social situation as some people (e.g. those who must be obeyed) are less thrilled by pounding through waves and sheets of spray.......
Henry
Yes, your boat can go that fast, and t= d/v, but.......
You have to take into consideration sea state and effects of wind and tide. Currents, tides and wind all affect the actual speed of your boat. The 'speed' you really need to be concerned with is SOG (speed over ground) that is output by your GPS. You are also affected by the social situation as some people (e.g. those who must be obeyed) are less thrilled by pounding through waves and sheets of spray.......
Henry
Looks like we'll be making a stop in Cohasset or Scituate on the way then. I am very obedient.
There are those rare, warm, flat sea days when you can just open her up, no? I recall one of those days going from Scituate Harbor to Hull in a 1953 12' aluminum Starcraft lake runabout with a 20HP tiller controlled outboard (10HP over the rating). The only scary part of that trip was how fast that boat went. No waves.
There are those rare, warm, flat sea days when you can just open her up, no? I recall one of those days going from Scituate Harbor to Hull in a 1953 12' aluminum Starcraft lake runabout with a 20HP tiller controlled outboard (10HP over the rating). The only scary part of that trip was how fast that boat went. No waves.
Mike i have done this trip many times.. if you do not count the charles river locks / bridges / no wake zone to the airport, you will do plymouth in an hour easy..weather not being an issue, with your boat. I run to barnstable harbor in less than 2 hrs on a good day in my 26 and 34 Searrays..
charlieft
Member
Mike,
I picked my boat up last May at Russo in Dorchester and took it down past Plymouth and through the canal to Onset in 3 1/2 hours. It was flat calm ... one of the best days all year. We also got boarded by the Coast Guard ... so that killed 20 minutes or so.
I think 2 hours should be a safe guess for your trip. The channel into Plymouth harbor is 5 miles long. We cut through the islands and came out into the bay near Hingham.
-Charlie
I picked my boat up last May at Russo in Dorchester and took it down past Plymouth and through the canal to Onset in 3 1/2 hours. It was flat calm ... one of the best days all year. We also got boarded by the Coast Guard ... so that killed 20 minutes or so.
I think 2 hours should be a safe guess for your trip. The channel into Plymouth harbor is 5 miles long. We cut through the islands and came out into the bay near Hingham.
-Charlie
Does anyone know of any online tide charts that go through August. The furthest out I could find covered June. I will buy Eldridge later this week.
Addendum: I just found Capetides.com. It looks like for my week in August I won't have the best situation. The tides run in the canal having me out in Buzzard's Bay in the afternoon both coming and going. How much of a problem will this be having a wife who gets sick in a car going a little too fast? What are my overnight options at the southern end of the canal? I have no problem with my skills and the boat going through the bay, but this trip may make or break my boating future if I don't make it a memorable experience for the Admiral.
Addendum: I just found Capetides.com. It looks like for my week in August I won't have the best situation. The tides run in the canal having me out in Buzzard's Bay in the afternoon both coming and going. How much of a problem will this be having a wife who gets sick in a car going a little too fast? What are my overnight options at the southern end of the canal? I have no problem with my skills and the boat going through the bay, but this trip may make or break my boating future if I don't make it a memorable experience for the Admiral.
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steve mac
New Member
Mike,
the tides running through the Cape Cod canal won't bother you too much....BUT if the tide is running out of Buzzards Bay and the wind is from the SouthWest, it will be choppy once you exit the canal (on the south (its actaully the west) end). I keep my boat just outside of the west end of the canal. The marina is called Kingman Marina and it is very well protected for all wind conditions. It is in Catuamet, MA. Go to www.kingmanyachtcenter.com. There is a nice restuarant there is you are staying the night.
As you posted in your first post - it will take you at least 2 hours from Boston to Plymouth, probably closer to 3 hours. Although your boat will go 30 MPH / kts, you usually don't cruise at that speed AND the chop / waves may not allow you to travel at that speed.
Good luck with the trip.
the tides running through the Cape Cod canal won't bother you too much....BUT if the tide is running out of Buzzards Bay and the wind is from the SouthWest, it will be choppy once you exit the canal (on the south (its actaully the west) end). I keep my boat just outside of the west end of the canal. The marina is called Kingman Marina and it is very well protected for all wind conditions. It is in Catuamet, MA. Go to www.kingmanyachtcenter.com. There is a nice restuarant there is you are staying the night.
As you posted in your first post - it will take you at least 2 hours from Boston to Plymouth, probably closer to 3 hours. Although your boat will go 30 MPH / kts, you usually don't cruise at that speed AND the chop / waves may not allow you to travel at that speed.
Good luck with the trip.
charlieft
Member
Mike,
Another option ... You could get a mooring (or slip) for the night at Onset Bay marina. It's right outside the Buzzard's Bay end of the canal. It's a friendly place and walking distance from town.
http://www.onsetbay.com/obmmarina.html
-Charlie
Another option ... You could get a mooring (or slip) for the night at Onset Bay marina. It's right outside the Buzzard's Bay end of the canal. It's a friendly place and walking distance from town.
http://www.onsetbay.com/obmmarina.html
-Charlie
steve mac
New Member
That's a great option for us. BTW I looked at your slip fees. $195/foot. OUCH! That's a lot more than downtown Boston!
Your right - $195 per ft is crazy. I checked around Boston and Quincy and it would be less expensive. The one big reason I like being down on Cape Cod is the great destinations within easy range - Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Cuttyhunk, Newport, Block Island...all within a few hours or less. But, it is expensive. Some of the other marinas on the cape are even more expensive. Hyannis marina is a few dollars more per ft!
Your right - $195 per ft is crazy. I checked around Boston and Quincy and it would be less expensive. The one big reason I like being down on Cape Cod is the great destinations within easy range - Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Cuttyhunk, Newport, Block Island...all within a few hours or less. But, it is expensive. Some of the other marinas on the cape are even more expensive. Hyannis marina is a few dollars more per ft!
So are they charging a premium because of the convenience to all those places or because their costs are a lot higher than in Boston? I would guess that the cost of a property, taxes, and maintenance would be less outside a metropolitan city. Sounds like more supply and demand driving up the price. How is the demand? Were full at the docks at our Marina, but I've been hearing grumblings of other marina's not packing them in with waiting lists, like they used to.
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steve mac
New Member
I think you're probably right about supply and demand. The marina has been sold out with a waiting list for the past 5 or 6 years. They must figure that if they keep raising the prices, most people will pay it. The ones that don't want to pay, will go somewhere else.
dad's turn
New Member
- Jan 17, 2007
- 48
Hey Mike, I've been boating for over thirty years and have a couple of thoughts for you. First just in side the east end of the cannal is Sandwich Marine. Great place to tie up for the night.
I have also made it to the cannal from long island bridge in under 2 hrs and it took me 4 1/2 last year. So plan accordingly.
As for Admiral I have found alot of times it has been better for her to meet me places by car than risk the ride. I am very carefull to plan my trips as one bad day at sea can wreck the next few years.
Best advice I have every received was to travel early in the morning before the wind.
Good luck
I have also made it to the cannal from long island bridge in under 2 hrs and it took me 4 1/2 last year. So plan accordingly.
As for Admiral I have found alot of times it has been better for her to meet me places by car than risk the ride. I am very carefull to plan my trips as one bad day at sea can wreck the next few years.
Best advice I have every received was to travel early in the morning before the wind.
Good luck
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Thanks. I have recognized that the water is much more calm in the early morning. I will try to take advantage of that. The problem is that the tides during the week of the trip have me spilling out into Buzzards Bay in the early afternoon. I will keep Kingman's in mind if we have to camp out there vs. continuing onto somewhere in the Woods Hole area.
I have a lot of alternatives. The best case would be clear sailing right through the canal and onto the Vineyard for the night. The worst case would be to camp out in the west end of the canal and head for the Vineyard bright and early the next day. The fog, of course could be a problem, so we may not have a choice, but to cut through some slop.
wetpaint
Active Member
Mike.......
Planning is a good thing, but trying for perfection will only keep you at the dock.....It has taking me 6 hours from Hyannis to Boston on a perfect day and 14 hours in pea soup fog, rain and 30 knot winds......Not saying you should do the later.....I try to always time the currents in the canal, unfortunately it does not always work to my schedule....I am not a sailboat....Best bet is to leave Boston as the sun rises and once again, if you catch the current great, if you don't, you burn more fuel.....You should be at Woods Hole in 4 hours and sitting on the Vineyard an hour later (depending if you are going to Edgartown, Oak Bluffs or Menemsha).....I see more people looking for that perfect day and the lines never get untied.......Always remember on the Cape that the winds will blow more during the afternoon......Which is good for those sailboaters still trying to get through t he canal as you sit on the Vineyard with your third mudslide.
Planning is a good thing, but trying for perfection will only keep you at the dock.....It has taking me 6 hours from Hyannis to Boston on a perfect day and 14 hours in pea soup fog, rain and 30 knot winds......Not saying you should do the later.....I try to always time the currents in the canal, unfortunately it does not always work to my schedule....I am not a sailboat....Best bet is to leave Boston as the sun rises and once again, if you catch the current great, if you don't, you burn more fuel.....You should be at Woods Hole in 4 hours and sitting on the Vineyard an hour later (depending if you are going to Edgartown, Oak Bluffs or Menemsha).....I see more people looking for that perfect day and the lines never get untied.......Always remember on the Cape that the winds will blow more during the afternoon......Which is good for those sailboaters still trying to get through t he canal as you sit on the Vineyard with your third mudslide.
