Month long trip through New England - Planning

Four Suns

Four Suns

Not a pot stirrer
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 4, 2006
10,533
Williamsburg, VA
Boat Info
2003 480 DB
Engines
QSM-11 Diesels
Our month long trip this year will be through New England and we are now doing some planning. Our trip is about 1400 NM (round trip) and involves taking the boat up to Boston and then having the family come in and cruising from Boston back down to the Chesapeake. The center of our trip is 5 days on Nantucket and we will be at the Nantucket Boat Basin for that (got that reservation this morning).

Our trip is July 7th - August 5th and includes:

Boston
Provincetown
Plymouth
Martha's Vineyard
Nantucket
Newport
Block Island
Sag Harbor
Mystic Seaport
New York (Got tickets to "Wicked" on Broadway)
Atlantic City
Annapolis
Home

Would like recommendations for marinas in Boston, Marthas Vineyard, New York, and Atlantic City... Also, any "local knowledge" on must see events/concerts would be appreciated.

We will be burning about 2800 gallons of diesel on this trip and probably log about 70-80 hours.

We will be keeping a trip log again like we did for last year's Chesapeake Bay trip but it'll be on our own website this time... For those of you new to the site here, this is the trip we did last year:

http://preview.picaboo.com/Webview/CoverPage.aspx?user=000000000000C983F7&album=000000000000C9758C

I wish I would have done that type of documentation every year.


Anyway... any suggestions are welcome. Nantucket, however, is fixed from July 18 through the 22.
 
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Oak Bluffs Marina is the best in Martha's Vineyard. You can back your boat right up to the sidewalk. Everything is right there. Get the steamers and Mudslides at Nancy's right by the marina. Beach is within a short walk. You are right in the center of town with buses available to go all around the island.
 
Thanks. Also, cheap fuel stops would be appreciated. I assume people buy diesel before they head out to Martha's Vineyard/Nantucket...
 
For fuel, if you are going through the Cape Cod canal, one of the cheapest is Taylor Point Marina in Buzzards Bay. In Rhode Island, one of the cheapest is Standish Marina, this is up the Sakonett River. It is a little ride up the river.
 
Cool Gary. I enjoyed your posts last year on your trip. I will try to emulate that this year on our upcoming rendezvous.

Cool stuff and I'll stay tuned except for the 2 weeks of your trip we'll be gone(July 18th-Aug 3rd.) I'll have limited web access
 
I will say that the Chesapeake Bay is much cheaper... Nantucket Boat Basin is $5.50 per foot per night... ouch.
 
The gas is not much cheaper at the Nantucket Boat Basin.....I heard reports last year of $4-$5 for diesel and $5+ for gas. They are by far the most expensive for EVERYTHING, and I can't even imagine what gas/diesel prices will be this year.
Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven on Martha's Vineyard is usually not too bad for fuel prices.
Newport - Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina is always my favorite. Right in the middle of everything, and great people over there.
Block Island - Champlins Marina has everything....but you will more than likely be rafted with someone during your stay, especially if it is during the weekend. Block Island Boat Basin is always a safe bet if you are not into the crowds, and do not need all the ammenities Champlin's offers.
Martha's Vineyard - Oak Bluffs Marina is my favorite....great people watching and right in the middle of everything.
A cruise up the Sakonnet River and around Aquidneck Island on your way to Newport is always a nice cruise. It is the long way to newport (add about 1.5 hours to the trip), but a stop for lunch in Bristol, RI or Fall River, MA by Battleship Cove is always a good take, lots of scenery, and well protected crusing water in Narragansett Bay.
Keep us posted on your journeys!!!
 
Four Suns said:
I will say that the Chesapeake Bay is much cheaper... Nantucket Boat Basin is $5.50 per foot per night... ouch.
Click to expand...

For overnight MOORAGE?????
That's insane. The highest here at the nicest marinas is $1.50/ft/night + $5 for power.
 
Sag Harbor is beautiful and simple, everything is within walking distance. Block Island, not so much. The three major marinas are are in the southwest side (great salt pond) and all the action is near the Old Harbor, northeast side. Gonna need a taxi ride or rent some scooters, they are a must and great for exploring the island. Don't forget to check out the two lighthouses.
 
Hey Gary -

For your New York stop I would recommend Liberty Landing Marina. It's on the Jersey side just north of Lady Liberty and across from The Battery on the southwest side of Manhattan. It is a world class marina and well protected from the rock & roll of The Hudson. The views of Manhattan are stunning (and I don't toss that word around easily). There is a fantastic restaurant right there at Liberty State Park and the ferry to Manhattan runs right from the marina. It is not cheap, but there are really no inexpensive options in the area that are worthwhile. If you are fixed on staying on the city side, The North Cove would be your choice. It's a popular spot for the megayachts but is susceptible to more rock & roll and the views aren't nearly as good as they are from the other side. The cheapest fuel in the area, to my knowledge, has traditionally been at the Alpine Boat Basin, but that's just north of the George Washington Bridge, so unless you were going to head up that way the trip is probably not worth the savings.

Happy Planning!
 
but Nantucket BB give you a nice little shower bag....priceless.

Mystic Seaport is great for the kids as they get the run of the Museum at night...as long as you don't loose them. They have limited slips so reserve early

Montauk Yacht Club is also a nice marina with free shuttle to the beach and town and fuel as I recall is not too bad.
Have a great trip...
 
No other place like Montauk....even 48 Sedan Bridges can look very small with all the 60'+ Vikings and Posts filling Lake Montauk. Star Island Marina is right next door to Montauk Yacht Club and is a good alternative as well as Snug Harbor. Plenty of movie star types hiding out there, trying to escape the Hampton scene. I sat next to Rebecca Romijn for dinner last summer.....not too shabby..
 
When in Boston Harbor, go through the locks and into the Charles River. It is a great scenic trip. The Hatch Shell (home of the Boston Pops) features free oldies concerts on Saturday nights (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/hatch_events.htm). Even for the day, you can dock there...free....and walk the grounds.
 
Gary,

For Atlantic City, I think the best bet is Farly State Marina (AKA, Trump Marina)
http://www.trumpmarina.com/dock/index.cfm

I was there last year and it's very nice. Planning another visit this season as well.

Have great trip, it sounds like a lot of fun. Take lots of pictures and share some stories.

Alex.
 
Gary-

Another endorsement for Trump (Farley) in Atlantic City. The hotel's fitness room is available to transients (was three years ago) and there is a jitney stop at the front of the hotel that will get you anywhere you want to go in the city.
 
Thanks everyone. Oak Bluffs is booked for one of the nights I wanted to be there... some shark fishing tournament. I'd love to see that though...

What about Boston marinas?
 
The shark tournament in Oak Bluffs is a good time. At the end of each of the days, all the boats come back in to the harbor and weigh the sharks up on the gallows. Even if you have to stay on a mooring for the night, it's worth it. They never turn anyone away for a mooring, but you may have to raft-up.

As far as Boston, Constitution Marina is a good choice. It has a pool. Good for after exploring Boston. You can walk to Fanuil Hall from Constitution Marina, but it's a pretty good walk if you have kids with you. There is also a water taxi that picks you up right at the marina, so you can get downtown very easily and quickly.

Nantucket is expensive!!! I just made my reservations for the last weekend in July and when I wrote a check for $750 for 3 nights........wow.

I live in the Boston area, but keep my boat down on Cape Cod, so if you need any additional advice, don't hestiate to ask.

Sounds like a great trip. Have fun.
 
+1 on Liberty Landing Marina. Nice views, good sleep. Everything on manhattan is a puke fest. if you are going to cruise around manhattan, alpine is by far the cheapest place to fuel, just time it at high tide with your boat, it's a tight fit in alpine but you should be able to squeeze in with a little grease. It's right across the river as you come out of the swing bridge on the north side.

Other shows... Lion King is good and the kids like it. Monty Python is good. Wicked is supposed to be good but I haven't seen it.

Places I like to stock up on food. Balducci's, Zabars, Dean & Deluca, wholefoods.

Eating out... too many places to recommend.

If you write in now, you can probably get tickets to David Letterman, or another show.
 
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EKM said:
but Nantucket BB give you a nice little shower bag....priceless.
Click to expand...
Yes... when we went there my wife said "oh look, they gave us a free bag and some wine" (ours also had a red and a white in it), to which I responded, "honey, those were far from free!"

Nice bag though.

That being said, I LOVED Nantucket and would go back again in a heartbeat.

Also +1 on Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina. They are one of the only places we found that had a pool (indoor no less). Which the kids will likely appreciate. And yes, it is right in the heart of things. Newport is great too by the way.

I'm jealous, but I look forward to reading your adventures.
 
Too bad you will be missing the Tiara gathering by about a week.
 
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