Planning trip through Buzzards Bay5

Thanks! Planning on going there this summer. Bassett island is a regular beach stop for us coming from Sippican.
 
Another option if staying in red brook overnight is to anchor off the backside of basset island and just dinghy over for mudslides and lobster salads. BTW the lobster salad is probably close to 2 lbs of full lobsters (not just claw meat) with just a tiny bit of mayo - PERFECT!!!

Just be careful as mentioned navigating the channel -- woke up one foggy morning to a 70+ motor yacht on top of the rocks between basset island and kingman!
 
Very nice suggestions from many to make it valuable planning tool for those who haven't been cruising in the area yet.

I'd like to share my opinion helping you to understand what to focus on, in order to make the go/no-go decision. We all know what 20kts wind is like. Many have travelled in 20kts wind and might consider it a "walk in the park". As captains, we know that there are 3 primary items we have to look for in a wether forecast:

1. Wind speed.
2. Wind direction.
3. The buddy of water (e.g. A river, a bay, ICW, a sound, open ocean, etc.)

This is where Buzzards Bay is one unique buddy of water. What I mean is, by looking at the chart you can see that the shape of the land makes is a "perfect funnel". This is where the DIRECTION of the wind is CRITICAL. During summer months we usually get SW winds. What happens in Buzzards Bay, the entire bay is getting blown into a "tiny end of the funnel". Local captains will most likely agree with me that they'll rather be in open ocean in something like 20kts SW winds, than in Buzzards Bay.

Couple years ago I happened to travel in Buzzards Bay during 20kts SW afternoon wind. We we're making our way back home (westbound) via Cape Cod Canal. I have to tell you that as soon as I passed Onset harbor entrance, I felt what is like hitting 6'-7' of water every few seconds. This is what normally knows as chop. A lot of people know what 2'-3' chop is like. But, steady 6'-7' and occasionally larger chop is something you just don't want to be in. My anchor was under water with every single wave. My 45'er was nothing but a tiny cork jumping up and down. My fully a closed bridge was getting soaked inside, that's how much water was getting almost 20 feet up in the air.

On that day, VHF was flooded with calls from boater's seeking shelter. I was shooting for Cuttyhunk, but after seeing these conditions it didn't take me too long to realized that change of plans will be in order. I quickly scanned the chart and saw a nice anchorage in the Onset Harbor. I turned the boat around and headed there until the winds calmed down. After few hours, the winds dropped to about 13kts. It was peaceful in the anchorage and we decided to take a pick outside. We got out an the seas were at solid 4-5'ers. It was bumpy, but doable on my boat. So, we headed to Woods Hole for the night.

The point and the moral of my story is obvious, you see SW winds at anything greater than 10kts (especially if the SW wind direction was for a day or two prior), don't stick your nose out in the mouth of the bay coming out of the Cape Cod Canal. If the wind is at your beam or tail, that's a different story.
 
well said Alex, i used to sit at the park by the railroad bridge and watch boats turn around because the seas were too big and they couldnt tell until they were in it. i've also seen 23' formulas hammer through seas i wouldnt have gone through by choice in that bay. some people are just dumb though
 
My marina is in onset which is just around the bend from the canal. Plenty of shelter with 3 marinas. I will say that the canal is the worst body of water that I have ever traveled in and every time I go through it I am white knuckled. Not to scare the crap out of you but it can turn on you real fast on both sides especially going out by mass maritime. Last year I had to get put in from Plymouth and a beautiful ride in 68* with just a chop, coming out west end covered in green water and props out of the water at times (my wife will be more than happy to tell the story).The scary part of it is that 10 feet to my starboard side there are guy fishing with no achore and not moving an inch. Just like it's already been said a million times its a funnel. Staying to the south side of the canal seems to be a little cleaner for some reason. Coming out behind mass maritime can get real shallow QUICK so be careful thinking that hey it calm I'll go over there. Current and wind direction is vital for not soiling yourself, the good news is that the hellish ride only last about a 1/2 mile then it calms down. However if Mother Nature wants to be a good girl it's easy peezy. Oh and obay the speed limit, some is always watching.
 
im reading some conflicting information. can anyone tell me when the current shifts (ebbs) west in the canal?
is it 1-1/2hrs after high tide in buzzards bay? im just starting to plan my move to falmouth
 
Thanks. That's the clearest info I've found. Saving that website.
 
I agree. Like you I was not sure which way the current flowed relative to the tides at each end. If you catch the current right, you fly through the canal in 45 min or so.
 
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