Safe to take a 2001 sundancer 240 to Martha's Vineyard..or Nantucket?

[Nick70]

Hi..new member, first post. I'm planning on getting a 24-27' sundancer. Most likely go with a newer 240.
im wondering if it's safe to take out to the surrounding islands?
im in mass so would probably put it in RI also. Maybe trips to Newport and block island too.
any and all thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Boater420]

I used to go to Block Island as a kid. 10 miles of open water. Smaller boats would follow the ferry from Pt. Judith to BI. On a clear day you can see the island low on the horizon. Probably pretty calm on some summer days. I'd say it would be no problem on those types of days. Sometimes the weather gets pretty rough. Even on a calm day you can expect 3 foot rolling swells.

Make sure you have electronics and follow a ferry boat your first time so you know what to expect.

Good luck with the new boat.

 

[Boston-boater]

Depending on where you start from, MV is no problem for a 240 SD. Only a few miles of open water and under normal conditions, any easy run. The same applies to Cuttyhunk which is another nice destination in the area. Nantucket is another story. The island is pretty far offshore and you would have a long way to go if the weather turns on you. I would second that Block is ok too but just plan the weather. With a well outfitted boat there are a lot I great boating destinations in the area that would be open to you. You just need to be a little more cautious then someone in a larger boat.

 

[Big Island Lifer]

What about making the run with a buddy boat the first time?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[be_prepared]

You have a lot of options in the area, and the 24' Sundancer will do the job on many days in the summer. Over time, you'll start getting a feeling for what you and your passengers are comfortable with, and how wind and tides can affect the ride to your favorite locations. For example, the run from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven is only about 3.5 miles, Oak Bluffs a little farther. Some days, the worst part of the trip isn't the run across Vineyard Sound, it's going thru Woods Hole! Make sure you get a copy of Eldridges http://www.amazon.com/Eldridge-Tide...461206130&sr=8-1&keywords=eldridge+tide+pilot and pay attention to the currents when you're going through passages like Woods Hole, Quick's Hole, Cape Cod Canal, etc...

I had a 23' Sea Ray cuddy on Buzzards Bay for 10 years before my current 34' Sundancer. There were a lot of days that we planned on going one place for the day, but because of the prevailing wind, decided on doing something else. There are days where a trip to Cuttyhunk is a dreamy glass smooth ride, others where we would need back reconstruction surgery if we pounded through, so we didn't. The nice thing is that most of the time, there is a place you can go that keeps you more protected, sometimes it's along the south side of the bay, sometimes along the north. We've had morning rides to Vineyard Haven for breakfast at the Black Dog, and by afternoon, the wind had whipped up Buzzards Bay so bad that we sat on the hook in Hadley's Harbor (near Woods Hole), until after sundown. Then, things layed down, and we made that last run to Mattapoisett in peace.

A big part of boating with a smaller craft is knowing your limitations, sweating the details on the weather in advance, and being flexible. Just because on Wednesday you made plans to go with friends to Edgartown on Saturday doesn't mean you have to go there. You might instead find that heading to the Back Eddy in Westport is better, or the Chart Room in Red Brook Harbor, or just hanging around on your mooring with a few cocktails and the Magma Grill cooking up cheeseburgers in paradise. Just enjoy the adventure!

Like the song says: "If you're livin' to love by the ocean, lovin' to live by the sea, if you're lucky enough, to live on blue waters... you're lucky enough by me"

 

[Nick70]

Thank you for all the excellent feedback!
i can't wait to get underway!