Long Island Sound, NY Adventure - Maxum Boat Owners Club

1994Maxum2700SCR · 03-13-2013, 08:36 AM

Hey everyone!

I'm planning to do a week long boating adventure with my girlfriend sometime in July all over the Long Island Sound, New York, and I'm trying to put together a list of nice places to stop by along the way.
My marina is right near the Throgs Neck Bridge and I've never been out past Hempstead Harbor so I'm not sure where all the good coves to swim/fish/sightsee/dock/villages are past my typical area.

I have 2 options for my trip:

Option 1: Venture out East along the Northern Long Island coast and then at the tip of long island, turn around and head back West along the Southern Connecticut coast.
Option 2: Venture out East along the Nothern Long Island coast and wrap around long island and come back West along the Southern coast of long island, finally up the East River.

Based on those who know the area, which option would you recommend?
I realize by being in the estuary, I'm sheltered from the other side of long island so I'm concerned about the water conditions on the southern side, any insight?

I've only been able to dig up this online in regards to some good locations:
http://blog.ctnews.com/kantor/2011/0...-this-weekend/

If anyone has done something like this, any advice/insight would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully we can all pool together some good spots and I can map out a chart.

Thanks,

- Joe

P.S. - If you have any pictures of any of these sights please post them!

shrew · 03-13-2013, 04:52 PM

Hi 94 Maxum! You'll be in my neck of the woods during that trip.

1) Inside of Long Island Sound will be better than outside the Southern Long Island.

2) If you so take the southern long island route, look at running on the inside, however it is shallow through there.

As for destinations do you plan on anchoring, mooring, or are you looking for transient marina space? That really makes a difference. I could be sending you to a place like Watch Hill that really only has anchorage, or Greenport, which really only has transient slips. Other places like Block Island, Montauk, or Sag Harbor have both, though in some places, like Sag and Montauk you need to know where to go and how to get there in order to anchor.

1994Maxum2700SCR · 03-13-2013, 06:43 PM

Hey Shrew,

I think I'm going to take your advice and do Option #1.

Either anchorages or slips for a night would be fine, maybe break it up like half the nights anchored off and half the nights at a slip where I can run shore power or something. Do you know the average cost for a 1 night slip with power?

Are there any places to dock for a few hours and go on land to sight-see/spend time in a park/lighthouses/Restaurants, etc...?

Thanks,

- Joe

Noname · 03-15-2013, 12:07 AM

Greenport is a great place for shopping, eating, etc. carousel...

pascavone · 03-15-2013, 03:20 AM

if you stay at green port the first night, then go into the piconic bay, its beautiful and flat water.

The south shore still has a lot of uncharted Sandy sand bars, and who know whats floating in the channels..... will let you know in May.

plus to have to run in the ocean to get to fire island.

a trip to mystic CT or watch hill RI is a nice venture also.

dbriceno · 03-16-2013, 02:51 AM

Here's a bunch of places that will definitely please.

Northport - has many restaurants/bars in a really nice village. There is a fixed dock right in town that is free till 8pm then it's $3/ft. (crappy electric) First come first serve but is not a problem at all midweek. If it's full you can get a mooring nest door at Seymours boatyard
Port Jefferson - has town moorings and a cheap tender service into town. Again a nice village with many restaurants/bars
Norwalk Ct. - Floating town dock with a variable pricing $2.50/ft for 24 hours (great electric and water)
Millford Landing Ct. - Really nice town marina nice restaurants/bars
Essex Ct - Expensive but really nice town (Can pickup town mooring up river at Hamburg Cove)
Mystic Ct - visit the Seaport or casinos
Newport RI - Expensive but really cool
Block Island RI - The Best!

Good Luck, Have a great trip
Dan

pascavone · 03-17-2013, 09:21 PM

a lot of the south shore and docks are knocked out from sandy, so better to call ahead to make sure.

shrew · 03-18-2013, 05:50 PM

You'll definitely have to call ahead if you want to stop at a Transient slip for few hours. The public docks in greenport will let you tie up for a few hours.

rodrigo · 03-19-2013, 11:56 AM

Joe,
try to make it to block island, I was there a couple of years ago, it was great, we rented scooters to go around the island, the marina has a swimming pool, beautiful views, and a lot of things to do or not to do and just relax!
good luck

shrew · 03-19-2013, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodrigo

Joe,
try to make it to block island, I was there a couple of years ago, it was great, we rented scooters to go around the island, the marina has a swimming pool, beautiful views, and a lot of things to do or not to do and just relax!
good luck

There are several Marina's at Block Island. You'd be looking to stay in New Harbor (The Great Salt Pond). You can pick up a transient mooring if you're both lucky and/or patient, you can anchor or get a transient slip at a number of Marina's. Scooter rentals and lots of bike rentals too. The walk from new harbor to old harbor is nice though.

dbriceno · 03-19-2013, 10:20 PM

If you are traveling with kids to Block you will want to stay at Champlin's Marina, they have the most facilities. Be prepared to be rafted to other boats. The Boat Basin has individual slips though you need to reserve way in advance. Payne's dock packs the boats in but it's all part of being on Block. Payne's and the Basin are less expensive than Champlin's though Champlin's has a bar at the end of the dock with bands on Friday & Saturday nights. Most members of my boat club stay at Champlin's every summer. I think August 5 - 10 is the Tuna Tournament which is more crowded but fun

1994Maxum2700SCR · 03-20-2013, 04:42 AM

Thanks guys, so far everyone has given me some good spots that I'm looking into and mapping out a chart.
I'm probably going to do block island for a day and rent a scooter to zip around for a couple hours.

dbricerno, no kids, just me and my girlfriend (both mid 20s)

Keep them coming!

Thanks,

- Joe

rodrigo · 03-20-2013, 11:38 AM

Shrew, we stayed at Champlin's marina, had a great time there!

dbriceno · 03-20-2013, 04:53 PM

You'll want to stay at Block for more than a day. I try to stay the entire week

shrew · 03-21-2013, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbriceno

You'll want to stay at Block for more than a day. I try to stay the entire week

Agreed, one day is too short. We usually stay a minimum of three nights. Though the OP says he has a week. Actually, this might be an agressive cruise for one week. You'll be pushing yourself to make the distance and time. I'd avoid cruisng to a tight schedule as it tends to lead to a bit to much 'optimism' as you try to cruise against the weather.

1994Maxum2700SCR · 03-21-2013, 09:46 PM

Yea your probably right Shrew, I know its a long trip. how long do you estimate it will take to get from the throgs neck bridge to block island in a straight run?
I have 9 days total vacation, then I gotta go back to work. Wish I could take more but you know how it is.
Also, my girlfriend coincidentally went on a family vacation to block island last year so she already seen it all. I on the other hand have never been there but I'm easy going so zipping around on a scooter and getting an ice cream cone is all I need lol.
We'll stay a night or maybe 2 nights at block island to start unless it really lures us in.

Thanks,
- Joe

dbriceno · 03-22-2013, 12:01 AM

Block Island is probably about 120 miles from the Throgs Neck Bridge. You want to be sure the seas are cooperating. Traveling through Plum Gut or the Race can get hairy at times. Also prepare for fog in the morning at Block. If you run to Essex Ct first Block should be 30-40 miles. The Griswald Inn in Essex has a cool pre Revolutionary War that is worth checking out. Just a short walk from Essex Island Marina.