Northeast Coast Summer 2010 Rendezvous

[MattinRI]

I figured I'd start a thread where we can post cruising plans in hopes of seeing some of you.  We are heading out this weekend. Weather is looking good, so probably either Block Island or Martha's Vineyard  -we could be swayed either way if there is another Rosborough in the vicinity.  Following that, we are taking off the week after Memorial day & heading thru Buzzards Bay to Boston & points north (if weather cooperates).
Matt & Laurie

[peteplatt2000]

Hi Matt,

If you want any input on things up this way for planning your trip, I'm always happy to share my "local" knowledge.

Pete "Sooner"

[MattinRI]

Thanks Pete.  Did your e-mail change?  Any recommendations for gas up that way?
Laurie wants to spend some time in Marblehead.  Any info on Marblehead?  If we do that, we'll probaqbly skip Rockport.  Also looking for a Marina with access to the North End - was thinking Constitution Marina?
Finally - I saw Tammi's pics of the Charles - do you recommend a sidetrip up the Charles?

[TammiGoddard]

It was an easy walk to the old North End from The Waterboat Marina. They charged us $120/night. Pete recommended this place to us - and we loved it.

[MattinRI]

Thanks Tammi!  What did you think of your cruise up the Charles River?

[TammiGoddard]

We loved it! Still talk about it regularly.
At the start you have to share the canal & lock space with the Duck Boats and that feels kind of crowded from time to time, but once you get beyond the place where little sail boats are for rent [and are sailed by children & people who have NO IDEA how to steer] it is clear boating.  Our charts indicated that we wouldn't be able to fit under one of the 1st bridges (the post for our dinghy davit is 8'8" high from the water) but we approached the bridge carefully, I stood on the gunnel and spotted the clearance and we fit under. The charts stated that if you could fit under that bridge you could fit under all the rest and we did.
Boating through Cambridge is a real treat and such a contrast to the traffic you encounter in a car. I'd highly recommend the trip!

[peteplatt2000]

Hi Matt,

Hope you got my e-mail about fuel. I have a couple of e-mail addresses but the best one to use is:
peter.platt@verizon.net   I've had some weird things happen when I send e-mail from work. Sometimes it goes out from an address that's supposed to be just for internal use & the I can't get replys to it.
pete@pruins.com   works fine also but if you see PPlatt@pruins.com, you cannot reply to it.

The North End is between Constitution Marina & Waterboat Marina. I don't know how the slip fees compare. Last time I stayed at Waterboat it cost me $50. I almost gagged when Tammi said $120 but I stayed there a long time ago. It does have a great location right near Quincy Market & the Aquarium but that's not a long walk from Constitution - especially for you youngsters.

The Charles River is nice, particularly if it's cold & windy out on the open water. However, where you have limited time, if the weather is nice there's some terrific exploring up around Marblehead. Marblehead itself is great to explore. It's too crowded to anchor but we've rented moorings at Boston YC & had a great time walking around - even rented bikes one time. There's lots to see cruising around the harbor - just pay attention as it is pretty tight.

Across Salem Sound is Manchester by the Sea. You'll see some houses there worthy of Newport. It's really beautiful. You can usually get a free mooring by Great Misery Island (owned by the Trustees of the Reservations) & worth a walk around & dinghy into Manchester or just anchor right outside the entrance of the harbor. It's a great town to walk around.

Hopefully, I'll be talking to you.

Pete "Sooner"