We're planning a trip to Cuttyhunk from Narragansett Bay at the end of the month. It will be our first long distance cruise. Depending on the weather, we plan to motor out of the bay early and, hopefully, have a nice reach all the way to the island (if the winds are southerly). Is there anything that we should be concerned about such as difficult tides, poor anchorages, crowds? More than likely, we will try to go mid-week. If there is no room in the inner pond, will the outer harbor be comfortable? Is there a launch service? Thank you.
Cuttyhunk tips
- Thread starter Mike8088
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No problem mid-week finding a mooring; it gets crowded on Friday through the weekend. There is some room to anchor but only for a few boats. No launch service- you will need your dinghy to get ashore. There are also moorings outside the pond which are sheltered except in a north wind which is unusual. Cash or check for the moorings. Be prepared to have a line to tie to the moorings which are almost all eye hooks.
I went there for a weekend last August. I was unable to pick up a mooring but was able to anchor inside behind the mooring field. I draw 3'10". It was very crowded and I had one very concerned neighbor. He thought I had a Danforth anchor and was worried I wouldn't hold. Lot's of eel grass poor anchoring. I had a Mason Supreme and it didn't budge but I did swing all night long. Get there early, lot's to explore on the island. I hear there is a boat that will come to you with a fresh catch of fish or lobster. I'm not sure which channel you can hail him on. There is a cool little pizza shop run from a garage of a house. It really is an interesting place. Enjoy the trip, I think you'll be happy you did it.
There in August
We are chartering a Freedom 38 from Bristol RI to the Vineyard and back. Will probably stop at Cuttyhunk on the way back.
We are chartering a Freedom 38 from Bristol RI to the Vineyard and back. Will probably stop at Cuttyhunk on the way back.
A few other points about Cuttyhunk—
First, the island is DRY. If you want alcohol, you'll need to pack it in.
Second, the island charges for garbage disposal, since they have to pack it out... so, if you're planning on dumping your garbage off there, bring cash.
Third, the island operates mainly on a CASH/CHECK basis, and the only ATM on the island is broken last I heard—so bring CASH or your checkbook.
Fourth, if you're planning on grabbing a mooring... get there early.
A simple way to tie up to the rental moorings is to use a dock line and run it from one bow cleat, through the chocks and then through the eye and back through the chocks on the other side of the bow and back to the other cleat. You'll want chafe protection on the line, but it makes leaving very simple...just untie the line and drift back until you're clear of the mooring...then sail or motor off.
Also, be aware that the channel leading into Cuttyhunk has some shoaling along some of the points, so if you have a deeper draft boat, be careful.
First, the island is DRY. If you want alcohol, you'll need to pack it in.
Second, the island charges for garbage disposal, since they have to pack it out... so, if you're planning on dumping your garbage off there, bring cash.
Third, the island operates mainly on a CASH/CHECK basis, and the only ATM on the island is broken last I heard—so bring CASH or your checkbook.
Fourth, if you're planning on grabbing a mooring... get there early.
A simple way to tie up to the rental moorings is to use a dock line and run it from one bow cleat, through the chocks and then through the eye and back through the chocks on the other side of the bow and back to the other cleat. You'll want chafe protection on the line, but it makes leaving very simple...just untie the line and drift back until you're clear of the mooring...then sail or motor off.
Also, be aware that the channel leading into Cuttyhunk has some shoaling along some of the points, so if you have a deeper draft boat, be careful.
We were there on a Beneteau 42 last September. We draw 5'7" and always had at least 8 to 9 feet of water. We picked up a mooring in the harbor. Follow your charts and you won't go wrong.
I think we paid $40 a night for the mooring. There is not much to see there, but everyone is friendly. Yes, expect to pay $5 a bag for garbage disposal. You can walk up the hill to get a good view of the island. There is also a general store that closed early about 4:00 PM when we were there. Don't expect much at the store.
I think we paid $40 a night for the mooring. There is not much to see there, but everyone is friendly. Yes, expect to pay $5 a bag for garbage disposal. You can walk up the hill to get a good view of the island. There is also a general store that closed early about 4:00 PM when we were there. Don't expect much at the store.
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I used to stop there every year on the way to marthas vineyard or Nantucket. It is a great place to spend a night or a day but it is basically a deserted island. There are a few houses on the island but that's about it. Whatever you need bring it with you. I always anchored or moored in the outer harbor. The entrance is a little tricky so have a GPS and stay in the channels and where clear water is shown on the charts. You enter by going up the west side, around the north and then back south to the mooring area. A lot of rocks show on the chart. I have done this in pea soup fog so it isn't that hard. Also Buzzards Bay has ship channels going in and out for traffic going up through the cape cod canal, so stay out of these channels, if you need to cross one do it at a right angle and as fast as you can. If foggy keep your ears open, you can hear really well in the fog so listen for ships. Try trolling a silver shiny lure after leaving the bay on your way there, you might catch a bluefish in front of the sakkonnet river, I always seemed to catch one or more around there. No good beach that I ever found on cuttyhunk so it is a good spot to just relax, spend a night after a long sail and then move on to the next spot. I was always able to get a morring after they installed them, but before that I anchored many times. The eel grass is very prevalent in the whole region of southern new england so make sure you set your anchor well in reverse. A danforth will foul in eel grass so use a plow like a CQR or as recent discussions recommend a manson supreme, spade, or rocna. I never stayed in the inner pond, never wanted to, more fresh air and space outside. You will need a dinghy to get to shore, but not much on shore to want to go to shore. Nice place for a walk maybe explore a bit, some deer on the island to see. I haven't been there in about 6 or 7 years so it may have changed a little but I doubt it. It is like the place that time forgot, enjoy it, great place.
We have rafted on a single mooring there but only by choice, you don't have to do so.
If you go and want some exercise, walk up the hill and take a right where the town library/historical society is located and follow that road up the hill to the top of the island - a great view on a clear day.
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