This summer I have chartered leaving out of Newport RI and plan to hit Block Island, Cuttyhunk, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Woods Hole. I was looking for some advice as to which paper charts would be best to buy. I will be using a GPS however wanted paper charts to plot on as well. Also looking for insider knowledge of the area as well as what are the best guides to plan the trip. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Which charts?
- Thread starter Gary8065
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I like the Maptech...
...Cruising Guides. I've used them from Maine to New York. Very informative, tide charts, waypoints included. The MA/RI guide will cover all of those cruising grounds that you mention.
...Cruising Guides. I've used them from Maine to New York. Very informative, tide charts, waypoints included. The MA/RI guide will cover all of those cruising grounds that you mention.
Chartered boat should have charts
I have chartered twice and both times the boat had charts already on board. You might want to check with the company. Maptech chartbooks are a good value and now they come with a companion CD of the same area.
I have chartered twice and both times the boat had charts already on board. You might want to check with the company. Maptech chartbooks are a good value and now they come with a companion CD of the same area.
The big tour ...
The wind generally comes straight out of Block to NPT. So the best bet is to go NPT to Cutty ... kick around the islands to Nantucket ... then a decent reach to Block and a decent downwind back to NPT. Locals love to spinaker Block to NPT straight line starboard tack. But the most fun is in NPT. It always bothered me when I was chartering my boats that the people would be obsessed with getting right out of NPT and the bay. Vic
The wind generally comes straight out of Block to NPT. So the best bet is to go NPT to Cutty ... kick around the islands to Nantucket ... then a decent reach to Block and a decent downwind back to NPT. Locals love to spinaker Block to NPT straight line starboard tack. But the most fun is in NPT. It always bothered me when I was chartering my boats that the people would be obsessed with getting right out of NPT and the bay. Vic
Eldridge
I also recommend that you get the Eldridge's book (bright yellow at all local West marine etc) as it has the current maps, times and strengths of current flow, which is vital info for Vineyard Sound, and particularly if you elect to go through Wood's Hole and the Cape Cod Canal, to visit Wellfleet or Provincetown. I used the Emabassy Guide (maptech product) and it is great. I am also partial to their folding waterproof charts- easy to use even in the cockpit. Be aware that getting transient slips on Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket can be a real hassle in season. Minimum stays, etc. I highly recommend picking up a mooring in the beautiful harbor of Quisset on the Buzzards Bay side of Wood's Hole, just north and East of it. Quiet and beautiful. If you are looking for transient moorings or slips on the South side of the Cape in Nantucket Sound, that also can be a little hard, although not as hard as the Islands. Hyannis has some, as do Sasquatucket Harbor in Harwich and Stage Harbor in Chatham. Sasquateucket may be the easiest to get. I would get the charts and guides NOW so that you can do 'mental cruising' for the fun o it! Great cruising grounds, but be prepared for 3-5 foot 'chop' in Nantucket Sound and Buzzard's Bay in the usually strong and prevailing SW winds. Roger
I also recommend that you get the Eldridge's book (bright yellow at all local West marine etc) as it has the current maps, times and strengths of current flow, which is vital info for Vineyard Sound, and particularly if you elect to go through Wood's Hole and the Cape Cod Canal, to visit Wellfleet or Provincetown. I used the Emabassy Guide (maptech product) and it is great. I am also partial to their folding waterproof charts- easy to use even in the cockpit. Be aware that getting transient slips on Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket can be a real hassle in season. Minimum stays, etc. I highly recommend picking up a mooring in the beautiful harbor of Quisset on the Buzzards Bay side of Wood's Hole, just north and East of it. Quiet and beautiful. If you are looking for transient moorings or slips on the South side of the Cape in Nantucket Sound, that also can be a little hard, although not as hard as the Islands. Hyannis has some, as do Sasquatucket Harbor in Harwich and Stage Harbor in Chatham. Sasquateucket may be the easiest to get. I would get the charts and guides NOW so that you can do 'mental cruising' for the fun o it! Great cruising grounds, but be prepared for 3-5 foot 'chop' in Nantucket Sound and Buzzard's Bay in the usually strong and prevailing SW winds. Roger
I am planning a similar trip...
Hi Gary, I have just completed my plans to to do a similar trip, starting in Salem, MA to Provincetown (tip of the cape) to Marion, Cuttyhunk, Block Is., Martha's Vinyard, Nantucket, etc.... For trip planning purposes I bought the following charts - 13246 13218 13237 You may need a more detailed map around Newport, RI. I always have a MapTech chartkit for places such as this. As others have mentioned the currents in this area can be strong so you will need a copy of Eldridge - Tide and Pilot Book 2006 ($12.95). For planning purposes I have found "A Cruising Guide to Narragansett Bay and The South Coast of Massachusetts" to be essential. You can find both books at West Marine (http://www.westmarine.com) or Amazon (http://www.amazon.com) or if you get stuck contact the folks at my local shop, FL Woods (http://www.flwoods.com) and they will set you up for sure. You should know that to get a mooring or slip in Martha's or Nantucket you need to have reservations *soon*. Many dates are already sold out. See here (http://www.edgartownharbor.com/) for Edgartown, MV and here (http://www.nantucketboatbasin.com) for Nantucket. Don't be discouraged if you do not get a reservation though. Edgartown has some first-come first-served moorings and each place has good safe anchorages. Let me know if you have questions and I will try to help.
Hi Gary, I have just completed my plans to to do a similar trip, starting in Salem, MA to Provincetown (tip of the cape) to Marion, Cuttyhunk, Block Is., Martha's Vinyard, Nantucket, etc.... For trip planning purposes I bought the following charts - 13246 13218 13237 You may need a more detailed map around Newport, RI. I always have a MapTech chartkit for places such as this. As others have mentioned the currents in this area can be strong so you will need a copy of Eldridge - Tide and Pilot Book 2006 ($12.95). For planning purposes I have found "A Cruising Guide to Narragansett Bay and The South Coast of Massachusetts" to be essential. You can find both books at West Marine (http://www.westmarine.com) or Amazon (http://www.amazon.com) or if you get stuck contact the folks at my local shop, FL Woods (http://www.flwoods.com) and they will set you up for sure. You should know that to get a mooring or slip in Martha's or Nantucket you need to have reservations *soon*. Many dates are already sold out. See here (http://www.edgartownharbor.com/) for Edgartown, MV and here (http://www.nantucketboatbasin.com) for Nantucket. Don't be discouraged if you do not get a reservation though. Edgartown has some first-come first-served moorings and each place has good safe anchorages. Let me know if you have questions and I will try to help.
LI Sound & Block
Maptech is the best deal for the $. They now come with a CD. Also, if you have navigation software (Maptech, The Captain, Nobeltech, etc.) you can download all the charts you want from the NOAA web sit - FREE; but you need the software to read them. If you are going up the sound: good anchorages are: Liberty state park (NY Upper Harbor); Manhasset Bay; Oyster Bay; Duck Is; Old Saybrook (CONN RV); Great Salt Pond, Block Is.; Mystic River (above the Mystic bridge before the Seapoart on the starboard side just after passing through the bridge); Newport Harbor.
Maptech is the best deal for the $. They now come with a CD. Also, if you have navigation software (Maptech, The Captain, Nobeltech, etc.) you can download all the charts you want from the NOAA web sit - FREE; but you need the software to read them. If you are going up the sound: good anchorages are: Liberty state park (NY Upper Harbor); Manhasset Bay; Oyster Bay; Duck Is; Old Saybrook (CONN RV); Great Salt Pond, Block Is.; Mystic River (above the Mystic bridge before the Seapoart on the starboard side just after passing through the bridge); Newport Harbor.
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