Anchoring on Block Island?

[Tom Young]

It's been several years since I was last in the harbor. Anyone with local knowledge and experience on anchoring, where, depths etc. I know it's crowded. What about shore access?

Also mooring info although I'm sure they would likely be gone in season without a reservation.

[Tim]

Talk to Jeff R, Tom. He goes there often.

[Saorsa]

It isn't a good idea to attempt to anchor on Block Island. The water surrounding it is a much better place.

[Symmetri]

Tom -
Anchoring is allowed in the Eastern side of Salt Pond -- consult charts for depths. Holding is fair -- many boats anchor on short scope due to lack of experience, crowded conditions and many boats raft-up. Dragging in storms is common there.

You can get a town mooring on the south-west side of the main channel(they were green or orange last year) on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reservations so your chances are as good as anyone else's. Shoot me an email (whippet@nstsystems.net) and I'll tell you how to increase your chances. If you're going to be out there this summer I hope we can meet. Let me know when.

[SG]

Gets crowded -- but reasonable holding if you've got decent sized tackle.

Dingy or water taxi access is good into town if you must go.

Get's very packed-up on holidays and weekends -- but it you get in early, there's decent anchoring in 15-25' or so. Be prepared to encourage people to reconsider how close they anchor to you.

There are a lot of yahoos around there -- at the same time, don't let out 10-1 scope in "normal" weather and expect everyone to love you, either. ;^).

Stay away from the shore which is off limits and marked on the chart and w/ markers due to the shell fish "preserves".

[Tim]

It isn't a good idea to attempt to anchor on Block Island. The water surrounding it is a much better place.


OHHH, I so resisted the temptation and you went and did it anyway... .

[dick foster]

The east side of Salt Pond is the place to anchor; look for dinghies pulled up on shore, where people have walked across to a town beach, or anywhere north of that. If you come in after dark, grab an empty white (private) mooring and worry about the anchor in the morning. Not a good idea to go ashore if you're on someone else's mooring. Holding is good but nearly everyone uses too little scope because of crowding, and if you put down a second anchor you're asking for a tangle.

[JoeC]

Mooring were full and the anchorage to the left (relative to the cut) was crowded with boats at anchor. Not even the weekend.

[Symmetri]

Mooring were full and the anchorage to the left (relative to the cut) was crowded with boats at anchor. Not even the weekend.

Yup -- Ya'll stay away. It's terrible there. :twisted:

[Clark]

Yeah, send him an email to get tips on increasing your chances .....semi-tri wouldn't want to release such information to just any old sailor on a BB where real sailors exchange information helpful to each other.....

[Symmetri]

Yeah, send him an email to get tips on increasing your chances .....semi-tri wouldn't want to release such information to just any old sailor on a BB where real sailors exchange information helpful to each other.....

So you're a real sailor and I'm not? Tell us: What helpful information have YOU have posted in the past? :roll:

Here's one that's known to everyone that ever took one of those moorings: If you're not off the mooring by 11:00AM you're charged for another night. You should be able to figure out the rest if you want to get one.