Navigation from Westport, Massachusetts to The Islands by Boston Whaler

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Author Topic:   Navigation from Westport, Massachusetts to The Islands by Boston Whaler

gbcbu posted 02-06-2009 10:40 AM ET (US)
Will be keeping my 170 Montauk in Westport this coming summer, if it ever gets here :)
Wanted to ask ( in general) how often will I be able to run over to the Islands and what is the best time of day? That is to say my limited experience in the area has been that after 3 o'clock or so the winds pick up and it could be a little too much for the 170. Locals say that I will not be getting out of the Westport River on a Montauk much...Thanks
Hines Pointer posted 02-06-2009 04:11 PM ET (US)
Regretably you'll be located on Buzzards Bay, which given its shape and depth can get snotty when the SW summer breezes pick up, typically in late morning or by early afternoon.
When on the Vineyard at Vineyard Haven with my Montauk 17 I find the most enjoyable time to cruise around the island or the Elizabeth Islands, over to Nantucket or the Cape, or to visit friends in Marion -- and also fish these locations -- is early morning. Once the sou'westerlies begin to pick up I want to be close to my home port, in the lee of land or at least running with the wind and a following sea.
aja posted 02-06-2009 04:17 PM ET (US)
There is some info here which might help:
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/014154.html
We rented a place during the last 2 summers and are planning to trailer our OUTRAGE 19II to the area again next summer. From my experience you can get out of the river but you will need to pick your days a bit more in a montauk. It has been my experience that early morning is the best time to head out for relatively calm waters.
macfam posted 02-06-2009 10:20 PM ET (US)
Lived here all my life.
It all depends on the day.
Some days you could take at 13' Boston Whaler to Edgartown, some days I wouldn't think of taking my 28'.
Morning are generally tranquil, and the atmosphere warms up and builds the replacing SW sea breeze to 15-20 knots most afternoons. Great fun in a 17 in a following sea, but not so fun taking it in the teeth!!
Not far from Westport is the Buzzards Bay Tower which will give you up-to-date conditions and predictions. See the following site: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=buzm3
gbcbu posted 02-07-2009 06:13 AM ET (US)
Thanks everyone.
Fortunately I'm a very,very early riser. I hope to take advantage of it. Like everywhere I'll pick my days, and
I will not move up to a bigger boat.
I will not move up to a bigger boat.
I...:)
Appreciate it.
Inabanus posted 02-07-2009 04:27 PM ET (US)
...."I will not move up to a bigger boat".....
GBCU, I see a 190 Montauk in your future!
Regards,
Inabanus
gbcbu posted 02-08-2009 10:52 AM ET (US)
Inabanus...no, no, no.
I feel a little like Amy Winehouse...have to go to rehab...I said no no no!!!
How ya doing?
Hines Pointer posted 02-08-2009 08:42 PM ET (US)
The wonderful thing you'll experience is that dawn and dusk in these waters, with their lovely calm and islands all around, is truly wonderous. Dawn and dusk always regenerate me and calm my senses and soul. The same delight and lift can be found in many other places -- fresh water and salt. But for those of us who are maritime New Englanders, our coastline and waters are special to us and both dawn and dusk are wonderous times, shared with friends or in solitude.
Your Montauk will serve you well at these times. If you're a fisherman, I hope you cover it's sole with the fish scales from the blues or striper you bring home for your sumptuous dinner in Westport.
jimh posted 02-08-2009 10:18 PM ET (US)
For the benefit of non-locals, could we clarify the name of "the Islands."
lizard posted 02-08-2009 11:50 PM ET (US)
To respond to the moderator-
Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island
These are the waters of our childhood, the bars of our adolescence, the beaches of our early adult longings.... For us New England folks, these were our summer stomping grounds. Depending on tides, you might be dangled over the gunwhale's edge to clam with your toes. As someone who now splits time between Conn. and CA., nothing will ever compare (except the weather is so much better in CA), with these waters of RI, MA and CT.
We keep a 1995 19 Outrage there, a partnership with friends. I would not attempt an island crossing in anything less. Our Montauk, old friend, just does not cut it anymore.
These islands are the reasons that Whalers were built, IMHO.

swist posted 02-09-2009 08:38 AM ET (US)
Strong and unpredictable tidal currents caused by all those irregular land masses and inter-island passages. Shallow water, particularly south of Cape Cod. Stiff sea breezes caused by differential between relatively cold water and hot land. Prevailing Summer wind (SW) in the same direction as seabreeze, reinforcing it.
It is a classic formula for tightly-spaced confused heavy chop. And it's the short period that gets you, not the wave height per se.
aja posted 02-09-2009 08:55 AM ET (US)
It is a classic formula for tightly-spaced confused heavy chop. And it's the short period that gets you, not the wave height per se.
An interesting comment since I had grown up boating in Buzzards Bay and the surrounding area, then moved away and have been boating on fresh water since. This was the case until a couple of seasons back when we went to Westport and I was amazed with the difference in the ride when running in a steep opposing tide wind combination - much smoother than typical chop on fresh water which is a lot more tight and steep with very confused seas reflecting off of rocky shores.

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Author	Topic: Navigation from Westport, Massachusetts to The Islands by Boston Whaler
gbcbu	posted 02-06-2009 10:40 AM ET (US) Will be keeping my 170 Montauk in Westport this coming summer, if it ever gets here :) Wanted to ask ( in general) how often will I be able to run over to the Islands and what is the best time of day? That is to say my limited experience in the area has been that after 3 o'clock or so the winds pick up and it could be a little too much for the 170. Locals say that I will not be getting out of the Westport River on a Montauk much...Thanks
Hines Pointer	posted 02-06-2009 04:11 PM ET (US) Regretably you'll be located on Buzzards Bay, which given its shape and depth can get snotty when the SW summer breezes pick up, typically in late morning or by early afternoon. When on the Vineyard at Vineyard Haven with my Montauk 17 I find the most enjoyable time to cruise around the island or the Elizabeth Islands, over to Nantucket or the Cape, or to visit friends in Marion -- and also fish these locations -- is early morning. Once the sou'westerlies begin to pick up I want to be close to my home port, in the lee of land or at least running with the wind and a following sea.
aja	posted 02-06-2009 04:17 PM ET (US) There is some info here which might help: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/014154.html We rented a place during the last 2 summers and are planning to trailer our OUTRAGE 19II to the area again next summer. From my experience you can get out of the river but you will need to pick your days a bit more in a montauk. It has been my experience that early morning is the best time to head out for relatively calm waters.
macfam	posted 02-06-2009 10:20 PM ET (US) Lived here all my life. It all depends on the day. Some days you could take at 13' Boston Whaler to Edgartown, some days I wouldn't think of taking my 28'. Morning are generally tranquil, and the atmosphere warms up and builds the replacing SW sea breeze to 15-20 knots most afternoons. Great fun in a 17 in a following sea, but not so fun taking it in the teeth!! Not far from Westport is the Buzzards Bay Tower which will give you up-to-date conditions and predictions. See the following site: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=buzm3
gbcbu	posted 02-07-2009 06:13 AM ET (US) Thanks everyone. Fortunately I'm a very,very early riser. I hope to take advantage of it. Like everywhere I'll pick my days, and I will not move up to a bigger boat. I will not move up to a bigger boat. I...:) Appreciate it.
Inabanus	posted 02-07-2009 04:27 PM ET (US) ...."I will not move up to a bigger boat"..... GBCU, I see a 190 Montauk in your future! Regards, Inabanus
gbcbu	posted 02-08-2009 10:52 AM ET (US) Inabanus...no, no, no. I feel a little like Amy Winehouse...have to go to rehab...I said no no no!!! How ya doing?
Hines Pointer	posted 02-08-2009 08:42 PM ET (US) The wonderful thing you'll experience is that dawn and dusk in these waters, with their lovely calm and islands all around, is truly wonderous. Dawn and dusk always regenerate me and calm my senses and soul. The same delight and lift can be found in many other places -- fresh water and salt. But for those of us who are maritime New Englanders, our coastline and waters are special to us and both dawn and dusk are wonderous times, shared with friends or in solitude. Your Montauk will serve you well at these times. If you're a fisherman, I hope you cover it's sole with the fish scales from the blues or striper you bring home for your sumptuous dinner in Westport.
jimh	posted 02-08-2009 10:18 PM ET (US) For the benefit of non-locals, could we clarify the name of "the Islands."
lizard	posted 02-08-2009 11:50 PM ET (US) To respond to the moderator- Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island These are the waters of our childhood, the bars of our adolescence, the beaches of our early adult longings.... For us New England folks, these were our summer stomping grounds. Depending on tides, you might be dangled over the gunwhale's edge to clam with your toes. As someone who now splits time between Conn. and CA., nothing will ever compare (except the weather is so much better in CA), with these waters of RI, MA and CT. We keep a 1995 19 Outrage there, a partnership with friends. I would not attempt an island crossing in anything less. Our Montauk, old friend, just does not cut it anymore. These islands are the reasons that Whalers were built, IMHO.
swist	posted 02-09-2009 08:38 AM ET (US) Strong and unpredictable tidal currents caused by all those irregular land masses and inter-island passages. Shallow water, particularly south of Cape Cod. Stiff sea breezes caused by differential between relatively cold water and hot land. Prevailing Summer wind (SW) in the same direction as seabreeze, reinforcing it. It is a classic formula for tightly-spaced confused heavy chop. And it's the short period that gets you, not the wave height per se.
aja	posted 02-09-2009 08:55 AM ET (US) It is a classic formula for tightly-spaced confused heavy chop. And it's the short period that gets you, not the wave height per se. An interesting comment since I had grown up boating in Buzzards Bay and the surrounding area, then moved away and have been boating on fresh water since. This was the case until a couple of seasons back when we went to Westport and I was amazed with the difference in the ride when running in a steep opposing tide wind combination - much smoother than typical chop on fresh water which is a lot more tight and steep with very confused seas reflecting off of rocky shores.