Cruising Guides for Rhode Island and Maine

[SailSB]

We are a 46 foot cruising cat with a 72' mast. After spending several months in the Bahamas, we are slowly heading up the east coast with the goal of spending summer and fall in RI and Maine.

Unfortunately I know next to nothing about these areas. Does anyone have a suggestion of cruising guides for the area? So far what I find seems to focus on the ICW and we are too tall for that.

We are currently in the keys but slowly heading north. I have a pretty good feel for the southern states having come down from Maryland at the end of last year, but looking for advice for the portions further north.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Best,

Ken

[LoudMusic]

I'm interesting in seeing what other people say. We are currently on a mooring ball at Staten Island, heading to City Island on the weekend, staying for a few weeks, and then heading further north. We have ideas, but no definitive plans.

[Caleb_Grey]

Get the bible
https://www.mainecoastguide.com/about2

Not sure what you mean by fall, but maine has a very short season unless you have good heater on board.
Watch delos series on maine, they got there late and stayed too long

[Caleb_Grey]

Also this if you dont have it already
ELDRIDGE Tide and Pilot Book

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by Caleb_Grey

Get the bible
https://www.mainecoastguide.com/about2

Not sure what you mean by fall, but maine has a very short season unless you have good heater on board.
Watch delos series on maine, they got there late and stayed too long

What would you say is the boating season for Maine?

[Mplight]

+1 on Maine cruising guide, +1 on Eldridge tide and current guide as well, an absolute necessity for New England waters.. The only challenge in RI is the Sakonnet River bridge, between the north of end Sakonnet river (strait) and my Hope bay. Bridge clearance is 65’.
Enjoy the ride!

[jlcarreiro]

When in Rhode Island, make sure you avoid the Sakonnet Bridge, at 65 ft. Last summer a boat was dismasted while attempting to sail around Aquidneck Island. Bristol is a great place to visit!

[sowwaninii]

Beware of lobster pots and toggles!

[AlexCollier]

Checkout
New England Coast - Maptech Embassy Cruising Guides

besides the many lobster pots and crab pots there are also many fish farms and other fishing obstructions to boating.

Some are marked with buoys at each end of a run with tall flags on top of the marker. The run can be hundreds of feet long but best to go outside.

Here are a couple of my favorites in the Newport area
This is marked as a lobster habitat in Narragansett Bay
https://boating.page.link/KsnQJd7sWDAqAbh16

The second is marked as a fish trap area in Buzzard's bay.
https://boating.page.link/DGE1AEVEN3keikd88

[Caleb_Grey]

Originally Posted by LoudMusic

What would you say is the boating season for Maine?

July lol.

Depending on year
Good year june - mid sept.
Bad year mid june - labor day
You never know, but bring warm clothes even in july it can get chilly at night if used to warmer climes

[wizoc]

Add Coast Pilot to Eldridge and Maine Coast Guide.
Eggemongon is beautiful but the fixed bridge may be too low. If you go there ne sure to stop in the wooden boats harbor.

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by Caleb_Grey

July lol.

Depending on year
Good year june - mid sept.
Bad year mid june - labor day
You never know, but bring warm clothes even in july it can get chilly at night if used to warmer climes

That's reassuring. We hope to be in Boston for most of July, and up to Maine for the end of July, August, and the beginning of September.

As for cold nights, that's what snuggling is for!

[jlcarreiro]

Also, in Bristol, stop at the Hershoff Marine Museum tons of old sailboats...

[Caleb_Grey]

Originally Posted by LoudMusic

That's reassuring. We hope to be in Boston for most of July, and up to Maine for the end of July, August, and the beginning of September.

As for cold nights, that's what snuggling is for!

Too bad you wont be in maine earlier, judging by your name you might like the
https://www.northatlanticbluesfestival.com/
Always a great time, and you can enjoy the tunes from the boat.

[rondelais]

The definitive guide to Maine is the one Hank and Jan Taft wrote, and has now been updated by Curtis Rindlaub (sixth revision). It was written before GPS and chartplotters, and one can navigate almost anywhere in Maine just from their instructions. There are details of almost every anchorage, town, and marina in coastal Maine as well as St John NB and the St John River. We have been sailing Maine for 60 years and still buy a new one whenever it is revised.
The cruising season in Maine is short, but we generally enjoy cruising from early June to middle October. September is wonderful, with crisp, clear days and chilly nights. We do see some fog, but with GPS, radar and AIS the challenge has decreased significantly. It is arguably the best cruising ground in the world.