Moorings Balls in Long Island Sound (NY & CT)

[jimL]

Hi there,

We're moving our Mainship 43 aft cabin trawler from the Albany NY area to a marina in the Niantic, CT area next weekend for the season or longer. We're interested in learning about where there are free or for-fee mooring opportunities for short terms stays (one to three nights). The guide books don't have a lot of information concerning moorings. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[smitty477]

There are a number of yacht clubs and services that can do this dependent upon where you are looking. Some examples would be in Northport, Port Jeff, Shelter Island and Block Island. Similar opportunities on the CT side as well.The guide books typically show number of moorings but you do have to call to get details on availability and for size of boat.

 

[DavidM]

North Cove, just a few miles inside the mouth of the Connecticut River has a mooring field. The mooring owners are required to attach yellow streamers to their mooring balls if they are going to be away for more than three days (not all do this) then anyone can use them for three days max.


Hamburg Cove further up the river past Essex has lots of moorings and you can either tie up to the rental moorings- $25 per night or take a vacant one, but be prepared to move if the owner shows up. This is a well accepted practice.


David

 

[FF]

"take a vacant one, but be prepared to move if the owner shows up. This is a well accepted practice."

If the mooring has a commercial name painted on , there will be a fee.

If its just a boat name its up for grabs.
Sadly in the US the practice of information about the size of the owners boat is seldom marked.

IF you wish to explore ashore the commercial is a better choice .

Overnight , just grab one , but on Sunday afternoon you may have to move once or twice. .

 

[jleonard]

Manhassett Bay (Port Washington) has several (14 or so) free town moorings. That will be a good stop for your trip as it's just past NYC into LI Sound.
They are easy to find as they are on the outer edge of the mooring field once you get into the harbor.

There is also a very protected anchor basin inside Mattituck Inlet.
There's not much room, but you don't need much scope in there.

 

[smitty477]

FWIW - I have never been a fan of picking up private mooring balls without express permission.
In some cases have have been large problems that are easily avoided by paying the $20 - $25 that is needed for a paid ball.

 

[Puffin_NT32]

I never pick up a private mooring because I don't know what's underneath it. Commercial moorings are generally maintained by commercial mooring companies, marinas, or boat yards, and they periodically inspect and replace chains and pendants, and they also carry some liability on their moorings. Some harbors require that private moorings be inspected periodically, but you don't know what the mooring is rated for. Is it a 100, 200, 300 pound mushroom, or a 1,000 pound Dor-Mor, or is it just a 5 gallon pail filled with concrete. What's the condition of the chain? Who knows.


Unless it's a commercially maintained mooring field like Block Island's Great Salt Pond, or Newport or Nantucket Harbors (all fee-based), I'll anchor out and trust my anchor and chain. If you feel safer on a mooring, pay the fee for a commercial mooring.

 

[jleonard]

Not for this "delivery" trip, but West Harbor of Fishers Island has 5 mooring maintained by Pirates Cove marina.
If you're on one before Memorial Day weekend, they won't come out to collect.

Just make certain you follow the buoys onto the harbor Esp at high tide

 

[Cruzer]

Hey General - be sure not to miss taking a mooring at Seymour's in Northport. A bit pricier than many but an absolute gem of a town and a terrific launch service.

 

[smitty477]

Hey General - be sure not to miss taking a mooring at Seymour's in Northport. A bit pricier than many but an absolute gem of a town and a terrific launch service.

Our home port is Northport and the other option is to utilize the town dock - its a fixed dock with no floaters but does have water and decent electric now.
Sometimes it fills up but its free during the day and not too bad for an overnight or two located at the base of the town with a park adjacent.
Water at extreme low is better than 6' on the outside but a little less on the inside of the dock all mud.

 

[jimL]

Hey M/Y OLOH Captain and crew! Thanks for responding. We're following your trip North via your blog. Looking forward to catching up when you finally land in the North.

Thanks for the advice about Northport. We visited Northport a few years ago based on smitty447's recommendation (thanks smitty447). We stayed at the marina at the south end as we were exploring with our new to us Mainship. We're looking forward to visiting Northport again. We were impressed with the area!

Are there any moorings in the Northport or Oyster Bay area?

JimL

 

[Cruzer]

Are there any moorings in the Northport or Oyster Bay area?

JimL

Both. Seymour's rents them in Northport and they're excellent. Good moorings in Oyster Bay as well plus a terrific anchorage. Very good details on Active Captain on all of it. We'll see you soon and can tell you about our experiences at each. Cheers!