Narragansett Bay - Providence to Fall River
It was time to take the boat into a little more serious water and head out into the sea. I had done some waves and wake from other boats but I thought it would be good to dunk the boat in some more serious seas. The departure port would be Providence, Rhode Island which is only about an hour away from where I live. Providence is at the very tip of Narragansett Bay which is a large body of water which extends all the way down to Newport and out to the Long Island sound. I've done a few off shore excursions but this would be the first time I put the boat in a wide body of water varying currents and waves
I checked the marine forecast before I headed out and it looked like good weather. There are several boat ramps in the area but I chose to put in it Bolt Point Park in East Providence. The first ramp I tried was closed so this was the second choice. The boat ramp was in fair condition with a number of obstacles in the water that are charted nearby. The launch puts you right into Providence Harbor which is the tip of Narragansett Bay. It was kind of a sketchy area and ramp but it would have to do for the day.
VLOG #7 - In this trip I head out from Providence RI to Narragansett Bay stopping in Fall River, Bristol and Warren harbors for a great day trip. Find out more at LittleRedTug.com
The weather was bright and sunny and the wind was light and variable. Providence Harbor is an actual working port with a number of Docking areas for large ships to offload petroleum products and other bulk products. As you leave the North End of the harbor you progress down to the open water of Narragansett Bay. Since the harbor is dredged and prepared for a large container vessels there is a large well marked channel that leads all the way down to Long Island Sound. With a shallow draft of only 2 ft it's easy to be able to stray off of this channel but today I decided to practice my navigation using my Navionics chart and stay within the channel at least for a part of the journey. Boaters in this area should be aware that there are number of shallow areas and marked and unmarked hazards. It seems like people who boat these areas on a regular basis know if the areas where you can stray out of the channel but today I decided to stay within the marked channel. As you leave Providence Harbor the Waterway opens up to several miles wide and you begin to feel the full effects of the ocean.The waves were two to three ft along with the steady breeze, however the ride of the boat was excellent.
Narragansett Bay is a popular boating area and I saw a number of different boats of different sizes. Large sailboats along with small John boats all visit the area. Some are out for local trips fishing while other boats are on a journey up and down the East Coast. At the very bottom of Narragansett Bay is Newport Harbor which is one of the most popular boating locations on the East Coast. Due to time constraints, as well as the weather, it was felt better than maybe a local trip should be made. ( I plan on making a Newport trip this fall with the tug when boat ramps are less crowded). I headed south down to the tip of Prudence Island where I made a turn and headed under the Mount Hope Bridge into Fall River Bay. Up until this point I had been headed into the wind however making a turn to the east put the boat broadside to the waves.
Once in the bay the waves became not larger but shorter and more confused. The boat did well and despite the constant motion settled in for a nice but bumpy ride. There was a pretty good spray coming over the bow and the wipers were put to good use. The closer Fall River got the calmer it became and once under the highway bridge it was smooth cruising.
Fall River is a city that has had it’s share of hard times. Loss of industry, crime and overall economic decline have created a place many boaters either skip or just pass through. There is a small marina and a few restaurants along the water. One floating bar - The Tipsy Seagull- had room for boats to dock and dine and looked inviting but time constraints meant this would have to be another day. The city has put effort into restoring the waterfront area but the place is still a work in progress. There is a public boat launch and a few other dining choices in the water with a possible renaissance in progress.
The one big thing that Fall River is known for (besides Lizzy Borden and her axe) is Battleship Cove. Here in the downtown is the retired battleship USS Massachusetts along with several other vessels and PT boats. You can go on all the boats as part of the museum visit and see inside these historic ships. I remember well coming here a kid with my family and have some great old super 8 movies (remember them?) of me and my brother playing at a gun turret pretending to shoot down the enemy. If you wish to visit it will be by car as there is no boat docking for the museum. This was a wintertime bucket trip last I took a few years ago and was well worth the visit. I cruised around the battleship amazed at its size and heft. The USS Massachusetts had a short but storied career and was kept form being scrapped in 1965 when it was brought to Fall River as a museum ship.
Retracting my steps i headed back through Mt Hope bay and out into Narragansett bay. Sticking to the East shore I went into Bristol Harbor and did a spin through this lovely area. It is a great and busy little place with an active boat ramp and lots of pretty moored boats. Just North a few miles is Warren Harbor with the town of Barrington on the opposite shore. I can’t say enough about how pretty this place is. A narrow - but well marked channel - brings you to approach a quaint port with several clam shacks and places to dock and dine. Active marinas line the shores and there was a boat club and nice downtown. I plan on another trip done here with a stop at one of the many restaurants that line the downtown. I puttered by them enjoying the wafting smells of summertime fried clams and lobster rolls. Time constraints once again kept me from another side trip but I will be back.
Heading back to the boat ramp was made easy by a slow in the wind and calming of the seas. I took a brief side trip into downtown Providence under the hurricane barrier to see a few marinas and shoreside dining. There are no public docks in this area so boaters are unable to stop but I did see lots of folks enjoying the day. Across the river was the boat launch and the day came to an end. Overall and excellent day with great weather, a solid boat and and enjoyable trip on the water.
I get a lot of questions about how the boat handles in seas and the answer is this; It does well headed into the waves, less so with a following or broadside sea, but overall is very stable. I have yet to get into a situation where I am scared but I have always been cautious. The seas on this trip were 2-3 feet and while the boat is constantly in motion it is neither unsettling or concerning. If you are bringing guests out I would remind them them to expect that the ride will be constant with rocking but nothing unreasonable. So far the boat is proving to be very seaworthy.
