Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

[bassmantweed]

I want to make the trip in a powerboat but can not find much information online. Any resources that you know of?

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

https://activecaptain.com/index.php

Here is a link that will help you find fuel and dockage and a few other things.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

Thats my area, I dock in Portland, and have been from Hartford to Old Saybrook and all points in between.

What is it you want to know? What type/kind of boat?

 

[bassmantweed]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

Thats my area, I dock in Portland, and have been from Hartford to Old Saybrook and all points in between.

What is it you want to know? What type/kind of boat?

just looking for good places to go with the family to tube and swim that are clean and not too much traffic...... seemed like the ct river from salmon river launch to the sound was a highway for much bigger boats to get to the sound. next time i will put in there i will explore north.

stingray 190ls

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

Hamburg Cove is a nice place to find a mooring and spend the day. Swiming, but the cove is not for tubing.

As far as a good tubing location, the river is tough. It gets very crowded any nice weekend day, and I am not aware of any/many little inlets off the river that you can go tubing in. Most people find a wide section of river and try and tube out of the channel. Some even go so far as tube right in the channel...

I see a lot of guys, when they intend to hang out on the hook and swim, will find a marina/no wake zone and anchor out there. It ensures most people will be going slow when passing.

 

[bassmantweed]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

Hamburg Cove is a nice place to find a mooring and spend the day.

So can I literally do that? pull up and grab a mooring? I dropped anchor as i did not know if anyone could use the moorings? i thought maybe they were private?

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

From what I gather there are private and public moorings. I have been told the public ones are of a different color, but can't confirm.

When I went, I grabbed a prviate mooring, and used that. If the owner came back I was ready to move, but they didn't. I also have a friend at my boat club who owns a mooring there. Him and another person have it, and use it whenever.

Anchoring is an alternative, although that cove is filled with moorings, and I'm not sure how much room to anchor there would be.

I anchored up last night just on the inside of Gildersleeve Island, between Cromwell and Portland. Had dinner, and hung out with some friends on their jet skis. During the week the river is a completely different place.

 

[Profittakr]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

I tube on the CT river frequently. The place I go is just north of Haddam Island which is between Middletown and East Haddam. The river widens out there quite a bit and many tube/ski right in the channel although most of the width across is plenty deep enough for me in my 17' runabout. The west side of Haddam island is the place where most go to hang out. Not much beach there but it is away from the channel which is on the east side of the river. Incidentally, DO NOT try to pass down the west side of the island as there is a sandbar there that blocks your passage. Also, just south of the island on the west side is Haddam Meadows state park that has a launch. There is also some picnic areas to stop at as well if you are interested. South of Haddam Meadows state park there are many no wake zones and is slow going so be aware. Some nice sights to see as you head south are the Goodspeed Opera house at the East Haddam bridge, Hamburg cove (mentioned above) and Gillete Castle on the east side of the river. Enjoy!

 

[WaveJumpingMaxum]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

You guys need a refresher in that safe CT boating course. White w blue stripe moorings are public.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

I didn't know that about the moorings, but very good to know now. Also that was something mentioned in the safe boating course. It has been about 12-13 years since I took mine, but don't recall public moorings being brought up.

 

[WaveJumpingMaxum]

Re: Hartford to long island sound and good resources for research?

Well idk when you took it but now the class is 8hrs. But only 2hrs of actual info, id say 5 hrs of the instructor repeating the info then about 1hr of his jokes. I can only hope in 12 or 13 yrs i forget most of the usless info! lol
Also im interested in boating for the first time on the river as my boat is actually running now. Just found out the carb float bowl gaskets deteroated im guessing in julyish when i got the boat replacing them def made it run better haha gotta . love forces (not). Anyone know some good spots looking for water parties, not gonna try tubing in the river more looking for a bunch of people moored up and enjoying the weather, also what town does the river start getting saltywater? my boat has never seen salt water so idk if i wanna try it. the lake i dock on is nice but needless to say a 400acre circle gets old quick when you buzz around it in 2min at 40