Old Harbor, Block Island
- Details
- Category: Anchoring Your Boat with Style
- Published on Saturday, 23 April 2011 03:29
- Written by George Boase
- Hits: 626
Location: Chart 13271 GPS 40 10.870N -071 34 250W. Follow the channel into the harbor past the breakwater.
Getting ashore: Dinghy only. There are several places to land a dinghy. One of the easiest is the dock owned by Ballards.
Shore facilities: I'm happy to say the heads and showers on the town dock have been rebuilt. They're still rather industrial in decor, but new and clean. Cinderblock walls and concrete floors with modest fixtures. For now they are free. Nice beach and park. Land dinghy on the small beach. This is right in the middle of downtown New Shoreham. Ferry, auto\bike\moped rental with a taxi stand. Keep in mind that all taxi rides are at least $10. There are three hotels, eight restaurants and thirty-two stores within walking distance. Ballard's has nightly live entertainment.
Old Harbor, BI is small but special.
I doubt that many people come here for excitement, but if you enjoy a bit of night life, excellent dining and entertainment, this is where you want to be.
Anchoring in Old Harbor can be tight. More commercial than pleasure, there is constant traffic in and out. Fortunately, the anchorage area is well segregated from the commercial docks. The harbor fills up fast on weekends and holidays. As long as the weather is favorable, you can also anchor outside the entrance to the harbor proper. A northeast wind makes it a poor anchorage. Inside the harbor is very well protected with good holding. The last time I was in Old Harbor, there were 13 yachts rafted/anchored together. No problem with holding. All moorings are private, but may be available after 3:30 p.m. by contacting the harbormaster.
Block Island is a place all cruisers should make a point of visiting at least once. We take our vacations here just to remove ourselves from the real world. The biggest concern I have is the cost. Nothing is cheap here, even setting foot on land cost a landing fee. There are restaurants with a milder price range, and discounts are available on much of the island, you just have to search them out. The Ballard docks are the only floating docks with power and water. They start at $150 per night up to $250. The town docks are fixed with power and water. They start in season for $3.50 per foot. All new except for the east wall.
The good news is Block Island is a very special place just to wander around on. If your boat is well provisioned, and you carry bikes onboard, you can still get away for a cheap week here. The scenery is spectacular, the 17 miles of beach, the cliffs and lighthouses make it all worth the trip. The north reef is a famous honey hole for blues and striped bass. You can find plenty of charters, parasailing and banana boat rides 
