On 27 Dec 2004 09:56:20 -0800, wrote:
In the process of planning a possible spring and/or summer cruise in
Long Island Sound and nearby, after shipping "Gambier," a Eastbay 43,
drawing four feet, by truck from Ft. Lauderdale to probably northern NJ
for offloading and pick-up, I am asking for suggestions and comments
about:

How early ought one to begin a cruise on the Sound?
Crowdedness in general on the Sound?
Crowdedness in ??? ports, marinas, anchorages?
Better and best anchorages and marinas?
Better and best villages, towns and cities to visit, and why?
Best fuel (deisel) sources?
Your best comments and advise re cruising Long Island Sound?
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With a generator and heat, you can begin cruising in mid-April.
Nights will be cool. We use an inverter driven electric blanket and
then run the generator for a while at breakfast to recharge, cook and
heat the hot water tank.

The best way to avoid crowds is to avoid July and August. Early and
late season can be wonderful. Oyster Bay, North Port and Port
Jefferson are all big enough to cruise mid-season and have good
anchorages.

Best marinas are the Brewer's Yacht Yards. There are at least 12 at
last count. The first you will encounter are at Manhasset Bay and
Stamford Harbor. Pick up a brochure for info on the others or check
out their web site. http://www.byy.com/

Best villages and towns are very subjective but here's my "don't miss"
list: Larchmont, Oyster Bay, City Island (part of NYC), Manhasset,
Essex (on Connecticut River), Mystic, Port Jefferson. For marine
services, Stamford, CT and Westbrook, CT are hard to beat.

Cheapest fuel, both gas and diesel, that we have found is at a little
fishing dock in Noank, CT. It is between buoys N12 and N14 as you go
upriver towards Mystic. By all means stay over night at Mystic
seaport at their docks. It is a great stop.

Going east from LIS, don't miss Newport, RI; Block Island, RI;
Cuttyhunk Island and Marthas Vineyard.