WRITTEN BY: Amanda Prevosk
Jun 04, 2026 
For Connecticut boaters, summer is not complete without a trip (or two) to Block Island. Whether you’re departing from Norwalk, Branford, Essex, Old Saybrook, or anywhere along the Connecticut shoreline, Block Island is one of the Northeast’s iconic weekend cruising destinations. But for Eastern Connecticut boaters, the trip is particularly accessible. At only about 22 nautical miles from Noank Shipyard to New Harbor, Block Island is close enough to feel spontaneous while still delivering the full destination cruising experience that keeps Connecticut boaters coming back summer after summer.
What you won’t realize until you experience it is that your Block Island getaway by boat is completely different from a day trip on the ferry. For experienced Northeast boaters, Block Island isn’t just a destination; it’s a culture.
CHOOSING YOUR BLOCK ISLAND EXPERIENCE
The Great Salt Pond
When most boaters talk about “going to Block Island,” what they really mean is spending the weekend inside the Great Salt Pond.
After crossing Block Island Sound and entering the narrow cut into New Harbor, the harbor suddenly opens into one of the most recognizable boating destinations in the Northeast. During peak summer weekends, the pond transforms into a floating neighborhood filled with cruisers, sportfishing yachts, center consoles, paddleboards, tenders, and rafted-up groups of friends spending entire weekends on the water.
For many boaters, the Salt Pond itself is the destination.
(Image above provided by The Committee For The Great Salt Pond.)
Some owners prefer anchoring out for the weekend, turning the boat into a floating summer house surrounded by friends, paddleboards, floating mats, and sunset raft-ups. Others choose to stay on moorings throughout the pond, combining the relaxed atmosphere of anchoring with a little more structure and organization. Not sure how to word it but adding something about taking the dinghy over to the beach to sit with your toes in the sand. Many boaters frequent the beach and often times it is packed at the beginning of a nice day. I believe the beach is considered to be on the south side of the Cut entering the harbor.
At sunset, the pond changes again. Underwater lights glow beneath the boats, music drifts softly across the water, and tenders weave throughout the harbor long after dark. For many Connecticut boaters, this glowing, floating party is what keeps them coming back every year.
TRANSIENT DOCKAGE
For boaters who want direct dock access, restaurants, nightlife, and easier shore access, transient dockage remains one of the most popular ways to experience Block Island- although it requires planning well in advance during peak summer weekends.
Some of the most popular dockage options include:
Each marina offers a completely different atmosphere.
Champlin’s is known for its large resort-style marina with pools, restaurants, and a highly social summer atmosphere. Payne’s Dock is legendary among Northeast boaters for rafted dockage, donuts, and the dock bar scene. While visiting, be sure to try the mudslides at Payne’s and Champlin’s. Everyone has a favorite!
(Image above: Champlin's Resort & Marina in Block Island, Rhode Island.)
Block Island Boat Basin offers a more traditional marina experience for owners looking for convenient dockage with less emphasis on rafting and nightlife. Limited private moorings are also available through some marina properties. No matter where you choose to stay, planning ahead is critical. Dockage and moorings fill extremely quickly during July, August, and holiday weekends beginning Thursday afternoons as boaters arrive for the long weekends.
This summer, Princess Yachts owners will once again have the opportunity to experience Block Island together during the upcoming Princess Rendezvous at Champlin’s. This is one of the original and favorite spots for the Princess Rendezvous, and owners have enjoyed returning year after year to Champlin’s. This is the perfect experience for the Great Salt Pond. Few places capture the Northeast summer boating lifestyle better than a harbor full of friends, tenders, sunset cocktails, and yachts gathered together for the weekend.
(Image above: Several Princess Yachts docked in Block Island.)
LIFE AROUND THE HARBOR
One of the best parts of any weekend at the Great Salt Pond is how much you use your tenders and water toys once you arrive.
Throughout the harbor, Highfield RIBs, Williams Jet Tenders, paddleboards, kayaks, floating mats, and seabobs are constantly moving between boats, raft-ups, beaches, and restaurants. For many owners, the tender quickly becomes your primary mode of transport, handling everything from coffee runs and trips ashore to cruising around the pond with friends throughout the day. There are free dinghy docks, including the town dock, for when you are ready to head ashore.
If you have room onboard, Block Island is also a great place to bring bikes or e-bikes from home. Many experienced cruisers skip the rental lines entirely and head straight out exploring once they tie up for the weekend. Many boaters enjoy the farmers market on the weekend to get locally grown vegetables, fruits and even honey.
Once ashore, some of the island’s most popular destinations include:
- Mohegan Bluffs
- Southeast Lighthouse
- North Lighthouse
- Crescent Beach
- Mansion Beach
Whether you spend the day exploring by scooter, bike, or tender, Block Island settles into a slower pace once you arrive.
EVENINGS AROUND BLOCK ISLAND
As the sun starts to set, the atmosphere around Block Island shifts from beach days and harbor cruising into one of the most recognizable nightlife scenes in Northeast boating. Restaurants and dock bars throughout New Harbor fill with boaters arriving by tender, while live music from Captain Nick’s drifts across the Great Salt Pond, and the docks stay active well into the night. It is hard to find a Connecticut boater without a “One night in Block Island…” story. For many boaters, grabbing mudslides is part of the Block Island tradition, especially on hot summer weekends.
WHY CONNECTICUT BOATERS KEEP COMING BACK
What makes Block Island special isn’t just the destination itself. It’s the entire boating lifestyle surrounding it.
The offshore crossing from Connecticut. Entering the cut into New Harbor. Sunset raft-ups in the Great Salt Pond. Tenders moving across the harbor at night. Mudslides at Payne’s. The feeling of turning the boat into your home for the weekend.
For many Connecticut boaters, Block Island becomes less of a vacation destination and more of a summer tradition.
And once you experience it by boat, it’s easy to understand why people come back year after year.
SI Yachts is proud to be the leading new boat dealership and luxury yacht brokerage firm in the Northeast since 1964. With offices in New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Florida, combined with our industry leading service team (mobile service, too!), we have you covered as you cruise for the season. Contact us today at Sales@SIYachts.com or visit your closest location to find out more about how to improve your boating lifestyle this summer!
