Anisquam (SP?) River, MA

[Tim Barton]

Anyone on the list been through the Anisquam River/Canal in Gloucester, MA. I am taking a trip up to Maine and it looks like this would be a great time saver. I have a 4ft draft which appears to be no problem, but what about bridges, tides etc.

Thanks in advance for any input

TB



Tbarton1@aol.com

[Mike Thompson]

Last year when moving my boat from Rhode Island to Maine, I took
the 'short cut' through the Anisquam. I went aground and spent
much of the day on a mud bank!

It would be good to have crew then you man the radio ( for the
bridges) while someone else steers. (I was single handed)

When approaching the railway bridge with a current flowing north
you are supposed to "back down". This is what fishing boats and
motor boats do, but a CD 28 will not reverse in any controlled
way so I did a U-turn and ran up on the mud on the western bank.

Some years earlier coming south, the passage was fine but I did
have crew.

With crew, another approach is to sail overnight from
Provincetown to Maine going outside Cape Ann.
I have done that also.

Mike
CD-28 "Haven"

Anyone on the list been through the Anisquam River/Canal in Gloucester, MA. I am taking a trip up to Maine and it looks like this would be a great time saver. I have a 4ft draft which appears to be no problem, but what about bridges, tides etc.

Thanks in advance for any input

TB

tmike@ma.ultranet.com

[Jon]

Hi,
That is a tough river to travel. There are low bridges, and currents that flood and ebb at 3 to 4 knots in the narrow spots. You can move through there, but hold off for a slack tide. I would stay put even if the current is with you - it's too fast to back into at times, and the bridges don't open quickly. You can do it - just be careful.
Jon

[Al Levesque]

Anyone on the list been through the Anisquam River/Canal in Gloucester, MA. I am taking a trip up to Maine and it looks like this would be a great time saver. I have a 4ft draft which appears to be no problem, but what about bridges, tides etc.

Thanks in advance for any input

TB

Before reading the other responses, I though I would recommend the passage. But then, we live fairly close and have done the river numerous times.

The bridge at the Blynman canal usually has a high current and we once transited backward with our 6hp on a CD25, (1 knot against the current for control to keep us centered as the current carried us through.) The railroad bridge is seldom closed and we have never been concerned there. Some parts of the channel have shifted but are easily negotiated by watching the buoys and the chart. The area is quite scenic and we have enjoyed overnighting there. (There are some insects though.)

We have not recently called the Blynman bridge for opening. With our CD25, we just waited for the power boats to get through and then followed. With our CD33, we just queue up with the others and go with the crowd.

Choice is yours (and the consequences too.)

Good luck.

Al



albertlevesque@cove.com

[Don]

The Annisquam is a tortuous channel with sandbars and very low depth at low tide. The Blyman Bridge on the South end of the river monitors chanel 13 on your vhf radio and is very helpful to sailors - so too is the Amtrak railroad bridge farther to the north. The most perilous part of the transit is through the "cut" spanned by the Blyman bridge. If the tide is against you and there are motor boats transiting ahead of you ( the boats coming South have the right of way ) the venturi effect in the cut causes very very choppy water and steering becomes very tricky - you must have enough power to maintain steerageway through the cut. The rest of the transit to Ipswich Bay is routine. Try to time your transit to slack tide and keep well back from motor boats to avoid the churning effect they create in the cut. If you have minmal power against a strong tide and venturi effect you wpould be safer to go around Cape Ann and stay out of the Annisquam. I am a Gloucester native and treat the Annisquam with great respect.



donjoecam@aol.com

[Bob Davee]

I have made the trip twice on my way to and back from Florida to Maine. Both times I made the trip at dead low tide so the currents were not a problem. However on both the North and South passage I touched bottom - I have a CD28Power with 3' draft. On the way down I just rubbed on the gravel, on the way North I hit hard but backed off easily. Both times I was in the channel, at least as near as I could tell. There seems to be plenty of shoaling at the bends of the river. But, in spite of these problems I believe it is worth the trip. It is a lovely area and very protected.


Bob Davee



RLCapeDory@aol.com

[jhh]

Best time to go through for CD 28 or any other low power boat is to enter from Gloucester about 30 to 40 minutes before high water. By doing this you will be well past the midpoint and may be even to Annisquam ( the north end) by the time the tide turns.

Going through at low water as you have read can be a problm.

My favorite part of your planned trip would be to leave Nantucket late in the afternoon, go north through the Pollock Rip Channel to the E of Cape Cod and then head north for Cape Ann. Usually an easy night passage with a early morning arrival in Gloucester. If you have daylight when you approach Stellwagon bank get your camera ready-as you will have your own whale watch.

This is a great passage to practice "old time piloting skills" just shut down the electronics and go for it.






mailbox1@worldnet.att.net