Don’t leave just yet! 

Cruising New England in the Fall

Summer is coming to an end but your boating season does not have to! If the thought of pulling your boat out of the water and winterizing it or making the trek back down south is stressing you out then put it off a bit longer! I am writing this as part of the Progressive Boat Club to hopefully persuade you to stick around and enjoy New England at its prime. A big thanks to Progressive for sponsoring this article and being a great resource for boaters ALL year long.

If fewer crowds and crisp weather are not enough to convince you then maybe the rest of the list will 😉

Fewer Crowds  

Only boat cruising outside of Newport Rhode Island

Enjoying Nantucket with no crowds!

The majority of people head back to work and school around Labor Day. This means fewer crowds on the water, no more being turned away at the dock, the best anchoring spots are open, and no more hour-long waits at the waterfront restaurants. If you have time to keep cruising while everyone else packs up it is TOTALLY worth it! The summer can get crazy with people trying to spend every second possible on the water. Stay on the water a bit longer this year and enjoy the beauty without the crowds. 

Cheaper Rates 

Plenty of moorings available in Cutty Hunk

Let’s be honest, dockage can get a bit expensive during the summer in New England. It makes sense, they only have a few months out of the year to make money on slip fees where other parts of the world are blessed with an endless summer. However, Labor Day to Columbus day is just as beautiful (even more so in my opinion) and marina rates drop significantly in many locations including Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Rates can be as much as 60% off in September after Labor Day and as much as 75% off in October compared to the usual summer rates.

Sales 

Come Columbus day many of the shops in these seasonal seaside towns close their doors. Store owners do not want to sit on inventory for an entire season. This means many deals are to be had! If you are a snowbird and plan to head back down to warmer weather after your adventure in New England you can really score on summer clothing and accessories! A few years ago I stumbled upon a Columbus day sale at a surf shop in Nantucket. I stocked up on bathing suits that were half off what they would have been down south. This is also a great time to purchase any much-needed boat parts and supplies!

Weather 

The water is still warm!

The scenery is beautiful!

September and October can bring some of the most amazing weather to New England. The water is still warm enough for a swim, the leaves begin to change colors, and the air is crisp and refreshing.   A few fun activities to enjoy during this season include apple picking, pumpkin picking, and you might even catch a cranberry festival.  Enjoy this amazing time while you can! 

Wildlife 

Seals playing Peak-a-boo

While cruising through New England in the fall you are guaranteed to see seals sunning and playing games in the water. Whale watching is also a great activity for the entire family. There are not many places left in the world where you are almost guaranteed to see some of these gentle giants. New England is blessed with Humpback, Finback, Minke, and sometimes the rare Right Whale. They migrate north to the New England area to feed and nurse their calves during the summer and fall months. Fishing is also a great fall activity in New England. Striped Bass are still around and are just waiting to take your bait. Some of the biggest fish are known to be caught during this time of the year. Clamming is always a great activity and a fun way to get dinner.

I hope you are thinking about extending your boating season in New England this year. There are many things worth doing during the months of September and October and I promise you will not be disappointed.

Share your boating experience in New England this fall on Facebook, and on Instagram using #ProgressiveBoatClub and #PGRBoatlife.

Thanks for reading!

Sierra