Boston Harbor boating

Any information about going through locks for a virgin? do you have to call ahead or does an attendant see you and you wait, if calling what phone number or VHF # ? do they tie you off or does the admiral need to go up to the bow?
Show up, fenders out at waterline, light turns green, go all the way in, avoid the few nice hull gouging bolts, grab the ropes on the side, wait for the green light, go out. Go to the draw bridge, wait up to 5 minutes or until there is no sign of a train. Then call 617-222-5986 to wake the guy up. VHF is useless. Beware of the weekday rush hour, when the bridge will not open. You should clear the next draw bridge at the Museum of Science. PUT YOUR VHF ANTENNA DOWN.

for dinners from the boat...the barking crab has a dock and i have seen larger boats there before but there is a low bridge on Northern ave. I believe it's a rotating bridge. does anybody have any information about how to contact the bridge or if there are set times that it swings?
It doesn't. Unless you are in a dingy, you are taking a cab there. IF you might be able to squeak under the bridge at mean low tide, you will be stuck there in minutes waiting for the next mean low tide to squeak back out.
 
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Thanks for the info. If you Google map onto the barking crab you can see larger boats there at the docks. In a little hesitant to beach my boat just because I spent a lot of time on the paint. I'll add all this to the first post but I was only on my laptop for a few minutes this am.
 
Thanks for the info. If you Google map onto the barking crab you can see larger boats there at the docks. In a little hesitant to beach my boat just because I spent a lot of time on the paint. I'll add all this to the first post but I was only on my laptop for a few minutes this am.
I've only been boating in Boston Harbor for 7 years with a 290, 330 and 48. I can tell you I have driven by the bridge in front of the Barking Crab a half dozen times each year and have never seen clearance for my 290. At high tide, you'd be lucky to get a small center console through there. The tide does swing 9-10 feet in the harbor though, so maybe, just maybe you might squeak through at mean low tide and hopefully not hit anything underwater in the unmarked and unmaintained channel or near the docks.

The other reason you should be hesitant to beach your boat is for some mysterious cause, the dealer told me one year during the spring commissioning that I needed two new raw water pump housing because they were scored and asked if I boated in shallow sandy areas. Now, I didn't see the pumps and I don't know if that was a money grab, but the Spit is really the only sandy area I boated and only did it twice and although kicked up a lot of sand, did not have the drives touching bottom.
 
i wasn't doubting you, i was only commenting on the google maps areal photo showing largish boats. I was wondering how they got in there, if you did ingest sand into the impellers I would think it should have looked smoother/polished. also it would have polished your props too :)
 
I rented a boat from guy who did business at the docks behind the crab. It was a small center console...17' if I recall. I remember ducking thinking I was going to hit my head.
 
Just to add to this thread...if anyone visits the Northshore I discovered 2 great coves that are great for overnights or a day of fun. The first one is north cove on great misery. The 2nd is Kettle Cove which is between Manchester, Ma. And Magnolia Harbor. Misery offers plenty of moorings and there are lots of friends to make. Kettle offers a quieter experience as you have to anchor...but it's an all sand bottom and the water is very clear and seems a bit warmer.
 
I am surprised no one has mentioned Cohasset Harbor. This weekend has low tide in early afternoon. Great sandbar! overnight moorings are available as well. All sand! I will probably be there Sunday (blessing of fleet Sat).
 
Just to add to this thread...if anyone visits the Northshore I discovered 2 great coves that are great for overnights or a day of fun. The first one is north cove on great misery. The 2nd is Kettle Cove which is between Manchester, Ma. And Magnolia Harbor. Misery offers plenty of moorings and there are lots of friends to make. Kettle offers a quieter experience as you have to anchor...but it's an all sand bottom and the water is very clear and seems a bit warmer.

Thanks I will check them out.


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I'll add them to the fist post. Thanks.
 
I was just there yesterday. I would say that Nahant Harbor will offer you very little. They may have transient moorings but the harbor faces open ocean. If you wanted to visit, I would circle around to the back side a draw anchor off little Nahant Beach. Clear warmer water and generally calm if the winds are favorable. The bottom is pure sand so anchoring is easy....it's also shallow. At low tide I anchor about 100 yards off shore in about 6 feet of water. You could dingy ashore to go to the local store across from the beach. Other than a good beach the town is a sleepy town...not much going on ever.

Just to add...I see your coming in from LI...I would suggest heading a little farther North to Salem Harbor. Much more to do...tons of restaurants and night life and very historic. If you want transient slips Brewer Hawthorne Cove is in the heart of downtown Salem and offers slips and moorings. That is my home port and we love it there...everything is within easy walking distance and BHCM is a full service marina. Check them out at http://www.byy.com/MAMarinas/Salem/Welcome.aspx. Good luck during your trip.
 
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Rick,
Not unless you are visiting someone there. It is entirely residential. You need to go a little more north. In Salem or Beverley you can find transient space in a number of marinas. Above Salem is Gloucester also transient space in marinas. Just beyond the entrance to Gloucester is Brace Cove, our personal favorite. Despite having a SE exposure it is a great anchorage as it has a breakwater that although submerged a high tide keeps the rollers down.

Henry


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Rick,
Not unless you are visiting someone there. It is entirely residential. You need to go a little more north. In Salem or Beverley you can find transient space in a number of marinas. Above Salem is Gloucester also transient space in marinas. Just beyond the entrance to Gloucester is Brace Cove, our personal favorite. Despite having a SE exposure it is a great anchorage as it has a breakwater that although submerged a high tide keeps the rollers down.

Henry


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+1 on Brace Cove if you are looking for an anchorage. I was there for the first time last weekend on Henry's recommendation and he's spot on.
 
Brace looks nice...didn't know about that one. Just south is Kettle Cove...also a good anchorage. Shallow warm and clear blue water.
 
Thanks Henry and "fonzo". I am planning our july 4th trip and I'm looking for new places to visit. Nahant is off the list. How about fireworks? Boston harbor or Gloucester? Or elsewhere
 
The fireworks are in the CHarles River, not the Boston Harbor. Getting up river on the 4th is not for the casual cruising visitor. Lots to think about.
 
Let me do some research and I'll let you know about fireworks.

The Charles fireworks are spectacular, but way too many people. Friends of ours went down by boat last year and reported that because of security protocols it was not enjoyable. They were told where to anchor, no dinghies in the water, etc. and any deviation brought instant attention from the CG (not the good kind). The result was a lot of boats squeezed together.

Boston Harbor on the Fourth is also pandemonium, especially when the Navy turns the Constitution around. You don't want to get too close (don't ask me how I know this).

Henry


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I still think you should consider Salem harbor at Hawethorne Cove. The fire works are launched off the long jetty near the freindship II sailing vessel. You would literally be right below the fireworks. My wife and i were going to do the Charles but once we learned what Salem did we decided staying in home port was our plan. We plan to head out for the day to one of the coves mentioned above and then back to the dock for cookout and fireworks. Here is a link to the Salem website. http://www.salem.org
 
Does anyone know the navigation rules on the Annisquam River? Is it headway speed the whole way, etc.? How long does it take to go up the river starting in Gloucester?
 

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