You may be looking now at cold winds and mud season, but summer boating is not that far away. Many of our area’s favorite cruising destinations have started taking reservations for busy summer weekends. Larger, commercial marinas may offer lots of dockage and mooring options, but several of the most popular ports are operated by their towns, each with their own peculiar policies.
For your convenience, here is a rundown of the options at four of the most sought-after local harbors. Book early! Book often!
EDGARTOWN
www.edgartownharbor.com
Edgartown Harbor has two rental mooring fields: There are 50 moorings in the yellow field that can be reserved, and they will sell out quickly for most weekends. They can accommodate vessels up to 60 feet length over all. There are 25 moorings in the blue field. These are available on a first come/first served basis. These moorings can accommodate vessels up to 40 feet LOA. Dockage reservations are taken only by phone.
Mooring reservations opened on March 1st. Online reservations only.
Dockage reservations opened on March 15th. Telephone reservations only at (508) 627-4746 Monday – Friday 10AM – 1PM.
OAK BLUFFS
http://www.oakbluffsmarina.com
(508) 693-4355
As the largest marina on Martha’s Vineyard, Oak Bluffs Marina is situated right in the midst of a historic ginger-bread campground, and offers easy access to the rest of the Island. The marina is town owned, with 80 slips, 45 moorings, and can med-moor yachts up to 105′ in length. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Slip reservations have already opened on the marina’s web site:
https://page-secure.iqnection.com/oakbluffsmarina/reg.shtml
Moorings cannot be reserved.
BLOCK ISLAND
http://www.blockislandinfo.com/harbors-and-boating
The Town of Block Island maintains two harbors:
New Harbor on the West Side of the Island, in the beautiful Great Salt Pond. New Harbor has 90 town moorings and a 75 acre anchorage for vessels. The Harbormaster’s Office is located at the Block Island Boat Basin during the summer season. The Harbormaster can be contacted on VHF CH 12 once you arrive in New Harbor. Moorings are $40 per night and accommodate vessels up to 50 feet, first come/first served. A public boat launch is available at the New Harbor Public Boat Launching Ramp located next to Dead Eye Dick’s on Ocean Avenue. Launch service is available from the Boat Basin Dock during summer months. Reserved, commercial dockage is available at three marinas:
Block Island Boat Basin (401) 466-2631
Champlin’s Marina (800) 762-4541, (401) 466-7777
Payne’s Dock (401) 466-5572
Old Harbor on the East Side of the Island is a Harbor of Refuge protected by a breakwater. There is limited space for anchoring. Please call the Harbormaster with any questions. Old Harbor is in the center of town and has a small 30 boat marina operated by the Town (401) 466-3235. Dockage is $2.50 per foot and is first come/first served. The Commercial ferry landing is also located in Old Harbor.
CUTTYHUNK
www.cuttyhunkmarina.net
(508) 990-7578
Make your reservations early! Cuttyhunk Marina has transient slips that can be reserved in advance and can accommodate boats up to 100 feet and a Mooring field in Cuttyhunk Pond that can accommodate boats to 50 feet on a first come/first served basis. The mooring field is highly sheltered. There are several pilings in the harbor available for rent also. Rafting is allowed on moorings and pilings. Harbor Management handles the moorings but not the marina. There are private moorings in the outer harbor that are available to rent and they are also first come/first served. It might be less crowded but if the wind comes up it can get pretty uncomfortable.
