Marina recommendations in MA

[rwf]

Hi, folks. I've been silent for a while because we've been pretty busy. I took a new job in eastern Massachusetts. We took a month off between, the first 2 weeks of which we cruised up the Hudson to Lake Champlain and back. Since then we've been pretty buried, packing (twice), moving (twice), rigging for Sandy (we got through without a scratch) and flying around the country & India to meet my new team.

I think I'll head off possible comments about shipping jobs overseas to India. We bought a small technology company over there, and as a result have CREATED about 50 jobs in the US. It does work the other way around sometimes.

Now, I'm living (temporarily) in Lowell, MA, while trying to find a place on the water. I think I've seen every house / townhouse on the ocean, lakes or rivers within about 45m of work, and I can say there is a very good reason they are still on the market for most of them. So, a 6mo lease in Lowell, I don't know exactly where I'll live yet, which does makes it hard to pick a marina.

But, not impossible. Suggestions or recommendations? Since I haven't found a home yet, maybe I should find a marina and bend where the home is to match.

I'd like to stay no farther north than Beverly Harbor so we'll still be within easy striking distance of the Cape. I'm seriously thinking of signing up at Marina Bay in Quincy; being there will put us close to family (we actually lived 25yrs in MA before moving to NY). It's a great location (less than an hour from most places we might live if we choose carefully), a good view of the city and good facilities (3 restaurants!) compared to smaller places. But I've been in a big marina before (Haverstraw), and hiking a quarter mile to the slip is no fun. Also it was tough to meet people since it seemed although many boats were kept there, their owners didn't show up that often. We made more friends at tiny Minisceongo Yacht Club around the corner in Stony Point.

So, comment and suggestions about where to sign up in the greater Boston area would be very helpful and much appreciated, as would comments pro or con about Marina Bay. Thanks in advance,

Rich & Peg

PS: I am *really* bummed that this little bit of life in chaos meant we were stretched too thin to go to the Liberty Landing cruise this year; it sounds like it was a terrific time.

 

[pxhil]

Two recommendations to consider, we stayed at Danvers Port Yacht Club (which is actually a Marina) for 5 years and were very happy with it. Very social marina and includes pool tennis and a restaurant on site. The downside is the 35-40 min. ride down river to beverly Harbor. If you want to avoid the river ride look at Hawthorn Cove Marina in Salem. First class all the way and smaller. They have dock space and moorings with water taxi included. They are now part of the Brewer Group so I assume it is still first class. Good luck and welcome to Massachusetts boating.
Paul

 

[wetpaint]

Newburyport is beautiful but a tad farther north....My only comment on Marina Bay is traffic......From the Northshore to Quincy during the week is tough...Weekends no problem.....Good luck

 

[Henry Boyd]

Newburyport is beautiful but a tad farther north....My only comment on Marina Bay is traffic......From the Northshore to Quincy during the week is tough...Weekends no problem.....Good luck

Have to concur on the traffic issue with Marina Bay. We stayed down there for one of the Acquapalooza weekends. It apparently is quite a night spot. Lots of loud music, party noise etc. If you are looking for that, great, if not you might consider another location.

We have friends who are at one of the Newburyport marinas who we visit on a regular basis. NBYPT is a great town and we love to visit. That being said getting, out of the mouth of the Merrimack is not for the faint of heart. When the tide and current are both at maximum there can be an eight foot high standing wave at the entrance. Add to that idiot fishermen in tin boats anchored in the channel at the mouth and it becomes a real white knuckle ride.

I don't know where work is located, but Gloucester/Salem might be better choices. Whatever you do, stay away from Port Marina in Beverly. Our neighbors were there one year and nothing ever seemed to go right.

Pity you didn't post something sooner, a house was for sale on our street recently. Houses on our street come with deeded access to our dock on the Ipswich River.

Henry

 

[RonG]

Hi Richand Peg,
I've been at Marina Bay for two seasons now and love it there. My experience is only on one dock (h dock) and the people there are awesome. Cant speak for any other docks there and it does seem very different depending on where you are relative to the people. On h dock people drop everything to help you when you pull in or out every time. They like to have fun but no pressure to have to join in. Great bunch of people so if you want a good experience there come to h dock. As far as the other comments the traffic is fine on the weekends. Weekdays are ok also if you don't hit rush hour. The facilities are decent and the docks/slips are very well maintained. If you like the bar scene there is a lot to take advantage of plus they have great restaurants, sandwich shops and a market to buy groceries, beer/wine and ice. I do not find it very noisy but then again where I am is not right out in front of the bars so it may be different over there. It's very well protected there so you don't get bounced around and is a great location to cruise to downtown, worlds end, the harbor islands and an easy ride to the north shore. The biggest complaint I have about boating in that area is there are no decent beaches like down the cape you can pull up to. I've found one just past Nantasket beach but other than that you have to go down to Cohasett to the sand bar at low tide. Most of the time we just anchor off at worlds end and jump on rafts.
Danvers is a nice marina but the ride down the river would drive me crazy. If I had my first choice I think I would go to Gloucester if it wasn't so far away for me. Anyway good luck with the search and welcome back to MA. PM me if you need any more info on Marina Bay.

Ron

 

[rwf]

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks!

 

[wakeup 19]

With the economy the way it is there are also a lot of local Yacht Clubs looking for new members. I am in medford, Mystic River. We are usually full but it is nice to be in fresh water and 15 min to Boston Harbor. Let us know where you end up living and then we can offer more suggestions. Good luck Rob

 

[hottoddie]

Pretty soon the night club at Marina Bay will be closed, torn down and new condos built on the site. Will be a big improvement in the noise dept. I think Marina Bay restricts what work you can do on your own boat but I'm not positive about that.

 

[jollymonsrv]

Pretty soon the night club at Marina Bay will be closed, torn down and new condos built on the site. Will be a big improvement in the noise dept. I think Marina Bay restricts what work you can do on your own boat but I'm not positive about that.

Marina bay does NOT restrict yours/ or your vendors access to work on your boat...only requires they have insurances under ma. law and sirn in on entering property,,,The former Beach Club is closed and gone forever//lans presented to city for consideration show
........Luxury Apts. and retail/restaurants will be on street level....i live 20 miles south of marina bay and have been back theer for 7 yrs,,,,,we enjoy..area/access to boston harbor cruising with dining,,,,all the best with your search