Need advice on Boating in the Boston North Shore area

[topnote]

Just relocated from Sarasota, Florida to Danvers, Ma. and have a 34 DA in Fort Lauderdale. Bought her a year ago and Just spent a lot of effort getting her seaworthy...then got the transfer north. Gonna cost north of $4k to transport her up here.

My question is really is it worth it? The boating season is short and the annual slip and maintenance expenses seem to be about double what they are in Florida. What is the quality of boating in New England?

Should I transport or float her up on ICW?

If you have experience boating in the area I would appreciate your advice.

 

[wakeup 19]

Better off shipping it if you decide to keep her. Boston boating is all I know and for me I would be lost w/out a boat in the summer. OF course m slip fees in my YC are 1k / year. not sure if I could justify 4k/year. Season is short and you hope to not get invited anywhere during the summer months but it is some good boating with lots to discover. I put mine in by mid april and dont REALLY use it till late may (depending on weather). Can't go in water till early June till mid Sept. I know of some private clubs that maybe looking for new members. When the recession hit a lot of boaters sold and never went back to boating. Do you know where you are going to live??
120-150 ft are the norm at some of the marinas. You will need winter storage as well. What is boat worth?? maybe sell it down there and take a year off to think things through. tough call.

 

[ChuckW]

Welcome...I too live here in MA and spend a lot of time boating in SW FL. I winter my boat in FL and summer here in MA (except for July we spend in FL). I get to Sarasota often. The boating here is just as great as anywhere...just a short season as you note. Oh and we actually have deep water here...not the shallows of the Gulf and ICW.

You'll get lots of opinions on best places to boat around here but mine is hands down the Cape and islands. I also love to SCUBA dive and North Shore is great for that too. In my case I keep a trailerable boat so I can move around easily...

As far as "is it worth it" that will be a very personal decision. Once you adjust to the colder water you'll love the boating. Just how you deal with the boater's winter blues will be the challenge. I regularly boat from April to November 1 here. Cold doesn't keep me away...just ice.

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[hottoddie]

Selling the boat will cost you 10% commission? Buying up here will cost you 6.25% sales tax. Add the 2 up and there is at least your 4k. Also if you buy up here you will most likely have to go thru the time and effort all over again to fix up whatever you buy. If I were you and was staying in boating them have it trucked up North. As far as slip cost the commercial marinas up here are expensive and if I were you I'd shop around for yacht club membership. North of Boston I would check out Winthrop Yacht Club. Great location right in Boston Harbor and a nice facility. Don't know about slip availability but worth checking out. Good luck.

 

[Henry Boyd]

If you live in Danvers there are a number of marinas in town, or close by in Beverly Salem, or Gloucester. Danvers is a lovely town, we owned a house at the top of Winthrop Street near to the hospital when we were first married. We now live in Ipswich on the river and have our mooring behind our house.

Want to rub shoulders with the Wicked Tuna guys? then Cape Ann Marina is the place. If you are a resident in many North Shore Towns on the water, you may be able to get a mooring. Ours in Ipswich costs us about $ 275 per year for the fee and mooring service that provides all the hardware.

You do want to stay below Cape Ann. In July we get an infestation of large green headed flies that breed in the salt marshes. They last until the first full moon tide, about two weeks. We usually go away. Last year we spent three weeks in Portland and the year before in Boston.

Going to a marina in Boston is both pricey and will mean a 45 to 60 minute drive to Boston. We love to visit, but not live there. That being said we had neighbors who kept their boat in Boston who felt the commute was offset by having a downtown weekend condo.

Along with staying below Cape Ann, avoid Newburyport. It is a lovely town, but at most points of tide you can literally be surfing your boat into the inlet.

One of the prettiest places to anchor for the weekend is behind Crane Beach. Perhaps we'll see you this season.


Pm me if you want some specifics, or good service providers and boatyards.

Henry


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[EKM]

If you have a relo package, maybe they can transport the boat.
Is this your first boat or been boating for years?
Some of the prettiest areas are right there...Marblehead, NH, Maine is all within reach. Cruise to Martha's Vineyard or NAN. Just need to get used to swimming with ice cubes....if you are a Floridian, you will never get used to the cold water.
BTW....Make sure you shrink wrap the boat before you move it.
You boat should be an easy move as you don't have to remove the arch