Massachusetts is known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant historic cities and high-quality of life, and has a rich boating tradition stretching back centuries. There are over 145,000 registered boats in the Bay State, at a rate of around 18.6 per 1,000 residents, with everything from bay-boats, sportfishers, center-consoles and luxury motoryachts represented here. Perhaps the primary destinations in this state are the world-famous oceanside retreats of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod, but with a coastline of 1,519 miles, hundreds of islands and just as many charming inlets there’s an endless amount to explore. While you can boat in Massachusetts all-year round, perhaps the finest time to visit this corner of New England is in the fall, when the trees begin to blaze ochre and orange and an autumnal mist starts to sweep in.
Charlestown Marina and Constitution Marina, both located just north of Downtown Boston, are the best places to dock while visiting the city affectionately known by locals as Beantown. These two harbors boast more than 500 slips between them, including facilities for superyachts, and offer a great starting point for trips to the Boston Harbor Islands and offshore adventures into the Atlantic.
With 235 slips the Kingman Yacht Center is the largest on Cape Cod and the perfect place for trips down Buzzards Bay, while to enjoy Cape Cod at its remote and windswept best you should dock at Provincetown Marina, located not far from the iconic Race Point Lighthouse and Beach. 81-slip Oak Bluffs Marina on Martha’s Vineyard, meanwhile, provides a convenient base from which to explore this exclusive and scenic island, while you can step back in time and navigate around historic Nantucket from the Nantucket Boat Basin on one of America’s most enchanting and salubrious island destinations, once the nation’s whaling capital.
In the northern part of the state, you’ll also find picturesque marinas in heritage towns like Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Newburyport, while Popes Island Marina in New Bedford nearer to the Rhode Island border sets you up for ambitious cruising down towards the outer reaches of Long Island. If you prefer bay-boating in the backwaters then check out atmospheric estuaries like Essex Bay or Plum Island Sound, for access to a range of stunning beaches and the chance to angle for striped bass, bluefish and false albacore.
Due to environmental restrictions on both Wachusett Reservoir and Quabbin Reservoir inland boating and fishing is more limited in Massachusetts compared to other states. However, Lake Cochituate, a 625-acre lake in Middlesex County, offers motorboating, sailing and fishing for trout, bass and walleye year-round.
The Pilgrim State enjoys a dynamic boating industry worth more than $5 billion dollars per year, supporting around 17,600 jobs. Cape Cod Shipbuilding is the most celebrated boat-building brand in the state and has been building classic sailing boats for more than 125 years.
Since 1964, SI Yachts has been helping our clients through the processes of buying and selling boats, many times it's their 10th or more boat sale with us. We take service very seriously and we are able to retain some of the best service talent in the industry giving us an incredible advantage when it comes making sure our customers enjoy their boating lifestyle. When you buy a yacht from us, our industry-leading mobile service team is just a phone call away. With a service facility located in Staten Island and mobile service throughout the Northeast and South Florida, SI Yachts has a true north-to-south connection for our seasonal cruising clients.
