New Hampshire ports / harbors / marinas

[Hollingsworth]

I'm exploring the possibility of a New Job in New Hampshire. Right now, it's only a possibility. But if it becomes more real, and we decide to relocate, a big concern is where to put my boat (the schooner is 58' LOA). The job would be in Manchester, which I believe is only 45min or so from the coast. I've seen threads here about the difficulties of getting a mooring or slip in New England. Any advice, comments or local info would be greatly appreciated.

[Torna]

Well here are my 2 bits.
The NH seacoast is only about 30mi long. And the main harbor is, of course, Portsmouth. To the south is Mass (crowded, plastic, stinkpots, &c), 8mi to the East is Isle of Shoals (delightful but limited) and to the northeast is 50 miles of beaches with nary a good harbor - until you reach Portland, Maine.
Now Portland Maine, at the southern end of Casco Bay, is another matter entirely. Casco Bay itself is great sailing, (extensive, lots of islands, &c) - and from there to heading Northeast it only gets better & better.
Last I knew there were still moorings available at Falmouth Foreside (next town northeast of Portland) which would be about 1 1/2 hours from Manchester.
So a lot might depend on what type of sailing you enjoy: If you're a weekender then the longer drive to Casco Bay gives you MUCH better sailing than out of Portsmouth. But if you mainly use the boat for month-long trips, then you might not mind that it takes over a day to reach the hallowed cruising grounds.

-leif

[Tom3]

I can't help with New Hampshire (there as some beautiful harbors but they're few), but as you'll be driving to the boat anyway, you may want to consider areas farther east in Maine.

We moved a boat slowly (yearly or every other year) down the coast of Maine while living out of state. This enabled us to get to sail alot of it before we eventually moved to Penobscot Bay.

As convoluted as the coast gets farther east, your choices are almost limitless.

[gregleeber]

I'm in Casco Bay, in front of Handy Boat. Call Kevin Cady NOW and talk to him about what it will take to get a mooring at the Falmouth Town Landing. (it is the most beautiful public access you can ever find). There is also Portland Yacht Clut 500 yards to the south and then Handy Boat again 500 yards to the south.

I got a list of service providers from Kevin (he is the Falmouth Harbor Master). It has mooring guys who will sell you a mooring (my 500 pounder with all the fixins was about $1600. Falmouth Town Landing has 3 public dingys you can use.

there you have it. Thats the cheapest way to do it. hit me up if you have questions. Mark Smith is the guy to call if you want a mooring set up like mine. I have a 40 foot yawl.

If you want to be consdered for Portland Yacht Club by 2010 I'd do your application now.

good luck

[JimConlin]

There's a lot of useful coastline within 1-1/2 hours of Manchester.
For a 58' boat, I'd start with Gloucester, Annisquam, Portsmouth & Kittery, Kennebunkport, and (greater) Portland.

[Tom Hunter]

The North Shore / Essex county is a great place to sail, I don't agree with lief at all. There are numerous harbors, some, like Manchester and Marblehead have long wait lists. Others like Salem are shorter. Marblehead has no wait list on the Salem side, though you will end up down harbor.

There is a strong sailing culture on Salem Sound, mostly glass but some wood. Gloucester has the schooner race every year. Drive wise I bet that you can get to Salem or even Gloucester faster than you can get to Portland.

This is not to say that I have anything against Portland, Casco Bay is beautiful. Just pointing out that Mass is not bad at all either.

[Lance F. Gunderson]

While it's difficult to get your own mooring in Kittery/Portsmouth, it is quite possible to rent a mooring for a very reasonable fee. Check with the harbor master in Kittery Point; there is a temporary mooring program, in which you don't own the mooring, but get to use it for the season. Also you can anchor off Fort Mclary in Pepperrell Cove for free; many do. If a hurricane comes along, you run up the river.

[wdnbt]

I live & work in the Manchester/Nashua area and find myself traveling to So. Maine many weekends. I don't find the drive to be bad at all. Portland,Bar Harbor, even Camden are doable for even a weekend get away. The Coast of New Hampshire & Maine is about a 55 minute drive from Manchester. and the time goes up from there as you continue farther East in Maine.

Rick

[hikingchrs]

There is a little known law here in NH that states that when a boat owner from the west moves to NH he must bring local woodenboatforum members for a sail. RSA 123.456.789
Chris

[Raka025]

You could contact Wentworth Marina in Little Harbor in New Castle, N.H. for a slip. You wouldn't be dissappointed if you could get in there and could actually slip off the job for an evening on the coast (actually N.H. has only 18 miles of coast). Dion's Yacht in Kittery, ME in the Back Channel, had moorings for rent. It's nice and protected but a little noisier than Little Harbor as the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is right there. You get use to it. Pier 2 right downtown in Portsmouth was missing The Appledore Schooner when I was their in August??

If you just want the weekend get away and not the quick access to the boat, I would concur with Torna and look into Falmouth Foreside. I kept my boat up there one summer which made the long weekend cruising much nicer than just out to the Isles of Shoals. Any salt water sailing now that I'm in Arkansas, is nothing to complain about.

I have a good friend in Portsmouth that would be more than happy to drive you around and give you a tour of the area if interested.

Good luck and feel free to PM for more specifics.

[wtarzia]

Check out Newburyport, which is near two major highways of use to you. The Merrimack River marinas may be crowded. It is a pleasant river, though getting out into the ocean is sometimes hair-raising for small boats (not your problem) since the tide pushing on the river between the jetties can be problematic. (Last time I rowed a dory and paddled a kayak near where the river narrows at the jetties, the current was 3 knots).

Newburyport does give access to a nice sail out to and around the Isle of Shoals, where you can anchor but not visit unless on a "tourist visa" (last I knew) because religious folk have control of the the main islands and a university marine lab has the other (where use used to take the pram when I was a kid and explore the WW2 submarine spotting tower).

Plum Island and Cape Ann also pleasant weekend sails (good enough ground in Folly cove, not as crowded as Rockport, though exposed on some days). Annisquam/Ipswich area always lovely. (and if you read HP Lovecraft's fantasies, filled with supernatural dread. Read "The Shadow over Innsmouth" while at anchor near Ipswich/Essex ;-) ).

Rye Harbor ---- hmmn, I don't know, a little shallow maybe for your boat? Portsmouth area has powerful current and boats ground out at some anchorages at low tide, I do believe.

Good luck! Were I rich man I'd move there now, settle a boat, and dwell happily along my childhood coastline. -- Wade

[wtarzia]

PS -- Of course, download for free the Coastal Pilot book for that area and get the real info. -- Wade

[Dave_C]

I will have to second Tom's suggestion on Salem. I have a mooring for my catboat in Salem harbor under Marblehead juristiction. Buying a mooring there is a reasonable option compared to marina rates almost anywhere else. Salem Sound and the North Shore is very scenic with many interesting islands and there is easy access to open water without having to deal with bridges or strong river currents like on the Piscatugua River in Portsmouth.

The wooden pinky Schooner "FAME" is also homeported in Salem and is seen frequently on the sound. She is a new reproduction of an 1812 privateer. The square rigger "Friendship" is also moored in the inner harbor.

The main drawback in having a boat here is dealing with shoreside traffic congestion getting into and through Salem at certain times.

[Hollingsworth]

Thanks all! Based on all this input, I will definitely be doing a little further research in the area. Now for the important question: who makes the better lobster roll, Maine or Massachusetts?

[Raka025]

Newburyport does give access to a nice sail out to and around the Isle of Shoals, where you can anchor but not visit unless on a "tourist visa" (last I knew) because religious folk have control of the the main islands and a university marine lab has the other (where use used to take the pram when I was a kid and explore the WW2 submarine spotting tower).

I never had or heard of a tourist visa to go on Appledore or some of the other islands out there. There maybe one private one but it would be marked. The one the Univeristy has, has a large breeding colony of gulls that you might consider carrying a stick if you explore it. It's been 10 years since being there.

Rye Harbor ---- hmmn, I don't know, a little shallow maybe for your boat? Portsmouth area has powerful current and boats ground out at some anchorages at low tide, I do believe.

Rye wouldn't be good for a schooner. Portsmouth's current should be paid attention to and the ability to read a chart would eliminate the low tide anchorage situation. The tide does go slack 4 times a day. Tide charts are your friends. No engine? Your best friend. I was able to get in and out of the Back Channel with no engine without worrying about the tide in a 35' sloop and being my first real boat.

[Hwyl]

Wow, I live here and have nothing much to add, except there's a Hollingsworth family that Summers at Kittery, are you related. (bishop of Ohio) PM me for contact info

[StevenBauer]

Now for the important question: who makes the better lobster roll, Maine or Massachusetts?

They have lobster rolls in Massachusetts?


Steven