We can understand why friends in Marblehead over-winter their boat here. Great facilities and the dock hands were wonderfully responsive in helping us to squeeze into the fuel dock. Well protected if the weather kicks up.
Port Clyde was the ideal “port in a storm” for us last week! So well protected from the prevailing winds, with easy access to shore via the town wharf or dinghy dock. The bonus was being able to take the morning boat (Laura B) out to Monhegan on a drizzly day — we explored the island in its more “wild and wooly” ways. The ride back was somewhat rolly due to the seas, but once in the harbor, it was nice and calm. The General Store had the provisions we needed, and just up the street is ice cream.
Given how this is such a busy time getting boats in the water (yards have been behind-schedule up and down the coast due to the strange weather), we understood that there was no dock space for us to tie up for an hour or so to allow us to stretch our legs ashore. Instead we were given the closest mooring to the town wharf, which made things easy. Great facility, and I can’t tell you how many other boats we know that will be headed your way to have some work done or simply to be centrally located for summer cruising.
What a gem! Right in the heart of Boston Harbor. We were surprised to catch the turning around of the USS Constitution as we were coming into the marina. Dock hands and staff were helpful and friendly. Transient dock easily accessed. Restrooms and laundry very clean. Bring your credit card or LaundryConnection app — no quarters needed for these new machines. Easy walk to Whole Foods through Charlestown’s Bunker Hill neighborhoods. Enchanting! Bridge construction going on and commercial boats passing nearby posed no noise or wake discomfort. We would have stayed longer, but a weather window invited us to continue our passage north. Looking forward to a longer return visit.
We tucked into Handy Boat last week due to heavy swells and higher winds than we are comfortable cruising in a 90 year old power cruiser. Very comfortable mooring. Not even the busy launches waked us. Marina and store staff incredibly friendly and helpful. Facilities are clean, and laundry doesn’t cost the usual arm and leg. The Dockside Grill inside or patio dining overlooks a HUGE mooring field and Casco Bay Islands. Highly recommend the food and service! We also needed help trouble-shooting a pinhole oil leak on our vintage 6-71 diesel engine. The service team was immediately responsive snd helpful. As we make our way between Marion, MA and Southwest Harbor in the future, we’ll make a point of picking up a mooring at Handy Boat!